likely to occur again. They have produced some hearty laughter at your expense, no doubt. And I should think the Bishop's laugh, when our explanation detrudes Mr. Timothy Peck from the sublime to the ridiculous, will be the heartiest of all. In a month's time all will be forgotten. The people will have seen you in that which I am very sure is your true character, and will begin to prize you accordingly. And since good is always working out of evil, the incidents which have occurred will probably have the effect of making you more watchful to avoid errors into which your natural temperament would otherwise lead you."

"My dear sir, you are a great deal too patient with my folly and I am all the more ashamed of myself because I see clearly enough now, that while I came here full of myself and my own importance, and thinking scorn of what I ought to have admired, you saw through me at once, and instead of being offended, contrived to save me from egregious blunders, by setting me to try my hand in a field wherein I could not, it is true, do a great deal of mischief, but in which I accomplished as much as could be effected in the time."

Well, Mr. Smith, I did by you as I would be done by,―as an elder is bound to do by a younger brother. The connection of Rector and Curate is a very happy one, if only both parties will be content to respect each other, and to bear and forbear. Our lot has been cast by Providence in days of no ordinary difficulty, in which

hard words, jealousies, and fears, Set folks together by the ears.'

Now, under such circumstances, it is not likely that a Curate and Rector will be brought together who differ widely on controverted points; and therefore, in this respect, there may be no call for

forbearance on either side. But in spite of agreement in what both look upon as essentials, there must be many points of detail in which each will have his own opinion. In such cases the call for forbearance is urgent. Where two cannot agree, at least they can be silent, and give each other credit for sincerity. And Rector though I am, I must say, that in non-essentials, if any yielding be necessary, such yielding is to be expected from the person who has the lesser share of responsibility, and who ordinarily is the younger and the least experienced. It is true, and I thank GOD for it, that the rising race of Curates are men who have had far better education, and been far better trained, than was the case with old fellows like me. But still we have had long years of experience, (for the most part dearly bought,) and perhaps we are not less in earnest, or less eager for the salvation of souls, than those who, when they succeed us, will do more good (I doubt not, and I heartily pray GoD that it may be so) than we have done. And therefore, while fully aware that most of us old incumbents may learn much from our juniors, we have a right to claim more consideration at their hands than is often shown. Newspapers only pourtray Curates as an ill-paid race, snubbed and trodden under foot by their employers; but is it rare to find Curates who systematically exalt themselves by denying the labours, and wisdom, and piety of those with whom they ought to be in brotherly co-operation, and whom they ought to help, rather than hinder ? Is it a rare thing to find a Curate setting up a separate interest in the parish? Is it even rare to find a Curate who has money, 'stealing the hearts of Israel' therewith, and thus, as it were, by his charities, or his parochial munificence, outbidding the Parish Priest in the affections of his people? There is but one way in which, so

far as I can see, we can faithfully discharge our duties towards each other, towards the Church, and towards the Church's LORD; and that is by the fixed determination to forget self,-by the daily sacrifice of self, in order that thereby we may show more love to the brethren, and more devotion to Him, Whose servants we are:

666

"'O' may 'we all our lineage prove,

Give and forgive, do good and love,
By soft endearments in kind strife
Lightening the load of daily life!

"There is much need: for not as yet
Are we in shelter or repose,

The Holy House is still beset
With leaguer of stern foes;

Wild thoughts within, bad men without,
All evil spirits round about,
Are banded in unblest device.
To spoil Love's earthly paradise.

“Then draw we nearer day by day,

Each to his brethren, all to God,
Let the world take us as she may,
We must not change our road;
Not wondering, though in grief, to find
The Martyr's foe still keep her mind;
But fix'd to hold Love's banner fast,
And by submission win at last.'

The Vicar of Roost.

"O, what a world of vile ill-favoured faults

Look handsome in three hundred pounds a year!"

The Merry Wives of Windsor.