Page:Notes on the Anti-Corn Law Struggle.djvu/257

 lands by any means out of the power of the man of sin, the Pope. I am no admirer of the Pope and his works any more than yourself; but if you will permit me, I should like to ask you a question or two. I am a stranger here, and I naturally feel some curiosity about things that are strange to me."

"I shall be very ready to answer any question in my power to answer. Sir," replied the minister.

"Well, then," continued the Englishman, "if you will consider merely the temporal condition of the inhabitants of this village, for as to their spiritual condition there cannot be a doubt of its superiority under such a pastor as yourself, do you think it was better or worse when the Abbot of that Abbey was their landlord than it is now when the worthy and pious Earl of is their landlord?"

This question seemed to puzzle the worthy minister a little, as opening up certain points of view which had never before been presented to his mind. After a short pause, he replied—

"Better or worse? How can it be a question, Sir, when in those days the poor people were little if any better than benighted heathens, without either preaching or teaching that had the smallest