few who could cope with his ponderous arguments, parry his polished shafts of satire and ridicule, turn aside the force and directness of his logic, or resist the magic charm of his eloquence. N this month's number, our, readers will find an engraving of the great American statesman, lawyer, and orator, who has just passed from the scene of his labors. The name of DANIEL WEBSTER has passed from among Daniel Webster fills a large men, and persons of all parties vie with each space in the history of the later years other in rendering the homage of respect and of our Republic. For nearly half a veneration to the GREAT AMERICAN. From century he has, in different capacities, his bier the virulence of party shrinks back served in the councils of our country, like some unholy thing, feeling it to be little and has left upon our institutions the less than sacrilege to rear its monstrous crest impress of his commanding talents in that solemn presence. Over his grave a and enlarged statesmanship. His intellectual nation weeps a nation's loss. But though he powers were such as are vouchsafed to but has passed away, he has left to the country few men. His mind was of that comprehen- the rich legacy of his wisdom in his speechsive order which could take a subject within es, in his addresses, in his state papers. May its grasp, and look it through and through; the influence of his teachings be long felt see it in all its parts, in all its bearings, and among us, to the good of our common counin all its workings. His opinions were there-try, and the happiness of our fellow-men. fore broad and expansive, and national; free- It is said that Mr. Webster was a man of a ing themselves from sectional prejudices, and very serious and religious turn of mind, and looking to the good of the whole country. that for a long time before his death he was a As a statesman he had no superior; as a law-member of our Church. yer he had no equal; as an orator there were VOL. 1X.NO. XII. 354 CHRISTMAS. "For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." THE merry bell within the village steeple Has ushered in the dawn with stirring peal,* And from their slumbers roused the willing people, The day to welcome with religious zeal. From tower and cot in this and many a nation, Again the Church, in accents of deep gladness, Through the long vista of departed ages, We see the shepherds haste with eager faces, We see the splendour of the new star casting We see, with feelings kindling to devotion, The glorious Babe in wondering Mary's arms, We see the magi bending low before Him, With costly gifts, myrrh, frankincense, and gold; They as a king with reverence adore Him, Whose coming ancient seers and signs foretold. The symphony of gladsome voices swelling, We seem to hear the herald angels' chorus, St. Luke, ii. 11. Long years have passed since His eventful story Thrilled through the dwellers of His native coasts; The child-the man of griefs-the Lord of Glory, As one is now adored by countless hosts. The Church, His spouse, with prayer and anthem peal- Bids all who love Him keep this festal day; To honor Him, the lowliest and highest, That ever trod the earth in human form, Not with the revelry of days departed, Prophetic yule-log, and with tumultuous din, By deeds of charity and mercy cheering So we, by His example meekly guided, Who gave Himself for our deluded race, And while our lips shall utter forth His praises, Our minds and hands may show their moving pow'r, 'Mid fragrant aisles, where, round the pillars twining, We with the wise men and the shepherds joining, And echoing onward through all coming time. Amazing thought-that, through the years eternal, 1852. * It was formerly the custom, in the native village of the writer, for the church-bell to be rung at daybreak on Christmas morning. St. Matt. xxvi. 53. SUPERANNUATED; OR, THE RECTOR OF ST. BARDOLPH'S-A Sketch. BY REV. FREDERIC W. SHELTON. CHAP. XXV. The health of Mr. Admuller sensibly declines, and he is commonly spoken of as Superannuated-A few remarks on Bronchitis-The old Sexton of St. Bardolph's-An incident at St. Bardolph's, and some remarks upon transient visitors. HEN we consider the in- badly constructed as to acoustic principles, cessant amount of preach-consumes the lungs, and tears to pieces the ing required of the clergy throats of the clergy. The bronchial tubes now-a-days, which is far become inflamed, the mouth is lined with ulmore than their own good cers, and in a few years consumption sets in. or that of the people de- Bronchitis has lately become very common, mands, it is no wonder especially among the city clergy. If these that their throats occasionally givebe popular men, they stand some chance of out. What man in any other voca- recovery, because their congregations are tion would be tolerated for a single wealthy, and it is too hot for religious seryear, were he to address a stated au-vices in the summer. Moreover, at proper dience in a stated harangue, two or intervals, their churches must be repainted three times regularly every week? and repaired, or it may be, rebuilded on a more Were there a little more praying and less ambitious scale. Of these intervals they preaching, it would be better for all hands. make a proper use for the benefit of their deSurely one good discourse on a Sunday is all caying throats. The first symptom is a little to which the preacher can do justice, or which hoarseness, after which, although they somethe audience will digest; whereas the demand times look fat in the face, their voice is enis for two or three, and it is nothing but tirely suspended, and they come to a dead preach, preach, preach, to a set of listeners, pause in the middle of the service. Then an the majority of whom, by their vacant looks, active sympathy begins lest their eloquent show an inexpressible weariness. The con-voices be forever hushed. It is found that a sequence is, a tedious repetition of similar trip to Europe is a good remedy for the insiideas and of similar illustrations, which in a dious disease, and the