New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-06
THE LAST HALF-CROWN.

was q crest pluraiist He had two 0anonIloe, ~
in An ecciesiasticar court, and an archdeaccnry IL
Wa unite obyious that be could not inhapit ms
houses at the same time, and 90 ne grac,oasis a.,
lowed me- the use Of his viearage house, deductng
somethIng from my stipend; but, lot It be said 70
bis credit not 30 much as he could legally nave
o1s c cm married. Il seems the destiny of Che
impecnnious eurate-what they must au come 70.
a 6achelor curate would have very httio chance
among tbs malaens Of sning sed
Farmer Dawson, the churchwarden toI our p.nt'
cioried in tine sneularity OF having only one
and WIS very ano for evening services
at thai time were hardly known IA county piscOe'
and used to smoke pipe with tne iarinel anu p1a a
until Mary called Us in to tea. MARY ana ma, ma
ried,-a very obvious couIse,-and the Ax nIuo
ONES came or wsn al 1He AHA that he should leave
Mary fifteen hundred pounds when ne Giea am Ia
The meantime allow the interests 1t was possiDie
sss sUo sn Ts aO% US interest
i herame very much attached 10 my work. ana
yery fond of the house and noble grounds inasea
x 90 grounds were quite famous IN our part
- t,s canntrv Al the same time felt that It was
The Nv warm nest upon the lettering bough. l was
mot my own master ana , Sves he his own master
SSbsrass after nv own experience, can say that
IL is much easier and happier to be ruled IMAM 20
rnie and in all my rracy But am sntci
n.einS. Here was I dreading the breaking OF the
bou2h, when that breaking OF VIC oous4 t ~ %
There were two ways in which my bough might
inoontinently break The euracy being an unusually
sang one. the Rev. DIR. Jennifer might choose 70
eject me and appoint some private friend OF ms
own. But. to do him justice; 6e was aules, easy
voinc man. His own lines had fallen TO him IN snug,
neasant places and he would not like to inict nard
tincs upon any man. But there was the ohence
that, having had 60 many good things; ne mghISs
,ecessar;lv yacate all his appointments. There was
alan the chance that he might shuttle OF this mortal
Sod mncb nourishing and entertaining it.. should
say that the bishop OF our own diocese hau iocA
ties which brought him very much into our neign,
made himself poorer than he need be. He never
took fnes and rackrents; he granted leases. he I'M
proved the Church property ne maintained SCHOOLS;
he bore cheerfully even more than his SNARE OF the
burdens upon land, that land which seems TO me 20
be always grievously burdened. SO when the good
bishop came down to these paris Men was piS. W
two at the yicarage, when he would romp with the
little ones and talk with me about the Greek poets
over pipe and some of my Authoritative home
The yery reverend vicar, an archdeacon of Arch:
deacon Grantley's own stamp, died suddenly OF
gout in the stomach. 1t was rather unhandsone OF
the cont which generally troubles fingers and toes
before making q sudden final descent upon such
very vital region Of Dr. Jepnlers numerous t ap
aft OF the Lord Chancellor. Ordinarily, Chancel-
Tors iivings are not very good but TINS was one
of the best being between four ana nve hun9Teu so
i should have about as much chance OF getting the
living by applying for it of going to the moon In
balloon. But for all that made up my mind that
wGTa D for snS
might stand me in good stead ~ so fortunately
happened that Q few hours later tho bishop RIDING
talk about the news which the mornings post had
brought respecting this lamented demise.
am very said the good bishop %hsn a5 ns
expectations, but am afraid. though you may not
think SO, that am the last man able to do you any
lid 50. / do not think that my asking wonld have
the slightest weight with the Lord Chancellor.
Il confess. my lord, said, that had ventured
to count upon your influence
sBut have no influence, my dear Mr.. Vavasour,
said the bishop. i have never gwen party sup
port TO this Government or any government 60
to London as little as can, and am always glad 10
uef ont OF il as soon as Some OF my episcopal
brethren get little notes from the Treasury asking
them TO be in their places at CERTAIN 1i4ss or 20 use
never think 10 worth their while to send any little
Pe soSld not help smiling at the engaging frank
ness of nv worthy diocesan
And can tell You another thing he SAID. which
will explain to You my position better. don't owe
any Government any thanks for putting me where
is am. They did not do It out Of any Kindness for
me- The Prime Minister wanted the preterment
which I used to hold for another man. lie conld
not make his friend bishop-it was moro than
he dared do; but he could make me bishop, and
then he could give nv preferment TO q TREND 90
you see, Mr. Vayasour, there are wheels wit nm
wheels: and, after all, he gave me nearly the
poorest see there is. He promised nae that should
have something 20 hold with it; but he never Kept
Evidently my poor bough had broken down alto:
gether. 1t was not to be bound up by any care OF
mine. H.. .,o,,
yavasour,i said tho bishop kind-heartedly. with
cut the least improperly. cannot ask him to give
yoo the living, but will write few lines which
: yea can show at any time 10 the Chancenor' VI
anyone else Won choose =.
=. The worthy bishop dismounted, and entering the
say, Tr eseison that was good scholar, and
had work cd my paIish admirably.
sAnd IL can ever do anything for you, OF course
will he added. But You are still quite young
man and there are worthy men who have grown
gray in the diocese who have first claim on me-
discussed matters with my wife: nay hS wa,
really terrible one. An incoming vicar could e)ec
obtainabie for years; and. indeed, might not o.
ss q sSss Msynssa e. Sos asn
hope; but still this journey must be made L wa
fisy miles of but Farmer Dawson would take M
z ns 81 s S the end Of h
world, as was thought ut Chsrrington, and onij
Il vas 4 long joSrnsy IN those days; but started
1T early dawn IN order that If possible. might se
the Lard Chancellor the same day: Tea ant
to ssy. of any degree Of excellence-and was Il
buy them In London. Also had mysterlou
mission-so call at certain shops and get some GOT
,ceous articles Of attire tor baby, with which eh
was TO petrify the local mind on the Forthcoming
occasion of her being christened. was to attent
tothese things-so ran the wife's instructlons-th
very first thing Of ALL 20 that might make sure o
them / verify believe that she considered thu
matter of the living &c being Of quite interior i'm
portanco to the matter of baby's hood and bonnet
By this means my little stock of money, quite IN
considorabe at the hrst grew small by degrees ant
Beautifully less.' Emptying IL out OF my pocket
and examining it just before set out TO leave M
4 eaxd upon the Chancellor found that it was 70
fucod 10 single half-crown and few smaller coins
which might possibly bring me home again, aftel
making allowance for O crust OF bread and chess
4 and glass of beer. duly turned the coins oyei
and--shali confess Il f-spas upon them for luck!
sake. accorfine to Q Legend which had inherited
Qusintance In friendly way OF his lordship thu
Chancellor.