The Argosy — page 319: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

302 Fohn Donne. field for working and fighting for Him, he still, for some time, held back; the memory of his past made him feel that his hand was unworthy to take up the Gospel sword. At length, when he had reached his forty-second year, he resolved to take Holy Orders ; he felt that, in truth, a war-cry from above was bidding him step forward and take his place in the ranks, and he would no longer delay. He was shy and diffident, at first, about mounting the pulpit; he was old to begin to preach, and he was quite unaware of the power which lay in him. His first sermon was preached at Paddington, at that time a little country village. ‘Thither he stole one Sunday morning, unknown to most of his friends, and with a mind but ill at ease. He soon found out, however, that he was in his right place at last. Glowing words and vivid similes came upon his lips as if they flowed from some inexhaustible fountain, and his very first sermon made a strong mark on the minds of his listeners. He continued thus to try his strength in country churches for some time, riding out, in the Sunday sunshine or through rain and wind, to some little rustic temple of the Lord, where earnest, weather-beaten faces of simple labouring men and women, and bright, eager eyes of rosy peasant girls and lads were raised reverently towards him, longing for the bread of life; until, at length, Christ’s knight had proved sufficiently his armour. ‘Then the large and important living of St. Dunstan was offered him, and knowing now that, with God’s grace, he was quite ready to undertake such a charge, he accepted it. At St. Dunstan’s, Donne preached and worked bravely, until, before long, the favour of the King and his own striking merits advanced him to a yet higher position. ‘The way in which James announced this preferment to Donne is amusing, and very characteristic of that King and his dealings with those for whom he had a cordial liking. Let us glance for a moment at it, for it is a picture out of the moving panorama of those times. One morning, as the wife of the Vicar of St. Dunstan’s is going briskly through her household review, she is thrown out of all matronly composure by news being brought her, by a breathless servant-maid, that one of the King’s lackeys is at the vicarage door, asking to speak with her. ‘The damsel adds much that is animated, though a trifle confused, about the splendours of the royal messenger’s dress, but her mistress does not heed her; she is so full of wondering awe about what this envoy from royalty can be come for. Had her John commi‘ted some terrible breach of etiquette the last time he went to pay his respects to his Majesty? What could it mean? She hurries out, the keys at her girdle making a little tremulous tinkle as she goes. And she is greatly relieved to find that it is only an invitation for her husband to dine at the palace to-morrow. Her spirits rise quickly, for this is, in truth, an honour that Donne has never enjoyed before, and with proud importance in her face and air, COMIC DOO; KS, (Eo)