As people of different religions meet at times on the highway, somewhere
near their respective places of worship, it is delightful to observe
that, whatever faith they possess, Christian charity reigns. As
neighbours, the men group together, sitting upon, or resting their backs
against the fence, whilst a brilliant sun smiles on them. At the same
time, their children may be seen decorating themselves with flowers, or
dragging a splendid creeper, in order to beautify the horses, and make
fly-brushes for them. After the weather has been commented upon, a
political shade is seen to pass over the countenances of the assembly.
There is great earnestness amongst them. The females arrange for their
own comfort, by resting on the shafts of the carts, or seating
themselves on the grass. Matrimony and muslins, births and milch cows,
by turns engross their attention, while the men make free with matters
of State.
As the soft sound of the bell gives notice that the hour of service is
near, the party may be seen to break up: children throw aside their
garlands, wives join their husbands, and with sober countenances and
devout demeanour enter the House of God. There is one circumstance
worthy of remark, namely, the perfect security with which they all leave
their conveyances—great coats, and shawls, whips and saddles, in gigs
and carts; proving that a fair day’s labour for a fair day’s work is a
better protection for property than the police.
When divine service is over, the families keep more together. There is a
sober reverence about them which shows that they have listened
attentively. As they move to their conveyances, or walk on, it is
pleasing to see that if their neighbours have been kept longer at
another church, the first party out will often delay their departure
till they arrive. These charitable pauses are delightful to witness;
these neighbourly greetings make bigotry in dismay crouch to the earth,
and show, that when the mind is rightly directed, the being of different
religions is not inimical to friendship, for frequently in these cases
the elder girl of a Catholic family may be seen in the cart of a
Protestant neighbour; the wife of one carrying the younger child of the
other, at the same time that the two husbands, as they get into the open
road, slowly pace their horses, so that they may converse on their way
home, occasionally interrupted perhaps by their sons, who, mounted on
good horses, try their speed to please their fathers, and throw bunches
of wild flowers to their mothers, while younger hands catch at the
prize.