family physician testifew years beget the desire of freshness and fies the same. The merchant princes advance of change. When presently you have be- the funds. They engage the poorest preachcome thoroughly familiar with a man's waysers whom they can find to take their places of thinking; when you can anticipate exactly while gone; and, free from care, while their what he is going to say, or recognize what he salaries run on, fly away on the wings of the has said before, though he speak from a full wind. When their furlough is up, they come mind, his administration will not be agreeable. back very much benefited in body and mind. This does not conflict with what has been al- Foreign travel is no small advantage to the ready said of the effect of proper study, when clergy. Books often serve to contract the no opportunity is afforded for the same. A mind more, in some part where it happens to young man goes into a parish, and is imme-be narrow, by confirming opinions and prediately called upon for his two sermons on possessions already formed. By pushing out Sunday and a "week-day lecture." He forth- into the world, the ideas are enlarged, and with either travels in a dull round, or betakes prejudices assuaged, and a more healthy tone himself to an ability for off-hand speaking. is acquired. But with respect to curing the This remarkable gift will not save him; but bronchitis, they would derive as much good, in the other event, his health soon gives way, and be subjected to far less expense, by soand when once gone, there is little hope of its journing on Schooley's Mountain. Of that, being patched up. The want of a proper elo- however, no mention was made in the explicit cution, the amount of speaking in churches directions of the family physician. They "I shall at least die in the harness. I shall wear out, not rust out. I am unable to follow your good admonitions." must obey orders, return in good health, and ( for ever cease. "Then," said the Rector, so remain until it becomes necessary to perform the journey again. And if they are faithful men, who would begrudge them this pleasant recreation? But with the country clergy, who work as hard, and are never out of the traces, the means of locomotion are not to be had. To jog about the parish with an old horse, the very appearance of which is enough to provoke a smile, is the extent of travel; and if their throats are blistered, they must preach away as if they were made of brass. When at last shelved, their place is supplied, and they are put upon the list of Aged and Infirm Clergy," for whom a collection is taken up in the churches once every year. From this contingency they shrink as they would from going to the poor-house. The cause of bronchitis has never been adequately ascertained. Some attribute it to the common use of anthracite coal, others to exposure and sudden changes of weather; but it is certainly on the increase since steam-navigation began. There are many of us who desire to get a sight of Westminster Abbey, but we stay at home and attend to our duties within sight of our deformed churches with their ugly steeples, although we are laboring under bronchitis. The physician took up his hat, and said that such obstinacy would cost him dear. It needed little prescience to know the result. Mr. Admuller kept on. His wife hung with fond solicitude over him as he lay day by day wretched and enfeebled on a sofa, or guided the pen over the paper with a trembling hand. On Sunday morning, when the bell tolled, it was with a painful exertion that he roused himself for a short walk to St. Bardolph's Church. The old sexton, as he arranged his surplice, shook his head, and remarked with sorrow his sunken cheeks and hacking cough. He would say, with his hand upon the knob as he reluctantly opened the vestry door," your Reverence is too ill to preach to-day," and as he glided in like a ghost, he said to himself, "he will not long be here. He is going the way of all living. The poor will miss him sadly when he is gone." And he would go up, sit upon his chair by the bell-rope, and sigh. The sexton was distinguished by a precise and formal attention to the duties of his place, which he had held for forty years. Had Mr. Admuller accepted the invita- How gingerly would he glide through the tion, long since given, to a city church, and aisle in softest slippers!-how delicately had he become likewise enfeebled in health, would he creep up on tip-toe, and whisper a he would have been sent, like many of his message in the Rector's ear. With what offibrethren, by the generosity of parishioners, cial importance would he recall the physician to foreign climes. As it was, the expenses from his pew when there was urgent need! of his family hardly permitted him to budge With what sacred tutelage would he bear the even a short journey; and anxiety for their basket which contained the communion sersupport was an additional drawback. When vice on his arm, and as he put it down, first he was a young man, his salary and. per-peep reverently under the snow-white napkin, quisites were ample; but for years past they then lift it slowly from the polished cup sufficed only by a rigid economy. He had paten! With what a succession of politest not the bronchitis, but a deep and settled bows would he guide the stranger to a pew! cough contracted during a severe winter, and How kindly would he up and remonstrate which he strove in vain to palliate or heal. with the woman with the crying child, and if His family physician, a devoted Churchman, it kept on talking aloud take it from her arms and a good friend, began to feel no little anx- as it struggled violently and kicked his stoiety, and laid his positive commands. He mach, crying all the while, "I'll be good, I'll must cease awhile from his parochial duties, be good!" How carefully was his eye fixed he must divest his mind from care, he must upon the crazy vagabond who would sometimes go upon a journey. Gladly would he have stray in! How would he sit in the belfry said, "Go and visit the continent of