Page:Beautiful and interesting account of the shepherd of Salisbury Plain.pdf/12

14 my poor wife was never left alone. As I was coming out of church, I saw Mr Jenkins, the Minister, who called out to me, and asked me how my wife was, saying he had been kept from coming to see her by a deep fall of snow, and indeed from the parsonage house to my hovel, it was quite imppassable. I gave him all the particulars he asked, and I am afraid a good many more, for my heart was quite full. He kindly gave me a shilling, and said he would certainly try to pick out his way and come and see her in a day or two.

While he was talking to me, a plain farming looking gentleman, in boots, was standing by, and listened to all he said, but seemed to take no notice. It was Mr Jenkin's wife's father, who was come to pass the Christmas holidays at the parsonage-house. I had always heard him spoken of as a plain frugal man, who lived close to himself, but was remarked to give more away, than any of his shew-away neighbours.

Well, I went home with great spirits