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diff --git a/old/vicar10.txt b/old/vicar10.txt deleted file mode 100644 index d763712..0000000 --- a/old/vicar10.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6767 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Vicar of Wakefield, by Oliver Goldsmith -#2 in our series by Oliver Goldsmith - - -Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check -the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! - -Please take a look at the important information in this header. -We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an -electronic path open for the next readers. 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Griep, St. Anthony, MN. - - - - - -THE VICAR - -OF WAKEFIELD - - -A TALE - - -Supposed to be written by Himself - - -Sperate miseri, cavete faelices - - - - -ADVERTISEMENT - -There are an hundred faults in this Thing, and an hundred things -might be said to prove them beauties. But it is needless. A book -may be amusing with numerous errors, or it may be very dull -without a single absurdity. The hero of this piece unites in -himself the three greatest characters upon earth; he is a priest, -an husbandman, and the father of a family. He is drawn as ready -to teach, and ready to obey, as simple in affluence, and majestic -in adversity. In this age of opulence and refinement whom can -such a character please? Such as are fond of high life, will turn -with disdain from the simplicity of his country fire-side. Such -as mistake ribaldry for humour, will find no wit in his harmless -conversation; and such as have been taught to deride religion, -will laugh at one whose chief stores of comfort are drawn from -futurity. - -OLIVER GOLDSMITH - - - -CONTENTS - -1. The description of the family of Wakefield; in which a kindred -likeness prevails as well of minds as of persons - -2. Family misfortunes. The loss of fortune only serves to -increase the pride of the worthy - -3. A migration. The fortunate circumstances of our lives are -generally found at last to be of our own procuring - -4. A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, -which depends not on circumstance, but constitution 5. A new and -great acquaintance introduced. What we place most hopes upon -generally proves most fatal - -6. The happiness of a country fire-side - -7. A town wit described. The dullest fellows may learn to be -comical for a night or two - -8. An amour, which promises little good fortune, yet may be -productive of much - -9. Two ladies of great distinction introduced. Superior finery -ever seems to confer superior breeding - -10. The family endeavours to cope with their betters. The -miseries of the poor when they attempt to appear above their -circumstances - -11. The family still resolve to hold up their heads - -12. Fortune seems resolved to humble the family of Wakefield. -Mortifications are often more painful than real calamities - -13. Mr Burchell is found to be an enemy; for he has the -confidence to give disagreeable advice - -14. Fresh mortifications, or a demonstration that seeming -calamities may be real blessings - -15. All Mr Burchell's villainy at once detected. The folly of -being-over-wise - -16. The Family use art, which is opposed with still greater - -17. Scarce any virtue found to resist the power of long and -pleasing temptation 18. The pursuit of a father to reclaim a lost -child to virtue - -19. The description of a Person discontented with the present -government, and apprehensive of the loss of our liberties - -20. The history of a philosophic vagabond, pursuing novelty, but -losing content - -21. The short continuance of friendship among the vicious, which -is coeval only with mutual satisfaction - -22. Offences are easily pardoned where there is love at bottom - -23. None but the guilty can be long and completely miserable - -24. Fresh calamities - -25. No situation, however wretched it seems, but has some sort of -comfort attending it - -26. A reformation in the gaol. To make laws complete, they should -reward as well as punish - -27. The same subject continued - -28. Happiness and misery rather the result of prudence than of -virtue in this life. Temporal evils or felicities being regarded -by heaven as things merely in themselves trifling and unworthy -its care in the distribution - -29. The equal dealings of providence demonstrated with regard to -the happy and the miserable here below. That from the nature of -pleasure and pain, the wretched must be repaid the balance of -their sufferings in the life hereafter - -30. Happier prospects begin to appear. Let us be inflexible, and -fortune will at last change in our favour - -31. Former benevolence now repaid with unexpected interest - -32. The Conclusion - - - -CHAPTER 1 - -The description of the family of Wakefield; in which a kindred -likeness prevails as well of minds as of persons - -I was ever of opinion, that the honest man who married and -brought up a large family, did more service than he who continued -single, and only talked of population. From this motive, I had -scarce taken orders a year before I began to think seriously of -matrimony, and chose my wife as she did her wedding gown, not for -a fine glossy surfaces but such qualities as would wear well. To -do her justice, she was a good-natured notable woman; and as for -breeding, there were few country ladies who could shew more. She -could read any English book without much spelling, but for -pickling, preserving, and cookery, none could excel her. She -prided herself also upon being an excellent contriver in house- -keeping; tho' I could never find that we grew richer with all her -contrivances. However, we loved each other tenderly, and our -fondness encreased as we grew old. There was in fact nothing that -could make us angry with the world or each other. We had an -elegant house, situated in a fine country, and a good -neighbourhood. The year was spent in moral or rural amusements; -in visiting our rich neighbours, and relieving such as were poor. -We had no revolutions to fear, nor fatigues to undergo; all our -adventures were by the fire-side, and all our migrations from the -blue bed to the brown. - -As we lived near the road, we often had the traveller or stranger -visit us to taste our gooseberry wine, for which we had great -reputation; and I profess with the veracity of an historian, that -I never knew one of them find fault with it. Our cousins too, -even to the fortieth remove, all remembered their affinity, -without any help from the Herald's office, and came very -frequently to see us. Some of them did us no great honour by -these claims of kindred; as we had the blind, the maimed, and the -halt amongst the number. However, my wife always insisted that as -they were the same flesh and blood, they should sit with us at -the same table. So that if we had not, very rich, we generally -had very happy friends about us; for this remark will hold good -thro' life, that the poorer the guest, the better pleased he ever -is with being treated: and as some men gaze with admiration at -the colours of a tulip, or the wing of a butterfly, so I was by -nature an admirer of happy human faces. However, when any one of -our relations was found to be a person of very bad character, a -troublesome guest, or one we desired to get rid of, upon his -leaving my house, I ever took care to lend him a riding coat, or -a pair of boots, or sometimes an horse of small value, and I -always had the satisfaction of finding he never came back to -return them. By this the house was cleared of such as we did not -like; but never was the family of Wakefield known to turn the -traveller or the poor dependent out of doors. - -Thus we lived several years in a state of much happiness, not but -that we sometimes had those little rubs which Providence sends to -enhance the value of its favours. My orchard was often robbed by -school-boys, and my wife's custards plundered by the cats or the -children. The 'Squire would sometimes fall asleep in the most -pathetic parts of my sermon, or his lady return my wife's -civilities at church with a mutilated curtesy. But we soon got -over the uneasiness caused by such accidents, and usually in -three or four days began to wonder how they vext us. - -My children, the offspring of temperance, as they were educated -without softness, so they were at once well formed and healthy; -my sons hardy and active, my daughters beautiful and blooming. -When I stood in the midst of the little circle, which promised to -be the supports of my declining age, I could not avoid repeating -the famous story of Count Abensberg, who, in Henry II's progress -through Germany, while other courtiers came with their treasures, -brought his thirty-two children, and presented them to his -sovereign as the most valuable offering he had to bestow. In this -manner, though I had but six, I considered them as a very -valuable present made to my country, and consequently looked upon -it as my debtor. Our eldest son was named George, after his -uncle, who left us ten thousand pounds. Our second child, a girl, -I intended to call after her aunt Grissel; but my wife, who -during her pregnancy had been reading romances, insisted upon her -being called Olivia. In less than another year we had another -daughter, and now I was determined that Grissel should be her -name; but a rich relation taking a fancy to stand godmother, the -girl was, by her directions, called Sophia; so that we had two -romantic names in the family; but I solemnly protest I had no -hand in it. Moses was our next, and after an interval of twelve -years, we had two sons more. - -It would be fruitless to deny my exultation when I saw my little -ones about me; but the vanity and the satisfaction of my wife -were even greater than mine. When our visitors would say, 'Well, -upon my word, Mrs Primrose, you have the finest children in the -whole country.'--'Ay, neighbour,' she would answer, 'they are as -heaven made them, handsome enough, if they be good enough; for -handsome is that handsome does.' And then she would bid the girls -hold up their heads; who, to conceal nothing, were certainly very -handsome. Mere outside is so very trifling a circumstance with -me, that I should scarce have remembered to mention it, had it -not been a general topic of conversation in the country. Olivia, -now about eighteen, had that luxuriancy of beauty with which -painters generally draw Hebe; open, sprightly, and commanding. -Sophia's features were not so striking at first; but often did -more certain execution; for they were soft, modest, and alluring. -The one vanquished by a single blow, the other by efforts -successfully repeated. - -The temper of a woman is generally formed from the turn of her -features, at least it was so with my daughters. Olivia wished for -many lovers, Sophia to secure one. Olivia was often affected from -too great a desire to please. Sophia even represt excellence from -her fears to offend. The one entertained me with her vivacity -when I was gay, the other with her sense when I was serious. But -these qualities were never carried to excess in either, and I -have often seen them exchange characters for a whole day -together. A suit of mourning has transformed my coquet into a -prude, and a new set of ribbands has given her younger sister -more than natural vivacity. My eldest son George was bred at -Oxford, as I intended him for one of the learned professions. My -second boy Moses, whom I designed for business, received a sort -of a miscellaneous education at home. But it is needless to -attempt describing the particular characters of young people that -had seen but very little of the world. In short, a family -likeness prevailed through all, and properly speaking, they had -but one character, that of being all equally generous, credulous, -simple, and inoffensive. - - - -CHAPTER 2 - -Family misfortunes. The loss of fortune only serves to encrease -the pride of the worthy - - -The temporal concerns of our family were chiefly committed to my -wife's management, as to the spiritual I took them entirely under -my own direction. The profits of my living, which amounted to but -thirty-five pounds a year, I made over to the orphans and widows -of the clergy of our diocese; for having a sufficient fortune of -my own, I was careless of temporalities, and felt a secret -pleasure in doing my duty without reward. I also set a resolution -of keeping no curate, and of being acquainted with every man in -the parish, exhorting the married men to temperance and the -bachelors to matrimony; so that in a few years it was a common -saying, that there were three strange wants at Wakefield, a -parson wanting pride, young men wanting wives, and ale-houses -wanting customers. Matrimony was always one of my favourite -topics, and I wrote several sermons to prove its happiness: but -there was a peculiar tenet which I made a point of supporting; -for I maintained with Whiston, that it was unlawful for a priest -of the church of England, after the death of his first wife, to -take a second, or to express it in one word, I valued myself upon -being a strict monogamist. I was early innitiated into this -important dispute, on which so many laborious volumes have been -written. I published some tracts upon the subject myself, which, -as they never sold, I have the consolation of thinking are read -only by the happy Few. Some of my friends called this my weak -side; but alas! they had not like me made it the subject of long -contemplation. The more I reflected upon it, the more important -it appeared. I even went a step beyond Whiston in displaying my -principles: as he had engraven upon his wife's tomb that she was -the only wife of William Whiston; so I wrote a similar epitaph -for my wife, though still living, in which I extolled her -prudence, oeconomy, and obedience till death; and having got it -copied fair, with an elegant frame, it was placed over the -chimney-piece, where it answered several very useful purposes. It -admonished my wife of her duty to me, and my fidelity to her; it -inspired her with a passion for fame, and constantly put her in -mind of her end. - -It was thus, perhaps, from hearing marriage so often recommended, -that my eldest son, just upon leaving college, fixed his -affections upon the daughter of a neighbouring clergyman, who was -a dignitary in the church, and in circumstances to give her a -large fortune: but fortune was her smallest accomplishment. Miss -Arabella Wilmot was allowed by all, except my two daughters, to -be completely pretty. Her youth, health, and innocence, were -still heightened by a complexion so transparent, and such an -happy sensibility of look, as even age could not gaze on with -indifference. As Mr Wilmot knew that I could make a very handsome -settlement on my son, he was not averse to the match; so both -families lived together in all that harmony which generally -precedes an expected alliance. Being convinced by experience that -the days of courtship are the most happy of our lives, I was -willing enough to lengthen the period; and the various amusements -which the young couple every day shared in each other's company, -seemed to encrease their passion. We were generally awaked in the -morning by music, and on fine days rode a hunting. The hours -between breakfast and dinner the ladies devoted to dress and -study: they usually read a page, and then gazed at themselves in -the glass, which even philosophers might own often presented the -page of greatest beauty. At dinner my wife took the lead; for as -she always insisted upon carving every thing herself, it being -her mother's way, she gave us upon these occasions the history of -every dish. When we had dined, to prevent the ladies leaving us, -I generally ordered the table to be removed; and sometimes, with -the music master's assistance, the girls would give us a very -agreeable concert. Walking out, drinking tea, country dances, and -forfeits, shortened the rest of the day, without the assistance -of cards, as I hated all manner of gaming, except backgammon, at -which my old friend and I sometimes took a two-penny hit. Nor can -I here pass over an ominous circumstance that happened the last -time we played together: I only wanted to fling a quatre, and yet -I threw deuce ace five times running. Some months were elapsed in -this manner, till at last it was thought convenient to fix a day -for the nuptials of the young couple, who seemed earnestly to -desire it. During the preparations for the wedding, I need not -describe the busy importance of my wife, nor the sly looks of my -daughters: in fact, my attention was fixed on another object, the -completing a tract which I intended shortly to publish in defence -of my favourite principle. As I looked upon this as a -master-piece both for argument and style, I could not in the -pride of my heart avoid shewing it to my old friend Mr Wilmot, as -I made no doubt of receiving his approbation; but not till too -late I discovered that he was most violently attached to the -contrary opinion, and with good reason; for he was at that time -actually courting a fourth wife. This, as may be expected, -produced a dispute attended with some acrimony, which threatened -to interrupt our intended alliance: but on the day before that -appointed for the ceremony, we agreed to discuss the subject at -large. It was managed with proper spirit on both sides: he -asserted that I was heterodox, I retorted the charge: he replied, -and I rejoined. In the mean time, while the controversy was -hottest, I was called out by one of my relations, who, with a -face of concern, advised me to give up the dispute, at least till -my son's wedding was over. 'How,' cried I, 'relinquish the cause -of truth, and let him be an husband, already driven to the very -verge of absurdity. You might as well advise me to give up my -fortune as my argument.' 'Your fortune,' returned my friend, 'I -am now sorry to inform you, is almost nothing. The merchant in -town, in whose hands your money was lodged, has gone off, to -avoid a statute of bankruptcy, and is thought not to have left a -shilling in the pound. I was unwilling to shock you or the family -with the account till after the wedding: but now it may serve to -moderate your warmth in the argument; for, I suppose, your own -prudence will enforce the necessity of dissembling at least till -your son has the young lady's fortune secure.'