Europe with his corpulent silver watch in his palm for a few months. The sea voyage will abate until the minute hand reached the half hour or cure the cough, and the enlivening in- dot, and then seize the rope coiled at his feet, fluence of new scenes will cause a reaction, and placing his foot thereon, then cause the and a renovation of the physical man." He bell to send forth the exact number of vibraknew that this was out of the question, and tions on the air! How solemnly did he make suggested it not. But when every Sunday's it toll! When service was over, how scrupuexertion pulled his friend back, and he lost lously would he collect the contributions from all which had been gained during the week, the plate, place the books aright, close the he told him in plain terms that he must cease pew-doors, lock and double-lock the church, awhile from his ministrations, or he would and as he went out of the gate, turn round to and take a look to see that the steeple was firm! While he held office, the seats were welldusted, the tablets free from cobwebs, and the mats which lay in the portico well beaten-out. When at the funeral he three times severally sprinkled the earth upon the coffin, to the touching words, "Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust," he shook his solemn head, and was a standing essay on mortality.estate. There was great weight in his words to the offending urchin who too thoughtlessly sported around graves. "Young man! remember that you must at some day come to this!" Oh! how many and how many did he commit most decently to the dust before he was ga-ing as if they had taken counsel of the dying, thered to the narrow house appointed for all living. If any man had earned for himself a respectful burial, a long train of mourners, a not too hasty committal and putting away from human sight, he was the man. But he was not so well buried at last as he buried The duty was committed to a raw hand who rudely raked the earth upon his grave, and few attended his burial, and no stone marks the spot where he lies. The sexton was one of those very few who are found just in sufficient numbers to fulfil the wants of every community, and to him could be entrusted with all confidence the sacred necessary office of laying out the dead. he would dispose their limbs as gently and as tenderly as those of a sleeping child, and When Mr. Admuller ascended the pulpit or the desk, the opening sentences were so feebly uttered, that he could scarce be heard. But as he went on he gathered more than wonted energy, and never was the cadence of his voice more sweet. Never, moreover, were his appeals more touching or eloquent, for they derived a pathos from his sorrowful He spoke as one would from the borders of the grave. There was an indescribable force and meaning conveyed even by the uplifting of his attenuated hand. Many went away in tears from his discourse with the same feel others. For while the word spread from mouth to mouth, "how ill he looks! how he is fallen away! It would not be surprising if he did not live a great while." Others remarked, "what is to become of his wife and family? They have pretty high notions-they would not like to come upon the parish; and even if they would, it could do little for them. It is as much as they can do now to give a suitable salary to the clergyman of the parish." them in the same gentle, persuasive tones, with no lack of the mental power which had distinguished his best days; but as to the disaffected part of his flock, if the Angel Gabriel had blown his trump it would have been without effect. Those who do not wish to be Week after week did their minister address draw upon them the funereal cerements like the curtains of a couch, and when the task was done, he would stoop low, and gazing si- pleased, are more provoked still if they lently for a moment on the rigid features of find no just occasion of displeasure, and some well-known face, go his way in lowly several persons took occasion of his precasorrow, and with a sigh. Oh, good Mr. Fen-rious health to proclaim it abroad that he was nel! the sexton has degenerated sadly of late, well along in years, that his better course superannuated, that he was getting pretty because it is to be feared that reverence is on the wane. It is an old-school virtue, an ob- would be a timely resignation, and that then solete quality, put aside by the rushing hurry be done for him. there were many who would see what could of the age. The course of life is so precipitate that there is no time for the slow and somewhat elaborate formality which decency requires. Let the dead bury their dead! trusted on the part of those who made it? Think you that such promise could be Not a word of it. They wanted but the power of the keys to make him feel with still more poignant grief the evils of abject dependence, and to withdraw the support and allegiance which were in justice due, so long as he performed his duty. I know not why I have omitted to mention the sexton until now, unless it naturally occurs that I have reached a period in the narrative suggesting that his services might be required. He was one of the best friends Superannuated! There was surely as yet whom the Rector had, and there was an unno ground for this unfeeling charge against mistakable sincerity and sorrow in his look the Rector of St. Bardolph's. His eye was when he said, "Your Reverence is too ill to not dimmed, nor was his natural force of inpreach to-day." He said, "Your Reverence," tellect abated. They glowed more brightly because he was from the old country, and did and with a purer lustre as the vase which not belong to the race of sextons who imper- held the oil appeared more fragile. With tinently remark to the rectors that they are what a withering sense does this insinuation hired by the vestry, and who go about their come upon the ears of those who feel their business as a servant would brush out a par-hearts yet thrill with warm affections, and lor, or an hostler a stable. that the approach of age, which makes indeed |