I said, “Thank you, my darling,” and I ate them up every one of them, that he might see me eat them before he left the house.  And the dear child went off radiant.

If anybody cannot understand why I did so, I beg him to consider the matter.  If then he cannot come to a conclusion concerning it, I doubt if any explanation of mine would greatly subserve his enlightenment.  Meantime, I am forcibly restraining myself from yielding to the temptation to set forth my reasons, which would result in a half-hour’s sermon on the Jewish dispensation, including the burnt offering, and the wave and heave offerings, with an application to the ignorant nurses and mothers of English babies, who do the best they can to make original sin an actual fact by training children down in the way they should not go.

CHAPTER XII.

The avenue.

It will not appear strange that I should linger so long upon the first few months of my association with a people who, now that I am an old man, look to me like my own children.  For those who were then older than myself are now “old dwellers in those high countries” where there is no age, only wisdom; and I shall soon go to them.  How glad I shall be to see my Old Rogers again, who, as he taught me upon earth, will teach me yet niore, I thank my God, in heaven!  But I must not let the reverie which’ always gathers about the feather-end of my pen the moment I take it up to write these recollections, interfere with the work before me.

After this Christmas-tide, I found myself in closer relationship to my parishioners.  No doubt I was always in danger of giving unknown offence to those who were ready to fancy that I neglected them, and did not distribute my favours equally.  But as I never took offence, the offence I gave was easily got rid of.  A clergyman, of all men, should be slow to take offence, for if he does, he will never be free or strong to reprove sin.  And it must sometimes be his duty to speak severely to those, especially the good, who are turning their faces the wrong way.  It is of little use to reprove the sinner, but it is worth while sometimes to reprove those who have a regard for righteousness, however imperfect they may be.  “Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.”

But I took great care about interfering; though I would interfere upon request—­not always, however, upon the side whence the request came, and more seldom still upon either side.  The clergyman must never be a partisan.  When our Lord was requested to act as umpire between two brothers, He refused.  But He spoke and said, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness.”  Now, though the best of men is unworthy to loose the latchet of His shoe, yet the servant must be as his Master.  Ah me! while I write it, I remember that the sinful woman might yet do as she would with His sacred feet.  I bethink me:  Desert may not touch His shoe-tie:  Love may kiss His feet.