But one of the most remarkable illustrations of Thrift is to be found in the history of the Rev. Robert Walker—­the Wonderful Robert Walker, as he is still called in the district of Cumberland where he resided.  He was curate of Leathwaite during the greater part of last century.  The income of the curacy, at the time of his appointment (1735), was only five pounds a year.  His wife brought him a fortune of forty pounds.  Is it possible that he could contrive to live upon his five pounds a year, the interest of his wife’s fortune, and the result of his labours as a clergyman?  Yes, he contrived to do all this; and he not only lived well, though plainly, but he saved money, which he left for the benefit of his family.  He accomplished all this by means of industry, frugality, and temperance.

First, about his industry.  He thoroughly did the work connected with his curacy.  The Sabbath was in all respects regarded by him as a holy day.  After morning and evening service, he devoted the evening to reading the Scriptures and family prayer.  On weekdays, he taught the children of the parish, charging nothing for the education, but only taking so much as the people chose to give him.  The parish church was his school; and while the children were repeating their lessons by his side, he was, like Shenstone’s schoolmistress, engaged in spinning wool.  He had the right of pasturage upon the mountains for a few sheep and a couple of cows, which required his attendance.  With this pastoral occupation he joined the labours of husbandry, for he rented two or three acres of land in addition to his own acre of glebe, and he also possessed a garden,—­the whole of which was tilled by his own hand.  The fuel of the house consisted of peat, procured by his labour from the neighbouring mosses.  He also assisted his parishioners in haymaking and shearing their flocks,—­in which latter art he was eminently dexterous.  In return, the neighbours would present him with a haycock, or a fleece, as a general acknowledgment of his services.

After officiating as curate of Leathwaite for about twenty years, the annual value of the living was increased to seventeen pounds ten shillings.  His character being already well known and highly appreciated, the Bishop of Carlisle offered Mr. Walker the appointment of the adjoining curacy of Ulpha; but he conscientiously refused it, on the ground that the annexation “would be apt to cause a general discontent among the inhabitants of both places, by either thinking themselves slighted, being only served alternately, or neglected in the duty, or attributing it to covetousness in me; all which occasions of murmuring I would willingly avoid.”  Yet at this time Mr. Walker had a family of eight children.  He afterwards maintained one of his sons at Trinity College Dublin, until he was ready for taking Holy Orders.