Page:Women worth emulating (1877) Internet Archive.djvu/128

112 reading aloud, picked up subjects of thought and conversation, and were thus being educated in the best sense of intelligent yet deferential familiarity; good manners, kindly feelings, and useful arts were all gained in that happy household.

The family had to mourn some losses of infant members; but one brother was born at Lavenham, whose name holds an honoured place in the best literature of this age: Isaac Taylor, the author of a long list of most valuable and suggestive books.

The times between 1789 and 1795 were hard, in every sense. Provisions were dear, taxation high, labour ill remunerated, and persecution, both religious and political, rampant. In such a time the fine arts could not flourish, nor could a Dissenter, however mild and blameless his life, escape insult and danger from an ignorant and excited populace.

Mr. Taylor had gained great mastery in his profession, and during some part of the time he resided at Lavenham obtained large sums for his engravings, some of which became celebrated; one in particular, from Opie's historical picture of the murder of David Rizzio.

But troubles came. A dangerous illness brought the dear father to the brink of the grave; and the anxious wife and mother, always of an extremely sensitive, tender nature, was worn to a shadow by her incessant cares, even though she knew better than most where to go for strength. It is not promised that the Lord^s people shall escape trials;