the tone in which it was uttered, to excite uncomfortable feelings in my mind, and I saw Mr. Walker slightly colour, as if he felt somewhat nettled at the manner at least of the address. Yet the feeling, if such existed, soon passed off; and he resumed his usual calm yet somewhat firm expression of countenance as he said:

"The second part of your difficulty, sir, you have a right to have solved, as it shall soon be; with regard to the first it seems less to the purpose. I ought in the first place to say, that it is simply in my public character as the authorized preacher of the Gospel in this parish, that I have taken what would otherwise seem a great liberty with a perfect stranger, to request an interview with him, without first assigning grounds for the request. That you have so readily complied with it, I beg to offer you my thanks.'

"I was much struck with the somewhat stately form of language which Mr. Walker in this case assumed. so different from his ordinary discourse with his plain country parishioners. He took up the tone of the scholar and the gentleman with more ease than I had thought it possible for one whose course of life had been so long removed from the society of his equals.

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Sir,' said the stranger, before you proceed further, allow me to protest against your assumption, that in your public character you have a right to exercise over me any superintendence or control. I belong not to your flock, I subscribe not to your creed. Even the tyrannical Church of Rome professes to fetter the minds and torture the limbs of those only who have at some period confessed allegiance to her doctrines; and these are not days when the Church of England can safely arrogate to herself a power (however anxiously she may long to do so) which would rouse the dormant spirit even of an Italian slave.'

"Pardon me,' said Mr. Walker, with the utmost calmness; over you I neither claim nor wish to exercise any authority whatever. But there are those over whose religious condition the laws both of GOD and man have

given me power and authority, and upon them I am bound to exercise it, both for their sakes and my own The Church has devised a certain system which she declares to be founded on Scripture, and propounds it to all her people as their rule of faith and life. I, having given my full assent and consent to that system, have accepted the office, under her authority, of spreading and propagating that system among those committed by her (under the Bishop) to my care. I am not, then, here to reason out, either with you or my people, a new system, but simply to enforce one long established by the Church at large. I am bound by my oath "to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrines," and this by every means by which the laws of GoD and man may aid me. While then you are at full liberty, as far as I am concerned, to entertain any notions you may please as to religion or politics; you are not, at the same time, equally at liberty to spread them abroad among my flock if I can by fair means prevent it—and prevent it, by GOD's blessing, I will!'

"The stranger smiled scornfully at the old man's energy of expression, and said; 'My venerable old friend, attempt not what you cannot accomplish. The day is gone by, when recluses like you, ignorant of the world and of the strides which it has of late been making towards full liberty of thought and action, could keep men's minds in darkness by the vain terrors of an expiring superstition. Be content to lament in your chimney corner over the obstinacy of this perverse generation, and leave the course of events to march on towards that high destination which assuredly you cannot hinder.'

"You much mistake the matter,' replied Mr. Walker, "if you suppose that we, in these remote regions of the globe, are necessarily ignorant of the on-goings of the world beyond our barren mountains. Our books are our telescopes, which bring distant things distinctly before our observation; and history tells me the staleness and the vanishing nature of those theories which to you seem all novelty and permanence. Nor think that I threaten

without power to execute my threats.

I shall not wait to cure the evil which you may occasion; my duty is to prevent; and that I can do by a power of the extent of which you are probably little aware. I thank GOD it is a moral power, but not, on that account, the more easy to be resisted. Recollect how long I have presided over these few sheep in the wilderness, and then consider whether, by this time, they must not well know the voice of their master! Why, sir, you could not hide your head in a cottage between Eskdale Moor and Muncaster Fell, but I, did I wish it, could know where it rested, and almost what it meditated, by next morning! Take,

I

then, my advice, and leave this country for ever. threaten you with no loss of life or limb; but if you are found within these bounds after this solemn warning, your movements will be watched and dogged by those who have it in their power most effectually to put a stop to your designs. The mountain top will be no safeguard the gloomy mine no security. Nay, the very fiends themselves will rise in rebellion at my bidding, and fling dismay into the hearts of those who rashly deny their existence!'

