Is it possible that I should have allowed I Let me enumerate my avocations. And VOL. III. B 899 first, the doctor is not satisfied unless I see him every day. Poor man! he lies on his couch in a very helpless state. His spirits seem, as it were, benumbed, and he appears to be unable to rouse himself, though his heart is still warm. I find that he has drawn up a map of the parish; and, in this map, he has inserted a little sketch of every house and cottage, large or small, which is to be found within its boundaries. He has also a list of the members of every family, to which list is appended a concise history of each individual. While reclining on his couch, he spends much of his time in the perusal of the book which contains these biographical sketches; and, when I make my daily visit, he generally commissions me to call on one or another of his humble parishioners, for the purpose of conveying to them some pastoral message of exhortation or comfort. I am often deeply affected by the emotions which he betrays at the recollection of his past intercourse with the people under his charge. Turning over his book, and pointing to some well-known place on the map, he sometimes sighs |