Three generations

A LIGHT HEART 359
parishioners, disbanded soldiers, sailors on shore, and
the dregs of the population of Portsmouth, while no
body of men — clerical or academic — (he had a warrant
from the great public school of Winchester for his
work) came forward to relieve him from the obliga-
tions perhaps rashly assumed. When we saw him,
he was engaged in one of his fatiguing, harassing
journeys and tours, at home and abroad, preaching and
delivering addresses for the purpose of raising money
to defray the debt. We likened him to Fletcher
of Madeley, to St. Francis d' Assisi, but the com-
parisons were not enough ; we were driven back to the
early Christians in the heat of persecution given over
to steel, to fire, to the lions, yet capable of outbursts
of gladness when they greeted each other with their
rallying cry, which was to be the hope of the world :
" The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared unto
Simon."
Strangely in contrast to the solemnity of the simile
comes the recollection of our merry party that after-
noon. Father Dolling in his light-heartedness made
fun and laughter out of his exploits and misadventures
in his campaign at Portsmouth. Was it he or his
hostess who told of the occasion when he tried to
mount a narrow stair in a slum, a stair much too
narrow for his size, and stuck fast? He had to be
hauled down by his heels in the presence of an
interested crowd, among them the household he had
come there to instruct and advise. And there was
that other occasion when an uncle like him in rotun-
dity of figure as well as in generosity of character
went with a party of friends to inspect a church in
which he was to preach next day. Presently the
clergyman was missed from the returning party, was