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Shawords

Quote#God & Faith

So the baby was carried in a small deal box, under an ancient woman's…

Quote byThomas Hardy · 1840–1928

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Tess of the d'Urbervilles (1891), Phase the Second: Maiden No More, ch. XIV.

English (original)

So the baby was carried in a small deal box, under an ancient woman's shawl, to the churchyard that night, and buried by lantern-light, at the cost of a shilling and a pint of beer to the sexton, in that shabby corner of God's allotment where He lets the nettles grow, and where all unbaptized infants, notorious drunkards, suicides, and others of the conjecturally damned are laid.

— Thomas Hardy

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