70 



A HISTORY OF LONG RIDGE. 



[Chap. 2. 



Solitude tliaa of active clerical business. Yet he is a man of good 

 parts. He lias rather delicate health, but is a very fair visitor,* and 

 likes to know the cii'cunistances of his parishioners in order to heljj the 

 deserving without respect to creeds ; believes in good old English 

 Church service — as it should be observed, free from the errors of 

 Eitualism. He is placid vrith those who differ from him, but 

 occasionally utters a cry against the errors of Rome, etc. "Would be 

 better aware of the struggles of men with large families if ho had had 

 some experience, but never having embarked on the sea of matrimony 

 has to believe what he hears,' is quiet, and if determined to be very 

 cool should have a curate. He is a methodical orthodox, sanctified 

 preacher, and fancies that the Incumbent of Longridge Chiu'ch is now, 

 and for some time has been, the equal to a ' Delphic pythoness ! ' " 



Shortly before Mr. Bache left Longridge, on his appointment to 

 the Eectory of Alresford he was presented with a handsome silver 

 tea service, and other objects for his sister, as a " substantial 

 token of affection and respect " by his parishioners. At a meeting, 

 held on December 4th, the Rev. B. Haslewood, Vicar of Eibchester, 

 said that he thought that in the quiet and faithful discharge 

 of his ministerial duties in the sick room and bj' the bedside 

 of many a suffering member of his flock, they had a very happy 

 illustration of Chaucer's " Poor Parson of a Town." 



Mr. Bache was a model visitor of the sick, and looked well after the 

 Sunday Schools. His action on the Church building question is 

 narrated in the preceding portion of this chapter. 



*As a visitor, I am told by many 

 people, Mr. Bache was unsurpassed. I 

 have met him almost every day when 

 going home to dinner from the mill, and 

 remember noticing how frequently he 

 was visiting the sick and poor. This 

 trait of his character should make (and 

 I believe it has done), his many ill- 

 judged actions forgotten. 



^"Atticus" evidently did not know 

 Miss Bache, the Vicar's sister. She 

 ruled the parish in reality, and in many 



things ruled it well. She was active, 

 sharp, and above all things determined. 

 She used to play the piano in the Church 

 for many years ; and looked well after 

 the Sunday schools. But Miss Bache 

 was narrow-minded aud loved her 

 brother with aU his faults— which were 

 to her virtues — with the intense devo- 

 tion of a woman, and we question 

 whether her influence was altogether 

 for good in this parish. 



