charitable and sapient notions on the subject of clerical education, I shall not deem it necessary to state whether Mr. Smith did or did not pursue a course of study at any one of our Theological Colleges. He might, or might not have been familiar with the Vicar's Close at Wells: he might, or might not have braced his lungs by the frequent ascent of Wheatley Hill. Let that pass. Somewhere or other he passed through a course of careful study for his sacred profession, and he was not without the benefit of a wise adviser in the selection and application of his studies.

But I am sorry to say that the general impression left on John Smith's mind with respect to the adviser in question, was that "Good old Hammond was rather slow."

Whether Hammond was slow, or Smith impetuous, the reader will, if he have patience, have the opportunity of judging; but the point which staggered Smith was this. Hammond was rather disposed to controvert the doctrine that no Parson,— say of the age of fifty, and upwards,-could know anything about the work of a parish.

"Of course, I don't mean to dispute for a moment that there are hundreds, thousands, of pious, hard-working men among the middle-aged and elderly clergy," was Smith's remark; "but it is not in the nature of things that, labouring as they did, under such heavy disadvantages as they must have done in their youth, when the standard of clerical acquirements was so low, they can be as efficient as those who are admitted to Holy Orders now-a-days."

"The experience of years will have given them a knowledge of the human heart, Mr. Smith, which will be of more value to a class of men whose business it is to train and direct it, than the most brilliant attainments which are superficial."

с

Mr. Smith was silent, but not convinced.

Knowing you as well as I do," said his friend, "I am satisfied that nothing but the highest motives have influenced you in the choice of your profession, and that your heart's desire is to make your parish a model parish. Is it not so ?"

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Undoubtedly."

And how do you propose to set about your task ?"

"Why, of course by making a change in all matters which are going on unsatisfactorily."

"And you will do this at once?"

"Well, there is nothing like striking while the iron is hot. A new broom is expected to sweep clean."

"I have known valuables swept into a dust-pan before now, in consequence of the hot haste of a housemaid. I suppose that before you make your changes you will allow yourself time to consider 'what you change from, what you change to, and where you will make an end of changing.

"Certainly, certainly, my good friend: but some things cry out so loudly for reform in every parish, that the sooner one commences one's alterations the better."

"I am not so sure of that, Mr. Smith. If you will take my advice, you will begin by making no changes at all. You will find it your true wisdom, as well as charity, to assume that there is some good reason why things are in the state in which you find them; that your predecessor watched over souls as believing that he must hereafter give account, and that therefore it is only right to believe until the contrary conviction be forced upon you, that you may only make bad worse by suddenly changing things which he tolerated."

"But consider, sir, how great a work is to be done, and how short a time is allotted us for doing it."

"It is that very consideration, Mr. Smith, which causes me to offer my present advice. We have so little time that we cannot afford to retrace our steps. Our work is, in faith and hope to go a-head.' 'Vestigia nulla retrorsum.' It may take years to undo the mistakes made through injudicious zeal at the commencement of a ministry."

"My dear sir, I beg your pardon, but clergymen of your time of life are always up in arms against 'injudicious zeal,' as they call it. Is not this like encouraging our neighbours to go to sleep, because we feel drowsy ourselves ?"

"Nay rather, it is more like a warning from dear-bought experience. At any rate, however, it does not look like modesty to act as though no one was ever in earnest in the work of winning souls, but yourself, And I doubt whether the conviction of your own earnestness, and the sincerity of your desire to do good, will be a sufficient reason for risking the peace and well-doing of a parish for years to come."

"There is some truth in what old Hammond says, no doubt," observed Mr. Smith to himself; "but he has the growing timidity of age: perhaps may sacrifice to expediency: but at any rate, what he says is slow,-uncommonly slow."

CHAPTER III.

IN WANT OF WORK.

"We have caught the woodcock, and will keep him muffled.” All's well that ends well.

"WELL, my dear, and what do you think of Mr. Smith ?" asked the crippled Rector of his wife, as she returned to her place beside the patient's couch, after having discharged the duties of hospitality to the new Curate.

"A very quiet, gentlemanly man, Charles, with a very poor appetite."

Shy, perhaps ?"

"Oh dear no! He talked so eagerly, that he hardly gave himself time to eat, and certainly did not know what he was eating. When I asked him whether he would not have some cream with his black currant dumpling, he thanked me, and began to help himself out of the mustard-pot."

"Nervous, I suppose ?"

"Well, nervousness shows itself in very odd ways, you know, and so I can't be sure; but I thought he seemed quite self-possessed. He almost took my breath away," added the good lady, with a short pursy gasp, quite in character with her structural economy, "by the eagerness of his manner, and the number of his questions. But he seems a very good kind of a young man, and when he is quieted down from the excitement of his journey, I make no doubt but we shall like him exceedingly. And, my dear, there is one thing which I see at the outset, and which is a very great comfort; he is evidently a kind of person who does not grudge his trouble. He seems made for exertion, and as if he could not live in any state but one of activity."

"Not a restless fidget, love, I hope ?"

"He's younger than we are, my dear; and different people have different manners; and there is something rather unquiet in the spirit of the times, which seems to affect everybody except such antediluvian vegetables as you and me, Charles. But I shouldn't think that we shall find him fidgety, when he is fairly in work; though perhaps he may be a little impatient at starting. Even Dumpling is that, my dear, when he has not been in harness for a week. And what a blessing it is that we should have got a man of active character, now that you are disabled."

"I am not so sure of that, my dear," observed Mr. Gibson, rather anxiously.

"O, of course he must not be allowed to interfere, or to take the reins into his own hands; but what I meant was, that now while it is impossible that you should be mounting cottage staircases for months to come..

"Weeks, my dear. Mr. Ashley said I should be off the couch in a fortnight, and soon able to go about again as usual."

"Well, I hope you may, Charles; but, at any rate, for the present, you can do nothing; and meanwhile the Church, and the schools, and the sick will be carefully attended to."

"I feel quite equal to seeing him, Mary: let him come up at once."

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Really, Mr. Gibson, don't you think you would be more equal to it after a good night's rest ?"

"I hope I see you better, sir," observed Mr. Smith, as, ushered into the room in the dusk, he tumbled over a footstool.

The incident would have discomposed many a man; but Mr. Smith's self-possession was not disturbed by trifles. "I hope I see you better, sir," said Mr. Smith, restoring the footstool to its place.