pointed to a curacy of 50 pounds a year, in which
post he faithfully discharged his duty, expecting to obtain the
wished-for incumbency. Susan Walford existed on the same hope, but year
after year passed by, and she grew pale, and even his spirits sometimes
sank, when the realisation of their expectations seemed likely to be
indefinitely deferred. At length, however, he obtained a living. It
was one no person, except in his circumstances, would have taken. No
wonder; it was among the fens of Lincolnshire, and, after certain
deductions, scarcely produced a hundred a year. Still it was a living,
and a certainty. At the same time Susan received a legacy. It made
their hearts very grateful; although the amount was small, yet, in their
eyes, it seemed magnificent, a clear 350 pounds. To be sure, 300 pounds
would produce only 12 pounds a year when invested, still, that was
something added to a hundred.

The extra fifty was retained for furnishing the vicarage. Ten years
they had waited patiently, now they were married, and were contented and
happy. They did not live for themselves alone, but to be a blessing to
all around them. True, they could not give money, but Owen gave Gospel
truths, simple and without stint; and she, kind words and sympathy, and
a portion of many of their scanty meals. The hale as well as the sick
were visited, believers strengthened and encouraged, and inquirers
instructed. They reaped a rich harvest of affection from their
parishioners. Three years after their marriage a son was born; he was a
treasure for which they were grateful, and he was their only one. The
little Owen flourished, for he was acclimatised, but the breezes which
blow over those Lincolnshire fens are raw and keen, if not generally
unhealthy to the natives, and the vicar and his wife began to complain
of touches of ague, which became, as time went on, more and more
frequent. An income of 112 pounds a year will not allow the happy
possessors to indulge in many of the luxuries of life, and certainly not
in that of foreign travel. When, therefore, the parish doctor hinted
that a change of climate, and more generous diet and port wine, were
absolutely necessary for their restoration, Mr Hartley smilingly
observed, that as he did not think a better climate would come to them,
and as they certainly could not go to it, he did not see how the
combination could be brought about; and as to port wine, it had long
been a strange