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LAUDE took advantage of a steam-boat for

the first two or three hours of his progress: then he disembarked, or "disembogued" as John Perry called it, and proceeded briskly over ground well known to him. He encountered and passed several waggons laden with white deal tubs of various sizes, for the approaching vintage, and presently reached an open spot where scores of these waggons were drawn up in the shade and their contents spread about the ground in profusion, while a regular market or fair was going on among a considerable number of peasants. Here Claude paused to draw breath, and sat down to rest on a shaft of one of the empty waggons. man, playing a wild kind of music on a rustic

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pipe sat near, under the hedge, while one or two Dutch-built little urchins were uncouthly but merrily gambolling to his melody, and a few idlers hung about. When the man ceased playing, Claude dropped a few words which led to a desultory kind of conversation. By and by, his grand subject was quietly broached, his bag opened, and a few of his books disposed of. He continued talking to these poor people for some time, till they were drawn away from him by their needful affairs. After this, the business of the fair went on so briskly that he found no other opening; and, guessing from his foregone acquaintance with such scenes, that as the day waned chaffering would only be exchanged for waltzing and beer-drinking, he pursued his way.

Presently he came in sight of a village church, with steep tiled roof and strange-looking spire. The crosses over the graves in the little churchyard were hung with garlands, and with little cups of holy water. Across the opposite field was an old manorial residence, something in the style of Rubens' country-house; and along the road in front of it walked a stately, elderly couple, who

might have represented Teniers and his wife, with their footboy at their heels.

A little farther on, he came to the modest dwelling of the vicar of the little church, who was just stepping from his door, and seeing Claude approach with his burthen, paused for a moment to see if he had any business with him. Claude presented to him one of his books. The moment the vicar ascertained what it was, his face became inflamed, and he exclaimed, "You infamous monster! is this the way you dare to come and infest the village with your bad books, and poison the minds of my poor, simple people, with your impious doctrine?"

"Be calm, sir," interposed Claude," and see if you are warranted in treating me so harshly." Are you not," continued the vicar, angrily, "the garde champêtre of Fluy?"

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"At any rate, are you not a Protestant, a renegade, a heretic ?"

"Ah, sir," said Claude, "your heat has taken away your memory, and you do not just now recollect the precept of the Apostle, to reply with mildness and charity to those who differ in senti

ment from you, and by those means to avoid all irritating disputes. Moderate your displeasure, I beseech you, and see whether the copies of the Holy Scriptures which I offer you are not faithful translations from the Vulgate version sanctioned by your Church.”

Instead of doing this, the vicar became more

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enraged. Where is your hawker's licence ?" said he; "I don't believe you have one."

Claude exhibited it.

"That's nothing, nothing at all," said he, scarcely glancing at it," it merely authorizes you to sell books in general, not Bibles in particular, as I shall soon make you know, in the presence of a magistrate. What will you say then?”

"Time enough, sir, to think what I shall say when I am in his presence," replied Claude, calmly but firmly. "Our Lord himself has left me a plain direction what to do in that case. 'Settle it therefore in your heart, not to meditate beforehand what ye shall answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay or resist ;' see, here is the passage,-Luke, twenty-one, fourteen."

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Have you the assurance to compare yourself to one of the holy apostles ?" said the vicar.

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No, sir; these words were meant for the direction of all Christ's faithful people.”

A gloss, a mere gloss. All denominations Iwould in that case avail themselves of it.

You

are a pestilent fellow, who not only hawk dangerous matter, but make it more dangerous still by your own misinterpretations. I have no

patience with you!"

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Alas, sir, you should have nothing but patience with me!"

"Don't bandy words with me, man, or I'll hale you before the magistrate!" And he seized him violently by the arm.

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'Well, sir, I am quite willing to be treated as the early Christians were."

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He dropped the unresisting arm. I have changed my mind," said he, "you are not worth the trouble it would cost me; besides, I remember our magistrate has just gone from home to the next town. I shall take some precautionary measures, however, against you."

And, darting an angry look at the passive col

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