Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-04-09

neartedly, without the least 1mprOprlety.
l cannot ask him to give you the living,
but l will write a few lines which you can
show at any time to the Chancellor. or
anyone else you choose.
The worthy Bishop dismounted, and en-
tering the study wrote few lines, in
which he stated, to my grateful confusion,
that l was good scholar, and had worked
my parish admirably.
"And if can ever do anything for you,
of course l will, F." he added But you are
still quite a 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. My
fix was really terrible one. An incoming
vicar could eject me in six weeks. So good
euracy might not be obtainable for years !;
and, indeed, might not be able to obtain
any curacy at all precisely at the moment
| wanted it. 1t was hoping against hope /;
but still this journey must be made. It
was fifty miles off; but Farmer Dawson
would take me oyer in his gig until l
vention bet0kening the end of the world,
as was thought at Cherrington, and only
then coming into use.
1t was long journey in those days but
I started at early dawn in order that il
possible. | might see the Lord Chancellor
the same day. Tea and candles were not
procurable in our village-that is to say, Of
any degree of excellence-and was to buy
them in London Also l had mysterious
mission-to call at certain shops and get
some gorgeous articles of attire for a
baby, with which she was to petrify the
local mind on the Forthcoming occasion of
being christened. was to attend to these
things-so ran the wife's instructions-the
very first thing of all, so that l might
make sure of them. | verify believe that
she considered the matter of the living as
being of quite inferior Importance to the
matter of baby's hood and bonnet. By this
means my little stock of money, quite in
considerable at the first, grew "small by
degrees and beautifully less" Employing
it out of my pockets and examining it Just
before | set out to leave my card upon the
Chancellor, l found that it was reduced to
q single half-crown and few smaller coins,
which might possibly bring me home again,
after making allowance for a crust of bread
and cheese and glass of beer 1 duly
turned the coins over aud-shall | confess
cording to legend which | had inherited
from my ancestors, and set off to make the
acquaintance in a friendly way OF his lord
ship the Chancellor.
But ike Bob Acres, my courage was
imperceptibly oozing out of my toes as [
drew near the big, silent house where the
great man kept the Kings conscience in his
bag. Putting on a very painful expression
of appearing to be entirely at ease, [ as
cended the steps and made courageous
imitation of an aristocratic double-knock.
Is the Lord Chancellor at home %
inquired of a bloated specimen of the Brit
ish turnkey, who made his appearance.
His lordshipi is not at home, answered
the man, with Just suspicion of impu
dence in his voice.
Can you tell me when he will be at
home?"
"No, l can't, said the man, in tone
that convinced me of its insincerity, and he
was evidently preparing to bang the door
in my face, or something very like it.
Now had heard in my time of the vir-
tues of palm-oil. The human hand being
fabricated with composition of silver be-
comes tender and modified. To use palmer
terms, it occurred to me that it might be a
useful thing to bride the British turnkey.
But then arose the question Of the where
withal to bribe him. | had but my half
crown, my solitary coin of weight, my lit
tie all my beautiful, my last. If parted
with my half l might have to
trudge back TO Cherrington on the sort of
steed which the Bishop of Salisbury gave
to worthy Richard Hooker, namely, a
walking-staf. All my earthly hopes just
now were conferred on my having IN inter
view with the Lord Chancellor l did not
see any possible way of getting it unless
this fellow would give me admittance.
felt very much inclined to believe that the
Chancellor might be indoors at that very
minute.
With despairing clutch | grasped my
last half crown. It's seven brethren of
the last sovereign which l had changed had
taken to themselves wings and had all
flown away in the course of the day. 1t
was a desperate speculation, but thought
that | would venture this last half crown
on the chance, however remote, that some
thing good might turn up from it.
slipped, not without a severe twinge, the
last half crown-the last rose of summer
was a mere nothing to it-and said
50 am sure, my good fellow, that you
know the way how to bring me into speech
with the Lord Chancellor. d"
g Lor' bless you" he said with a grin,
as he pocketed the half crown, which would
be something far less to him than it would
be to me, TITS of no use in the world your
coming here, thinking that you may be able
to see my Lord Chancellor. Thought that
everybody knew that his lordship at this
time of year is almost always in the Court
of Chancery."
But he comes home, | said, thinking
that my half crown might persuade the
man, at some time or other, to usher me
| into the august presence.
=" Bless your heart, we never know when
he comes home. He may have to go and
see the Prime Minister or some other
nobleman about business or he may have
to go down to the House of Lords or he
may go to his own private rooms at the
House of Lords.
But he comes home," l repeated with
the iterancy OF despair
| " Y es, he comes home" said the man
with another grin I" but do you think
| that he would see you after all his work,
for all that Unless you have an appoint
ment wiSh him, or unless you are very
great man, or unless You have come to say
that the House is on fire, it would be more
than my place is worth to let you in. y
| thought of retaining the half crown
| but that was obviously impossible.
And do you mean to say that l shall
never be able to see him."
Wen, sir" he said, az see you're a
thorough gentleman, and I'll put you up to
a way by which You most likely may be
able to see HIM. You should 60 to Chan-
cery-lane, sir. BE has got little private
room close to his court, and you might find
him there. At least you are certain to find
him there if you are in good time. Most
likely he'll speak to you ii you send in
your name and business. He's haffable
gentleman after all, in spite of people being
so frightened of him. Bless your heart,
sir, I'd take any chance and show YOU in
directly if he were at home but though
it be his home, it's the worst place in the