mine-slaves were dying like flies, Hannah More bade them be happy
because God had sent them her pious self. "In suffering by the
scarcity, you have but shared in the common lot, with the pleasure of
knowing the advantage you have had over many villages in your having
suffered no scarcity of religious instruction." And in another place
she explained that the famine was caused by God to teach the poor to
be grateful to the rich!

Let me remind you that probably that very scarcity has been
permitted by an all-wise and gracious Providence to unite
all ranks of people together, to show the poor how
immediately they are dependent upon the rich, and to show
both rich and poor that they are all dependent upon Himself.
It has also enabled you to see more clearly the advantages
you derive from the government and constitution of this
country--to observe the benefits flowing from the
distinction of rank and fortune, which has enabled the high
to so liberally assist the low.

It appears that the villagers were entirely convinced by
this pious reasoning; for they assembled one Saturday night
and burned an effigy of Tom Paine! This proceeding led to a
tragic consequence, for one of the "common people," known as
Robert, "was overtaken by liquor," and was unable to appear
at Sunday School next day. This fall from grace occasioned
intense remorse in Robert. "It preyed dreadfully upon his
mind for many months," records Martha More, "and despair
seemed at length to take possession of him." Hannah had some
conversation with him, and read him some suitable passages
from "The Rise and Progress". "At length the Almighty was