The calm delights

Of unambitious piety he chose,

And learning's solid dignity; though born
Of knightly race, nor wanting powerful friends.
Hither, in prime of manhood, he withdrew
From academic bowers.

WORDSWORTH.

GEORGE ELTON, vicar of Hermitage, in the diocese and county of Hereford, was a man of good family, being the eldest son of a younger brother of Sir Ralph Elton, a Yorkshire baronet: on the mother's side his connexions were not less respectable. I like to be particular in these matters. At the age of twenty-eight he married Susan Fairfield, a girl some six years younger than himself, who although more faultless in other matters than girls generally are, was guilty of being poor. This in the eyes of Mr. Elton's relatives was a transgression utterly inexcusable. He might have married a daughter of Sir John Harum, the wild fox-hunting baronet, whose life was spent principally among his dogs and a set of boozing companions, and whose children were trained up in a far less careful manner than his hounds in the kennel. Or he might

have married the only daughter of Mr. Thibuck, the heiress of a man who had amassed an immense fortune by knavery and dishonesty. But to marry the pious and well-educated daughter of a poor country gentleman was a very serious crime, and such as called forth their severest animadversions. In consequence of this, as is usual in these cases, his connexions refused to afford him any further countenance, and by degrees dropped all intimacy with him.

There was one person, however, who regarded the matter in a different light,— -an aunt, with whom Mr. Elton, who was left an orphan at an early age, had been brought up; and who being a religious-minded woman, did not see that marrying a poor girl, as long as they had enough to live upon with economy, was the great sin that his other connexions represented it to be. Lady Bruton, therefore, such was his aunt's name, kept up a connexion with the Eltons, and in her new niece discovered many amiable qualities, which made her think Mrs. Elton a very agreeable companion, and George a lucky man.

Mr. Elton, as we have said, was left an orphan at an early age, and in consequence his education was partially neglected, which may account for certain features in his character, that rendered him liable to a charge of inconsistency. His will was always to do what was right, but from a want of self-knowledge and self-command, he was frequently tempted to act contrary to his convictions, and to do wrong. When first he entered holy orders, he resolved to lead a single life; for in an unmarried state he thought he could best devote himself to the service of that holy calling in which he was engaged. This determination he might perhaps have kept, if he had not met Susan Fairfield; but a short acquaintance with her gradually thawed his former re

solutions; and almost before he was aware of it, he discovered himself engaged to her.

As he had frequently expressed his opinions upon the subject of the marriage of the clergy, and always against it, this act afforded his friends considerable amusement, and subjected him to a charge of dishonesty, which in reality he did not deserve: his inconsistency, however, was so evident, that such conduct could not but render his advice to others less useful for the future, --a great misfortune to any man, but especially so to a clergyman.

Few of us, I fear, are sufficiently impressed with the danger of unreal words. We often speak decisively upon subjects on which we have scarcely reflected; and frequently lay down, as positive rules for the guidance of all, certain things in which, when the hour of trial comes, we ourselves fail. From this it happens that we incur charges of which we are guiltless, but which, had we been silent, we should not have brought upon ourselves. Such was the case in the point before us: had Mr. Elton been less positive in his remarks upon the celibacy of the clergy, which he sometimes declared essentially necessary for all to observe, inferring that every clergyman that did marry was so far a traitor to his sacred office,-had he been less talkative on this head, and merely admitted, what I suppose few who believe the Bible and hear the Church will deny, that celibacy is a higher order than marriage, and that those who can bear it should bear it, no one would have made the ill-natured comments upon his conduct they now did.

Among others that used occasionally a little playful bantering with him on this subject was his aunt Lady Bruton, who having been recommended by him to read Walton's Life of Hooker, frequently amused herself by