220 THE EULOGY OF RICHARD JEFFERIES. 



a character for eminent piety. There were 

 doubtless churchwardens and sidesmen among 

 those who, fifty years ago, used to send the little 

 children of six to work for fourteen hours in 

 the dark coal-pit. Jefferies had lived so little 

 in towns and among men that he did not 

 know any sophistry of trade custom, and when 

 he heard of these customs his soul flamed up. 

 It is not a side of his character which often 

 comes into view ; but it comes often enough 

 to irritate many excellent people who live in 

 great comfort by the exertions of other people, 

 and plume themselves mightily upon their 

 virtues, hereditary or otherwise. Jefferies 

 could never have called himself a Socialist ; 

 but he sympathized with that part of Socialism 

 which claims for every man the full profit of 

 the labour of his hands. 



" Dim woodlands made him wiser far 



Than those who thresh their barren thought 

 With flails of knowledge dearly bought, 

 Till all his soul shone like a star 

 That flames at fringe of Heaven's bar, 

 There breaks the surf of space unseen 

 Against Hope's veil that lies between 

 Love's future and the woes that are. 



