Page:A political romance (IA politicalromance00sterrich).pdf/44

 six or eight Weeks after this, broke out between the late Parson of the Parish and John the Clerk. Somebody (and it was thought to be Nobody but Trim) had put it into the Parson's Head, "That John's Desk in the Church was, at the least, four Inches higher than it should be:—That the Thing gave Offense, and was indecorous, inasmuch as it ap­proach'd too near upon a Level with the Parson's Desk itself. This Hardship the Parson complained of loudly,—and told John one Day after Prayers,—"He could bear it no longer:—And would have it al­ter'd and brought down as it should be." John made no other Reply, but, "That the Desk was not of his raising:—That 'twas not one Hair Breadth higher than he found it;—and that as he found it, so would he leave it:—In short, he would neither make an Encroachment, nor would he suffer one."

The late Parson might have his Virtues, but the leading Part of his Character was not Humility; so that Johns Stiffness in this Point was not likely to reconcile Mat­ters.—This was Trims Harvest.