Nor was Mr. Broad a
criminal in any sense. He was upright, on the whole, in all his
transactions, although a little greedy and hard, people thought, when
the trustees proposed to remit to Widow Oakfield, on her husband's
death, half the rent of a small field belonging to the meeting-house,
and contributing a modest sum to Mr. Broad's revenue. He objected.
Widow Oakfield was poor; but then she did not belong to Tanner's
Lane, and was said to have relations who could help her. Mr. Broad
loved his wife decently, brought up his children decently, and not
the slightest breath of scandal ever tarnished his well-polished
reputation. On some points he was most particular, and no young
woman who came to him with her experience before she was admitted
into the church was ever seen by him alone. Always was a deacon
present, and all Cowfold admitted that the minister was most
discreet. Another recommendation, too, was that he was temperate in
his drink. He was not so in his meat. Supper was his great meal,
and he would then consume beef, ham, or sausages, hot potatoes, mixed
pickles, fruit pies, bread, cheese, and celery in quantities which
were remarkable even in those days; but he never drank anything but
beer--a pint at dinner and a pint at supper.
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