I。Hiram’sHospitalII。TheBarchesterReformerIII。TheBishopofBarchesterIV。Hiram’sBedesmenv。DrGrantlyVisitstheHospitalVI。TheWarden’sTeaPartyVII。TheJupiterVIII。PlumsteadEpiscopiIX。TheConferenceX。TribulationXI。IphigeniaXII。MrBold’sVisittoPlumsteadXIII。TheWarden’sDecisionXIV。MountOlympusXV。TomTowers，DrAnticant，andMrSentimentXVI。ALongDayinLondonXVII。SirAbrahamHaphazardXVIII。TheWardenisveryObstinateXIX。TheWardenResignsXX。FarewellXXI。ConclusionCHAPTERI
　　Hiram’sHospitalTheRev。SeptimusHardingwas，afewyearssince，abeneficedclergymanresidinginthecathedraltownof——；
　　letuscallitBarchester。WerewetonameWellsorSalisbury，Exeter，Hereford，orGloucester，itmightbepresumedthatsomethingpersonalwasintended；andasthistalewillrefermainlytothecathedraldignitariesofthetowninquestion，weareanxiousthatnopersonalitymaybesuspected。LetuspresumethatBarchesterisaquiettownintheWestofEngland，moreremarkableforthebeautyofitscathedralandtheantiquityofitsmonumentsthanforanycommercialprosperity；
　　thatthewestendofBarchesteristhecathedralclose，andthatthearistocracyofBarchesterarethebishop，dean，andcanons，withtheirrespectivewivesanddaughters。
　　EarlyinlifeMrHardingfoundhimselflocatedatBarchester。
　　Afinevoiceandatasteforsacredmusichaddecidedthepositioninwhichhewastoexercisehiscalling，andformanyyearsheperformedtheeasybutnothighlypaiddutiesofaminorcanon。Attheageoffortyasmalllivingintheclosevicinityofthetownincreasedbothhisworkandhisincome，andattheageoffiftyhebecameprecentorofthecathedral。
　　MrHardinghadmarriedearlyinlife，andwasthefatheroftwodaughters。Theeldest，Susan，wasbornsoonafterhismarriage；theother，Eleanor，nottilltenyearslater。
　　AtthetimeatwhichweintroducehimtoourreadershewaslivingasprecentoratBarchesterwithhisyoungestdaughter，thentwenty-fouryearsofage；havingbeenmanyyearsawidower，andhavingmarriedhiseldestdaughtertoasonofthebishopaveryshorttimebeforehisinstallationtotheofficeofprecentor。
　　ScandalatBarchesteraffirmedthathaditnotbeenforthebeautyofhisdaughter，MrHardingwouldhaveremainedaminorcanon，buthereprobablyScandallied，asshesooftendoes；forevenasaminorcanonnoonehadbeenmorepopularamonghisreverendbrethrenintheclosethanMrHarding；
　　andScandal，beforeshehadreprobatedMrHardingforbeingmadeprecentorbyhisfriendthebishop，hadloudlyblamedthebishopforhavingsolongomittedtodosomethingforhisfriendMrHarding。Bethisasitmay，SusanHarding，sometwelveyearssince，hadmarriedtheRev。DrTheophilusGrantly，sonofthebishop，archdeaconofBarchester，andrectorofPlumsteadEpiscopi，andherfatherbecame，afewmonthslater，precentorofBarchesterCathedral，thatofficebeing，asisnotusual，inthebishop’sgift。
　　Nowtherearepeculiarcircumstancesconnectedwiththeprecentorshipwhichmustbeexplained。Intheyear1434
　　therediedatBarchesteroneJohnHiram，whohadmademoneyinthetownasawool-stapler，andinhiswillheleftthehouseinwhichhediedandcertainmeadowsandclosesnearthetown，stillcalledHiram’sButts，andHiram’sPatch，forthesupportoftwelvesuperannuatedwool-carders，allofwhomshouldhavebeenbornandbredandspenttheirdaysinBarchester；healsoappointedthatanalms-houseshouldbebuiltfortheirabode，withafittingresidenceforawarden，whichwardenwasalsotoreceiveacertainsumannuallyoutoftherentsofthesaidbuttsandpatches。He，moreover，willed，havinghadasoulalivetoharmony，thattheprecentorofthecathedralshouldhavetheoptionofbeingalsowardenofthealmshouses，ifthebishopineachcaseapproved。
　　Fromthatdaytothisthecharityhadgoneonandprospered——atleast，thecharityhadgoneon，andtheestateshadprospered。
　　Wool-cardinginBarchestertherewasnolongerany；
