For toleration had its griefs, And charity its trial. Whittier “Well, Osmond, you got into hot water a few years ago for defending Raeburn in public, and by this time you will find it not merely hot, but up to boiling point. The fellow is more notorious than ever.” The speaker was one of Charles Osmond's college friends, a certain Mr. Roberts, who had been abroad for a good many years, but, having returned on account of his health, had for a few months been acting as curate to his friend. “A man who works as indefatigably as Mr. Raeburn has done can hardly avoid being noticed,” replied Charles Osmond. “You speak as if you admired the fellow!” “There is a good deal to admire in Mr. Raeburn. However greatly mistaken he is, there is no doubt that he is a brave man, and an honest man.” “You can speak in such a way of a man who makes his living by speaking and writing against God.” “I hope I can speak the truth of every man, whether his creed agrees with mine or not.” “A man who grows rich on blasphemy! Who sows poison among the people and reaps the harvest!” exclaimed Mr. Roberts. “That he teaches fearful error, I quite allow,” said Charles Osmond, “but it is the grossest injustice to say that he does it for gain. His atheism brought him to the very brink of starvation some years ago. Even now he is so crippled by the endless litigation he has had that he lives in absolute penury.” “But that letter you sent to the 'Church Chronicle' was so uncalled for, you put the comparison so broadly.”