242 ROBERT WALKER'S EULOGY 



small sources of his accumulated gains. And, 

 considering his general character, we may, I 

 think, give him credit for thus opening his 

 house with the good intent of preventing the 

 establishment of the ordinary public house, in 

 which drunkenness is too often encouraged 

 rather than checked. Now let us return to 

 our quarters. To-morrow, we should be astir 

 early, and make the best of our way down the 

 Duddon. The day's exercise should ensure us 

 sound sleep ; and, if we dream, may it be of 

 Eobert Walker, a " Gospel Teacher " 



" Whose good works formed an endless retinue : 

 Such priest as Chaucer sang in fervent lays ; 

 Such as the heaven-taught skill of Herbert drew ; 

 And tender Goldsmith crowned with deathless 

 praise ! " 



And surely most fortunate is he of all priests in 

 having such a poet as the Minstrel of the 

 Duddon to sing his praises. And this reminds 

 me of a remark of the sober-minded Mr. Tyson 

 (he was drying his onions at the time we en- 

 tered into conversation with him) who, on my 

 saying that Mr. Wordsworth had immortalised 

 in verse his predecessor, naively remarked " Yes, 

 indeed, sir, for a considerable time." 



