186 Obituary Notices. 



its hold upon us by any general reference to his character, 

 whether as a clergyman or a neighbour. We all feel that 

 rarely has so kindly, manly, and sympathising a presence, 

 ever hearty and ready to greet us, helped to cheer our way 

 through life. It is rather certain special accompaniments 

 and results of his warmth and breadth of sympathy with all 

 around him that claim attention, as an example to such of 

 our younger readers as may be called into new positions and 

 new scenes. I well remember Mr. Rooke's early years at 

 Embleton, whilst the parish and neighbourhood, nay the 

 whole North of England, were yet new to him ; with what 

 delight he entered into the feelings and expressions of the 

 hinds and fishermen of his parish, which he had but recently 

 learnt to know from their own lips. As an accomplished 

 classical scholar, fresh from the society of Oxford, he 

 perceived at once the archaic interest of much in our local 

 Northumbrian idioms. In immediate connection with it, 

 the popular lyric poetry of Burns became his favourite 

 resource ; and in our long walks or rides about his parish, 

 or in my own country-side at the foot of the Cheviots, he 

 would ever and anon bring out some passage of striking 

 beauty or of quaint and original humour, from his cherished 

 author of Scottish song. When without a companion he 

 was never for a moment alone, because he could enter into 

 the human sympathies of all around him, from highest to 

 lowest. He was a good Italian as well as a classical scholar, 

 and was rich in reminiscences of travel and of early famili- 

 arity with the sea, on the coasts of the Channel and in the 

 Mediterranean ; experience, which was a strong bond of 

 union between him and- his maritime parishioners at 

 Newton and Craster. Often have I walked to visit them 

 with him, and marked the welcome he received from the 

 very bairns when they saw him coming. Few were the 

 mornings, summer or winter, that he did not walk down the 

 Sea Lane of Embleton, before breakfast, to bathe from the 

 sandy links along the surf-beaten coast, and to take a short 

 swim. Once his life was nearly lost ; the surf dislocating 

 or violently straining one shoulder, when no one was near 

 to help, but with difficulty he swam ashore with one arm. 

 Yet he soon resumed the habit of bathing and swimming. 

 In horse exercise, also, he took great pleasure formerly, to 

 visit many a friendly mansion and homestead. 



As a clergyman and a preacher he possessed a simple, 



