Mr. Fletcher’s income from his living was not more on an average, Mrs.
Fletcher says, than £100 per annum; and many of the wealthy people of the
Dale objected to pay tythe, which he equally objected to enforce.
“But whether he had less or more, it was the same thing upon his own
account (Mrs. Fletcher remarks): as he had no other use for it, after
frugally supplying his own wants and the wants of those dependent on
him, but to spread the gospel and assist the poor. And he frequently
said he was never happier than when he had given away the last penny
he had in the house. If at any time I had gold in my drawers it
seemed to afford him no comfort. But if he could find a handful of
small silver when he was going out to see the sick he would express
as much pleasure over it as a miser would in discovering a pan of hid
treasure. He was never better pleased with my employment than when
he had set me to prepare food or physic for the poor. He was hardly
able to relish his dinner if some sick neighbour had not a part of
it; and sometimes when any one of them was in want I could not keep
the linen in his drawers. On Sundays he provided for numbers of
people who came from a distance to hear the word; and his house as
well as his heart was devoted to their convenience. To relieve them
that were afflicted in body or mind was the delight of his heart.
Once a poor man who feared God, being brought into great
difficulties, he took down all the pewter from the kitchen shelves,
saying—’This will help _you_, and I can do without it: a wooden
trencher will serve _me_ just as well.’ In epidemic and contagions
distempers, when the neighbours were afraid to nurse the sick, he has
gone from house to house, seeking some that were willing to undertake
that office. And when none could be found he has offered his
service, to sit up with them himself. But this was at his first
coming to Madeley. At present there is in many (and has been for
many years) a most ready mind to visit and relieve the distressed.
“He thoroughly complied with that advice—
‘Give to all something: to a good poor man,
Till thou change hands, and be where he began.’
“I have heard him say that when he lived alone in his house the tears
have come into his eyes when five or six insignificant letters have
been brought him, at three or four pence a-piece; and perhaps he had
only a single shilling in the house to distribute among the poor to
whom he was going. He frequently said to me—’O, Polly, can we not do
without beer? Let us drink water, and eat less meat. Let our
necessities give way to the extremities of the poor.’
“But with all his generosity and charity he was strictly careful to
follow the advice of the apostle, _Owe no man any thing_. He
contracted no debt. While he gave all he had he made it a rule to
pay ready-money for everything, believing this was the best way to
keep the mind unencumbered and free from care. Meanwhile his
substance, his time, his strength, his life, were devoted to the
service of the poor. And last of all he gave _me_ to them. For when
we were married he asked me solemnly ‘whether I was willing to marry
his parish?’ And the first time he led me among his people in this
place he said—‘I have not married this wife only for myself, but for
_you_. I asked her of the Lord for _your_ comfort as well as my
own.’”