most inimitable specimen of fraternity, I do look into the
futurity of a station with great complacency. Hem--in the morning I
rise up in imagination, and after reading part of my office, I and my
curate--_ego et coadjutor metis_--or, if I get a large parish, perhaps I
and my two curates--_ego et coudjutores mei_--order our horses, and
of a fine, calm summer morning we mount them as gracefully as three
throopers. The sun is up, and of coorse the moon is down, and the
glitter of the light, the sparkling of the dew, the canticles of the
birds, and the _melodiotis_ cowing of the crows in Squire Grimshaw's
rookery--"

"Why, Denis, is it this parish you'll have?"

"Silence, silence, till I complate my rural ideas--in some gentleman's
rookery at all events; the thrush here, the blackbird there, the
corn-craik chanting its varied note in another place, and so on. In the
meantime we reverend sentimentalists advance, gazing with odoriferous
admiration upon the prospect about us, and expatiating in the purest
of Latin upon the beauties of unsophisticated nature. When we meet the
peasants going out to their work, they put their hands to their hats
for us; but as I am known to be the parochial priest, it is to me the
salutation is directed, which I return with the air of a man who thinks
nothing of such things; but, I on the contrary, knows them to be his
due. The poor creatures of curates you must know, don't presume to
speak of themselves, but simply answer whenever I condescend to propose
conversation, for I'll keep them down, never fear. In this edifying
style we proceed--I a few steps in advance, and they at a respectful
distance behind me, the heads of their horses just to my saddle
skirts--my clerical boots as brilliant as the countenance of Phoebus,
when decked with rosy smiles, theirs more subordinately polished, for
there should be gradations in all things, and humility is the first of
virtues in a Christian curate. My bunch of gold sales stands out proudly
from my anterior rotundity, for by this time, plase God, I'll be getting
frolicsome and corpulent: they with only a poor bit of ribbon, and a
single two-penny kay, stained with verdigrace. In the meantime, we come
within sight of the wealthy farmer's house, wherein we are to hold the
edifying solemnity of a station. There is a joyful appearance of study
and bustle about the premises: the peasantry are flocking towards it,
dressed in their best clothes; the proprietor