| Citation |
MG-A(G.767.016
9 Apr 1767:21,22 (1126)
From the Salisbury Journal, of the 29th of December. The
Journal of a Wiltshire Curate. . . [entries for Monday-
Wednesday.]
Thursday--Received a note from the ale-house at the top of
the hill, informing me that a gentleman begged to speak with
me on pressing business, went and found it was an
unfortunate member of a strolling company of players, who
was pledged for seven-pence half penny--In a struggle what
to do--- . . . [I] paid the stranger's reckoning out of the
shilling in my pocket, and gave him the remainder of the
money, to prosecute his journey.
[Friday, curate and family hungry.] I told my wife what
I had done with the shilling; the excellent creature,
instead of blaming me for the action, blessed the goodness
of my heart, and burst into tears. . .
Saturday--wrote a sermon, which on
Sunday--- I preached at four different Parish churches,
and came home excessively wearied and excessively hungry; no
more money than two-pence halfpenny in the house; but see
the goodness of God! The strolling player whom I had
relieved, was a man of fortune, who accidentally heard that
I was as humane as I was indigent, and from a generous
eccentricity of temper, wanted to do me an essential piece
of service: I had not been an hour at home when he came in,
and declaring himself my friend, put a 50 L. note into my
hand, and the next day presented me with a living of 300 L.
a year.
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