--'Well,' returned -I, 'if what you tell me be true, and if I am to be a beggar, it -shall never make me a rascal, or induce me to disavow my -principles. I'll go this moment and inform the company of my -circumstances; and as for the argument, I even here retract my -former concessions in the old gentleman's favour, nor will I -allow him now to be an husband in any sense of the expression.' - -It would be endless to describe the different sensations of both -families when I divulged the news of our misfortune; but what -others felt was slight to what the lovers appeared to endure. Mr -Wilmot, who seemed before sufficiently inclined to break off the -match, was by this blow soon determined: one virtue he had in -perfection, which was prudence, too often the only one that is -left us at seventy-two. - - - -CHAPTER 3 - -A migration. The fortunate circumstances of our lives are -generally found at last to be of our own procuring - - -The only hope of our family now was, that the report of our -misfortunes might be malicious or premature: but a letter from my -agent in town soon came with a confirmation of every particular. -The loss of fortune to myself alone would have been trifling; the -only uneasiness I felt was for my family, who were to be humble -without an education to render them callous to contempt. - -Near a fortnight had passed before I attempted to restrain their -affliction; for premature consolation is but the remembrancer of -sorrow. During this interval, my thoughts were employed on some -future means of supporting them; and at last a small Cure of -fifteen pounds a year was offered me in a distant neighbourhood, -where I could still enjoy my principles without molestation. With -this proposal I joyfully closed, having determined to encrease my -salary by managing a little farm. - -Having taken this resolution, my next care was to get together -the wrecks of my fortune; and all debts collected and paid, out -of fourteen thousand pounds we had but four hundred remaining. My -chief attention therefore was now to bring down the pride of my -family to their circumstances; for I well knew that aspiring -beggary is wretchedness itself. 'You cannot be ignorant, my -children,' cried I, 'that no prudence of ours could have -prevented our late misfortune; but prudence may do much in -disappointing its effects. We are now poor, my fondlings, and -wisdom bids us conform to our humble situation. Let us then, -without repining, give up those splendours with which numbers are -wretched, and seek in humbler circumstances that peace with which -all may be happy. The poor live pleasantly without our help, why -then should not we learn to live without theirs. No, my children, -let us from this moment give up all pretensions to gentility; we -have still enough left for happiness if we are wise, and let us -draw upon content for the deficiencies of fortune.' As my eldest -son was bred a scholar, I determined to send him to town, where -his abilities might contribute to our support and his own. The -separation of friends and families is, perhaps, one of the most -distressful circumstances attendant on penury. The day soon -arrived on which we were to disperse for the first time. My son, -after taking leave of his mother and the rest, who mingled their -tears with their kisses, came to ask a blessing from me. This I -gave him from my heart, and which, added to five guineas, was all -the patrimony I had now to bestow. 'You are going, my boy,' cried -I, 'to London on foot, in the manner Hooker, your great ancestor, -travelled there before you. Take from me the same horse that was -given him by the good bishop Jewel, this staff, and take this -book too, it will be your comfort on the way: these two lines in -it are worth a million, I have been young, and now am old; yet -never saw I the righteous man forsaken, or his seed begging their -bread. Let this be your consolation as you travel on. Go, my boy, -whatever be thy fortune let me see thee once a year; still keep a -good heart, and farewell.' As he was possest of integrity and -honour, I was under no apprehensions from throwing him naked into -the amphitheatre of life; for I knew he would act a good part -whether vanquished or victorious. His departure only prepared the -way for our own, which arrived a few days afterwards. The leaving -a neighbourhood in which we had enjoyed so many hours of -tranquility, was not without a tear, which scarce fortitude -itself could suppress. Besides, a journey of seventy miles to a -family that had hitherto never been above ten from home, filled -us with apprehension, and the cries of the poor, who followed us -for some miles, contributed to encrease it. The first day's -journey brought us in safety within thirty miles of our future -retreat, and we put up for the night at an obscure inn in a -village by the way. When we were shewn a room, I desired the -landlord, in my usual way, to let us have his company, with which -he complied, as what he drank would encrease the bill next -morning. He knew, however, the whole neighbourhood to which I was -removing, particularly 'Squire Thornhill, who was to be my -landlord, and who lived within a few miles of the place. This -gentleman he described as one who desired to know little more of -the world than its pleasures, being particularly remarkable for -his attachment to the fair sex. He observed that no virtue was -able to resist his arts and assiduity, and that scarce a farmer's -daughter within ten miles round but what had found him successful -and faithless. Though this account gave me some pain, it had a -very different effect upon my daughters, whose features seemed to -brighten with the expectation of an approaching triumph, nor was -my wife less pleased and confident of their allurements and -virtue. While our thoughts were thus employed, the hostess -entered the room to inform her husband, that the strange -gentleman, who had been two days in the house, wanted money, and -could not satisfy them for his reckoning. 'Want money!' replied -the host, 'that must be impossible; for it was no later than -yesterday he paid three guineas to our beadle to spare an old -broken soldier that was to be whipped through the town for dog- -stealing.' The hostess, however, still persisting in her first -assertion, he was preparing to leave the room, swearing that he -would be satisfied one way or another, when I begged the landlord -would introduce me to a stranger of so much charity as he -described. With this he complied, shewing in a gentleman who -seemed to be about thirty, drest in cloaths that once were laced. -His person was well formed, and his face marked with the lines of -thinking. He had something short and dry in his address, and -seemed not to understand ceremony, or to despise it. Upon the -landlord's leaving the room, I could not avoid expressing my -concern to the stranger at seeing a gentleman in such -circumstances, and offered him my purse to satisfy the present -demand. 'I take it with all my heart, Sir,' replied he, 'and am -glad that a late oversight in giving what money I had about me, -has shewn me that there are still some men like you. I must, -however, previously entreat being informed of the name and -residence of my benefactor, in order to repay him as soon as -possible.' In this I satisfied him fully, not only mentioning my -name and late misfortunes, but the place to which I was going to -remove. 'This,' cried he, 'happens still more luckily than I -hoped for, as I am going the same way myself, having been -detained here two days by the floods, which, I hope, by to-morrow -will be found passable.' I testified the pleasure I should have -in his company, and my wife and daughters joining in entreaty, he -was prevailed upon to stay supper. The stranger's conversation, -which was at once pleasing and instructive, induced me to wish -for a continuance of it; but it was now high time to retire and -take refreshment against the fatigues of the following day. - -The next morning we all set forward together: my family on -horseback, while Mr Burchell, our new companion, walked along the -foot-path by the road-side, observing, with a smile, that as we -were ill mounted, he would be too generous to attempt leaving us -behind. As the floods were not yet subsided, we were obliged to -hire a guide, who trotted on before, Mr Burchell and I bringing -up the rear. We lightened the fatigues of the road with -philosophical disputes, which he seemed to understand perfectly. -But what surprised me most was, that though he was a money- -borrower, he defended his opinions with as much obstinacy as if -he had been my patron. He now and then also informed me to whom -the different seats belonged that lay in our view as we travelled -the road. 'That,' cried he, pointing to a very magnificent house -which stood at some distance, 'belongs to Mr Thornhill, a young -gentleman who enjoys a large fortune, though entirely dependent -on the will of his uncle, Sir William Thornhill, a gentleman, who -content with a little himself, permits his nephew to enjoy the -rest, and chiefly resides in town.' 'What!' cried I, 'is my young -landlord then the nephew of a man whose virtues, generosity, and -singularities are so universally known? I have heard Sir William -Thornhill represented as one of the most generous, yet whimsical, -men in the kingdom; a man of consumate benevolence'--'Something, -perhaps, too much so,' replied Mr Burchell, 'at least he carried -benevolence to an excess when young; for his passions were then -strong, and as they all were upon the side of virtue, they led it -up to a romantic extreme. He early began to aim at the -qualifications of the soldier and scholar; was soon distinguished -in the army and had some reputation among men of learning. -Adulation ever follows the ambitious; for such alone receive most -pleasure from flattery. He was surrounded with crowds, who shewed -him only one side of their character; so that he began to lose a -regard for private interest in universal sympathy. He loved all -mankind; for fortune prevented him from knowing that there were -rascals. Physicians tell us of a disorder in which the whole body -is so exquisitely sensible, that the slightest touch gives pain: -what some have thus suffered in their persons, this gentleman -felt in his mind. The slightest distress, whether real or -fictitious, touched him to the quick, and his soul laboured under -a sickly sensibility of the miseries of others. Thus disposed to -relieve, it will be easily conjectured, he found numbers disposed -to solicit: his profusions began to impair his fortune, but not -his good-nature; that, indeed, was seen to encrease as the other -seemed to decay: he grew improvident as he grew poor; and though -he talked like a man of sense, his actions were those of a fool. -Still, however, being surrounded with importunity, and no longer -able to satisfy every request that was made him, instead of money -he gave promises. They were all he had to bestow, and he had not -resolution enough to give any man pain by a denial. By this he -drew round him crowds of dependants, whom he was sure to -disappoint; yet wished to relieve. These hung upon him for a -time, and left him with merited reproaches and contempt. But in -proportion as he became contemptable to others, he became -despicable to himself. His mind had leaned upon their adulation, -and that support taken away, he could find no pleasure in the -applause of his heart, which he had never learnt to reverence. -The world now began to wear a different aspect; the flattery of -his friends began to dwindle into simple approbation. Approbation -soon took the more friendly form of advice, and advice when -rejected produced their reproaches. He now, therefore found that -such friends as benefits had gathered round him, were little -estimable: he now found that a man's own heart must be ever given -to gain that of another. I now found, that--that--I forget what I -was going to observe: in short, sir, he resolved to respect -himself, and laid down a plan of restoring his falling fortune. -For this purpose, in his own whimsical manner he travelled -through Europe on foot, and now, though he has scarce attained -the age of thirty, his circumstances are more affluent than ever. -At present, his bounties are more rational and moderate than -before; but still he preserves the character of an humourist, and -finds most pleasure in eccentric virtues.' - -My attention was so much taken up by Mr Burchell's account, that -I scarce looked forward as we went along, til we were alarmed by -the cries of my family, when turning, I perceived my youngest -daughter in the midst of a rapid stream, thrown from her horse, -and struggling with the torrent. She had sunk twice, nor was it -in my power to disengage myself in time to bring her relief. My -sensations were even too violent to permit my attempting her -rescue: she must have certainly perished had not my companion, -perceiving her danger, instantly plunged in to her relief, and -with some difficulty, brought her in safety to the opposite -shore. By taking the current a little farther up, the rest of the -family got safely over; where we had an opportunity of joining -our acknowledgments to her's. Her gratitude may be more readily -imagined than described: she thanked her deliverer more with -looks than words, and continued to lean upon his arm, as if still -willing to receive assistance. My wife also hoped one day to have -the pleasure of returning his kindness at her own house. Thus, -after we were refreshed at the next inn, and had dined together, -as Mr Burchell was going to a different part of the country, he -took leave; and we pursued our journey. My wife observing as we -went, that she liked him extremely, and protesting, that if he -had birth and fortune to entitle him to match into such a family -as our's, she knew no man she would sooner fix upon. I could not -but smile to hear her talk in this lofty strain: but I was never -much displeased with those harmless delusions that tend to make -us more happy. - - - -CHAPTER 4 - -A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which -depends not on circumstance, but constitution - - -The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, -consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were -equal strangers to opulence and poverty. As they had almost all -the conveniencies of life within themselves, they seldom visited -towns or cities in search of superfluity. Remote from the polite, -they still retained the primaeval simplicity of manners, and -frugal by habit, they scarce knew that temperance was a virtue. -They wrought with cheerfulness on days of labour; but observed -festivals as intervals of idleness and pleasure. They kept up the -Christmas carol, sent true love-knots on Valentine morning, eat -pancakes on Shrove-tide, shewed their wit on the first of April, -and religiously cracked nuts on Michaelmas eve. Being apprized of -our approach, the whole neighbourhood came out to meet their -minister, drest in their finest cloaths, and preceded by a pipe -and tabor: A feast also was provided for our reception, at which -we sat cheerfully down; and what the conversation wanted in wit, -was made up in laughter. - -Our little habitation was situated at the foot of a sloping hill, -sheltered with a beautiful underwood behind, and a pratling river -before; on one side a meadow, on the other a green. My farm -consisted of about twenty acres of excellent land, having given -an hundred pound for my predecessor's good-will. Nothing could -exceed the neatness of my little enclosures: the elms and hedge -rows appearing with inexpressible beauty. My house consisted of -but one story, and was covered with thatch, which gave it an air -of great snugness; the walls on the inside were nicely white- -washed, and my daughters undertook to adorn them with pictures of -their own designing. Though the same room served us for parlour -and kitchen, that only made it the warmer. Besides, as it was -kept with the utmost neatness, the dishes, plates, and coppers, -being well scoured, and all disposed in bright rows on the -shelves, the eye was agreeably relieved, and did not want richer -furniture. There were three other apartments, one for my wife and -me, another for our two daughters, within our own, and the third, -with two beds, for the rest of the children. - -The little republic to which I gave laws, was regulated in the -following manner: by sun-rise we all assembled in our common -appartment; the fire being previously kindled by the servant. -After we had saluted each other with proper ceremony, for I -always thought fit to keep up some mechanical forms of good -breeding, without which freedom ever destroys friendship, we all -bent in gratitude to that Being who gave us another day. This -duty being performed, my son and I went to pursue our usual -industry abroad, while my wife and daughters employed themselves -in providing breakfast, which was always ready at a certain time. -I allowed half an hour for this meal, and an hour for dinner; -which time was taken up in innocent mirth between my wife and -daughters, and in philosophical arguments between my son and me. - -As we rose with the sun, so we never pursued our labours after it -was gone down, but returned home to the expecting family; where -smiling looks, a treat hearth, and pleasant fire, were prepared -for our reception. Nor were we without guests: sometimes farmer -Flamborough, our talkative neighbour, and often the blind piper, -would pay us a visit, and taste our gooseberry wine; for the -making of which we had lost neither the receipt nor the -reputation. These harmless people had several ways of being good -company, while one played, the other would sing some soothing -ballad, Johnny Armstrong's last good night, or the cruelty of -Barbara Allen. The night was concluded in the manner we began the -morning, my youngest boys being appointed to read the lessons of -the day, and he that read loudest, distinctest, and best, was to -have an half-penny on Sunday to put in the poor's box. - -When Sunday came, it was indeed a day of finery, which all my -sumptuary edicts could not restrain. How well so ever I fancied -my lectures against pride had conquered the vanity of my -daughters; yet I still found them secretly attached to all their -former finery: they still loved laces, ribbands, bugles and -catgut; my wife herself retained a passion for her crimson -paduasoy, because I formerly happened to say it became her. - -The first Sunday in particular their behaviour served to mortify -me: I had desired my girls the preceding night to be drest early -the next day; for I always loved to be at church a good while -before the rest of the congregation. They punctually obeyed my -directions; but when we were to assemble in the morning at -breakfast, down came my wife and daughters, drest out in all -their former splendour: their hair plaistered up with pomatum, -their faces patched to taste, their trains bundled up into an -heap behind, and rustling at every motion. I could not help -smiling at their vanity, particularly that of my wife, from whom -I expected more discretion. In this exigence, therefore, my only -resource was to order my son, with an important air, to call our -coach. The girls were amazed at the command; but I repeated it -with more solemnity than before.--'Surely, my dear, you jest,' -cried my wife, 'we can walk it perfectly well: we want no coach -to carry us now.' 'You mistake, child,' returned I, 'we do want a -coach; for if we walk to church in this trim, the very children -in the parish will hoot after us.'--'Indeed,' replied my wife, 'I -always imagined that my Charles was fond of seeing his children -neat and handsome about him.'