316 A TEMPTATION. 



Eelating this reminds me of an anecdote I heard 

 at the same time, the subject of which was 

 a young clergyman, a native of the country, 

 who then had recently taken orders. He was 

 remarkable for his bodily strength and agility, 

 and had been distinguished as a wrestler. His 

 love of the sport tempted him to witness a 

 wrestling match. It was a grand occasion of its 

 kind ; two rival parties, whether counties or 

 parishes, I forget which, being opposed. When 

 the struggle for mastery was well advanced, the 

 odds were so decidedly against the side to which 

 he belonged, that fears began to spread of defeat : 

 then he was appealed to, earnestly entreated 

 to doff his black coat on the emergency, and 

 come to the rescue. " Nay ! nay ! (he said) he 

 could not do that." The contest continued, the 

 best man of his party was thrown. He could 

 stand it no longer, so the story goes, he 

 off with his black coat, entered the ring, and 

 threw his man ; and, as you may suppose, was 

 hailed with acclamation as victor by his people. 



AMICUS. I hope this was the greatest clerical 

 irregularity he ever committed. 



PISCATOR. Here, where we are, near Scale 

 Island ; the fishing ground is good, and as a 



