one time the whole, perhaps, of their weekly allowance of fresh animal food; consequently, for a succession of days, the table was covered with cold victuals only.  His generosity in old age may be still further illustrated by a little circumstance relating to an orphan grandson, then ten years of age, which I find in a copy of a letter to one of his sons; he requests that half a guinea may be left for ‘little Robert’s pocket-money,’ who was then at school:  intrusting it to the care of a lady, who, as he says, ‘may sometimes frustrate his squandering it away foolishly,’ and promising to send him an equal allowance annually for the same purpose.  The conclusion of the same letter is so characteristic, that I cannot forbear to transcribe it.  ‘We,’ meaning his wife and himself, ’are in our wonted state of health, allowing for the hasty strides of old age knocking daily at our door, and threateningly telling us, we are not only mortal, but must expect ere long to take our leave of our ancient cottage, and lie down in our last dormitory.  Pray pardon my neglect to answer yours:  let us hear sooner from you, to augment the mirth of the Christmas holidays.  Wishing you all the pleasures of the approaching season, I am, dear Son, with lasting sincerity, yours affectionately,

‘ROBERT WALKER.’

He loved old customs and old usages, and in some instances stuck to them to his own loss; for, having had a sum of money lodged in the hands of a neighbouring tradesman, when long course of time had raised the rate of interest, and more was offered, he refused to accept it; an act not difficult to one, who, while he was drawing seventeen pounds a year from his curacy, declined, as we have seen, to add the profits of another small benefice to his own, lest he should be suspected of cupidity.—­From this vice he was utterly free; he made no charge for teaching school; such as could afford to pay, gave him what they pleased.  When very young, having kept a diary of his expenses, however trifling, the large amount, at the end of the year, surprised him; and from that time the rule of his life was to be economical, not avaricious.  At his decease he left behind him no less a sum than 2000_l._; and such a sense of his various excellencies was prevalent in the country, that the epithet of WONDERFUL is to this day attached to his name.

There is in the above sketch something so extraordinary as to require further explanatory details.—­And to begin with his industry; eight hours in each day, during five days in the week, and half of Saturday, except when the labours of husbandry were urgent, he was occupied in teaching.  His seat was within the rails of the altar; the communion table was his desk; and, like Shenstone’s schoolmistress, the master employed himself at the spinning-wheel, while the children were repeating their lessons by his side.  Every evening, after school hours, if not more profitably engaged, he continued the same kind of labour, exchanging,