--'You may be as neat as you -please,' interrupted I, 'and I shall love you the better for it, -but all this is not neatness, but frippery. These rufflings, and -pinkings, and patchings, will only make us hated by all the wives -of all our neighbours. No, my children,' continued I, more -gravely, 'those gowns may be altered into something of a plainer -cut; for finery is very unbecoming in us, who want the means of -decency. I do not know whether such flouncing and shredding is -becoming even in the rich, if we consider, upon a moderate -calculation, that the nakedness of the indigent world may be -cloathed from the trimmings of the vain.' - -This remonstrance had the proper effect; they went with great -composure, that very instant, to change their dress; and the next -day I had the satisfaction of finding my daughters, at their own -request employed in cutting up their trains into Sunday -waistcoats for Dick and Bill, the two little ones, and what was -still more satisfactory, the gowns seemed improved by this -curtailing. - - - -CHAPTER 5 - -A new and great acquaintance introduced. What we place most hopes -upon, generally proves most fatal - - -At a small distance from the house my predecessor had made a -seat, overshaded by an hedge of hawthorn and honeysuckle. Here, -when the weather was fine, and our labour soon finished, we -usually sate together, to enjoy an extensive landschape, in the -calm of the evening. Here too we drank tea, which now was become -an occasional banquet; and as we had it but seldom, it diffused a -new joy, the preparations for it being made with no small share -of bustle and ceremony. On these occasions, our two little ones -always read for us, and they were regularly served after we had -done. Sometimes, to give a variety to our amusements, the girls -sung to the guitar; and while they thus formed a little concert, -my wife and I would stroll down the sloping field, that was -embellished with blue bells and centaury, talk of our children -with rapture, and enjoy the breeze that wafted both health and -harmony. - -In this manner we began to find that every situation in life -might bring its own peculiar pleasures: every morning waked us to -a repetition of toil; but the evening repaid it with vacant -hilarity. - -It was about the beginning of autumn, on a holiday, for I kept -such as intervals of relaxation from labour, that I had drawn out -my family to our usual place of amusement, and our young -musicians began their usual concert. As we were thus engaged, we -saw a stag bound nimbly by, within about twenty paces of where we -were sitting, and by its panting, it seemed prest by the hunters. -We had not much time to reflect upon the poor animal's distress, -when we perceived the dogs and horsemen come sweeping along at -some distance behind, and making the very path it had taken. I -was instantly for returning in with my family; but either -curiosity or surprize, or some more hidden motive, held my wife -and daughters to their seats. The huntsman, who rode foremost, -past us with great swiftness, followed by four or five persons -more, who seemed in equal haste. At last, a young gentleman of a -more genteel appearance than the rest, came forward, and for a -while regarding us, instead of pursuing the chace, stopt short, -and giving his horse to a servant who attended, approached us -with a careless superior air. He seemed to want no introduction, -but was going to salute my daughters as one certain of a kind -reception; but they had early learnt the lesson of looking -presumption out of countenance. Upon which he let us know that -his name was Thornhill, and that he was owner of the estate that -lay for some extent round us. He again, therefore, offered to -salute the female part of the family, and such was the power of -fortune and fine cloaths, that he found no second repulse. As his -address, though confident, was easy, we soon became more -familiar; and perceiving musical instruments lying near, he -begged to be favoured with a song. As I did not approve of such -disproportioned acquaintances, I winked upon my daughters in -order to prevent their compliance; but my hint was counteracted -by one from their mother; so that with a chearful air they gave -us, a favourite song of Dryden's. Mr Thornhill seemed highly -delighted with their performance and choice, and then took up the -guitar himself. He played but very indifferently; however, my -eldest daughter repaid his former applause with interest, and -assured him that his tones were louder than even those of her -master. At this compliment he bowed, which she returned with a -curtesy. He praised her taste, and she commended his -understanding: an age could not have made them better acquainted. -While the fond mother too, equally happy, insisted upon her -landlord's stepping in, and tasting a glass of her gooseberry. -The whole family seemed earnest to please him: my girls attempted -to entertain him with topics they thought most modern, while -Moses, on the contrary, gave him a question or two from the -ancients, for which he had the satisfaction of being laughed at: -my little ones were no less busy, and fondly stuck close to the -stranger. All my endeavours could scarce keep their dirty fingers -from handling and tarnishing the lace on his cloaths, and lifting -up the flaps of his pocket holes, to see what was there. At the -approach of evening he took leave; but not till he had requested -permission to renew his visit, which, as he was our landlord, we -most readily agreed to. - -As soon as he was gone, my wife called a council on the conduct -of the day. She was of opinion, that it was a most fortunate hit; -for that she had known even stranger things at last brought to -bear. She hoped again to see the day in which we might hold up -our heads with the best of them; and concluded, she protested she -could see no reason why the two Miss Wrinklers should marry great -fortunes, and her children get none. As this last argument was -directed to me, I protested I could see no reason for it neither, -nor why Mr Simpkins got the ten thousand pound prize in the -lottery, and we sate down with a blank. 'I protest, Charles,' -cried my wife, 'this is the way you always damp my girls and me -when we are in Spirits. Tell me, Sophy, my dear, what do you -think of our new visitor? Don't you think he seemed to be good- -natured?'--'Immensely so, indeed, Mamma,' replied she. 'I think -he has a great deal to say upon every thing, and is never at a -loss; and the more trifling the subject, the more he has to say.' ---'Yes,' cried Olivia, 'he is well enough for a man; but for my -part, I don't much like him, he is so extremely impudent and -familiar; but on the guitar he is shocking.' These two last -speeches I interpreted by contraries. I found by this, that -Sophia internally despised, as much as Olivia secretly admired -him.--'Whatever may be your opinions of him, my children,' cried -I, 'to confess a truth, he has not prepossest me in his favour. -Disproportioned friendships ever terminate in disgust; and I -thought, notwithstanding all his ease, that he seemed perfectly -sensible of the distance between us. Let us keep to companions of -our own rank. There is no character more contemptible than a man -that is a fortune-hunter, and I can see no reason why fortune- -hunting women should not be contemptible too. Thus, at best, we -shall be contemptible if his views be honourable; but if they be -otherwise! I should shudder but to think of that! It is true I -have no apprehensions from the conduct of my children, but I -think there are some from his character.'--I would have -proceeded, but for the interruption of a servant from the -'Squire, who, with his compliments, sent us a side of venison, -and a promise to dine with us some days after. This well-timed -present pleaded more powerfully in his favour, than any thing I -had to say could obviate. I therefore continued silent, satisfied -with just having pointed out danger, and leaving it to their own -discretion to avoid it. That virtue which requires to be ever -guarded, is scarce worth the centinel. - - - -CHAPTER 6 - -The happiness of a country fire-side - - -As we carried on the former dispute with some degree of warmth, -in order to accommodate matters, it was universally agreed, that -we should have a part of the venison for supper, and the girls -undertook the task with alacrity. 'I am sorry,' cried I, 'that we -have no neighbour or stranger to take a part in this good cheer: -feasts of this kind acquire a double relish from hospitality.'-- -'Bless me,' cried my wife, 'here comes our good friend Mr -Burchell, that saved our Sophia, and that run you down fairly in -the argument'--'Confute me in argument, child!' cried I. 'You -mistake there, my dear. I believe there are but few that can do -that: I never dispute your abilities at making a goose-pye, and I -beg you'll leave argument to me.'--As I spoke, poor Mr Burchell -entered the house, and was welcomed by the family, who shook him -heartily by the hand, while little Dick officiously reached him a -chair. - -I was pleased with the poor man's friendship for two reasons; -because I knew that he wanted mine, and I knew him to be friendly -as far as he was able. He was known in our neighbourhood by the -character of the poor Gentleman that would do no good when he was -young, though he was not yet thirty. He would at intervals talk -with great good sense; but in general he was fondest of the -company of children, whom he used to call harmless little men. He -was famous, I found, for singing them ballads, and telling them -stories; and seldom went out without something in his pockets for -them, a piece of gingerbread, or an halfpenny whistle. He -generally came for a few days into our neighbourhood once a year, -and lived upon the neighbours hospitality. He sate down to supper -among us, and my wife was not sparing of her gooseberry wine. The -tale went round; he sung us old songs, and gave the children the -story of the Buck of Beverland, with the history of Patient -Grissel, the adventures of Catskin, and then Fair Rosamond's -bower. Our cock, which always crew at eleven, now told us it was -time for repose; but an unforeseen difficulty started about -lodging the stranger: all our beds were already taken up, and it -was too late to send him to the next alehouse. In this dilemma, -little Dick offered him his part of the bed, if his brother Moses -would let him lie with him; 'And I,' cried Bill, 'will give Mr -Burchell my part, if my sisters will take me to theirs.'--'Well -done, my good children,' cried I, 'hospitality is one of the -first Christian duties. The beast retires to its shelter, and the -bird flies to its nest; but helpless man can only find refuge -from his fellow creature. The greatest stranger in this world, -was he that came to save it. He never had an house, as if willing -to see what hospitality was left remaining amongst us. Deborah, -my dear,' cried I, to my wife, 'give those boys a lump of sugar -each, and let Dick's be the largest, because he spoke first.' - -In the morning early I called out my whole family to help at -saving an after-growth of hay, and, our guest offering his -assistance, he was accepted among the number. Our labours went on -lightly, we turned the swath to the wind, I went foremost, and -the rest followed in due succession. I could not avoid, however, -observing the assiduity of Mr Burchell in assisting my daughter -Sophia in her part of the task. When he had finished his own, he -would join in her's, and enter into a close conversation: but I -had too good an opinion of Sophia's understanding, and was too -well convinced of her ambition, to be under any uneasiness from a -man of broken fortune. When we were finished for the day, Mr -Burchell was invited as on the night before; but he refused, as -he was to lie that night at a neighbour's, to whose child he was -carrying a whistle. When gone, our conversation at supper turned -upon our late unfortunate guest. 'What a strong instance,' said -I, 'is that poor man of the miseries attending a youth of levity -and extravagance. He by no means wants sense, which only serves -to aggravate his former folly. Poor forlorn creature, where are -now the revellers, the flatterers, that he could once inspire and -command! Gone, perhaps, to attend the bagnio pander, grown rich -by his extravagance. They once praised him, and now they applaud -the pander: their former raptures at his wit, are now converted -into sarcasms at his folly: he is poor, and perhaps deserves -poverty; for he has neither the ambition to be independent, nor -the skill to be useful.' Prompted, perhaps, by some secret -reasons, I delivered this observation with too much acrimony, -which my Sophia gently reproved. 'Whatsoever his former conduct -may be, pappa, his circumstances should exempt him from censure -now. His present indigence is a sufficient punishment for former -folly; and I have heard my pappa himself say, that we should -never strike our unnecessary blow at a victim over whom -providence holds the scourge of its resentment.'--'You are right, -Sophy,' cried my son Moses, 'and one of the ancients finely -represents so malicious a conduct, by the attempts of a rustic to -flay Marsyas, whose skin, the fable tells us, had been wholly -stript off by another.' Besides, I don't know if this poor man's -situation be so bad as my father would represent it. We are not -to judge of the feelings of others by what we might feel if in -their place. However dark the habitation of the mole to our eyes, -yet the animal itself finds the apartment sufficiently lightsome. -And to confess a truth, this man's mind seems fitted to his -station; for I never heard any one more sprightly than he was -to-day, when he conversed with you.'--This was said without the -least design, however it excited a blush, which she strove to -cover by an affected laugh, assuring him, that she scarce took -any notice of what he said to her; but that she believed he might -once have been a very fine gentleman. The readiness with which -she undertook to vindicate herself, and her blushing, were -symptoms I did not internally approve; but I represt my -suspicions. - -As we expected our landlord the next day, my wife went to make -the venison pasty; Moses sate reading, while I taught the little -ones: my daughters seemed equally busy with the rest; and I -observed them for a good while cooking something over the fire. I -at first supposed they were assisting their mother; but little -Dick informed me in a whisper, that they were making a wash for -the face. Washes of all kinds I had a natural antipathy to; for I -knew that instead of mending the complexion they spoiled it. I -therefore approached my chair by sly degrees to the fire, and -grasping the poker, as if it wanted mending, seemingly by -accident, overturned the whole composition, and it was too late -to begin another. - - - -CHAPTER 7 - -A town wit described. The dullest fellows may learn to be comical -for a night or two - - -When the morning arrived on which we were to entertain our young -landlord, it may be easily supposed what provisions were -exhausted to make an appearance. It may also be conjectured that -my wife and daughters expanded their gayest plumage upon this -occasion. Mr Thornhill came with a couple of friends, his -chaplain, and feeder. The servants, who were numerous, he -politely ordered to the next ale-house: but my wife, in the -triumph of her heart, insisted on entertaining them all; for -which, by the bye, our family was pinched for three weeks after. -As Mr Burchell had hinted to us the day before, that he was -making some proposals of marriage, to Miss Wilmot, my son -George's former mistress, this a good deal damped the heartiness -of his reception: but accident, in some measure, relieved our -embarrasment; for one of the company happening to mention her -name, Mr Thornhill observed with an oath, that he never knew any -thing more absurd than calling such a fright a beauty: 'For -strike me ugly,' continued he, 'if I should not find as much -pleasure in choosing my mistress by the information of a lamp -under the clock at St Dunstan's.' At this he laughed, and so did -we:--the jests of the rich are ever successful. Olivia too could -not avoid whispering, loud enough to be heard, that he had an -infinite fund of humour. After dinner, I began with my usual -toast, the Church; for this I was thanked by the chaplain, as he -said the church was the only mistress of his affections.--'Come -tell us honestly, Frank,' said the 'Squire, with his usual -archness, 'suppose the church, your present mistress, drest in -lawnsleeves, on one hand, and Miss Sophia, with no lawn about -her, on the other, which would you be for?' 'For both, to be -sure,' cried the chaplain.--'Right Frank,' cried the 'Squire; -'for may this glass suffocate me but a fine girl is worth all the -priestcraft in the creation. For what are tythes and tricks but -an imposition, all a confounded imposture, and I can prove it.'-- -'I wish you would,' cried my son Moses, 'and I think,' continued -he, 'that I should be able to answer you.'--'Very well, Sir,' -cried the 'Squire, who immediately smoaked him,' and winking on -the rest of the company, to prepare us for the sport, if you are -for a cool argument upon that subject, I am ready to accept the -challenge. And first, whether are you for managing it -analogically, or dialogically?' 'I am for managing it -rationally,' cried Moses, quite happy at being permitted to -dispute. 'Good again,' cried the 'Squire, 'and firstly, of the -first. I hope you'll not deny that whatever is is. If you don't -grant me that, I can go no further.'--'Why,' returned Moses, 'I -think I may grant that, and make the best of it.'--'I hope too,' -returned the other, 'you'll grant that a part is less than the -whole.' 'I grant that too,' cried Moses, 'it is but just and -reasonable.'--'I hope,' cried the 'Squire, 'you will not deny, -that the two angles of a triangle are equal to two right ones.'-- -'Nothing can be plainer,' returned t'other, and looked round with -his usual importance.--'Very well,' cried the 'Squire, speaking -very quick, 'the premises being thus settled, I proceed to -observe, that the concatenation of self existences, proceeding in -a reciprocal duplicate ratio, naturally produce a problematical -dialogism, which in some measure proves that the essence of -spirituality may be referred to the second predicable'--'Hold, -hold,' cried the other, 'I deny that: Do you think I can thus -tamely submit to such heterodox doctrines?'--'What,' replied the -'Squire, as if in a passion, 'not submit! Answer me one plain -question: Do you think Aristotle right when he says, that -relatives are related?' 'Undoubtedly,' replied the other.--'If so -then,' cried the 'Squire, 'answer me directly to what I propose: -Whether do you judge the analytical investigation of the first -part of my enthymem deficient secundum quoad, or quoad minus, and -give me your reasons: give me your reasons, I say, directly.'