Produced by D A Alexander, Charlie Howard, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net THE TRIALS OF A COUNTRY PARSON BY AUGUSTUS JESSOPP, D.D. AUTHOR OF “ONE GENERATION OF A NORFOLK HOUSE,” “HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF NORWICH,” &c., &c. London T. FISHER UNWIN PATERNOSTER SQUARE MDCCCXC [Illustration] _BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ ARCADY: FOR BETTER FOR WORSE. _Fourth Edition. Cloth, 3s. 6d._ “A volume which is, to our minds, one of the most delightful ever published in English.”--_Spectator._ The COMING of the FRIARS, AND OTHER MEDIÆVAL SKETCHES. _Fourth Edition. Cloth, 7s. 6d._ “The book is one to be read and enjoyed from its title-page to its finish.”--_Morning Post._ LONDON: T. FISHER UNWIN, PATERNOSTER SQUARE, E.C. _Preface._ _In a volume which I published three years ago[1] I attempted to give a faithful picture of the habits and ways of thinking, the superstitions, prejudices and grounds for discontent, the grievances and the trials, of the country folk among whom my lot was cast and among whom it was my duty and my privilege to live as a country clergyman. I was surprised, and not a little pained, to hear from many who read my book that the impression produced upon them was exactly the reverse of that which I had desired to convey. On returning to a country village after long residence in a large town, I found things greatly changed, of course; but I found that, though the country folk had not shared in the general progress which had been going on in the condition of the urban population, they still retained some of their sturdy virtues, still had some love for their homes, still clung to some of their old prejudices which reflected their attachment to their birthplace, and that if they were inclined to surrender themselves to the leadership of blatant demagogues, and to dwell upon some real or imagined wrongs coarsely exaggerated by itinerant agitators with their living to get by speechifying, it was not because there was no cause for discontent. The rustics were right when they followed their instincts and these told them that their lot might be easily--so very easily--made much happier than it is, if philanthropists would only give themselves a fair chance, set themselves patiently to study facts before committing themselves to crude theories, try to make themselves really conversant with the conditions which they vaguely desire to ameliorate, go to work in the right way and learn to take things by the right handles._