rve others,
which was so prominent a feature of his mind, made him untiring; the
dislike of contest which marked him led him to dwell on the vital points
common to all religions, and avoid controversial ground. That want of
self-esteem, too, which at the university had ever made him distrustful
of his own powers, and kept him from claiming the stanzas on Sir John
Moore, when they were claimed by, or attributed to others, induced him
to converse familiarly with the peasant, and to submit to contradiction
and even insult from those who, both socially and intellectually, were
inferior to himself. Add to this, that he thoroughly understood the
Irish character, which had many points in common with his own impulsive
versatile nature, and it may be conceived how influential he was in his
remote curacy. Presbyterian, Methodist, Catholic, all gathered round him
and often filled his little church, listening to his concise,
plain-spoken sermons, which far oftener treated of the hopes and mercies
than the terrors and punishments of Christianity, and in his parish
school the children of all denominations were taught together. This,
however, was not to last long. He had applied himself too assiduously to
his task for his physical strength. Oppressed with a sense of the
responsibility of his position he had, upon entering upon the ministry,
given up all thoughts of literature. He lived in an old, half-furnished
house, slept in a damp room, and traversed bog and moor on foot in all
weathers to visit his flock. Under these labors the latent tendency of
his constitution developed itself, his cough became day by day more
violent, and in 1821 it was evident that consumption had laid its hand
upon its prey. Still he was unwilling to retire from his ministry, and
it was only in compliance with the reiterated entreaties of his friends
that he at last proceeded to Scotland to consult a celebrated physician.
His return to his parish after that short absence proved the estimation
in which he was held among the people. As he rode by the cabins of the
peasantry, the occupants rushed out, and, with all the impulsive
devotion of the Irish toward those whom they regard as benefactors, fell
upon their knees, and invoked blessings upon him, and pursued the
carriage in which he rode, with fervent prayers. His health, however,
still continued to fail, and his friends at length persuaded him to
remove to Dublin, where he continued to preach occasionally, ti