o such a work, and I fancy
that can be said of few."

"I don't understand you," said Mr Elliott. "Do you mean that you doubt
the sincerity of those to whom you refer."

"By no means. My thoughts were altogether in another direction. In
fact, I was thinking of the great `bread and butter' struggle in which
ninety-nine out of every hundred are for dear life engaged; and none
more earnestly, and few with less success, than men of your profession."

Mr Elliott looked as though he did not yet quite understand. Mr
Greenleaf hesitated, slightly at a loss, but soon went on.

"Constituted as we are, I don't see how a man can wholly devote himself
to a work he thinks so great, and yet have patience to struggle with the
thousand petty cares of life. The shifts and turnings to which
insufficient means must reduce one, cannot but vex and hurt such a
nature, if it does not change it at last. But I see I fail to make
myself understood by you; let me try again. I don't know how it may be
in your country, but here, at least as far as my personal observation
has extended, the remuneration received by ministers is insufficient,
not to say paltry. I don't mean that in many cases they and their
families actually suffer, but there are few of them so situated as
regards income, that economy need not be the very first consideration in
all their arrangements. Comparing them with other professional men they
may be called poor. Such a thing as the gratification of taste is not
to be thought of in their case. There is nothing left after the bare
necessaries are secured. It is a struggle to bring up their children, a
struggle to educate them, a struggle to live. And what is worse than
all, the pittance, which is rightly theirs, comes to them often in a way
which, to say the least, is suggestive of charity given and received.
No, really, I cannot look on the life of a minister as a very attractive
one."

"I should think not, certainly, if such are your views of it," said Mr
Elliott.

"I wish I could have the comfort of doubting their justness, but I
cannot, unless the majority of cases that have fallen under my
observation are extreme ones. Why, there are college friends of mine
who, in any other profession, might have distinguished themselves--might
have become wealthy at least, who are now in some out of the way parish,
with wives and little children, burdened with the cares of life. How
they are to struggle on in the future