Chapter IX

The Witch noticed a girl in the regulation uniform of white cap and apron marshalling several children. How oft seen in the want column: "A nurse girl who will wear the cap." Why was this headgear exacted as a badge of servitude? Why ape the Old World customs?

Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down;
for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your
glory. Jeremiah xiii, 18.

Thus saith the Lord God: Remove the diadem and take off the crown;
this shall not be the same; exalt him that is low, and abase him
that is high.

I will overturn, overturn, overturn it; and it shall be no more
until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him. Ezekiel
xxi, 26, 27.

And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. Isaiah ii, 11.

Was not this government founded on the principle of equality? Did not the Pilgrim Fathers estimate one good as another if their righteousness was equal? And the distinction was made only between good and evil doers.

A nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of
their God. Isaiah lviii, 2.

And ye were now turned, and had done right in my sight in
proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbor; and ye had made a
covenant before me in the house which is called by my name:

But ye turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his
servant, and every man his handmaid, whom he had set at liberty at
their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be
unto you for servants and for handmaids. Jeremiah xxxiv, 16, 17.

Then, again, should it not be more essential for these mothers to look more after the morals of the persons who were to be companions for their children and to be less watchful of Mrs. Grundy's edicts?

For the customs of the people are vain.

They are altogether brutish and foolish; the stock is a doctrine of
vanities.

They are vanity, and the work of errors; in the time of their
visitation they shall perish. Jeremiah x, 3, 8, 15.

The Witch recalled an instance where a distinguished political leader married a sewing woman, and his bride was ostracized from society when it leaked out that she had labored for a livelihood. Had all these aristocrats as clean a record?

Am afraid one's hands would be somewhat soiled by too close investigation.

Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth
your hearts. Luke xvi, 15.

For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; neither
hid, that shall not be known. Luke xii, 2.

For God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret
thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes xii,
14.

The just Lord is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity;
every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not.
Zephaniah iii, 5.