but the proud consciousness of his being a public benefactor. For more than fifty years his beloved wife was spared to bless and cheer him, and then her loss was mourned as she deserved. For him, he continues to possess the cheerful, hopeful, pious, and benevolent spirit of his earlier years, and is as contented in his humble cottage as he was formerly in his spacious house; his happiness was always in his "home," and so it continues to be. His form is spare, his hair is white, he has passed that age of "fourscore years," which the Royal Psalmist so touchingly describes; but at present, we rejoice to say, his strength is not “labour and sorrow." His walk is active, his eye is bright, his health is good, his spirit buoyant, and his piety firm. He is the delight of his children and his "children's children," the latter of whom, to the number of some twenty-four, make him their friend or their companion. He will talk with the elders or romp with the young ones; drive his daughters out in the carriage, or take long walks with his sons; run races with the boys, and dance with the girls; shows hospitality to his friends, does his duty as a master, is a loyal and devoted subject, and makes a capital churchwarden! Many worldly troubles still oppress him, but he bears the yoke as knowing by Whom it is laid on; and his daily life and character completely illustrate those beautiful lines of the Christian Poet: "Such calm old age as conscience pure Content to live, but not afraid to die." Having thus introduced our readers into our new parish, and made them somewhat acquainted with our clergyman and his officials, we intend, in the following pages, to commemorate a few of the most striking events which have occurred in Ashdale since it became of sufficient importance to possess a chronicler of its own; and thereby incidentally to illustrate the first performance of each of the rites of the church in the new field thus opened. THE PARISH CLERK. HEN Mr. Denton first came to Ashdale, he was one day walking down the road, when his attention was attracted to a tall, thin, pale young man, who with the help of a stick was pacing very slowly, and evidently in pain, up and down, in the brief sunshine of an autumn afternoon. Struck by the man's appearance, he addressed him, and found his suspicions correct as to his being a great invalid. His manner was respectful, gentle, and intelligent, his features were regular, he had large dark eyes, and his countenance when speaking became animated and expressive. Mr. Denton asked him some questions in a kind and friendly manner, which soon elicited his simple story. His name he said was William Johnson; he was married, and had two children living out of a family of six. His occupation had been in one of the manufactories с of the neighbourhood, until successive severe attacks of illness had undermined his constitution, and left him with a harassing cough, a constant pain in the side, and all the symptoms of incipient consumption. His manner was tinctured with so much genuine and unaffected piety, when thus talking of his sinking health, and the consequent poverty his family were enduring from his inability to work, that his good pastor's sympathy was deeply moved, and he accompanied William to his humble home, that he might know where to renew his acquaintance with one who had so much interested him. These pastoral visits were continued by Mr. Denton for many months, and it was whilst poor William was suffering from an attack of unusual severity and duration, that he called to pay his last visit to him in the character of his clergyman. His presence was always welcome in that cottage, and therefore deep and sincere was the grief occasioned by the news of his intended departure. "We shall sadly miss you, sir," said William, "for your kind visits have been like meat and drink to me. Well, may Well, may God bless you whereever you go, and grant you may be as happy as you deserve, but indeed it is sad news," and the poor fellow, weak, ill and sorrowful, could |