--'I -protest,' cried Moses, 'I don't rightly comprehend the force of -your reasoning; but if it be reduced to one simple proposition, I -fancy it may then have an answer.'--'O sir,' cried the 'Squire, -'I am your most humble servant, I find you want me to furnish you -with argument and intellects too. No, sir, there I protest you -are too hard for me.' This effectually raised the laugh against -poor Moses, who sate the only dismal figure in a groupe of merry -faces: nor, did he offer a single syllable more during the whole -entertainment. - -But though all this gave me no pleasure, it had a very different -effect upon Olivia, who mistook it for humour, though but a mere -act of the memory. She thought him therefore a very fine -gentleman; and such as consider what powerful ingredients a good -figure, fine cloaths, and fortune, are in that character, will -easily forgive her. Mr Thornhill, notwithstanding his real -ignorance, talked with ease, and could expatiate upon the common -topics of conversation with fluency. It is not surprising then -that such talents should win the affections of a girl, who by -education was taught to value an appearance in herself, and -consequently to set a value upon it in another. - -Upon his departure, we again entered into a debate upon the -merits of our young landlord. As he directed his looks and -conversation to Olivia, it was no longer doubted but that she was -the object that induced him to be our visitor. Nor did she seem -to be much displeased at the innocent raillery of her brother and -sister upon this occasion. Even Deborah herself seemed to share -the glory of the day, and exulted in her daughter's victory as if -it were her own. 'And now, my dear,' cried she to me, 'I'll -fairly own, that it was I that instructed my girls to encourage -our landlord's addresses. I had always some ambition, and you now -see that I was right; for who knows how this may end?' 'Ay, who -knows that indeed,' answered I, with a groan: 'for my part I -don't much like it; and I could have been better pleased with one -that was poor and honest, than this fine gentleman with his -fortune and infidelity; for depend on't, if he be what I suspect -him, no free- thinker shall ever have a child of mine.' 'Sure, -father,' cried Moses, 'you are too severe in this; for heaven -will never arraign him for what he thinks, but for what he does. -Every man has a thousand vicious thoughts, which arise without -his power to suppress. Thinking freely of religion, may be -involuntary with this gentleman: so that allowing his sentiments -to be wrong, yet as he is purely passive in his assent, he is no -more to be blamed for his errors than the governor of a city -without walls for the shelter he is obliged to afford an invading -enemy.' - -'True, my son,' cried I; 'but if the governor invites the enemy, -there he is justly culpable. And such is always the case with -those who embrace error. The vice does not lie in assenting to -the proofs they see; but in being blind to many of the proofs -that offer. So that, though our erroneous opinions be involuntary -when formed, yet as we have been wilfully corrupt, or very -negligent in forming them, we deserve punishment for our vice, or -contempt for our folly.' My wife now kept up the conversation, -though not the argument: she observed, that several very prudent -men of our acquaintance were free-thinkers, and made very good -husbands; and she knew some sensible girls that had skill enough -to make converts of their spouses: 'And who knows, my dear,' -continued she, 'what Olivia may be able to do. The girl has a -great deal to say upon every subject, and to my knowledge is very -well skilled in controversy.' - -'Why, my dear, what controversy can she have read?' cried I. 'It -does not occur to me that I ever put such books into her hands: -you certainly over-rate her merit.' 'Indeed, pappa,' replied -Olivia, 'she does not: I have read a great deal of controversy. I -have read the disputes between Thwackum and Square; the -controversy between Robinson Crusoe and Friday the savage, and I -am now employed in reading the controversy in Religious -courtship' --'Very well,' cried I, 'that's a good girl, I find -you are perfectly qualified for making converts, and so go help -your mother to make the gooseberry-pye.' - - - -CHAPTER 8 - -An amour, which promises little good fortune, yet may be -productive of much - - -The next morning we were again visited by Mr Burchell, though I -began, for certain reasons, to be displeased with the frequency -of his return; but I could not refuse him my company and -fire-side. It is true his labour more than requited his -entertainment; for he wrought among us with vigour, and either in -the meadow or at the hay-rick put himself foremost. Besides, he -had always something amusing to say that lessened our toil, and -was at once so out of the way, and yet so sensible, that I loved, -laughed at, and pitied him. My only dislike arose from an -attachment he discovered to my daughter: he would, in a jesting -manner, call her his little mistress, and when he bought each of -the girls a set of ribbands, hers was the finest. I knew not how, -but he every day seemed to become more amiable, his wit to -improve, and his simplicity to assume the superior airs of -wisdom. - -Our family dined in the field, and we sate, or rather reclined, -round a temperate repast, our cloth spread upon the hay, while Mr -Burchell gave cheerfulness to the feast. To heighten our -satisfaction two blackbirds answered each other from opposite -hedges, the familiar redbreast came and pecked the crumbs from -our hands, and every sound seemed but the echo of tranquillity. -'I never sit thus,' says Sophia, 'but I think of the two lovers, -so sweetly described by Mr Gay, who were struck dead in each -other's arms. There is something so pathetic in the description, -that I have read it an hundred times with new rapture.'--'In my -opinion,' cried my son, 'the finest strokes in that description -are much below those in the Acis and Galatea of Ovid. The Roman -poet understands the use of contrast better, and upon that figure -artfully managed all strength in the pathetic depends.'--'It is -remarkable,' cried Mr Burchell, 'that both the poets you mention -have equally contributed to introduce a false taste into their -respective countries, by loading all their lines with epithet. -Men of little genius found them most easily imitated in their -defects, and English poetry, like that in the latter empire of -Rome, is nothing at present but a combination of luxuriant -images, without plot or connexion; a string of epithets that -improve the sound, without carrying on the sense. But perhaps, -madam, while I thus reprehend others, you'll think it just that I -should give them an opportunity to retaliate, and indeed I have -made this remark only to have an opportunity of introducing to -the company a ballad, which, whatever be its other defects, is I -think at least free from those I have mentioned.' - - -A BALLAD. - -'Turn, gentle hermit of the dale, -And guide my lonely way, -To where yon taper cheers the vale, -With hospitable ray. - -'For here forlorn and lost I tread, -With fainting steps and slow; -Where wilds immeasurably spread, -Seem lengthening as I go.' - -'Forbear, my son,' the hermit cries, -'To tempt the dangerous gloom; -For yonder faithless phantom flies -To lure thee to thy doom. - -'Here to the houseless child of want, -My door is open still; -And tho' my portion is but scant, -I give it with good will. - -'Then turn to-night, and freely share -Whate'er my cell bestows; -My rushy couch, and frugal fare, -My blessing and repose. - -'No flocks that range the valley free, -To slaughter I condemn: -Taught by that power that pities me, -I learn to pity them. - -'But from the mountain's grassy side, -A guiltless feast I bring; -A scrip with herbs and fruits supply'd, -And water from the spring. - -'Then, pilgrim, turn, thy cares forego; -All earth-born cares are wrong: -Man wants but little here below, -Nor wants that little long.' - -Soft as the dew from heav'n descends, -His gentle accents fell: -The modest stranger lowly bends, -And follows to the cell. - -Far in a wilderness obscure -The lonely mansion lay; -A refuge to the neighbouring poor, -And strangers led astray. - -No stores beneath its humble thatch -Requir'd a master's care; -The wicket opening with a latch, -Receiv'd the harmless pair. - -And now when busy crowds retire -To take their evening rest, -The hermit trimm'd his little fire, -And cheer'd his pensive guest: - -And spread his vegetable store, -And gayly prest, and smil'd; -And skill'd in legendary lore, -The lingering hours beguil'd. - -Around in sympathetic mirth -Its tricks the kitten tries, -The cricket chirrups in the hearth; -The crackling faggot flies. - -But nothing could a charm impart -To sooth the stranger's woe; -For grief was heavy at his heart, -And tears began to flow. - -His rising cares the hermit spy'd, -With answering care opprest: -'And whence, unhappy youth,' he cry'd, -'The sorrows of thy breast? - -'From better habitations spurn'd, -Reluctant dost thou rove; -Or grieve for friendship unreturn'd, -Or unregarded love? - -'Alas! the joys that fortune brings, -Are trifling and decay; -And those who prize the paltry things, -More trifling still than they. - -'And what is friendship but a name, -A charm that lulls to sleep; -A shade that follows wealth or fame, -But leaves the wretch to weep? - -'And love is still an emptier sound, -The modern fair one's jest: -On earth unseen, or only found -To warm the turtle's nest. - -'For shame fond youth thy sorrows hush -And spurn the sex,' he said: -But while he spoke a rising blush -His love-lorn guest betray'd. - -Surpriz'd he sees new beauties rise, -Swift mantling to the view; -Like colours o'er the morning skies, -As bright, as transient too. - -The bashful look, the rising breast, -Alternate spread alarms: -The lovely stranger stands confest -A maid in all her charms. - -'And, ah,'forgive a stranger rude, -A wretch forlorn,' she cry'd; -'Whose feet unhallowed thus intrude -Where heaven and you reside. - -'But let a maid thy pity share, -Whom love has taught to stray; -Who seeks for rest, but finds despair -Companion of her way. - -'My father liv'd beside the Tyne, -A wealthy Lord was he; -And all his wealth was mark'd as mine, -He had but only me. - -'To win me from his tender arms, -Unnumber'd suitors came; -Who prais'd me for imputed charms, -And felt or feign'd a flame. - -'Each hour a mercenary crowd, -With richest proffers strove: -Among the rest young Edwin bow'd, -But never talk'd of love. - -'In humble simplest habit clad, -No wealth nor power had he; -Wisdom and worth were all he had, -But these were all to me. - -'The blossom opening to the day, -The dews of heaven refin'd, -Could nought of purity display, -To emulate his mind. - -'The dew, the blossom on the tree, -With charms inconstant shine; -Their charms were his, but woe to me, -Their constancy was mine. - -'For still I try'd each fickle art, -Importunate and vain; -And while his passion touch'd my heart, -I triumph'd in his pain. - -'Till quite dejected with my scorn, -He left me to my pride; -And sought a solitude forlorn, -In secret where he died. - -'But mine the sorrow, mine the fault, -And well my life shall pay; -I'll seek the solitude he sought, -And stretch me where he lay. - -'And there forlorn despairing hid, -I'll lay me down and die: -'Twas so for me that Edwin did, -And so for him will I.' - -'Forbid it heaven!' the hermit cry'd, -And clasp'd her to his breast: -The wondering fair one turn'd to chide, -'Twas Edwin's self that prest. - -'Turn, Angelina, ever dear, -My charmer, turn to see, -Thy own, thy long-lost Edwin here, -Restor'd to love and thee. - -'Thus let me hold thee to my heart, -And ev'ry care resign: -And shall we never, never part, -My life,--my all that's mine. - -'No, never, from this hour to part, -We'll live and love so true; -The sigh that tends thy constant heart, -Shall break thy Edwin's too.' - -While this ballad was reading, Sophia seemed to mix an air of -tenderness with her approbation. But our tranquillity was soon -disturbed by the report of a gun just by us, and immediately -after a man was seen bursting through the hedge, to take up the -game he had killed. This sportsman was the 'Squire's chaplain, -who had shot one of the blackbirds that so agreeably entertained -us. So loud a report, and so near, startled my daughters; and I -could perceive that Sophia in the fright had thrown herself into -Mr Burchell's arms for protection. The gentleman came up, and -asked pardon for having disturbed us, affirming that he was -ignorant of our being so near. He therefore sate down by my -youngest daughter, and, sportsman like, offered her what he had -killed that morning. She was going to refuse, but a private look -from her mother soon induced her to correct the mistake, and -accept his present, though with some reluctance. My wife, as -usual, discovered her pride in a whisper, observing, that Sophy -had made a conquest of the chaplain, as well as her sister had of -the 'Squire. I suspected, however, with more probability, that -her affections were placed upon a different object. The -chaplain's errand was to inform us, that Mr Thornhill had -provided music and refreshments, and intended that night giving -the young ladies a ball by moon-light, on the grass-plot before -our door. 'Nor can I deny,' continued he, 'but I have an interest -in being first to deliver this message, as I expect for my reward -to be honoured with miss Sophy's hand as a partner.' To this my -girl replied, that she should have no objection, if she could do -it with honour: 'But here,' continued she, 'is a gentleman,' -looking at Mr Burchell, 'who has been my companion in the task -for the day, and it is fit he should share in its amusements.' Mr -Burchell returned her a compliment for her intentions; but -resigned her up to the chaplain, adding that he was to go that -night five miles, being invited to an harvest supper. His refusal -appeared to me a little extraordinary, nor could I conceive how -so sensible a girl as my youngest, could thus prefer a man of -broken fortunes to one whose expectations were much greater. But -as men are most capable of distinguishing merit in women, so the -ladies often form the truest judgments of us. The two sexes seem -placed as spies upon each other, and are furnished with different -abilities, adapted for mutual inspection. - - - -CHAPTER 9 - -Two ladies of great distinction introduced. Superior finery ever -seems to confer superior breeding - - -Mr Burchell had scarce taken leave, and Sophia consented to dance -with the chaplain, when my little ones came running out to tell -us that the 'Squire was come, with a crowd of company. Upon our -return, we found our landlord, with a couple of under gentlemen -and two young ladies richly drest, whom he introduced as women of -very great distinction and fashion from town. We happened not to -have chairs enough for the whole company; but Mr Thornhill -immediately proposed that every gentleman should sit in a lady's -lap. This I positively objected to, notwithstanding a look of -disapprobation from my wife. Moses was therefore dispatched to -borrow a couple of chairs; and as we were in want of ladies to -make up a set at country dances, the two gentlemen went with him -in quest of a couple of partners. Chairs and partners were soon -provided. The gentlemen returned with my neighbour Flamborough's -rosy daughters, flaunting with red top-knots, but an unlucky -circumstance was not adverted to; though the Miss Flamboroughs -were reckoned the very best dancers in the parish, and understood -the jig and the round-about to perfection; yet they were totally -unacquainted with country dances.' This at first discomposed us: -however, after a little shoving and dragging, they at last went -merrily on. Our music consisted of two fiddles, with a pipe and -tabor. The moon shone bright, Mr Thornhill and my eldest daughter -led up the ball, to the great delight of the spectators; for the -neighbours hearing what was going forward, came flocking about -us. My girl moved with so much grace and vivacity, that my wife -could not avoid discovering the pride of her heart, by assuring -me, that though the little chit did it so cleverly, all the steps -were stolen from herself. The ladies of the town strove hard to -be equally easy, but without success. They swam, sprawled, -languished, and frisked; but all would not do: the gazers indeed -owned that it was fine; but neighbour Flamborough observed, that -Miss Livy's feet seemed as pat to the music as its echo. After -the dance had continued about an hour, the two ladies, who were -apprehensive of catching cold, moved to break up the ball. One of -them, I thought, expressed her sentiments upon this occasion in a -very coarse manner, when she observed, that by the living jingo, -she was all of a muck of sweat. Upon our return to the house, we -found a very elegant cold supper, which Mr Thornhill had ordered -to be brought with him. The conversation at this time was more -reserved than before. The two ladies threw my girls quite into -the shade; for they would talk of nothing but high life, and high -lived company; with other fashionable topics, such as pictures, -taste, Shakespear, and the musical glasses. 'Tis true they once -or twice mortified us sensibly by slipping out an oath; but that -appeared to me as the surest symptom of their distinction, (tho' -I am since informed that swearing is perfectly unfashionable.) -Their finery, however, threw a veil over any grossness in their -conversation. My daughters seemed to regard their superior -accomplishments with envy; and what appeared amiss was ascribed -to tip-top quality breeding. But the condescension of the ladies -was still superior to their other accomplishments. One of them -observed, that had miss Olivia seen a little more of the world, -it would greatly improve her. To which the other added, that a -single winter in town would make her little Sophia quite another -thing. My wife warmly assented to both; adding, that there was -nothing she more ardently wished than to give her girls a single -winter's polishing. To this I could not help replying, that their -breeding was already superior to their fortune; and that greater -refinement would only serve to make their poverty ridiculous, and -give them a taste for pleasures they had no right to possess.-- -'And what pleasures,' cried Mr Thornhill, 'do they not deserve to -possess, who have so much in their power to bestow? As for my -part,' continued he, 'my fortune is pretty large, love, liberty, -and pleasure, are my maxims; but curse me if a settlement of half -my estate could give my charming Olivia pleasure, it should be -hers; and the only favour I would ask in return would be to add -myself to the benefit.' I was not such a stranger to the world as -to be ignorant that this was the fashionable cant to disguise the -insolence of the basest proposal; but I made an effort to -suppress my resentment. 