1870-1871] How to Keep Sunday 201 



nation and nation I should have thought no one could have 

 doubted. 



God bless you, my dear Henrietta. 



My warmest of loves for the " beloved Emma," whom 

 you have the pleasure of calling mother, and to your daddy 

 respectfully, and love to Bessy. 



Affectionately yours, 



FRANS. ALLEN. 



In the years when we were growing up, I believe my 

 mother was often puzzled as to what rules to make about 

 keeping Sunday. I remember she persuaded me to refuse 

 any invitation from the neighbours that involved using the 

 carriage on that day, and it was a question in her own mind 

 whether she might rightly embroider, knit, or play patience. 

 The following was found amongst her papers : 



On the side of abstaining from On the side of doing as you 

 what other people think think right, without con- 

 wrong, the? you do not. sidering the opinion of 



others. 



The fear of loosening their The sincerity of showing 

 hold on the sanctions of re- yourself as you really are. 

 ligion with respect to what The real good it would do 

 is really wrong. the world not to have arti- 



They probably do not sep- ficial sins, 

 arate the breaking of the Your opinion that England 

 ceremonial observances of would be morally the better 

 Sunday from real sins. for some amusements on 



Sunday. 



Whether the servants know 

 you as you are and do not 

 take your opinions as any 

 guide for theirs whether 

 they learn toleration in short. 

 All this only applies to my 

 own doings, as I do not feel 

 at all sure enough in any way 

 to interfere with the pleasures 

 of sons of the age of mine. 



