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ORIGINAL MEMORIALS.

The Walking Bible.

AT the residence of one of the earliest and best instructors of my youth, the aged P- was a frequent and most welcome visitor. He was a short, slender man, yet of venerable aspect, and when I last saw him, age had left but few locks upon his head, and they were grey. His hoary head, however, was a crown of glory, for it was found in the way of righteousness. His manners were saintly, at the same time that they were distinguished by simplicity and cheerfulness. His presence inspired awe, but it was the affectionate reverence which was excited by eminent, yet meek and gentle piety. I often in vain have wished, that a memorial of his sterling virtues and of the more remarkable occurrences of his life had been recorded. These occurrences indeed and these virtues were not of a description that would awaken the curiosity or procure the admiration of a world, which is generally taken only with splendid events, and with qualities

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which are often more ostentatious and dazzling, than beneficial to their possessor or to mankind. "The short and simple annals of the poor," especially when those annals tell of principles drawn from heavenly sources, and of actions conducted upon such principles, are commonly scorned and overlooked as unworthy of attention and perusal. A few, however, esteem what the many despise. There are those who are more highly delighted by a bright exhibition of Christian graces in "the poor of this world, whom God hath chosen, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him;" than by contemplating the elevated attainments of the sons of science, the schemes of statesmen, or the achievements of warriors. By persons of this class, narratives like that which I now commit to paper are duly appreciated.

After the lapse of several years, I again met P— at the house of my tutor, Dr. W. He took a chair in my study, and at my request gave me some very interesting particulars of his former life. Of these, many have escaped my recollection. The following are all that remain upon my mind.

He was born in a lonely cottage, that stands near the wild and dreary summit of a very lofty hill, in the county of G-. I well remember the spot, for I once visited it in company with some beloved

*

friends, and gazed in rapture from it on the loveliest and most extensive prospect afforded by that picturesque county. His widowed mother picked up a scanty subsistence for herself, and her two orphan boys and girl. She nevertheless contrived to give them a plain cottage education. The younger of her sons, who is the subject of this memorial, at a very early age evinced that he was truly a member of Christ, the child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven. Their humble dwelling contain

* Of these was the eminently good Mr. S. Nor can I refrain from here paying a small tribute to the revered memory of a man, who though now numbered with the spirits of just men made perfect, will long live below in the affections of hundreds. His piety was of the highest cast, and led him forward in a steady and consistent course, which he adorned by all that was lovely in the sight of God, and all that was of good report among men. His Christian character was the mature growth of more than half a century, and it remained firmly rooted, and ever verdant, through the changes and storms of a long life. He was so exempt from the spirit of theological parties, that his house was open to, and his heart embraced men of apparently the most opposite sentiments, when he traced in them the image of his divine Master. He was decided without bigotry. The tone of his conversation was heavenly and spiritual, without being affected or enthusiastic. Extended and commensurate with the utmost limits of the Catholic Church as was his charity, he was yet from principle a cordial friend of the Establishment; and when he died, the Government of his country lost one of its most intelligently loyal and unwavering supporters.

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