'Sir,' cried I, 'the family which you now -condescend to favour with your company, has been bred with as -nice a sense of honour as you. Any attempts to injure that, may -be attended with very dangerous consequences. Honour, Sir, is our -only possession at present, and of that last treasure we must be -particularly careful.'--I was soon sorry for the warmth with -which I had spoken this, when the young gentleman, grasping my -hand, swore he commended my spirit, though he disapproved my -suspicions. 'As to your present hint,' continued he, 'I protest -nothing was farther from my heart than such a thought. No, by all -that's tempting, the virtue that will stand a regular siege was -never to my taste; for all my amours are carried by a coup de -main.' - -The two ladies, who affected to be ignorant of the rest, seemed -highly displeased with this last stroke of freedom, and began a -very discreet and serious dialogue upon virtue: in this my wife, -the chaplain, and I, soon joined; and the 'Squire himself was at -last brought to confess a sense of sorrow for his former -excesses. We talked of the pleasures of temperance, and of the -sun-shine in the mind unpolluted with guilt. I was so well -pleased, that my little ones were kept up beyond the usual time -to be edified by so much good conversation. Mr Thornhill even -went beyond me, and demanded if I had any objection to giving -prayers. I joyfully embraced the proposal, and in this manner the -night was passed in a most comfortable way, till at last the -company began to think of returning. The ladies seemed very -unwilling to part with my daughters; for whom they had conceived -a particular affection, and joined in a request to have the -pleasure of their company home. The 'Squire seconded the -proposal, and my wife added her entreaties: the girls too looked -upon me as if they wished to go. In this perplexity I made two or -three excuses, which my daughters as readily removed; so that at -last I was obliged to give a peremptory refusal; for which we had -nothing but sullen looks and short answers the whole day ensuing. - - - -CHAPTER 10 - -The family endeavours to cope with their betters. The miseries of -the poor when they attempt to appear above their circumstances - - -I now began to find that all my long and painful lectures upon -temperance, simplicity, and contentment, were entirely -disregarded. The distinctions lately paid us by our betters -awaked that pride which I had laid asleep, but not removed. Our -windows again, as formerly, were filled with washes for the neck -and face. The sun was dreaded as an enemy to the skin without -doors, and the fire as a spoiler of the complexion within. My -wife observed, that rising too early. would hurt her daughters' -eyes, that working after dinner would redden their noses, and she -convinced me that the hands never looked so white as when they -did nothing. Instead therefore of finishing George's shirts, we -now had them new modelling their old gauzes, or flourishing upon -catgut. The poor Miss Flamboroughs, their former gay companions, -were cast off as mean acquaintance, and the whole conversation -ran upon high life and high lived company, with pictures, taste, -Shakespear, and the musical glasses. - -But we could have borne all this, had not a fortune-telling -gypsey come to raise us into perfect sublimity. The tawny sybil -no sooner appeared, than my girls came running to me for a -shilling a piece to cross her hand with silver. To say the truth, -I was tired of being always wise, and could not help gratifying -their request, because I loved to see them happy. I gave each of -them a shilling; though, for the honour of the family, it must be -observed, that they never went without money themselves, as my -wife always generously let them have a guinea each, to keep in -their pockets; but with strict injunctions never to change it. -After they had been closetted up with the fortune-teller for some -time, I knew by their looks, upon their returning, that they had -been promised something great.--'Well, my girls, how have you -sped? Tell me, Livy, has the fortune-teller given thee a -pennyworth?'--'I protest, pappa,' says the girl, 'I believe she -deals with some body that's not right; for she positively -declared, that I am to be married to a 'Squire in less than a -twelvemonth!'--'Well now, Sophy, my child,' said I, 'and what -sort of a husband are you to have?' 'Sir,' replied she, 'I am to -have a Lord soon after my sister has married the 'Squire.'-- -'How,' cried I, 'is that all you are to have for your two -shillings! Only a Lord and a 'Squire for two shillings! You -fools, I could have promised you a Prince and a Nabob for half -the money.' This curiosity of theirs, however, was attended with -very serious effects: we now began to think ourselves designed by -the stars for something exalted, and already anticipated our -future grandeur. It has been a thousand times observed, and I -must observe it once more, that the hours we pass with happy -prospects in view, are more pleasing than those crowned with -fruition. In the first case we cook the dish to our own appetite; -in the latter nature cooks it for us. It is impossible to repeat -the train of agreeable reveries we called up for our -entertainment. We looked upon our fortunes as once more rising; -and as the whole parish asserted that the 'Squire was in love -with my daughter, she was actually so with him; for they -persuaded her into the passion. In this agreeable interval, my -wife had the most lucky dreams in the world, which she took care -to tell us every morning, with great solemnity and exactness. It -was one night a coffin and cross bones, the sign of an -approaching wedding: at another time she imagined her daughters' -pockets filled with farthings, a certain sign of their being -shortly stuffed with gold. The girls themselves had their omens. -They felt strange kisses on their lips; they saw rings in the -candle, purses bounced from the fire, and true love-knots lurked -in the bottom of every tea-cup. - -Towards the end of the week we received a card from the town -ladies; in which, with their compliments, they hoped to see all -our family at church the Sunday following. All Saturday morning I -could perceive, in consequence of this, my wife and daughters in -close conference together, and now and then glancing at me with -looks that betrayed a latent plot. To be sincere, I had strong -suspicions that some absurd proposal was preparing for appearing -with splendor the next day. In the evening they began their -operations in a very regular manner, and my wife undertook to -conduct the siege. After tea, when I seemed in spirits, she began -thus.--'I fancy, Charles, my dear, we shall have a great deal of -good company at our church to-morrow,'--'Perhaps we may, my -dear,' returned I; 'though you need be under no uneasiness about -that, you shall have a sermon whether there be or not.'--'That is -what I expect,' returned she; 'but I think, my dear, we ought to -appear there as decently as possible, for who knows what may -happen?' 'Your precautions,' replied I, 'are highly commendable. -A decent behaviour and appearance in church is what charms me. We -should be devout and humble, chearful and serene.'--'Yes,' cried -she, 'I know that; but I mean we should go there in as proper a -manner as possible; not altogether like the scrubs about us." -'You are quite right, my dear,' returned I, 'and I was going to -make the very same proposal. The proper manner of going is, to go -there as early as possible, to have time for meditation before -the service begins.'--'Phoo, Charles,' interrupted she, 'all that -is very true; but not what I would be at. I mean, we should go -there genteelly. You know the church is two miles off, and I -protest I don't like to see my daughters trudging up to their pew -all blowzed and red with walking, and, looking for all the world -as if they had been winners at a smock race. Now, my dear, my -proposal is this: there are our two plow horses, the Colt that -has been in our family these nine years, and his companion -Blackberry, that have scarce done an earthly thing for this month -past. They are both grown fat and lazy. Why should not they do -something as well as we? And let me tell you, when Moses has -trimmed them a little, they will cut a very tolerable figure.' To -this proposal I objected, that walking would be twenty times more -genteel than such a paltry conveyance, as Blackberry was -wall-eyed, and the Colt wanted a tail: that they had never been -broke to the rein; but had an hundred vicious tricks; and that we -had but one saddle and pillion in the whole house. All these -objections, however, were over-ruled; so that I was obliged to -comply. The next morning I perceived them not a little busy in -collecting such materials as might be necessary for the -expedition; but as I found it would be a business of time, I -walked on to the church before, and they promised speedily to -follow. I waited near an hour in the reading desk for their -arrival; but not finding them come as expected, I was obliged to -begin, and went through the service, not without some uneasiness -at finding them absent. This was encreased when all was finished, -and no appearance of the family. I therefore walked back by the -horse-way, which was five miles round, tho' the foot-way was but -two, and when got about half way home, perceived the procession -marching slowly forward towards the church; my son, my wife, and -the two little ones exalted upon one horse, and my two daughters -upon the other. I demanded the cause of their delay; but I soon -found by their looks they had met with a thousand misfortunes on -the road. The horses had at first refused to move from the door, -till Mr Burchell was kind enough to beat them forward for about -two hundred yards with his cudgel. Next the straps of my wife's -pillion broke down, and they were obliged to stop to repair them -before they could proceed. After that, one of the horses took it -into his head to stand still, and neither blows nor entreaties -could prevail with him to proceed. It was just recovering from -this dismal situation that I found them; but perceiving every -thing safe, I own their present mortification did not much -displease me, as it would give me many opportunities of future -triumph, and teach my daughters more humility. - - - -CHAPTER 11 - -The family still resolve to hold up their heads - - -Michaelmas eve happening on the next day, we were invited to burn -nuts and play tricks at neighbour Flamborough's. Our late -mortifications had humbled us a little, or it is probable we -might have rejected such an invitation with contempt: however, we -suffered ourselves to be happy. Our honest neighbour's goose and -dumplings were fine, and the lamb's-wool, even in the opinion of -my wife, who was a connoiscur, was excellent. It is true, his -manner of telling stories was not quite so well. They were very -long, and very dull, and all about himself, and we had laughed at -them ten times before: however, we were kind enough to laugh at -them once more. - -Mr Burchell, who was of the party, was always fond of seeing some -innocent amusement going forward, and set the boys and girls to -blind man's buff. My wife too was persuaded to join in the -diversion, and it gave me pleasure to think she was not yet too -old. In the mean time, my neighbour and I looked on, laughed at -every feat, and praised our own dexterity when we were young. Hot -cockles succeeded next, questions and commands followed that, and -last of all, they sate down to hunt the slipper. As every person -may not be acquainted with this primaeval pastime, it may be -necessary to observe, that the company at this play themselves in -a ring upon the ground, all, except one who stands in the middle, -whose business it is to catch a shoe, which the company shove -about under their hams from one to another, something like a -weaver's shuttle. As it is impossible, in this case, for the lady -who is up to face all the company at once, the great beauty of -the play lies in hitting her a thump with the heel of the shoe on -that side least capable of making a defence. It was in this -manner that my eldest daughter was hemmed in, and thumped about, -all blowzed, in spirits, and bawling for fair play, fair play, -with a voice that might deafen a ballad singer, when confusion on -confusion, who should enter the room but our two great -acquaintances from town, Lady Blarney and Miss Carolina Wilelmina -Amelia Skeggs! Description would but beggar, therefore it is -unnecessary to describe this new mortification. Death! To be seen -by ladies of such high breeding in such vulgar attitudes! Nothing -better could ensue from such a vulgar play of Mr Flamborough's -proposing. We seemed stuck to the ground for some time, as if -actually petrified with amazement. - -The two ladies had been at our house to see us, and finding us -from home, came after us hither, as they were uneasy to know what -accident could have kept us from church the day before. Olivia -undertook to be our prolocutor, and delivered the whole in a -summary way, only saying, 'We were thrown from our horses.' At -which account the ladies were greatly concerned; but being told -the family received no hurt, they were extremely glad: but being -informed that we were almost killed by the fright, they were -vastly sorry; but hearing that we had a very good night, they -were extremely glad again. Nothing could exceed their -complaisance to my daughters; their professions the last evening -were warm, but now they were ardent. They protested a desire of -having a more lasting acquaintance. Lady Blarney was particularly -attached to Olivia; Miss Carolina Wilelmina Amelia Skeggs (I love -to give the whole name) took a greater fancy to her sister. They -supported the conversation between themselves, while my daughters -sate silent, admiring their exalted breeding. But as every -reader, however beggarly himself, is fond of high-lived -dialogues, with anecdotes of Lords, Ladies, and Knights of the -Garter, I must beg leave to give him the concluding part of the -present conversation. 'All that I know of the matter,' cried Miss -Skeggs, 'is this, that it may be true, or it may not be true: but -this I can assure your Ladyship, that the whole rout was in -amaze; his Lordship turned all manner of colours, my Lady fell -into a sound; but Sir Tomkyn, drawing his sword, swore he was -her's to the last drop of his blood.' 'Well,' replied our -Peeress, 'this I can say, that the Dutchess never told me a -syllable of the matter, and I believe her Grace would keep -nothing a secret from me. This you may depend upon as fact, that -the next morning my Lord Duke cried out three times to his valet -de chambre, Jernigan, Jernigan, Jernigan, bring me my garters.' - -But previously I should have mentioned the very impolite -behaviour of Mr Burchell, who, during this discourse, sate with -his face turned to the fire, and at the conclusion of every -sentence would cry out FUDGE! an expression which displeased us -all, and in some measure damped the rising spirit of the -conversation. - -'Besides, my dear Skeggs,' continued our Peeress, 'there is -nothing of this in the copy of verses that Dr Burdock made upon -the occasion.'--'FUDGE!' - -'I am surprised at that,' cried Miss Skeggs; 'for he seldom -leaves any thing out, as he writes only for his own amusement. -But can your Ladyship favour me with a sight of them?'--'FUDGE!' - -'My dear creature,' replied our Peeress, 'do you think I carry -such things about me? Though they are very fine to be sure, and I -think myself something of a judge; at least I know what pleases -myself. Indeed I was ever an admirer of all Doctor Burdock's -little pieces; for except what he does, and our dear Countess at -Hanover-Square, there's nothing comes out but the most lowest -stuff in nature; not a bit of high life among them.'--'FUDGE!' - -'Your Ladyship should except,' says t'other, 'your own things in -the Lady's Magazine. I hope you'll say there's nothing low lived -there? But I suppose we are to have no more from that quarter?'-- -'FUDGE!' - -'Why, my dear,' says the Lady, 'you know my reader and companion -has left me, to be married to Captain Roach, and as my poor eyes -won't suffer me to write myself, I have been for some time -looking out for another. A proper person is no easy matter to -find, and to be sure thirty pounds a year is a small stipend for -a well-bred girl of character, that can read, write, and behave -in company; as for the chits about town, there is no bearing them -about one.'--'FUDGE!' - -'That I know,' cried Miss Skeggs, 'by experience. For of the -three companions I had this last half year, one of them refused -to do plain-work an hour in the day, another thought twenty-five -guineas a year too small a salary, and I was obliged to send away -the third, because I suspected an intrigue with the chaplain. -Virtue, my dear Lady Blarney, virtue is worth any price; but -where is that to be found?'--'FUDGE!' - -My wife had been for a long time all attention to this discourse; -but was particularly struck with the latter part of it. Thirty -pounds and twenty-five guineas a year made fifty-six pounds five -shillings English money, all which was in a manner going -a-begging, and might easily be secured in the family. She for a -moment studied my looks for approbation; and, to own a truth, I -was of opinion, that two such places would fit our two daughters -exactly. Besides, if the 'Squire had any real affection for my -eldest daughter, this would be the way to make her every way -qualified for her fortune. My wife therefore was resolved that we -should not be deprived of such advantages for want of assurance, -and undertook to harangue for the family. 'I hope,' cried she, -'your Ladyships will pardon my present presumption. It is true, -we have no right to pretend to such favours; but yet it is -natural for me to wish putting my children forward in the world. -And I will be bold to say my two girls have had a pretty good -education, and capacity, at least the country can't shew better. -They can read, write, and cast accompts; they understand their -needle, breadstitch, cross and change, and all manner of -plain-work; they can pink, point, and frill; and know something -of music; they can do up small cloaths, work upon catgut; my -eldest can cut paper, and my youngest has a very pretty manner of -telling fortunes upon the cards.'