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VII

MEN AND WOMEN

I. REV. W. PENNEFATHER

URING the last nine years of the life of the Rev. W. Pennefather we were thrown closely together in intimate association, allowing me to enjoy exceedingly his highly cultivated mind and genial intercourse. I was frequently with him and Mrs. Pennefather at Mildmay, and they came to me on the Blackdown Hills, where our restful country life allowed Mr. Pennefather a complete cessation from his ordinary work. He had untiring pleasure in driving among the Devonshire lanes, and used to say it was one ideal not previously realized to become acquainted with this county. So great was his pleasure among the flowers and the insects on our way that he was continually stopping and going after them until Mrs. Pennefather would exclaim, William, if you are so long with those dragonflies we shall miss our train!"

In one of these expeditions we met a country woman heavily laden with articles she was carrying. Mr. Pennefather would not pass her by, but asking

way.

her to take his place with her bundles, he walked up the hill, saying many kind words to her on the Then drawing up on a grassy space under trees, and saying, "It is no accident that we have met this woman," he knelt in earnest prayer for her, and we had to bid her good-bye and continue our drive.

Again and again his words were made a great blessing to the people around.

When visiting the cottagers, as he often did, he asked me to take him to see Sally S——, who had been the wife of three highwaymen. He sat down by the former evil-doer and paid her a true pastor's visit, to her great joy.

His cheerfulness in this life on the hills pervaded all our days. He would come down to breakfast singing a favourite hymn on the stairs, and in the same happy spirit would drive to some remote valley to meet the country people.

In a similar kind of life we spent a little while together at the seaside, also bringing out his delight in the beautiful scenes around.

The following letter was written to me after one of his visits :

"THE EARL OF CAVAN'S,

"WESTON-SUPER-MARE,

“June 5th, 1866.

"MY VERY DEAR FRIEND,—

"How much have we thought of and spoken about you since we parted! and how vividly, as we this

afternoon travelled southward, have the happy days of Blackdown' life come before us! We could wish, were it not wrong to do so, that we were on our way to you, and to all the kindness that we know would await us on The Hills: but our Heavenly Father leaves us nothing really to wish for; He so evidently guides us day by day, and so sweetly shines on our path, that we dare not say 'that we wish for this or that,' that He has not seen fit to give. Still, my very dear friend, our hearts do very gratefully and very affectionately turn to you and to the inmates of your most hospitable home; and we may, without sinful repining, long for another peep at you all. The Lord fill you with His grace, and cause His smile continually to cheer you!

"We had a most enjoyable drive this morning by Westbury. I saw the old School House there, where, upwards of thirty years ago, God was pleased to teach me to love Him and to prize His Word. There a few of us were wont to meet to study the Word of God. I believe of that little band, whom the Lord taught to love His Name, not one remains on earth except myself! and I should think that at that time there was not one so delicate as the writer of these lines! Truly God's ways are past finding out. Oh! what mercies have followed me since 1832, when I first went to Westbury, having left Gloucestershire! Many a prayer indited by the Lord has received an abundant answer. I remember well praying earnestly as I

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walked across the Downs between Westbury and Clifton that God would use me for His glory. What He has been to me these thirty-four years I cannot find words to express. May He give the grace, for the little time yet allotted to me, to serve Him more faithfully. Pray for me that I may walk more humbly and earnestly.

"Ever your affectionate and grateful

"W. PENNEFATHER."

A few extracts from a later letter have special interest because it was written very shortly before his translation to the Heavenly Home :

your

"I have again and again thanked you with my mind (though my pen has failed to do so) for loving letter to me on the 5th of this month. That day (to me an eventful one) I was a prisoner in my room, and since then I do not know what has come over me, but I have been very much laid aside, so that at last we have come here to this little house provided for us by our Heavenly Father. It is always a great pleasure to come here (when we can find means of doing so), for I feel that in a peculiar sense the Lord gave it to us, and His presence is felt here.

"I suppose your dear nieces will soon be return

ing home after their delightful sojourn with you. They will tell us of you and your dear mother and of the dear Hill people. I often think of them as the 'poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom.' What an eternal inheritance shall be theirs! a kingdom of which Christ is the King, a kingdom worthy of His acceptance, holy, of unlimitable extent and unfading glory. How little idea have they of that kingdom of which they are now heirs!

"Will you ask for me that I may wait upon the Lord, and so renew my strength.

"Because Thou hast been my help, therefore under the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.' "Believe me, my beloved friend, to remain "Ever your affectionate friend,

II.

In 1865 Mr.

"WILLIAM PENNEFATHER.'

ROBERT C. CHAPMAN.

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Robert C. Chapman came to visit us at The Firs. His sympathy and earnest Christian life were a great joy to each one of us. From that time we continued in intimate association. few years afterwards I went to stay with him at Barnstaple. Saying that I wished particularly not to interrupt his time and constant engagements, he replied, "Do not fear about that, we have plenty of time for all the Lord would have us do, and no more," adding that "although we have no more, we have always enough for doing His Will." Mr.