JULY IN BROADLAND. 73 



ments,' and sturdy knees bow humbly before Him who readeth the hearts of all men. 

 An aged brother, bent with the weight of years, who occupies the tub of a pulpit, 

 pours out his prayer before Him. His stentorian voice is drowned at times by the 

 louder responses of those below. Everyone, save some fidgety youngsters in a corner, 

 appears profoundly devout; one of these is brought to his senses by a box on the 

 ears, administered by one whose duty seems to be to preserve order. The urchin 

 evidently has been expecting this, for he takes it as a matter of course, and winks 

 an adjournment at his companions until Farmer Giles has settled for his usual 

 nap. 



Our friend in the pulpit apologises for the non-appearance of the local ap- 

 pointed for conducting the day's services, and takes them over himself rather than 

 let the time pass unimproved. His explanatory reading of the parable of the sower, 

 a favourite one of his, and one which he has given them more than once before, 

 meets with general approval, one and another good brother putting in an idea 

 which considerably enlivens the proceedings. His remarks are practical as well 

 as pungent. More hearty singing follows. Then comes the text. ' Friends,' he 

 says, shutting the open Bible with a bang, l yow'll find it in the Dan'l v., part of 

 the 22nd wearse, ' My God hath sent His angel, and hath shet the lions' mouths,' 

 adding, ' and ha' kivered up theer teeth,' as a supplementary text of his own. Here 

 the trial of ( Dan'l ' is graphically detailed, interspersed with many original ideas 

 and no end of quaint Norfolk jargon. Evidently our friend reads his newspaper, 

 for your rustic has learned to think for himself; even the aged, who are behind the 

 village times, plod on in the wake of the more eager steps of the rising generation. 

 He, like many another rural dissenter, whilst showing proper deference and respect 

 to the squire and parson, has long enjoyed the benefit of his theological convic- 

 tions; and whilst there is nothing of the Socialist in his creed, he loves and 

 advocates freedom of thought, and believes in the equality of all men, at least before 

 Him who created them. But to the ' sermon.' Here is the gist of it : 



* Dan'l wor put in the wery topmost bough of the social tree, becos he was 

 reckoned the wery best man tu hold hisself on it. He wor teetotal, as ivery Chris- 

 tian shud be. A man as wor sich kept a clear hid, an' cud run a straiter furrow 

 than him as got fuddled at the King's Arms, or the Eisin' Sun. An' the king 

 didn't go about with his eyes shet. Then jealousy, like abed of nettles, crops up, 

 and makes it warm for poor old Dan'l. What oan't folks du when jealousy's got 

 fairly ruted ? Then that paaper what they got the king tu put his name tu. 

 What fules folks make o' theerselves when they sign anything athowt proper 

 thought and consideration ! Them lions wor kept tu claw up folks, as we keep 