--'FUDGE!' - -When she had delivered this pretty piece of eloquence, the two -ladies looked at each other a few minutes in silence, with an air -of doubt and importance. At last, Miss Carolina Wilelmina Amelia -Skeggs condescended to observe, that the young ladies, from the -opinion she could form of them from so slight an acquaintance, -seemed very fit for such employments: 'But a thing of this kind, -Madam,' cried she, addressing my spouse, requires a thorough -examination into characters, and a more perfect knowledge of each -other. Not, Madam,' continued she, 'that I in the least suspect -the young ladies virtue, prudence and discretion; but there is a -form in these things, Madam, there is a form.' - -My wife approved her suspicions very much, observing, that she -was very apt to be suspicious herself; but referred her to all -the neighbours for a character: but this our Peeress declined as -unnecessary, alledging that her cousin Thornhill's recommendation -would be sufficient, and upon this we rested our petition. - - - -CHAPTER 12 - -Fortune seems resolved to humble the family of Wakefield. -Mortifications are often more painful than real calamities - - -When we were returned home, the night was dedicated to schemes of -future conquest. Deborah exerted much sagacity in conjecturing -which of the two girls was likely to have the best place, and -most opportunities of seeing good company. The only obstacle to -our preferment was in obtaining the 'Squire's recommendation; but -he had already shewn us too many instances of his friendship to -doubt of it now. Even in bed my wife kept up the usual theme: -'Well, faith, my dear Charles, between ourselves, I think we have -made an excellent day's work of it.'--'Pretty well,' cried I, not -knowing what to say.--'What only pretty well!' returned she. 'I -think it is very well. Suppose the girls should come to make -acquaintances of taste in town! This I am assured of, that London -is the only place in the world for all manner of husbands. -Besides, my dear, stranger things happen every day: and as ladies -of quality are so taken with my daughters, what will not men of -quality be! Entre nous, I protest I like my Lady Blarney vastly, -so very obliging. However, Miss Carolina Wilelmina Anielia Skeggs -has my warm heart. But yet, when they came to talk of places in -town, you saw at once how I nailed them. Tell me, my dear, don't -you think I did for my children there?'--'Ay,' returned I, not -knowing well what to think of the matter, 'heaven grant they may -be both the better for it this day three months!' This was one of -those observations I usually made to impress my wife with an -opinion of my sagacity; for if the girls succeeded, then it was a -pious wish fulfilled; but if any thing unfortunate ensued, then -it might be looked upon as a prophecy. All this conversation, -however, was only preparatory to another scheme, and indeed I -dreaded as much. This was nothing less than, that as we were now -to hold up our heads a little higher in the world, it would be -proper to sell the Colt, which was grown old, at a neighbouring -fair, and buy us an horse that would carry single or double upon -an occasion, and make a pretty appearance at church or upon a -visit. This at first I opposed stoutly; but it was as stoutly -defended. However, as I weakened, my antagonist gained strength, -till at last it was resolved to part with him. - -As the fair happened on the following day, I had intentions of -going myself, but my wife persuaded me that I had got a cold, and -nothing could prevail upon her to permit me from home. 'No, my -dear,' said she, 'our son Moses is a discreet boy, and can buy -and sell to very good advantage; you know all our great bargains -are of his purchasing. He always stands out and higgles, and -actually tires them till he gets a bargain.' - -As I had some opinion of my son's prudence, I was willing enough -to entrust him with this commission; and the next morning I -perceived his sisters mighty busy in fitting out Moses for the -fair; trimming his hair, brushing his buckles, and cocking his -hat with pins. The business of the toilet being over, we had at -last the satisfaction of seeing him mounted upon the Colt, with a -deal box before him to bring home groceries in. He had on a coat -made of that cloth they call thunder and lightning, which, though -grown too short, was much too good to be thrown away. His -waistcoat was of gosling green, and his sisters had tied his hair -with a broad black ribband. We all followed him several paces, -from the door, bawling after him good luck, good luck, till we -could see him no longer. - -He was scarce gone, when Mr Thornhill's butler came to -congratulate us upon our good fortune, saying, that he overheard -his young master mention our names with great commendation. - -Good fortune seemed resolved not to come alone. Another footman -from the same family followed, with a card for my daughters, -importing, that the two ladies had received such pleasing -accounts from Mr Thornhill of us all, that, after a few previous -enquiries, they hoped to be perfectly satisfied. 'Ay,' cried my -wife, I now see it is no easy matter to get into the families of -the great; but when one once gets in, then, as Moses says, one -may go sleep.' To this piece of humour, for she intended it for -wit, my daughters assented with a loud laugh of pleasure. In -short, such was her satisfaction at this message, that she -actually put her hand in her pocket, and gave the messenger -seven-pence halfpenny. - -This was to be our visiting-day. The next that came was Mr -Burchell, who had been at the fair. He brought my little ones a -pennyworth of gingerbread each, which my wife undertook to keep -for them, and give them by letters at a time. He brought my -daughters also a couple of boxes, in which they might keep -wafers, snuff, patches, or even money, when they got it. My wife -was usually fond of a weesel skin purse, as being the most lucky; -but this by the bye. We had still a regard for Mr Burchell, -though his late rude behaviour was in some measure displeasing; -nor could we now avoid communicating our happiness to him, and -asking his advice: although we seldom followed advice, we were -all ready enough to ask it. When he read the note from the two -ladies, he shook his head, and observed, that an affair of this -sort demanded the utmost circumspection.--This air of diffidence -highly displeased my wife. 'I never doubted, Sir,' cried she, -'your readiness to be against my daughters and me. You have more -circumspection than is wanted. However, I fancy when we come to -ask advice, we will apply to persons who seem to have made use of -it themselves.'--'Whatever my own conduct may have been, madam,' -replied he, 'is not the present question; tho' as I have made no -use of advice myself, I should in conscience give it to those -that will.'--As I was apprehensive this answer might draw on a -repartee, making up by abuse what it wanted in wit, I changed the -subject, by seeming to wonder what could keep our son so long at -the fair, as it was now almost nightfall.--'Never mind our son,' -cried my wife, 'depend upon it he knows what he is about. I'll -warrant we'll never see him sell his hen of a rainy day. I have -seen him buy such bargains as would amaze one. I'll tell you a -good story about that, that will make you split your sides with -laughing--But as I live, yonder comes Moses, without an horse, -and the box at his back.' - -As she spoke, Moses came slowly on foot, and sweating under the -deal box, which he had strapt round his shoulders like a pedlar.- -- 'Welcome, welcome, Moses; well, my boy, what have you brought -us from the fair?'--'I have brought you myself,' cried Moses, -with a sly look, and resting the box on the dresser.--'Ay, -Moses,' cried my wife, 'that we know, but where is the horse?' 'I -have sold him,' cried Moses, 'for three pounds five shillings and -two- pence.'--'Well done, my goqd boy,' returned she, 'I knew you -would touch them off. Between ourselves, three pounds five -shillings and two-pence is no bad day's work. Come, let us have -it then.'--'I have brought back no money,' cried Moses'again. 'I -have laid it all out in a bargain, and here it is,' pulling out a -bundle from his breast: 'here they are; a groce of green -spectacles, with silver rims and shagreen cases.'--'A groce of -green spectacles!' repeated my wife in a faint voice. 'And you -have parted with the Colt, and brought us back nothing but a -groce of green paltry spectacles!'--'Dear mother,' cried the boy, -'why won't you listen to reason? I had them a dead bargain, or I -should not have bought them. The silver rims alone will sell for -double money.'--'A fig for the silver rims,' cried my wife, in a -passion: 'I dare swear they won't sell for above half the money -at the rate of broken silver, five shillings an ounce.'--'You -need be under no uneasiness,' cried I, 'about selling the rims; -for they are not worth six-pence, for I perceive they are only -copper varnished over.'--'What,' cried my wife, 'not silver, the -rims not silver!' 'No,' cried I, 'no more silver than your -saucepan,' --'And so,' returned she, 'we have parted with the -Colt, and have only got a groce of green spectacles, with copper -rims and shagreen cases! A murrain take such trumpery. The -blockhead has been imposed upon, and should have known his -company better.'-- 'There, my dear,' cried I, 'you are wrong, he -should not have known them at all.'--'Marry, hang the ideot,' -returned she, 'to bring me such stuff, if I had them, I would -throw them in the fire.' 'There again you are wrong, my dear,' -cried I; 'for though they be copper, we will keep them by us, as -copper spectacles, you know, are better than nothing.' - -By this time the unfortunate Moses was undeceived. He now saw -that he had indeed been imposed upon by a prowling sharper, who, -observing his figure, had marked him for an easy prey. I -therefore asked the circumstances of his deception. He sold the -horse, it seems, and walked the fair in search of another. A -reverend looking man brought him to a tent, under pretence of -having one to sell. 'Here,' continued Moses, 'we met another man, -very well drest, who desired to borrow twenty pounds upon these, -saying, that he wanted money, and would dispose of them for a -third of the value. The first gentleman, who pretended to be my -friend, whispered me to buy them, and cautioned me not to let so -good an offer pass. I sent for Mr Flamborough, and they talked -him up as finely as they did me, and so at last we were persuaded -to buy the two groce between us.' - - - -CHAPTER 13 - -Mr Burchell is found to be an enemy; for he has the confidence to -give disagreeable advice - - -Our family had now made several attempts to be fine; but some -unforeseen disaster demolished each as soon as projected. I -endeavoured to take the advantage of every disappointment, to -improve their good sense in proportion as they were frustrated in -ambition. 'You see, my children,' cried I, 'how little is to be -got by attempts to impose upon the world, in coping with our -betters. Such as are poor and will associate with none but the -rich, are hated by those they avoid, and despised by these they -follow. Unequal combinations are always disadvantageous to the -weaker side: the rich having the pleasure, and the poor the -inconveniencies that result from them. But come, Dick, my boy, -and repeat the fable that you were reading to-day, for the good -of the company.'. - -'Once upon a time,' cried the child, 'a Giant and a Dwarf were -friends, and kept together. They made a bargain that they would -never forsake each other, but go seek adventures. The first -battle they fought was with two Saracens, and the Dwarf, who was -very courageous, dealt one of the champions a most angry blow. It -did the Saracen but very little injury, who lifting up his sword, -fairly struck off the poor Dwarf's arm. He was now in a woeful -plight; but the Giant coming to his assistance, in a short time -left the two Saracens dead on the plain, and the Dwarf cut off -the dead man's head out of spite. They then travelled on to -another adventure. This was against three bloody-minded Satyrs, -who were carrying away a damsel in distress. The Dwarf was not -quite so fierce now as before; but for all that, struck the first -blow, which was returned by another, that knocked out his eye: -but the Giant was soon up with them, and had they not fled, would -certainly have killed them every one. They were all very joyful -for this victory, and the damsel who was relieved fell in love -with the Giant, and married him. They now travelled far, and -farther than I can tell, till they met with a company of robbers. -The Giant, for the first time, was foremost now; but the Dwarf -was not far behind. The battle was stout and long. Wherever the -Giant came all fell before him; but the Dwarf had like to have -been killed more than once. At last the victory declared for the -two adventurers; but the Dwarf lost his leg. The Dwarf was now -without an arm, a leg, and an eye, while the Giant was without a -single wound. Upon which he cried out to his little companion, My -little heroe, this is glorious sport; let us get one victory -more, and then we shall have honour for ever. No, cries the Dwarf -who was by this time grown wiser, no, I declare off; I'll fight -no more; for I find in every battle that you get all the honour -and rewards, but all the blows fall upon me.' - -I was going to moralize this fable, when our attention was called -off to a warm dispute between my wife and Mr Burchell, upon my -daughters intended expedition to town. My wife very strenuously -insisted upon the advantages that would result from it. Mr -Burchell, on the contrary, dissuaded her with great ardor, and I -stood neuter. His present dissuasions seemed but the second part -of those which were received with so ill a grace in the morning. -The dispute grew high while poor Deborah, instead of reasoning -stronger, talked louder, and at last was obliged to take shelter -from a defeat in clamour. The conclusion of her harangue, -however, was highly displeasing to us all: she knew, she said, of -some who had their own secret reasons for what they advised; but, -for her part, she wished such to stay away from her house for the -future.--'Madam,' cried Burchell, with looks of great composure, -which tended to enflame her the more, 'as for secret reasons, you -are right: I have secret reasons, which I forbear to mention, -because you are not able to answer those of which I make no -secret: but I find my visits here are become troublesome; I'll -take my leave therefore now, and perhaps come once more to take a -final farewell when I am quitting the country.' Thus saying, he -took up his hat, nor could the attempts of Sophia, whose looks -seemed to upbraid his precipitancy, prevent his going. - -When gone, we all regarded each other for some minutes with -confusion. My wife, who knew herself to be the cause, strove to -hide her concern with a forced smile, and an air of assurance, -which I was willing to reprove: 'How, woman,' cried I to her, 'is -it thus we treat strangers? Is it thus we return their kindness? -Be assured, my dear, that these were the harshest words, and to -me the most unpleasing that ever escaped your lips!'--'Why would -he provoke me then,' replied she; 'but I know the motives of his -advice perfectly well. He would prevent my girls from going to -town, that he may have the pleasure of my youngest daughter's -company here at home. But whatever happens, she shall chuse -better company than such low-lived fellows as he.'--'Low-lived, -my dear, do you call him,' cried I, 'it is very possible we may -mistake this man's character: for he seems upon some occasions -the most finished gentleman I ever knew.--Tell me, Sophia, my -girl, has he ever given you any secret instances of his -attachment?'-- 'His conversation with me, sir,' replied my -daughter, 'has ever been sensible, modest, and pleasing. As to -aught else, no, never. Once, indeed, I remember to have heard him -say he never knew a woman who could find merit in a man that -seemed poor.' 'Such, my dear,' cried I, 'is the common cant of -all the unfortunate or idle. But I hope you have been taught to -judge properly of such men, and that it would be even madness to -expect happiness from one who has been so very bad an oeconomist -of his own. Your mother and I have now better prospects for you. -The next winter, which you will probably spend in town, will give -you opportunities of making a more prudent choice.' What Sophia's -reflections were upon this occasion, I can't pretend to -determine; but I was not displeased at the bottom that we were -rid of a guest from whom I had much to fear. Our breach of -hospitality went to my conscience a little: but I quickly -silenced that monitor by two or three specious reasons, which -served to satisfy and reconcile me to myself. The pain which -conscience gives the man who has already done wrong, is soon got -over. Conscience is a coward, and those faults it has not -strength enough to prevent, it seldom has justice enough to -accuse. - - - -CHAPTER 14 - -Fresh mortifications, or a demonstration that seeming calamities -may be real blessings - - -The journey of my daughters to town was now resolved upon, Mr -Thornhill having kindly promised to inspect their conduct -himself, and inform us by letter of their behaviour. But it was -thought indispensably necessary that their appearance should -equal the greatness of their expectations, which could not be -done without expence. We debated therefore in full council what -were the easiest methods of raising money, or, more properly -speaking, what we could most conveniently sell. The deliberation -was soon finished, it was found that our remaining horse was -utterly useless for the plow, without his companion, and equally -unfit for the road, as wanting an eye, it was therefore -determined that we should dispose of him for the purposes -above-mentioned, at the neighbouring fair, and, to prevent -imposition, that I should go with him myself. Though this was one -of the first mercantile transactions of my life, yet I had no -doubt about acquitting myself with reputation. The opinion a man -forms of his own prudence is measured by that of the company he -keeps, and as mine was mostly in the family way, I had conceived -no unfavourable sentiments of my worldly wisdom. My wife, -however, next morning, at parting, after I had got some paces -from the door, called me back, to advise me, in a whisper, to -have all my eyes about me. I had, in the usual forms, when I came -to the fair, put my horse through all his paces; but for some -time had no bidders. At last a chapman approached, and, after he -had for a good while examined the horse round, finding him blind -of one eye, he would have nothing to say to him: a second came -up; but observing he had a spavin, declared he would not take him -for the driving home: a third perceived he had a windgall, and -would bid no money: a fourth knew by his eye that he had the -botts: a fifth, wondered what a plague I could do at the fair -with a blind, spavined, galled hack, that was only fit to be cut -up for a dog kennel.' By this time I began to have a most hearty -contempt for the poor animal myself, and was almost ashamed at -the approach of every customer; for though I did not entirely -believe all the fellows told me; yet I reflected that the number -of witnesses was a strong presumption they were right, and St -Gregory, upon good works, professes himself to be of the same -opinion. - -I was in this mortifying situation, when a brother clergyman, an -old acquaintance, who had also business to the fair, came up, and -shaking me by the hand, proposed adjourning to a public-house and -taking a glass of whatever we could get. I readily closed with -the offer, and entering an ale-house, we were shewn into a little -back room, where there was only a venerable old man, who sat -wholly intent over a large book, which he was reading. I never in -my life saw a figure that prepossessed me more favourably. His -locks of silver grey venerably shaded his temples, and his green -old age seemed to be the result of health and benevolence. -However, his presence did not interrupt our conversation; my -friend and I discoursed on the various turns of fortune we had -met: the Whistonean controversy, my last pamphlet, the -archdeacon's reply, and the hard measure that was dealt me. But -our attention was in a short time taken off by the appearance of -a youth, who, entering the room, respectfully said something -softly to the old stranger. 