Contentment in Humble Life: In a Memoir of Thomas Hogg by Rev. William Read

Thomas Hogg (1753–1818) was a blacksmith who made scissor chains. He almost never complained even though his life was so humble that he slept in ox stalls. He was an interesting example of the power of God to bring about contentment and cheerfulness in suffering. As the book states: “I have heard him declare that he never learned so complete a lesson of humility, contentment, and gratitude, as from the conduct of this man.” “A pleasing narrative of an individual in abject poverty; his contentment and cheerfulness in suffering; his superior qualities of mind; and his consistent and ardent piety.”

Paperback 4X6, 60 pages, 1 illus.; ISBN 9781946145109; Vintage Chapbook Series

REV. WILLIAM READ, M. A., (1791–1825), was born in Bengal, India because his father worked for the East India Company. He came to his serious religious feelings at age fourteen, and attended school at St. Edmund Hall at Oxford. In 1813, he served the curacy at Midsomer Norton for seven years, and four years at Ston Easton. He was domestic Chaplin to His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence and St. Andrew. He had reverence and love for the poor. He had a tragic accident at thirty-four years of age, when their runaway horse carriage crashed into wall taking his life and that of his son.