Rev. W. Benton 207 



destroying himself. We who are well are not half thankful 

 enough for all God's great mercies. . . . Taken to-day my first 

 service in church here to help a chaplain. It was for coloured 

 boys, and was my first official service for God, and I was and 

 am so thankful to Him for using such an unworthy vessel as 

 I am in His service ; may He grant that we may all in our 

 several ways help to spread His Kingdom. 



" I have been playing a good deal of cricket here. ... I am 

 now living with the chaplain ; he is such a friend to me. He 

 is one of Sir Thomas Engleheart's sons, and gave up a most 

 comfortable living at home to come here and do good. He is 

 very humble and never seems to see that he is doing so much 

 good. He has a private income and gives a lot away, living in 

 the plainest possible manner himself, begrudging even a shilling 

 a month for his own tobacco. He lends me his books and is 

 always helping in some way or other. Last week he gave me a 

 watch and would not allow a word of thanks ; never will, saying 

 it was as much for himself as for me, as he wanted me always to 

 be in time for meals. That is the way he puts things off. 



" He has offered to pay all expenses for me to go to a Theo- 

 logical College at home, probably St. Chads, Durham, if they 

 will take me to be trained as a priest for the sacred ministry. 



" I am waiting for an answer from Father Fitzgerald to 

 know if they will take me, and I have started reading Greek and 

 Latin, as there is an entrance examination to this college which 

 I am afraid will be very stiff to me after being so long away 

 from school. 



" I wish dear father had lived to see my happiness, but still, 

 he will know after all. The only bar to it all is my own un- 

 worthiness. It seems awfully presumptive to have wasted so 

 many of the best years of one's life and then to take the re- 

 mainder and offer it to God. May I think that all of you at 

 home will rejoice with me that I have found my true vocation ? 



" Father Engleheart has been to immense trouble finding 

 out and arranging all sorts of things for me, even to my taking 

 my right name again ; but I cannot do that until on my journey 

 home, which will be about October. Father Fitzgerald has 

 written to say he thinks they will take me at St. Chads. It will 

 mean very hard work, as I have a lot to read up and preparation 

 to do, but it will be a work of love, which makes it much easier. 



