Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-04-09
TIE LAST HALF-CR0W N.

wa q poor curate living in the country
Those were the old days of piuralism, and
my rector was great plIralist He had
two caponries. two rectories, vicarage, a
prebenda! stall, snug Office IN an ecciesi-
astical court, and an archdeaconry. 1t
was quite obvious that he could not inhabit
ali his houses al the same time and SO he
graciouslg allowed me the use of his
vicarage-bouse, deducting something from
my stipend but, let it be said to his
credit. not SO much as he could legally
have doae ON this account.
OF course ! married. 1t seems the des
tiny Of the inpecunious curate-wha5 they
must all come to. a bachelor curate
would have very little chance among the
cherry. checked maidens of Cherrington, all
ripe, with delicate white and glowing red.
Farmer Dawson, the churchwarden for our
parish, gloried in the singularity of having
only one cu1ate, and was very friendly and
neighborlr, | used to turn in on Sunday
afternoon, for evening services at that time
were hSrdiy known IN country places, and
used to smoke pipe with the farmer, and
partake Of his homemade wine and home
brewed ale, until Mary called us in TO tea.
Mary and married. very obvious
course-and the six little ones came on
with all the regularity of the cherry season.
My father-in.law said that he should leave
Mary fifteen hundred pounds when he died,
and in the meantime allow rs the interest J;
it was possible, if laundering good war
came again, that he might make more
money ana allow Us more interest.
| became very much attached to my
work, and very fond of the house and no.
bic grounds indeed our vicarage grounds
were quite famous in our part of the coun-
try At the came time I felt that it was
the warm nest upon the totterlng bough.
was not my own master, and every Gu
rate has an insane idea that he would like
to be his own master whereas, after my
own experience, can say that it is much
easier and happier to be ruled than to rule,
and In all my preferments l never was
happier than in nv first humble curacy.
But | am anticipating. Here was | dread
ing the breaking of the bough, when that
breaking OF the bough in a kindly Provi-
dence was TO bring some very strange
things about.
There We're two ways in which my bough
might iuconHnently break. The curacy
being an unusually snug one, the Rev. DR..
JennlfeY nBgit choose to eject me and APP
point some private friend of MS own. But,
to do him justice, he was quiet, easy
going man. His own lines had fallen
to him N snug, pleasant places, and he
would not ike TO infiict hard lines upon
any man. Bat there was the chance
that having had so many good things, he
might cap them all by taking a bishopric,
which would necessarily vacate all mis- APP
pointmeDts. There was also a chance that
he might shuttle Of this mortal coil, albeit
tenderly attached TO the mortal coil and
much nourishing and cherishing it. l
should say that the bishop of our own di-
geese had local ties which brought him
very much into our neighborhood. Our
bishop was comparatively poor, and made
himself poorer than he need be. he never
took fines and rack-rents he granted
leases, he improved the Church property,
he maintained schools he bore cheerfully
even more than his share Of the burdens
upon laud-that land which always seemed
to me to he erievously burdened. So when
the good bishop came down to these parts,
which was pretty often, he would some
times turn aside for night or two at the
vicarage, when he would romp with the
little ones and talk with me about the
Greek poets over a pipe and some of my
father.ln.iaw's home brewed In the even
ing.
The very reverend vicar an archdeacon
of Archdeacon Grantley's own stamp died
suddenly OF govt in the stomach. 1t was
rather unhaudsome of the govt, which
generally troubles fingers and toes before
making sudden final descent upon such a
very vital region. OF DIR. Jennifer' S
numerous appointments, the vicarage of
Cherrington was in the gift OF the Lord
Chancellor Ordinarily, Chancellor's hv-
ings are not very good but this was one of
the best being between four and five hun
bred so I should have about as much
chance of getting the living by applying
for it as of gong to the moon in balloon.
But for all that | made up my mind that
] would apply for IL, and thought that now
was the time when my happy friendship
with the Bishop might stand me in good
stead, It go fortunately happened that a
few hours later the Bishop, riding by on
his cob to visit one of his farms, drew up
to talk about the news which the morn
iug's post had brought respecting this la
meuted demise.
a am vary 3rry, said the good Bishop,
when he HAD patiently listened to the story
of my pains and expectations, - but ! am
afraid, though yOu may not think so, that
/ am the last man able to do you any
good. never asked a favor of any man ;
and if | did So l do not think that my
asking would have the slightest weight
with the Lord Chancellor
q confess, my lord. ! said, that I
had ventured to count upon your in
huence.
"But I have no influence, my dear Mr..
Vavasour, said the Bishop Il have
never given a party support to this Gov
eminent or any Government. I go to Lon.
don as little as | can, and am always clad
20 get out of it as soon as / can. Some of
my Episcopal brethren get little notes
from the Treasury asking them to be in
their places at certain times. or to use
their influence with certain people The
Treasury never think it worth their while
to send any little notes to me.
l could not help smiling at the engaging
frankness Of my worthy diocesan.
"And ! can tell you another thing, he
said. (which will explain to you my posi-
ton better. I don't owe any Government
any thanks for putting me where l am.
They did not do 1t out OF any kindness for
me The Prime Minister wanted the pre-
ferment which used to hold for another
man He could not make his friend a
Blshop-it was more than he dare debut
he could make me Bishop, and then he
could give my preierment to friend. So,
YOU see, Mr. Vavasour, there are wheels
within wheels; and, after all, he gave me
nearly the poorest see there is. He prom
ised me that should have something &c
hold with it: but he never kept his prom
Use"
Evidently my poor bough had broken