'Make no apologies, my child,' said -the old man, 'to do good is a duty we owe to all our fellow -creatures: take this, I wish it were more; but five pounds will -relieve your distress, and you are welcome.' The modest youth -shed tears of gratitude, and yet his gratitude was scarce equal -to mine. I could have hugged the good old man in my arms, his -benevolence pleased me so. He continued to read, and we resumed -our conversation, until my companion, after some time, -recollecting that he had business to transact in the fair, -promised to be soon back; adding, that he always desired to have -as much of Dr Primrose's company as possible. The old gentleman, -hearing my name mentioned, seemed to look at me with attention, -for some time, and when my friend was gone, most respectfully -demanded if I was any way related to the great Primrose, that -courageous monogamist, who had been the bulwark of the church. -Never did my heart feel sincerer rapture than at that moment. -'Sir,' cried I, 'the applause of so good a man, as I am sure you -are, adds to that happiness in my breast which your benevolence -has already excited. You behold before you, Sir, that Doctor -Primrose, the monogamist, whom you have been pleased to call -great. You here see that unfortunate Divine, who has so long, and -it would ill become me to say, successfully, fought against the -deuterogamy of the age.' 'Sir,' cried the stranger, struck with -awe, 'I fear I have been too familiar; but you'll forgive my -curiosity, Sir: I beg pardon.' 'Sir,' cried I, grasping his hand, -'you are so far from displeasing me by your familiarity, that I -must beg you'll accept my friendship, as you already have my -esteem.'--'Then with gratitude I accept the offer,' cried he, -squeezing me by the hand, 'thou glorious pillar of unshaken -orthodoxy; and do I behold- -' I here interrupted what he was -going to say; for tho', as an author, I could digest no small -share of flattery, yet now my modesty would permit no more. -However, no lovers in romance ever cemented a more instantaneous -friendship. We talked upon several subjects: at first I thought -he seemed rather devout than learned, and began to think he -despised all human doctrines as dross. Yet this no way lessened -him in my esteem; for I had for some time begun privately to -harbour such an opinion myself. I therefore took occasion to -observe, that the world in general began to be blameably -indifferent as to doctrinal matters, and followed human -speculations too much--'Ay, Sir,' replied he, as if he had -reserved all his learning to that moment, 'Ay, Sir, the world is -in its dotage, and yet the cosmogony or creation of the world has -puzzled philosophers of all ages. What a medly of opinions have -they not broached upon the creation of the world? Sanconiathon, -Manetho, Berosus, and Ocellus Lucanus, have all attempted it in -vain. The latter has these words, Anarchon ara kai atelutaion to -pan, which imply that all things have neither beginning nor end. -Manetho also, who lived about the time of Nebuchadon-Asser, Asser -being a Syriac word usually applied as a sirname to the kings of -that country, as Teglat Phael-Asser, Nabon-Asser, he, I say, -formed a conjecture equally absurd; for as we usually say ek to -biblion kubernetes, which implies that books will never teach the -world; so he attempted to investigate--But, Sir, I ask pardon, I -am straying from the question.'--That he actually was; nor could -I for my life see how the creation of the world had any thing to -do with the business I was talking of; but it was sufficient to -shew me that he was a man of letters, and I now reverenced him -the more. I was resolved therefore to bring him to the -touch-stone; but he was too mild and too gentle to contend for -victory. Whenever I made any observation that looked like a -challenge to controversy, he would smile, shake his head, and say -nothing; by which I understood he could say much, if he thought -proper. The subject therefore insensibly changed from the -business of antiquity to that which brought us both to the fair; -mine I told him was to sell an horse, and very luckily, indeed, -his was to buy one for one of his tenants. My horse was soon -produced, and in fine we struck a bargain. Nothing now remained -but to pay me, and he accordingly pulled out a thirty pound note, -and bid me change it. Not being in a capacity of complying with -his demand, he ordered his footman to be called up, who made his -appearance in a very genteel livery. 'Here, Abraham,' cried he, -'go and get gold for this; you'll do it at neighbour Jackson's, -or any where.' While the fellow was gone, he entertained me with -a pathetic harangue on the great scarcity of silver, which I -undertook to improve, by deploring also the great scarcity of -gold; so that by the time Abraham returned, we had both agreed -that money was never so hard to be come at as now. Abraham -returned to inform us, that he had been over the whole fair and -could not get change, tho' he had offered half a crown for doing -it. This was a very great disappointment to us all; but the old -gentleman having paused a little, asked me if I knew one Solomon -Flamborough in my part of the country: upon replying that he was -my next door neighbour, 'if that be the case then,' returned he, -'I believe we shall deal. You shall have a draught upon him, -payable at sight; and let me tell you he is as warm a man as any -within five miles round him. Honest Solomon and I have been -acquainted for many years together. I remember I always beat him -at threejumps; but he could hop upon one leg farther than I.' A -draught upon my neighbour was to me the same as money; for I was -sufficiently convinced of his ability: the draught was signed and -put into my hands, and Mr Jenkinson, the old gentleman, his man -Abraham, and my horse, old Blackberry, trotted off very well -pleased with each other. - -After a short interval being left to reflection, I began to -recollect that I had done wrong in taking a draught from a -stranger, and so prudently resolved upon following the purchaser, -and having back my horse. But this was now too late: I therefore -made directly homewards, resolving to get the draught changed -into money at my friend's as fast as possible. I found my honest -neighbour smoking his pipe at his own door, and informing him -that I had a small bill upon him, he read it twice over. 'You can -read the name, I suppose,' cried I, 'Ephraim Jenkinson.' 'Yes,' -returned he, 'the name is written plain enough, and I know the -gentleman too, the greatest rascal under the canopy of heaven. -This is the very same rogue who sold us the spectacles. Was he -not a venerable looking man, with grey hair, and no flaps to his -pocket-holes? And did he not talk a long string of learning about -Greek and cosmogony, and the world?' To this I replied with a -groan. 'Aye,' continued he, 'he has but that one piece of -learning in the world, and he always talks it away whenever he -finds a scholar in company; but I know the rogue, and will catch -him yet.' Though I was already sufficiently mortified, my -greatest struggle was to come, in facing my wife and daughters. -No truant was ever more afraid of returning to school, there to -behold the master's visage, than I was of going home. I was -determined, however, to anticipate their fury, by first falling -into a passion myself. - -But, alas! upon entering, I found the family no way disposed for -battle. My wife and girls were all in tears, Mr Thornhill having -been there that day to inform them, that their journey to town -was entirely over. The two ladies having heard reports of us from -some malicious person about us, were that day set out for London. -He could neither discover the tendency, nor the author of these, -but whatever they might be, or whoever might have broached them, -he continued to assure our family of his friendship and -protection. I found, therefore, that they bore my disappointment -with great resignation, as it was eclipsed in the greatness of -their own. But what perplexed us most was to think who could be -so base as to asperse the character of a family so harmless as -ours, too humble to excite envy, and too inoffensive to create -disgust. - - - -CHAPTER 15 - -All, Mr Burchell's villainy at once detected. The folly of being -over-wise - - -That evening and a part of the following day was employed in -fruitless attempts to discover our enemies: scarce a family in -the neighbourhood but incurred our suspicions, and each of us had -reasons for our opinion best known to ourselves. As we were in -this perplexity, one of our little boys, who had been playing -abroad, brought in a letter-case, which he found on the green. It -was quickly known to belong to Mr Burchell, with whom it had been -seen, and, upon examination, contained some hints upon different -subjects; but what particularly engaged our attention was a -sealed note, superscribed, 'The copy of a letter to be sent to -the two ladies at Thornhill-castle.' It instantly occurred that -he was the base informer, and we deliberated whether the note -should not be broke open. I was against it; but Sophia, who said -she was sure that of all men he would be the last to be guilty of -so much baseness, insisted upon its being read, In this she was -seconded by the rest of the family, and, at their joint -solicitation, I read as follows:-- - -'Ladies,--The bearer will sufficiently satisfy you as to the -person from whom this comes: one at least the friend of -innocence, and ready to prevent its being seduced. I am informed -for a truth, that you have some intention of bringing two young -ladies to town, whom I have some knowledge of, under the -character of companions. As I would neither have simplicity -imposed upon, nor virtue contaminated, I must offer it as my -opinion, that the impropriety of such a step will be attended -with dangerous consequences. It has never been my way to treat -the infamous or the lewd with severity; nor should I now have -taken this method of explaining myself, or reproving folly, did -it not aim at guilt. Take therefore the admonition of a friend, -and seriously reflect on the consequences of introducing infamy -and vice into retreats where peace and innocence have hitherto -resided.' Our doubts were now at an end. There seemed indeed -something applicable to both sides in this letter, and its -censures might as well be referred to those to whom it was -written, as to us; but the malicious meaning was obvious, and we -went no farther. My wife had scarce patience to hear me to the -end, but railed at the writer with unrestrained resentment. -Olivia was equally severe, and Sophia seemed perfectly amazed at -his baseness. As for my part, it appeared to me one of the vilest -instances of unprovoked ingratitude I had met with. Nor could I -account for it in any other manner than by imputing it to his -desire of detaining my youngest daughter in the country, to have -the more frequent opportunities of an interview. In this manner -we all sate ruminating upon schemes of vengeance, when our other -little boy came running in to tell us that Mr Burchell was -approaching at the other end of the field. It is easier to -conceive than describe the complicated sensations which are felt -from the pain of a recent injury, and the pleasure of approaching -vengeance. Tho' our intentions were only to upbraid him with his -ingratitude; yet it was resolved to do it in a manner that would -be perfectly cutting. For this purpose we agreed to meet him with -our usual smiles, to chat in the beginning with more than -ordinary kindness, to amuse him a little; and then in the midst -of the flattering calm to burst upon him like an earthquake, and -overwhelm him with the sense of his own baseness. This being -resolved upon, my wife undertook to manage the business herself, -as she really had some talents for such an undertaking. We saw -him approach, he entered, drew a chair, and sate down.--'A fine -day, Mr Burchell.'--'A very fine day, Doctor; though I fancy we -shall have some rain by the shooting of my corns.'--'The shooting -of your horns,' cried my wife, in a loud fit of laughter, and -then asked pardon for being fond of a joke.--'Dear madam,' -replied he, 'I pardon you with all my heart; for I protest I -should not have thought it a joke had you not told me.'--'Perhaps -not, Sir,' cried my wife, winking at us, 'and yet I dare say you -can tell us how many jokes go to an ounce.'--'I fancy, madam,' -returned Burchell, 'you have been reading a jest book this -morning, that ounce of jokes is so very good a conceit; and yet, -madam, I had rather see half an ounce of understanding.'--'I -believe you might,' cried my wife, still smiling at us, though -the laugh was against her; 'and yet I have seen some men pretend -to understanding that have very little.'--'And no doubt,' replied -her antagonist, 'you have known ladies set up for wit that had -none.'--I quickly began to find that my wife was likely to gain -but little at this business; so I resolved to treat him in a -stile of more severity myself. 'Both wit and understanding" cried -I, 'are trifles, without integrity: it is that which gives value -to every character. The ignorant peasant, without fault, is -greater than the philosopher with many; for what is genius or -courage without an heart? An honest man is the noblest work of -God. - -'I always held that hackney'd maxim of Pope,' returned Mr -Burchell, 'as very unworthy a man of genius, and a base desertion -of his own superiority. As the reputation of books is raised not -by their freedom from defect, but the greatness of their -beauties; so should that of men be prized not for their exemption -from fault, but the size of those virtues they are possessed of. -The scholar may want prudence, the statesman may have pride, and -the champion ferocity; but shall we prefer to these the low -mechanic, who laboriously plods on through life, without censure -or applause? We might as well prefer the tame correct paintings -of the Flemish school to the erroneous, but sublime animations of -the Roman pencil.' - -'Sir,' replied I, 'your present observation is just, when there -are shining virtues and minute defects; but when it appears that -great vices are opposed in the same mind to as extraordinary -virtues, such a character deserves contempt.' 'Perhaps,' cried -he, 'there may be some such monsters as you describe, of great -vices joined to great virtues; yet in my progress through life, I -never yet found one instance of their existence: on the contrary, -I have ever perceived, that where the mind was capacious, the -affections were good. And indeed Providence seems kindly our -friend in this particular, thus to debilitate the understanding -where the heart is corrupt, and diminish the power where there is -the will to do mischief. This rule seems to extend even to other -animals: the little vermin race are ever treacherous, cruel, and -cowardly, whilst those endowed with strength and power are -generous, brave, and gentle.' - -'These observations sound well,' returned I, 'and yet it would be -easy this moment to point out a man,' and I fixed my eye -stedfastly upon him, 'whose head and heart form a most detestable -contrast. Ay, Sir,' continued I, raising my voice, 'and I am glad -to have this opportunity of detecting him in the midst of his -fancied security. Do you know this, Sir, this pocket-book?'-- -'Yes, Sir,' returned he, with a face of impenetrable assurance, -'that pocket-book is mine, and I am glad you have found it.'-- -'And do you know,' cried I, 'this letter? Nay, never falter man; -but look me full in the face: I say, do you know this letter?'-- -'That letter,' returned he, 'yes, it was I that wrote that -letter.'--'And how could you,' said I, 'so basely, so -ungratefully presume to write this letter?'--'And how came you,' -replied he, with looks of unparallelled effrontery, 'so basely to -presume to break open this letter? Don't you know, now, I could -hang you all for this? All that I have to do, is to swear at the -next justice's, that you have been guilty of breaking open the -lock of my pocket-book, and so hang you all up at his door.' This -piece of unexpected insolence raised me to such a pitch, that I -could scare govern my passion. 'Ungrateful wretch, begone, and no -longer pollute my dwelling with thy baseness. Begone, and never -let me see thee again: go from my doors, and the only punishment -I wish thee is an allarmed conscience, which will be a sufficient -tormentor!' So saying, I threw him his pocket-book, which he took -up with a smile, and shutting the clasps with the utmost -composure, left us, quite astonished at the serenity of his -assurance. My wife was particularly enraged that nothing could -make him angry, or make him seem ashamed of his villainies. 