West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-02-08
A Sad Story Of a Canadian Clergyman
Hunalo ENrrcs,

aEuUhlN Express
The Rev Francis Check ley, pastor O
St Pauls Church (EpiscopaD locate,
on Bloor street, Toronto, is mentiopcC
in dispatch to the London 1drcrtisc
a. person of UNMARRIED good humor nm,
n chccriulnCss which was proof against
any amount of disaster He always haC
smile ON his lips and good WORD
warm from the heart for his acquaint
ances, and IL was quite picture To sec
him going through tho frosty streets
! during the late great storm, whistling
chcerily To himself, and rubbing his
hands merrily together, or slapping the
same violently against his shoulders, as
II To say that 80 long as he had the
strength necessary 10 bodily exercise he
defed the elements and was bound To be
happy i'm spite OF them.
IL was noticed, during one of the most
bitter of the late cold days, that Mr..
Checkley went out without his over
coat and somebody, out of curiosity
that is perhaps pardona6le, inquired
| about il. Why said Mr.. Checkley,
laughing with such energy that his thin,
spare face was given up 10 n remarkable
matter of vacancy, "the truth il, my
boy, the coat is full of holes, and the
N'NNhiN W. ~ IN NNNH NllAN II MOu I DthI
any further mending without dropping
Ia pieces" The inquirer said the good
clergyman always would have his Jokes,
and laughing in return, passed on his
way hugging himself to keep warm.
Again, those of Mr., Checkley's garments
which were in daily use were exceed
ingly thin, and here aud there appeared
breaks which would have been quite un-
pardonable but for the article called n
patch. Mr. Checkley was frequently
chided for this cccentricity of dress,
but he laughed off the slight rcbukes in
the most jolly manner, though every
day the garments became thinner
somewhat resembling his face and hands
in that particular; until finally the gar
ments were shockingly incomplete in
view of the state of the weather-as
were the skin and the slight amount of
flesh which covered his bones, the latter
OF which, by the way, had acquired II
bad habit Of rattling.
Mr.. Chcckley apparently enjoyed the
holidays hugely, rubbing his hands and
flinging his arms against the elements
and in every respect being IA lively IA
possible, giving thanks with an JUNCTION
which was inspiring, and joining in the
songs Of Joy with an carncstness which
would have been very impressive but
! for great hoarsnness, some fcebleness of
voice, and in general terms shOckingly
bad cold. Everybody noticed that as
the frost became more keen, he became
more lively, trotting from his church
to his home and back again i'm as cner-
gctic n manner as his gradually inoreas-
ing feebleness would allow, and thrash
| ing the snow and wind that came in his
way az if he were determined that moth
ing should prevent his merrimcnt or cut
short the enjoyment belonging 10 the
sensOn.
The other morning, the congregation
Of the Rev. Mr.. Checkley awokc TO the
astounding intelligence that that gen
tlcman was dead. There were imme-
diate inquiries, though the general
belief was that he had perishcd either Of
Joy or high living; that it was case of
heart disease, or possibly of apopleXy,
| owing ~ too much sumptuousness and
consequent slowness in the circulation
of the blood. And then was brought
about probably the most astounding
discovery OF the period. A committee
Of investigation found that he was the
father of FIVE or six children, one Of
whom, young man, had both hands
amputated, and supported two children
Of Il dead brother and an invalid sister /,
that that large family were in extreme
| distress--nearly perishing, in point Of
| fact, Of hunger and cold and finally,
that the merry Mr.. Checkley had actu-
! ally permitted himself 10 die of starva-
| ton. And all this Notwithstanding the
| fact that the reverend gentlemen was in
| the possession Of an annual salary of
$400 year. Yet we cannot fOrbeaT an
expression OF admiration for the pride
of the Rev. Mr.. Checkley for his en-
| duranCe, and the smile he wore through
| his suffering and degradation. While
| his systom Of finance Was undoubtedly
! bad-was 80 very bad that it is totally
! iDeKcusable-th fortitude he exhibited
WAS as marked and enduring as the
/ laugh with which he clOaked his slow
/ starvation Was merry and enliyening.
/ While the person who cannot support n
| family Of eight or ten on $4OO year il
entitled 20 no financial consideration
whatever, and while it may be a ques
tiOn whether man has right 20 =
pride which will see his children suffer
rather than beg for bread, it cannot be
forgotten that the merry Mr. Checkley
| died first, and that there is n posi-
! bility, through his self-sacrlice, Oi
! his family being restored 20 health and
| the average rotundity. We cannot, al
least, forget his bright and CHEEKY
smile, his ever merry laugh. We should
think they would be stamped ON the
memory Of every member OF his cOnRre-
cation, there 10 remain forever and
! awaF