Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-15
From Belgravia.
THE LIVING OF SLGPTON WOLD.
BY K. L. NJ.

h. l..
i am aware that my great success
in life has been q matter of surprise
to many OF my acquaintance, who,
Judging me from the fact that took
merely poll degree at Cambridge,
and knowing that | possessed neither
influence nor exceptional abilities,
deem that my fortunes have far ex-
ceeded my desserts. [ am not igno-
rant that there are some, even among
my warmest friends, who hint that
the means by which I obtained my
advancement and happiness were
not altogether creditable TO me. 1t is
in order to refute there imputations
and clear away any mystery that sur
rounds the matter, that | have re-
solved to relate the following nara
tive For the benefit OF those not &C.
Quainted with me, may here state
that am in possession of one of the
richest livings in England, and also of
q wife of very great attractiveness,
and without fear respecting their de-
cision, I shall leave all candid readers
to determine whether employed any
dishonorableme IL order to obtain
either of those-it were idle to disguise
the fact--good things.
When [ became curate to the Rev.
Herbert Jones, vicar of ClOvertield,
though still young, had lost almost
all hope of preferment. 1t was my
third curacy; but my ambition, which
for some time had lain dormant, was
again aroused by the wears lovely
and amiable daughter. Fanny was
an only child, and when / first saw
her had just reached her twentieth
year. I fell in love; but the noblest
lady in the land could scarcely have
seemed further removed from me.
AS [ have said, l had no prospects,
and the vicar, though not wealthy,
mingled on terms of equality with
the surrounding county families,
amoung whom, with good reason, both
he and his wife expected q suit
able match for their charming daugh-
ter. Though she could not fail to be
cons cious of the sentiments / enter
tanned toward her, for | confess [
made them manifest, Fanny did not
In any way encourage my advances,
and, indeed, encouragement on her
part would only have been cruel CO.
quetry or folly, as she understood as
vel as myself the seemingly impass-
able gulf that divided US. The un-
varying amiability of her conduct to-
ward me, however, kept alive the pas
sion I cherished, and fed my hopes
scarcely less than actual professions
of love. I had been two years in
Cloverfeld when the rector of the
neighboripg parish of Sheppington
died. The living was in the gift Of the
bishop, and thought it was q poor one, it
would have amply satisfied my ambi-
ton, could but have spent the re-
mainder of my days in the quiet par
sonage with her | loved. At the same
time, not lar from US, another living
was vacant, Of a very different kind,
that of Slopton Void. one of the rich
est in the country. The patron was
our squire, Sir Peter Surlyman. Sir
Peter was hard riding, nard drinking
country gentleman, but he was a
sound churchman, g. regular church
goer, a good authority on ecclesiasti-
cal matters, and, stranger still, a
lover of eloquent preaching, and an
admirable critic of sermon. Now
our bishop, as is well known, had the
reputation of being one of the most
eloquent living pulpit orators, and be-
ing DESTROYS of obtaining the living Of
aSlopton Void for his brother, q
country rector with q moderate in
come and a large family, he had made
an arrangement with Mr.. Jones that
he should preach in Cloverfeld, while
Sir Peter was At home, and dine with
ho or of ri l.
when he intended to urge his brothers
claims. Though no actual negotia-
lions had yet passed between them,
the persons chiefly concerned under
stood the matter perfectly. Sir Peter
knew why the bishop was coming to
~Cloverfield; he greatly admired his
eloquence, and was willing to accede
to his wishes, as there was no one up.
on whom he specially wished to con-
fer his valuable patronage.
That the sequel may be better un-
deretood, must here make g. short |
DEPRESSION on the subject of my own
sermons. Among the ISLANDERS al |
ready referred to is the report, which |
has reached my ears, that l do not |
write my own sermons; it has even |
been said by some that I buy them
statements, need hardly say, which
are false. | do not, however, claim
entire originality for my sermons. I
have an extensive theological library
filled with the works of many of our
greatest divines, and lam accustomed
to draw freely upon their thoughts
and even their language; but the Sc
lection, arrangement. combination
and many illustrations are entirely
my own. My sermons are carefully
written out by me, and I consider my
claim to them is at least AS strong as
that of the authors of much of our