The National Register.
London, England, 1822-09-15 00:00:00

THE CURATES JOURNAL.

(From " The Repository." for August.]
Menday.—Found myself sufficiently recovered to look into
my alfairs. and sat down to make out an account of all the ci-
pences of my late illness. Found out that I still owe twelve
pounds, and spent two boors in a vain endeaiour to doriait
some plan for paying that money. Obliged at last to desist, in
consequence tile viuleut bead ache. Walked into the village
to see old dame Trueutan, who lies been fur some time confined
to her bed; but bad the satisfactioo to leave her in a better
frame of mind. Mena.—To send her a little broth and a few

new laid eggs.
Monday reening.—What a blessing is a good wife! true in-
deed is it that her price is above rubies,—My Emily has been
looking into our resources, but she is a better calgulator than
am, or rather she has more courage. She has laid down a plan
by whicfi we may pay these twelve pounds within a year. In
order to enable us to do this, the dear self-denying mestere
gives up every little indulgence, even her tea.
Tuesday storming.—Saw my diltereut creditors, and found
them very ready to give me time: returned iu good spirits,
and made au exellent dinner upon ballad of my own raising.—
Vent afterwards to work is my garden.
Tuesday sight.—l have made a new aequaintance, and one
that pleases me much. As I was digging iu the garden I saw a
fine-looking youth, shabbily dressed, leaning against the gate
with an air of fatigue we entered into conversation and I
learned that he had walked all day without rest or refreshment.
1 could not refruin from asking him in, and I told Emily in a
whisper how the matter stood. In less than five minutes she
got him a couple of eggs, and some bread and cheese ; it was
evident, from the weenier in which the poor fellow partook of
of them, Mist lie needed food. I find that he is a strolling
player, and on his way to join a neighbouring company, but I
suspect that be has not a farthing in in, pi,Let, and he has more
than twenty miles to walk. I have asked Lim to atop with us
to night.
IVetitiesday usorning.—My wife used the little that remained
of her last ponnil of tea, to make the stranger a comfortable
breakfast. Poor fellow, how grateful lie appeared ; I am
grieved to the heart to let hint go without a birthing iu his
pocket—lnterrupted by Emily : nothing escapes her : she
saw what was passing in toy mind shout Leeson, and knowing
that I bad not a shilling to assist him, she brought out her
little hoard of Queen Anne shillings, and insisted on my taking
oue to give him. Mess—Never to repine at any thing that
happens, so long as Providence spares me this best of creatures.
IV.stne•day niyht.—Just as 1 had bid adieu to Leeson, I
beard a piece of news which wakes me very uneasy : our rector
is dead, and it is said that Dr. Pompous will most likely have
the living. 1 resolved to set out immediately to try whether
he would promise to continue me in the curacy, and as Leeson s
road lay the same way, we travelled together. My attentive
Emily made as take some hard eggs and bread and cheese in
our pockets. She took leave of use with forced cheerfulness,
but tears were in her eyes. 1 was much pleased with Leeson ;
Inc took a most alleetionatc and kind leave filmy wife, begging of
her to keep up her spirits, for that he had a preseutiment that 1
should return with good news. Several of my parisliiiners,
who bad heard what lied happened, followed nee through the
village with wishes and prayers for my success. We got on
for some time briskly, bat a terrible Morin obliged us to take
shelter in au ale-house for the night. My rattling companion
begun to spout Rover on our entrance, and nearly brought es
into a scrape with the landlord, whom lie called a Hampshire
hog. I tried to scold him, and yet, wet as 1 was, I could not
help laughing : iu fact, it is impossible to be angry with the
lad, there is so much good nature mixed with his drollery.—
He says it will not be usueh out of his way to go with me to the
house of Dr. Pompous, and protests he will not leave till he
knows the result of my application to him. Heaven grant it
may be propitious, but my heart is uuusually heavy !
Thursday wsorniny.—Reached the house of Dr. Pompous at
an early hour: visa told he was not up; asked whet time I
could see him : the servant surveyed me io • very Impertinent
manner, and said it was very ntioerisin. I have sauce been
three different limes, and am at last informed that I cannot see
him before evening. God grant me good news to take to my
Emily ! Poor girl, she will be alarmed at any absence.
Tourssloy might.—All is over ! I have lust the curacy—my
pour wife--but God's will be done ! Dr. Pompous received
use very hautily. I told him that I took the lifserty of waiting
upon him, presuming that he was to have the living of S—.
He replied, that from the interest he bad with the gentleman in
whose gilt it was, he believiid there was no doubt of his suc-
cess. I then begged to know whether he would «ndinue me in
the curacy : be paused, and asked what salary I bail ; and
when tie beard that it was forty pounds, lie declared that it was
exorbitant. I began, in a bumble manner to represent how im-
possible it was to live upon less, but be cut me short by de-
claring, that luxury was the vice of the age, and as lie thought
that men of our function 1, ere particularly called upon to give
examples of temperance and moderation, he would take Me to
have a curate of simple and alisiemious habits. I tried to get
in a word in my own defence, but be would not bear me ; he
said he saw I would not suit him ; sad besides, be Lad a person
in his eye, and therefore he would notdetein me. Never before
did I find it so difficult to practise that forbearance so strongly
inculcated by my divine master ; in spite of myself my heart
rose at this unfeeling man, whu talked of giving an example of
temps:mice and immoderation while lie received me in an elegant
tparwent, and with a luncheon before him, the price of which
would have furnished a pour family with dinners for a week.—
I am ashamed to think of the difficulty I had to banish the on-
chri:•.igsfeeliog of reaecteicat which his tteatraeut raised.—e