D notable women, who delight in an overworked parson, for the pleasure
they take in recommending their teas, and plasters, and nostrums. The
more frail and attenuated the teacher, the more he takes hold upon their
pity; and in losing the vigor of the flesh, he seems to their
compassionate eyes to grow into the spiritualities they pine for. But he
must not give over his visitings; _that_ hair-cloth shirt of penance he
must wear to the end, if he would achieve saintship. Now, just at this
crisis, it happens that there is a tall, thin, pale young man--Rev.
Theophilus Catesby by name, and nephew of the late Deacon Simmons (now
unhappily deceased)--who has preached in Ashfield on several occasions
to the "great acceptance" of the people. Ta
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