"The stranger cast on the old man a look of the utmost surprise, as he gave utterance to these last words. The scene in the mine, no doubt, rushed upon his recollection; and he looked hard at Mr. Walker, as if he wished to trace in his countenance some signs of his being privy to the ghostly visitation of the night before. But nothing could be seen there but the proofs of a mind determined to carry through its high resolves; and it was with somewhat of a subdued tone that the stranger at last resumed the conversation.

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"I doubt not,' said he, that you have it in your power fully to execute your threats. I have heard and seen enough already to believe it. But why, sir, - pardon me, I cannot account for it- why should you show so much zeal in a cause which seems so little deserving of your support - a Church, which has left merit like yours to pine in neglect amid these barren mountains;

and a State, which binds you to keep the peace among these half-civilized barbarians, and does not reward your pains with even the barren smile of its countenance?'

"The old man turned upon the stranger a look in which a lurking smile was mixed up with much sternness of expression, and said: 'Well may I be anxious to remove such a tempter as you from my unsuspecting flock, when you thus artfully assail what you doubtless deem the weak side of even the shepherd himself! My lot indeed may seem to you to be somewhat hard; but I answer in one word. a stronger than which the king himself cannot use I AM HAPPY. I am where my Master placed me, and that of itself is enough for a good soldier of JESUS CHRIST. But, sir, even in a worldly point of view I am happy, nay, to be envied by those who look with narrow views (pardon me) like yourself, at what makes happiness here below. I suppose you think wealth, power, and fame to be the three things most to be desired to constitute a happy man; and in which of these am I so deficient, as to give me ground for repining at the lot which has been assigned me? With regard to wealth though I certainly can boast of none of the superfluities of life, yet by our own industry and occupation (without which even abundance cannot give enjoyment) I and my wife have acquired more of the good things of this life, than either of us, from the condition of our birth, had a reasonable right to look for; and who can justly complain, whose lot in life is better than his father's? As to power-I think you have already had abundant proof that I possess it, in my own sphere of action, in no ordinary degree. What absolute monarch, or what turbulent populace (and they are much the same) reigns so uncontrolled as I over the hearts and wills (but, I am proud to add, through the affections) of the people of Seathwaite? Power is mine, such as Rome only dreamt of; the greater because it is never exercised. And as for fame- the desire of which is perhaps the least blameable of our earthly passions, because it springs out of our innate hope of immortality - who has it more,

in possession and in prospect, than the old feeble individual before you? These mountains are visited by tourists attracted by the beauty and splendour of our rural scenes; but the humble residence of Robert Walker is not passed by as the least interesting among them. The Lord of MUNCASTER CASTLE doffs that hat to his country pastor, which he would not take off before his monarch on the throne.* My children—and a fine healthy, though somewhat numerous race they are -will hand down my name to the next generation, I trust, as untarnished as they received it; and my children's children, unless they are strangely forgetful of the pious lessons which their fathers have taught them, may hold it their highest honour to be descended from Robert Walker; and find that name of itself a passport and a recommendation even in what is called a cold and heartless world. We have lived here, sir, my life-companion and I, so long, as almost to form part of the landscape. Good Bishop Jeremy Taylor tells a story of an old couple in Ireland, who had resided so long in the same village that if they had given themselves out to be Adam and Eve, there was no one alive to contradict them. We are almost in the same condition. While, then, these rocks shall frown and that stream shall flow, my name, humble as it may be, is assured of its earthly immortality. The future Poet, whom the spirit of the Church and these divine scenes shall inspire with strains that shall blend the music of earth with the higher notes of heaven, will not omit my name from his pictures, when he paints my beloved DUDDON in colours which shall last for ever; and who knows but some more lowly historian, smit with the love of my most humble but sincere service to my Master, shall hold up my name as a watchword to the fire-side of the quiet cottager; and teach the farmer at his plough, and the weaver at his loom, to call to mind my history; recommending to their sons patience, and perseverence, and piety, by the example (oh, how weak, feeble, and failing!) of Robert Walker!'

* There is a tradition that this is one of the families which claim to wear a hat in the presence of Royalty.