posed to war," he said. "It is
unchristian, inhuman, and we cannot think to conquer the British armies,
therefore it is folly. I was sorry enough to see the town William Penn
reared on peaceful foundations with the service of God, turn traitor and
range herself on the side of the King's enemies. Many a Friend, I hear,
had his windows destroyed in that ungodly rejoicing a short time ago,
and men of peace have been persecuted and ridiculed. We know little of
it on our far-away farm, but Friend Chew hath kept account of both
sides. And the rebel lines seem to have fallen in hard places."

"We must give thanks that it hath come no nearer." She would not argue
nor offend him, for the sake of Primrose.

"There is another matter," he began, after a few moments of silence,
occupied in sipping his ale and munching some particularly nice wafer
biscuits that Janice Kent had made quite famous around the country side,
and though she willingly gave the recipe, no one could imitate them
exactly. "It is about the child. It hath been a matter of conscience
with me whether I ought to expose her to the temptations of the world,
but since I cannot by law keep her altogether----" And he hesitated a
moment.

"We have not quarreled about her since the judges made the decision,
though thou knowest I would like to have her altogether," and Madam
Wetherill smiled amicably, sipping her ale to keep him company. "It
seems folly, like the man's two wives who plucked at his hair, the first
to take out the white ones and the other the black."

"There was the illness last summer, and I think my wife hath not been
so strong since, and we have two girls----"

"And since good fortune brought them to thee and I have none, I shall
beseech thee to waive thy claim, and let me keep the child. I know our
ways are different, but if presently she should choose thy faith,--and
we have many of thy persuasion dropping in,--and desire to return to
thee, I will be quite as generous and kindly as thou hast been, and not
oppose her."

"That is as fair as one can expect," the man said with a sigh. "I would
my brother had lived and managed the matter. Friend Chew thinks there
will be hard times before us all, especially those who have laid up
treasure in perishable money."

"But, whatever comes, I shall care for her to my last penny."

"And if thou shouldst die, as we are but mortal, the best of us, wilt
thou transfer her back to us?"

"Her guardians will do th