　　sothebishop，dean，andwarden，whotookitinturntoputintheoldmen，generallyappointedsomehangers-onoftheirown；worn-outgardeners，decrepitgrave-diggers，oroctogenariansextons，whothankfullyreceivedacomfortablelodgingandoneshillingandfourpenceaday，suchbeingthestipendtowhich，underthewillofJohnHiram，theyweredeclaredtobeentitled。Formerly，indeed——thatis，tillwithinsomefiftyyearsofthepresenttime——theyreceivedbutsixpenceaday，andtheirbreakfastanddinnerwasfoundthematacommontablebythewarden，suchanarrangementbeinginstricterconformitywiththeabsolutewordingofoldHiram’swill:butthiswasthoughttobeinconvenient，andtosuitthetastesofneitherwardennorbedesmen，andthedailyoneshillingandfourpencewassubstitutedwiththecommonconsentofallparties，includingthebishopandthecorporationofBarchester。
　　SuchwastheconditionofHiram’stwelveoldmenwhenMrHardingwasappointedwarden；butiftheymaybeconsideredaswell-to-dointheworldaccordingtotheircondition，thehappywardenwasmuchmoreso。Thepatchesandbuttswhich，inJohnHiram’stime，producedhayorfedcows，werenowcoveredwithrowsofhouses；thevalueofthepropertyhadgraduallyincreasedfromyeartoyearandcenturytocentury，andwasnowpresumedbythosewhoknewanythingaboutit，tobringinaveryniceincome；andbysomewhoknewnothingaboutit，tohaveincreasedtoanalmostfabulousextent。
　　ThepropertywasfarmedbyagentlemaninBarchester，whoalsoactedasthebishop’ssteward——amanwhosefatherandgrandfatherhadbeenstewardstothebishopsofBarchester，andfarmersofJohnHiram’sestate。TheChadwickshadearnedagoodnameinBarchester；theyhadlivedrespectedbybishops，deans，canons，andprecentors；theyhadbeenburiedintheprecinctsofthecathedral；theyhadneverbeenknownasgriping，hardmen，buthadalwayslivedcomfortably，maintainedagoodhouse，andheldahighpositioninBarchestersociety。ThepresentMrChadwickwasaworthyscionofaworthystock，andthetenantslivingonthebuttsandpatches，aswellasthoseonthewideepiscopaldomainsofthesee，werewellpleasedtohavetodowithsoworthyandliberalasteward。
　　Formany，manyyears——recordshardlytellhowmany，probablyfromthetimewhenHiram’swisheshadbeenfirstfullycarriedout——theproceedsoftheestatehadbeenpaidbythestewardorfarmertothewarden，andbyhimdividedamongthebedesmen；afterwhichdivisionhepaidhimselfsuchsumsasbecamehisdue。Timeshadbeenwhenthepoorwardengotnothingbuthisbarehouse，forthepatcheshadbeensubjecttofloods，andthelandofBarchesterbuttswassaidtobeunproductive；andinthesehardtimesthewardenwashardlyabletomakeoutthedailydoleforhistwelvedependents。Butbydegreesthingsmended；thepatchesweredrained，andcottagesbegantoriseuponthebutts，andthewardens，withfairnessenough，repaidthemselvesfortheevildaysgoneby。Inbadtimesthepoormenhadhadtheirdue，andthereforeingoodtimestheycouldexpectnomore。
　　Inthismannertheincomeofthewardenhadincreased；thepicturesquehouseattachedtothehospitalhadbeenenlargedandadorned，andtheofficehadbecomeoneofthemostcovetedofthesnugclericalsinecuresattachedtoourchurch。
　　Itwasnowwhollyinthebishop’sgift，andthoughthedeanandchapter，informerdays，madeastandonthesubject，theyhadthoughtitmoreconducivetotheirhonourtohavearichprecentorappointedbythebishop，thanapooroneappointedbythemselves。ThestipendoftheprecentorofBarchesterwaseightypoundsayear。Theincomearisingfromthewardenshipofthehospitalwaseighthundred，besidesthevalueofthehouse。
　　Murmurs，veryslightmurmurs，hadbeenheardinBarchester——fewindeed，andfarbetween——thattheproceedsofJohnHiram’spropertyhadnotbeenfairlydivided:buttheycanhardlybesaidtohavebeenofsuchanatureastohavecauseduneasinesstoanyone:stillthethinghadbeenwhispered，andMrHardinghadheardit。SuchwashischaracterinBarchester，souniversalwashispopularity，thattheveryfactofhisappointmentwouldhavequietedlouderwhispersthanthosewhichhadbeenheard；butMrHardingwasanopen-handed，just-mindedman，andfeelingthattheremightbetruthinwhathadbeensaid，hehad，onhisinstalment，declaredhisintentionofaddingtwopenceadaytoeachman’spittance，makingasumofsixty-twopoundselevenshillingsandfourpence，whichhewastopayoutofhisownpocket。
　　Indoingso，however，hedistinctlyandrepeatedlyobservedtothemen，thatthoughhepromisedforhimself，hecouldnotpromiseforhissuccessors，andthattheextratwopencecouldonlybelookedonasagiftfromhimself，andnotfromthetrust。Thebedesmen，however，weremostofthemolderthanMrHarding，andwerequitesatisfiedwiththesecurityonwhichtheirextraincomewasbased。
