Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/553

SKELTON. 549 many expressions of gratitude, told them he had dedicated his books to God, and he must sell them; and accordingly both sums were applied to the relief of his parishioners. Every heart warms at the recital of such an act of bene volence, and a l l reflections o n i t would lessen the impres sion. One other circumstance may b e added. The book seller sold only a part o f the books i n the course o f trade, and those that remained, Mr. Skelton, when h e could afford i t , took from him a t the price h e sold them for, but insisted o n paying interest for the sun they amounted to, for the time Mr. Watson had them i n his possession. I n 1758, Dr. Clayton, bishop o f Clogher, died, and was succeeded b y Dr. Garnet, who treated Mr. Skelton with the respect h e deserved, and i n 1759, gave him the living o f Devenish, i n the county o f Fermanagh, near Enniskil len, worth about 300l. a year, and thus h e was brought once more into civilized society. When leaving Pettigo, h e said t o the poor, “Give me your blessing now before I go, and God's blessing b e with you. When you are i n great distress, come t o me, and I’ll strive t o relieve you.” I n this new charge, h e exerted the same zeal t o instruct his flock both i n public and private, and the same bene volence toward the poor which had made him s o great a benefit t o his former people. I n 1766, the bishop o f Clogher removed him from Devenish t o the living o f Fin tona, i n the county o f Tyrone, worth a t least 100l. more than the other. He was now i n the fifty-ninth year o f his age. “God Almighty,” h e used t o say, “was very kind t o me: when I began t o advance i n years and stood i n need o f a horse and servant, h e gave me a living. Then h e gave me two livings, one after another, each o f which was worth a hundred a year more than the preceding. I have therefore been rewarded b y him, even i n this world, far above my deserts.” At Fintona, h e shewed himself the same diligent, kind, and faithful pastor a s when o n his former livings; but two circumstances occurred here very characteristic o f the man. Having discovered that most o f his protestant parishioners