thinking of his own father when he drew the sketch that follows--one of
the most charming character sketches in English literature. To find
its like in poetry one must go back to Chaucer's picture of the "poor
parson" in the _Prologue to the Canterbury Tales_. Goldsmith's
"village preacher" first appeared in the _Vicar of Wakefield_, in that
delightful character, Parson Primrose.

[12.] Passing, surpassingly.

[13.] Unpracticed he, etc. Clergymen have in some instances changed
their creeds to gain favor with those in authority.

[14.] His pity gave, etc., _i.e._ he gave from warm human sympathy
rather than from a religious, and perhaps a colder, sentiment.

[15.] Fled the struggling soul. _Fled_ is sometimes used transitively
by older writers.

[16.] Awful form. Notice how effective _awful_ is when properly used.

[17.] Cypher, do sums in arithmetic; not often used now.

[18.] Terms and tides presage, _i.e._ the schoolmaster could tell when
courts were to be held and when certain tides (times), such as
Whitsuntide or Easter, would come.

[19.] Gauge, measure. The word is applied especially to determining
the capacity of casks and other vessels containing alcoholic liquors.
These had to be carefully measured, so that the government should
receive the specified tax.