his sole purpose in life being, as he himself puts it, "to be spent in the ways of his great Lord and Master Jesus Christ." In the quarter of a century during which he worked in Keld and its neighbourhood,hundreds—one might say thousands—of Yorkshiremen, with just such talents as his, rose easily to positions of wealth and influence far beyond the dreams of their forefathers. But such considerations never tempted James Wilkinson from his post. Ordained at Keld, he died pastor of Keld, having fairly worn himself out by his manifold labours. To form any idea of the intense earnestness of his spirit, one ought to see Keld, a miserable hamlet of about twenty cottages, containing not more than seventy inhabitants, hidden in an out-of-the-way corner of the moors, nearly ten miles from direct communication with any of the main arteries of life in England.
Some idea may be formed of his energy by a short summary of the outward and material improvements which were effected during his ministry. Having succeeded in getting a new schoolhouse erected, he turned his attention to the best means of arousing the mental energies of his people. Collecting a little company of twelve young men at his house, he formed a Mutual Improvement Society on the principle of self-reliance. In seven years the Society was able to think of building a Literary Institute, which was opened in 1862 at a cost of about;£^119. I visited this Institute in company with the librarian, who is also the postmaster of the village. It had two good rooms, in one of which was a large and well-selected library, comprising not only good books of reference, such as "Rees' Cyclopaedia," but many of the best modern works of science, travel, and fiction. The books have been mainly selected by the members themselves. Whenever they have some money to spend they get a list from Mudie's Library, and each member is allowed to write down the name of the new book he wishes added. The list having been put up for a fortnight, each member votes for those in the list he likes best.
In the winter, evening classes are conducted by the librarian, who is evidently the chief man in the village. He dwells in a cottage built by his great-grandfather, and possesses a large and well-stocked garden and apiary. The interior of the cottage was the pink of neatness and comfort, and contained many curiosities.
