The Daily Herald

Archbishop Usher.—There is a story of Archbishop Usher, that he went about and visited his clergy unexpectedly, and saw how they were employed, and how their flocks fared. It is said that on one occasion he went in disguise, and begged alms at the curate's house. The curate was out upon his duty; but his prudent wife soundly lectured the old man, though she gave him relief. "For shame old man, at these years to go begging. These are not the usual fruits of an honest, industrious, and godly life. Tell me, old man, how many commandments are there?" The old man, with seeming confusion, stammered out "Eleven." "I thought so," said she; "go thy ways old man; and here take the book with thee, and learn thy catechism; and when next time you are asked, say ten." The archbishop took his departure, and had it formally announced that he should preach the next day in the parish church. The morning came but little thought the good woman that the archbishop was the old alms-beggar, till he gave his text and comment—“A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another." "It would seem," begins the sermon, "by this text, that there are eleven commandments."

The old man was recognized, and the curate's wife acknowledged, with some shame to herself, that there was another and a new commandment.