The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-11-17
SILAS BARCLAYS PREFERMENT.

The Reverend Silas Barclay had reach
ed. his ive-and-sixtieth year, hale,
hearty and strong and was one of the best
educated men in the country, but, in all
the world, he had not an influential
friend.
His was but a poor parish. We may
judge something of The ability of his
flock when it is recorded that from his
curacy and the tuition of the few stu
dents who came to him for help in their
studies-he prepared young men for
college, and also gave instruction to
young students for the ministry-from
all sources he gained an income of not
more than ego per annum, upon which
he went on, living the humble, useful
life, giving help and happiness to those
poorer than himself whenever the OPP
%portunity was.
One chill, rainy October evening our
good old curate was in trouble. He had
received a letter from Scotland, where
he had an only son living, informing
him that dire misfortune had befallen
his boy, however, married, and with a
family of his own. He had agreat deal
of sickness; his wife had been prostrat-
ed during the Summer, and was not yet
able to be around; and altogether he
was in sore distress. Oh! could not his
good old father help himP
"Alas!' the old man murmured, sit
is very hard for poor George. Wife, is
there not some way in which we "a
give him helpP Can you think of any
thing we can dop"
The wife looked at him with an omi-
nous shake of the head.
"Help! All! who would help him more
quickly than would Ip But where are we
to find itP"
The clergyman's countenance fell
He was obliged to acknowledge that he
had not the money. and further that he
knew not where he was to find it.
"But, dear wife, let us not borrow
trouble. Never have 1 seen the right
eous forsaken, nor his seed begging
breadl Something will come to help
u.s."
Mrs. Barclay looked as though she
would like to give him a severe lecture
for his willingnessto find anything hope
full in their present situation; but there
was something in the warm, loving, and
generous light of his really happy face
that withheld her from the harsh criti-
cism which had been evidently upon her
tongue.
She had opened her lips, and was up
on the point of speaking, when the
tramp of a horse was heard upon the
pavement at the gate; and ere long
thereafter, n smart rap sounded upon
the door. The clergyman took up a
lighted candle and answered the sum-
mons.
The caller proved to be a Frenchman,
on his way to Norwich, who had been
overtaken by the storm; was wet and
cold and hungry; and knew not where
to look for a public house. He did not
feel that he could, with safety to his
health-to say nothing of bodily COM
fort-travel any further in the storm.
He was a respectable-looking man,
rather understood, and dark of COM
plexion; and the good wife, when she
saw him was afraid of him. AS oon as
she could gain m opportunity to speak
with her husband apart, she urged him
not, on any account, to ask the man to
stop over night. The curate's answer to
this was curious, and, when considered
in the light of subsequent events, pro-
phetic.
ssWife," said he, half playfully,
"we've been looking for u angel all
these years among our own countrymeD
may it not be that the Good Father has
sent him from Francep"
The clergyman lighted q lantern, and
went out and put the strangers horse
into his barn, and gave him hay and
grain, and then came back to find the
dame in the act of bestowing upon him,
the stranger one of his own warm dress
ing-gowns. The man donned the robe
cheerfully; then sat down by the fire,
while the hostess made ready refresh
ment for him. It was an humble meal
which the clergyman's wife was able to
prepare; but it was substantial and
w~ell-cooked, and there was enough of it.
The visitor spoke English very we'll
very plainly; and the good clergyman,
at length, ventured upon his slight
knowledge Of French, as he called it,
whereupon the visitor tried to be indig.
nant.
my faithT" he exclaimed, '.you speak
my language purely and with grace. II
you understand the grammar"
ssO,-that is about all I have dared tc
think 1 did understand" the host putin,
al venture to assert that / can teach
French grammar"
"Aye,-and you may henceforth claim
that you a teach your pupils how tc
speak it."