　　ThismunificenceonthepartofMrHardinghadnotbeenunopposed。MrChadwickhadmildlybutseriouslydissuadedhimfromit；andhisstrong-mindedson-in-law，thearchdeacon，themanofwhomaloneMrHardingstoodinawe，hadurgently，nay，vehemently，opposedsoimpoliticaconcession:
　　butthewardenhadmadeknownhisintentiontothehospitalbeforethearchdeaconhadbeenabletointerfere，andthedeedwasdone。
　　Hiram’sHospital，astheretreatiscalled，isapicturesquebuildingenough，andshowsthecorrecttastewithwhichtheecclesiasticalarchitectsofthosedayswereimbued。Itstandsonthebanksofthelittleriver，whichflowsnearlyroundthecathedralclose，beingonthesidefurthestfromthetown。TheLondonroadcrossestheriverbyaprettyone-archedbridge，and，lookingfromthisbridge，thestrangerwillseethewindowsoftheoldmen’srooms，eachpairofwindowsseparatedbyasmallbuttress。Abroadgravelwalkrunsbetweenthebuildingandtheriver，whichisalwaystrimandcaredfor；andattheendofthewalk，undertheparapetoftheapproachtothebridge，isalargeandwell-wornseat，onwhich，inmildweather，threeorfourofHiram’sbedesmenaresuretobeseenseated。Beyondthisrowofbuttresses，andfurtherfromthebridge，andalsofurtherfromthewaterwhichheresuddenlybends，aretheprettyorielwindowsofMrHarding’shouse，andhiswell-mownlawn。TheentrancetothehospitalisfromtheLondonroad，andismadethroughaponderousgatewayunderaheavystonearch，unnecessary，onewouldsuppose，atanytime，fortheprotectionoftwelveoldmen，butgreatlyconducivetothegoodappearanceofHiram’scharity。Onpassingthroughthisportal，neverclosedtoanyonefrom6A。M。till10P。M。，andneveropenafterwards，exceptonapplicationtoahuge，intricatelyhungmediaevalbell，thehandleofwhichnouninitiatedintrudercanpossiblyfind，thesixdoorsoftheoldmen’sabodesareseen，andbeyondthemisaslightironscreen，throughwhichthemorehappyportionoftheBarchesterelitepassintotheElysiumofMrHarding’sdwelling。
　　MrHardingisasmallman，nowvergingonsixtyyears，butbearingfewofthesignsofage；hishairisrathergrizzled，thoughnotgray；hiseyeisverymild，butclearandbright，thoughthedoubleglasseswhichareheldswingingfromhishand，unlesswhenfixeduponhisnose，showthattimehastolduponhissight；hishandsaredelicatelywhite，andbothhandsandfeetaresmall；healwayswearsablackfrockcoat，blackknee-breeches，andblackgaiters，andsomewhatscandalisessomeofhismorehyperclericalbrethrenbyablackneck-handkerchief。
　　MrHarding’swarmestadmirerscannotsaythathewaseveranindustriousman；thecircumstancesofhislifehavenotcalledonhimtobeso；andyethecanhardlybecalledanidler。Sincehisappointmenttohisprecentorship，hehaspublished，withallpossibleadditionsofvellum，typography，andgilding，acollectionofourancientchurchmusic，withsomecorrectdissertationsonPurcell，Crotch，andNares。HehasgreatlyimprovedthechoirofBarchester，which，underhisdominion，nowrivalsthatofanycathedralinEngland。
　　Hehastakensomethingmorethanhisfairshareinthecathedralservices，andhasplayedthevioloncellodailytosuchaudiencesashecouldcollect，or，fautedemieux，tonoaudienceatall。
　　WemustmentiononeotherpeculiarityofMrHarding。Aswehavebeforestated，hehasanincomeofeighthundredayear，andhasnofamilybuthisonedaughter；andyetheisneverquiteateaseinmoneymatters。Thevellumandgildingof’Harding’sChurchMusic’costmorethananyoneknows，excepttheauthor，thepublisher，andtheRev。TheophilusGrantly，whoallowsnoneofhisfather-in-law’sextravagancestoescapehim。Thenheisgeneroustohisdaughter，forwhoseservicehekeepsasmallcarriageandpairofponies。Heis，indeed，generoustoall，butespeciallytothetwelveoldmenwhoareinapeculiarmannerunderhiscare。NodoubtwithsuchanincomeMrHardingshouldbeabovetheworld，asthesayingis；but，atanyrate，heisnotaboveArchdeaconTheophilusGrantly，forheisalwaysmoreorlessindebttohisson-in-law，whohas，toacertainextent，assumedthearrangementoftheprecentor’specuniaryaffairs。