Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-07-31
TIE University Match.


A. English STORY.
The Rev. Thomas Baxter VS.. a curate
~ the muscular, energetic type, which,
fortunately :ur the church. is turned out
not unfIequentiy by our universities and
pubIlc schools. He was a big broad
shou.dcfed yoUug man, who. beside dis
tnggI>hin- himself greatly both on the
river and in the cricket field. had taken a
Very respectable degree, for he was by no
means afraid Of hard work Of any descrip-
ruu. Such men often make capital
parsons and Tom was hardy less
energetic in lis parish work than he
had been 10 very different spheres Of action
at Eaton and oxford. But there were
limits To- Mr BaXtrr~ endurance he liked
an occasional holiday, and this was the
only point upon which he and hi, vicar
the Rev. Septimu> Straightway. were not
entirely agreed.
The Rev. Septlmu- was an earnest man.
and took severe and gloomy view Of the
pleasures Of life. He worked terribly
hard in the East End parish; knew moth
lug and cared les about outdoor sports
or. IN fact, about any form of amusement
and fully expected his curates 10 follow
uuhe-itat!ugly in the extremely narrow
and steep path up which he led them
way experienced considerable difficulty in
finding curatc> after his own heart; the
Young men were continually leaving him
FOR les arduous duties, and the vicar
opinion OF human nature in general, snd of
The Younger generation Of curates in par
ticular. steadily grew worse In Tom
Baxter, however, he really thought he
possessed a treasure, and the danger of
working 4 Hing horse to death never 60
much a. entered into his head
Poor Tom did his very best to sati-f ~
Mr. Straightway's requirements, for he
really respected the man and valued
Immensely hi> good opinion, but. as has
already been indicated, he could not help
longing that his superior would enter II
little more into his own harmless liking
for occasional relief, and sympathize with
his passion for rowing and all that was
connected whith athletics.
At the time | write Of the cricket sea
son was in full swing; but Toms duties
had not only prevented him from playing
IN single match, but even from looking
on al one for few hours from the roof OF
the pavilion at Lords Moreover the uni
yer>ity cricket match, in which he took an
absorbing interest, was fast approaching
and he was soIcly troubled by the dread
that he might not be able to see it, This
fear haunted him day and night it worri-
ed him during his visiting and mission
work, spolli his rest and occasional,
obtruded itself upon him in the pulpit.
Even the absent minded Mr.. StraIghtway
at length noticed that his Curates mind
was i'll at ease, and one day he went 50 far
as to inquire the cause. Tom stammered
out something about beng out of sorts,
and ventured TO hint that he thought a
days holiday would do him good.
when | was your age, Mr.. Baxter,
never wanted holiday" replied the austert
vicar; but you are certainly not looking
we'll Let me see, to-day is the Path OF
June. In about fortnight l think | car
arrange day for you. Say the 18th OF
July"
Can't it be managed week sooner?'
queried Tom. desperately, for the universi
~ match was fixed for the 4th
Quite impossible, | fear" said the vicar
decisiyely for he was terrible MARTINEZ
with his curates. So, with wave of hi,
hand, he dismissed the subject, and Ton
knew that further appeal was useless.
Its rather too bad" grumbled Mr.
Baxter, as he walked home to his humble
lodgings. But it is no use talking to hin
about cricket; he doesn't know bat from
ball" And with heavy heart he trieC
to resign himself to the inevitable.
But two days later a circumstance occur
red which entirely routed Toms virtuou:
resolutions. A letter arrived at the re
yerend gentleman's lodgings which wa,
couched in the following terms -
HEATHCoTE HALL. LoAMsHIRE.
Dearest Tom-We are actually coming t'
town! Only for two days, though; ant
We are going to Lords to see the match
Uncle has got drag there, block B. O
course shall never forgive you If you don
come and see me on Wednesday afternoon
we 90 to Essex to stay with the Chilvertons
so this is our only chance of meeting. d.
come; in terrible haste. Yours lovingly,
ALICE.
From the foregoing it may be gathere'
that Miss Alice Heathcote and MIR. Ton
Baxter ere on tolerably intimate terms
As matter of fact they had been eDgage'
for six months, during which time the
had rarely met. Baxter's people were we
of. and he had very rich uncle, anon
whose possessions was an excellent living
destined in the future for Tom and hi
/ bride. But the uncle was stern and con
/ scientious gentleman, and lie was detei
mined. before he definitely agreed to Civ
/ Tom the yacancy-w when it occurred-t
see " hat that young gentleman was mad
| of. And this was why Baxter had bee
sent to help Mr.. Straightway in the Eas
End. why be worked so hard in the parish
and why he was 80 desperately anxious
stand high in his wears opinion.