'My -dear,' cried I, willing to calm those passions that had been -raised too high among us, 'we are not to be surprised that bad -men want shame; they only blush at being detected in doing good, -but glory in their vices. - -'Guilt and shame, says the allegory, were at first companions, -and in the beginning of their journey inseparably kept together. -But their union was soon found to be disagreeable and -inconvenient to both; guilt gave shame frequent uneasiness, and -shame often betrayed the secret conspiracies of guilt. After long -disagreeement, therefore, they at length consented to part for -ever. Guilt boldly walked forward alone, to overtake fate, that -went before in the shape of an executioner: but shame being -naturally timorous, returned back to keep company with virtue, -which, in the beginning of their journey, they had left behind. -Thus, my children, after men have travelled through a few stages -in vice, shame forsakes them, and returns back to wait upon the -few virtues they have still remaining.' - - - -CHAPTER 16 - -The family use art, which is opposed with, still greater - - -Whatever might have been Sophia's sensations, the rest of the -family was easily consoled, for Mr Burchell's absence by the -company of our landlord, whose visits now became more frequent -and longer. Though he had been disappointed in procuring my -daughters the amusements of the town, as he designed, he took -every opportunity of supplying them with those little recreations -which our retirement would admit of. He usually came in the -morning, and while my son and I followed our occupations abroad, -he sat with the family at home, and amused them by describing the -town, with every part of which he was particularly acquainted. He -could repeat all the observations that were retailed in the -atmosphere of the playhouses, and had all the good things of the -high wits by rote long before they made way into the jest-books. -The intervals between conversation were employed in teaching my -daughters piquet, or sometimes in setting my two little ones to -box to make them sharp, as he called it: but the hopes of having -him for a son-in-law, in some measure blinded us to all his -imperfections. It must be owned that my wife laid a thousand -schemes to entrap him, or, to speak it more tenderly, used every -art to magnify the merit of her daughter. If the cakes at tea eat -short and crisp, they were made by Olivia: if the gooseberry wine -was well knit, the gooseberries were of her gathering: it was her -fingers which gave the pickles their peculiar green; and in the -composition of a pudding, it was her judgment that mix'd the -ingredients. Then the poor woman would sometimes tell the -'Squire, that she thought him and Olivia extremely of a size, and -would bid both stand up to see which was tallest. These instances -of cunning, which she thought impenetrable, yet which every body -saw through, were very pleasing to our benefactor, who gave every -day some new proofs of his passion, which though they had not -arisen to proposals of marriage, yet we thought fell but little -short of it; and his slowness was attributed sometimes to native -bashfulness, and sometimes to his fear of offending his uncle. An -occurrence, however, which happened soon after, put it beyond a -doubt that he designed to become one of our family, my wife even -regarded it as an absolute promise. - -My wife and daughters happening to return a visit to neighbour -Flamborough's, found that family had lately got their pictures -drawn by a limner, who travelled the country, and took likenesses -for fifteen shillings a head. As this family and ours had long a -sort of rivalry in point of taste, our spirit took the alarm at -this stolen march upon us, and notwithstanding all I could say, -and I said much, it was resolved that we should have our pictures -done too. Having, therefore, engaged the limner, for what could I -do? our next deliberation was to shew the superiority of our -taste in the attitudes. As for our neighbour's family, there were -seven of them, and they were drawn with seven oranges, a thing -quite out of taste, no variety in life, no composition in the -world. We desired to have something in a brighter style, and, -after many debates, at length came to an unanimous resolution of -being drawn together, in one large historical family piece. This -would be cheaper, since one frame would serve for all, and it -would be infinitely more genteel; for all families of any taste -were now drawn in the same manner. As we did not immediately -recollect an historical subject to hit us, we were contented each -with being drawn as independent historical figures. My wife -desired to be represented as Venus, and the painter was desired -not to be too frugal of his diamonds in her stomacher and hair. -Her two little ones were to be as Cupids by her side, while I, in -my gown and band, was to present her with my books on the -Whistonian controversy. Olivia would be drawn as an Amazon, -sitting upon a bank of flowers, drest in a green joseph, richly -laced with gold, and a whip in her hand. Sophia was to be a -shepherdess, with as many sheep as the painter could put in for -nothing; and Moses was to be drest out with an hat and white -feather. Our taste so much pleased the 'Squire, that he insisted -on being put in as one of the family in the character of -Alexander the great, at Olivia's feet. This was considered by us -all as an indication of his desire to be introduced into the -family, nor could we refuse his request. The painter was -therefore set to work, and as he wrought with assiduity and -expedition, in less than four days the whole was compleated. The -piece was large, and it must be owned he did not spare his -colours; for which my wife gave him great encomiums. We were all -perfectly satisfied with his performance; but an unfortunate -circumstance had not occurred till the picture was finished, -which now struck us with dismay. It was so very large that we had -no place in the house to fix it. How we all came to disregard so -material a point is inconceivable; but certain it is, we had been -all greatly remiss. The picture, therefore, instead of gratifying -our vanity, as we hoped, leaned, in a most mortifying manner, -against the kitchen wall, where the canvas was stretched and -painted, much too large to be got through any of the doors, and -the jest of all our neighhours. One compared it to Robinson -Crusoe's long-boat, too large to be removed; another thought it -more resembled a reel in a bottle; some wondered how it could be -got out, but still more were amazed how it ever got in. - -But though it excited the ridicule of some, it effectually raised -more malicious suggestions in many. The 'Squire's portrait being -found united with ours, was an honour too great to escape envy. -Scandalous whispers began to circulate at our expence, and our -tranquility was continually disturbed by persons who came as -friends to tell us what was said of us by enemies. These reports -we always resented with becoming spirit; but scandal ever -improves by opposition. - -We once again therefore entered into a consultation upon -obviating the malice of our enemies, and at last came to a -resolution which had too much cunning to give me entire -satisfaction. It was this: as our principal object was to -discover the honour of Mr Thornhill's addresses, my wife -undertook to sound him, by pretending to ask his advice in the -choice of an husband for her eldest daughter. If this was not -found sufficient to induce him to a declaration, it was then -resolved to terrify him with a rival. To this last step, however, -I would by no means give my consent, till Olivia gave me the most -solemn assurances that she would marry the person provided to -rival him upon this occasion, if he did not prevent it, by taking -her himself. Such was the scheme laid, which though I did not -strenuously oppose, I did not entirely approve. - -The next time, therefore, that Mr Thornhill came to see us, my -girls took care to be out of the way, in order to give their -mamma an opportunity of putting her scheme in execution; but they -only retired to the next room, from whence they could over-hear -the whole conversation: My wife artfully introduced it, by -observing, that one of the Miss Flamboroughs was like to have a -very good match of it in Mr Spanker. To this the 'Squire -assenting, she proceeded to remark, that they who had warm -fortunes were always sure of getting good husbands: 'But heaven -help,' continued she, 'the girls that have none. What signifies -beauty, Mr Thornhill? or what signifies all the virtue, and all -the qualifications in the world, in this age of self-interest? It -is not, what is she? but what has she? is all the cry.' - -'Madam,' returned he, 'I highly approve the justice, as well as -the novelty, of your remarks, and if I were a king, it should be -otherwise. It should then, indeed, be fine times with the girls -without fortunes: our two young ladies should be the first for -whom I would provide.' 'Ah, Sir!' returned my wife, 'you are -pleased to be facetious: but I wish I were a queen, and then I -know where my eldest daughter should look for an husband. But -now, that you have put it into my head, seriously Mr Thornhill, -can't you recommend me a proper husband for her? She is now -nineteen years old, well grown and well educated, and, in my -humble opinion, does not want for parts.' 'Madam,' replied he, -'if I were to chuse, I would find out a person possessed of every -accomplishment that can make an angel happy. One with prudence, -fortune, taste, and sincerity, such, madam, would be, in my -opinion, the proper husband.' 'Ay, Sir,' said she, 'but do you -know of any such person?'--'No, madam,' returned he, 'it is -impossible to know any person that deserves to be her husband: -she's too great a treasure for one man's possession: she's a -goddess. Upon my soul, I speak what I think, she's an angel.'-- -'Ah, Mr Thornhill, you only flatter my poor girl: but we have -been thinking of marrying her to one of your tenants, whose -mother is lately dead, and who wants a manager: you know whom I -mean, farmer Williams; a warm man, Mr Thornhill, able to give her -good bread; and who has several times made her proposals: (which -was actually the case) but, Sir,' concluded she, 'I should be -glad to have your approbation of our choice.'--'How, madam,' -replied he, 'my approbation! My approbation of such a choice! -Never. What! Sacrifice so much beauty, and sense, and goodness, -to a creature insensible of the blessing! Excuse me, I can never -approve of such a piece of injustice And I have my reasons!'-- -'Indeed, Sir,' cried Deborah, 'if you have your reasons, that's -another affair; but I should be glad to know those reasons.'-- -'Excuse me, madam,' returned he, 'they lie too deep for -discovery: (laying his hand upon his bosom) they remain buried, -rivetted here.' - -After he was gone, upon general consultation, we could not tell -what to make of these fine sentiments. Olivia considered them as -instances of the most exalted passion; but I was not quite so -sanguine: it seemed to me pretty plain, that they had more of -love than matrimony in them: yet, whatever they might portend, it -was resolved to prosecute the scheme of farmer Williams, who, -from my daughter's first appearance in the country, had paid her -his addresses. - - - -CHAPTER 17 - -Scarce any virtue found to resist the power of long and pleasing -temptation - -As I only studied my child's real happiness, the assiduity of Mr -Williams pleased me, as he was in easy circumstances, prudent, -and sincere. It required but very little encouragement to revive -his former passion; so that in an evening or two he and Mr -Thornhill met at our house, and surveyed each other for some time -with looks of anger: but Williams owed his landlord no rent, and -little regarded his indignation. Olivia, on her side, acted the -coquet to perfection, if that might be called acting which was -her real character, pretending to lavish all her tenderness on -her new lover. Mr Thornhill appeared quite dejected at this -preference, and with a pensive air took leave, though I own it -puzzled me to find him so much in pain as he appeared to be, when -he had it in his power so easily to remove the cause, by -declaring an honourable passion. But whatever uneasiness he -seemed to endure, it could easily be perceived that Olivia's -anguish was still greater. After any of these interviews between -her lovers, of which there were several, she usually retired to -solitude, and there indulged her grief. It was in such a -situation I found her one evening, after she had been for some -time supporting a fictitious gayety.--'You now see, my child,' -said I, 'that your confidence in Mr Thornhill's passion was all a -dream: he permits the rivalry of another, every way his inferior, -though he knows it lies in his power to secure you to himself by -a candid declaration.'--'Yes, pappa,' returned she, 'but he has -his reasons for this delay: I know he has. The sincerity of his -looks and words convince me of his real esteem. A short time, I -hope, will discover the generosity of his sentiments, and -convince you that my opinion of him has been more just than -yours.'--'Olivia, my darling,' returned I, 'every scheme that has -been hitherto pursued to compel him to a declaration, has been -proposed and planned by yourself, nor can you in the least say -that I have constrained you. But you must not suppose, my dear, -that I will ever be instrumental in suffering his honest rival to -be the dupe of your ill-placed passion. Whatever time you require -to bring your fancied admirer to an explanation shall be granted; -but at the expiration of that term, if he is still regardless, I -must absolutely insist that honest Mr Williams shall be rewarded -for his fidelity. The character which I have hitherto supported -in life demands this from me, and my tenderness, as a parent, -shall never influence my integrity as a man. Name then your day, -let it be as distant as you think proper, and in the mean time -take care to let Mr Thornhill know the exact time on which I -design delivering you up to another. If he really loves you, his -own good sense will readily suggest that there is but one method -alone to prevent his losing you forever.'--This proposal, which -she could not avoid considering as perfectly just, was readily -agreed to. She again renewed her most positive promise of -marrying Mr Williams, in case of the other's insensibility; and -at the next opportunity, in Mr Thornhill's presence, that day -month was fixed upon for her nuptials with his rival. - -Such vigorous proceedings seemed to redouble Mr Thornhill's -anxiety: but what Olivia really felt gave me some uneasiness. In -this struggle between prudence and passion, her vivacity quite -forsook her, and every opportunity of solitude was sought, and -spent in tears. One week passed away; but Mr Thornhill made no -efforts to restrain her nuptials. The succeeding week he was -still assiduous; but not more open. On the third he discontinued -his visits entirely, and instead of my daughter testifying any -impatience, as I expected, she seemed to retain a pensive -tranquillity, which I looked upon as resignation. For my own -part, I was now sincerely pleased with thinking that my child was -going to be secured in a continuance of competence and peace, and -frequently applauded her resolution, in preferring happiness to -ostentation. - -It was within about four days of her intended nuptials, that my -little family at night were gathered round a charming fire, -telling stories of the past, and laying schemes for the future. -Busied in forming a thousand projects, and laughing at whatever -folly came uppermost, 'Well, Moses,' cried I, 'we shall soon, my -boy, have a wedding in the family, what is your opinion of -matters and things in general?'--'My opinion, father, is, that -all things go on very well; and I was just now thinking, that -when sister Livy is married to farmer Williams, we shall then -have the loan of his cyder-press and brewing tubs for nothing.'-- -'That we shall, Moses,' cried I, 'and he will sing us Death and -the Lady, to raise our spirits into the bargain.'--'He has taught -that song to our Dick,' cried Moses; 'and I think he goes thro' -it very prettily.' --'Does he so,' cried I, then let us have it: -where's little Dick? let him up with it boldly.'--'My brother -Dick,' cried Bill my youngest, 'is just gone out with sister -Livy; but Mr Williams has taught me two songs, and I'll sing them -for you, pappa. Which song do you chuse, the Dying Swan, or the -Elegy on the death of a mad dog?' 'The elegy, child, by all -means,' said I, 'I never heard that yet; and Deborah, my life, -grief you know is dry, let us have a bottle of the best -gooseberry wine, to keep up our spirits. I have wept so much at -all sorts of elegies of late, that without an enlivening glass I -am sure this will overcome me; and Sophy, love, take your guitar, -and thrum in with the boy a little.' - -An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog. - -Good people all, of every sort, -Give ear unto my song; -And if you find it wond'rous short, -It cannot hold you long. - -In Isling town there was a man, -Of whom the world might say, -That still a godly race he ran, -Whene'er he went to pray. - -A kind and gentle heart he had, -To comfort friends and foes; -The naked every day he clad, -When he put on his cloaths. - -And in that town a dog was found, -As many dogs there be, -Both mungrel, puppy, whelp, and hound, -And curs of low degree. - -This dog and man at first were friends; -But when a pique began, -The dog, to gain some private ends, -Went mad and bit the man. - -Around from all the neighbouring streets, -The wondering neighbours ran, -And swore the dog had lost his wits, -To bite so good a man. - -The wound it seem'd both sore and sad, -To every Christian eye; -And while they swore the dog was mad, -They swore the man would die. - -But soon a wonder came to light, -That shew'd the rogues they lied, -The man recovered of the bite, -The dog it was that dy'd. - -'A very good boy, Bill, upon my word, and an elegy that may truly -be called tragical. Come, my children, here's Bill's health, and -may he one day be a bishop.' - -'With all my heart,' cried my wife; 'and if he but preaches as -well as he sings, I make no doubt of him. The, most of his -family, by the mother's side, could sing a good song: it was a -common saying in our country, that the family of the Blenkinsops -could never look strait before them, nor the Huginsons blow out a -candle; that there were none of the Grograms but could sing a -song, or of the Marjorams but could tell a story.'--'However that -be,' cried I, 'the most vulgar ballad of them all generally -pleases me better than the fine modern odes, and things that -petrify us in a single stanza; productions that we at once detest -and praise. Put the glass to your brother, Moses.--The great -fault of these elegiasts is, that they are in despair for griefs -that give the sensible part of mankind very little pain. A lady -loses her muff, her fan, or her lap-dog, and so the silly poet -runs home to versify the disaster.' - -'That may be the mode,' cried Moses, 'in sublimer compositions; -but the Ranelagh songs that come down to us are perfectly -familiar, and all cast in the same mold: Colin meets Dolly, and -they hold a dialogue together; he gives her a fairing to put in -her hair, and she presents him with a nosegay; and then they go -together to church, where they give good advice to young nymphs -and swains to get married as fast as they can.' - -'And very good advice too,' cried I, 'and I am told there is not -a place in the world where advice can be given with so much -propriety as there; for, as it persuades us to marry, it also -furnishes us with a wife; and surely that must be an excellent -market, my boy, where we are told what we want, and supplied with -it when wanting.' - -'Yes, Sir,' returned Moses, 'and I know but of two such markets -for wives in Europe, Ranelagh in England, and Fontarabia in -Spain.' The Spanish market is open once a year, but our English -wives are saleable every night.' - -'You are right, my boy,' cried his mother, 'Old England is the -only place in the world for husbands to get wives.'--'And for -wives to manage their husbands,' interrupted I. 'It is a proverb -abroad, that if a bridge were built across the sea, all the -ladies of the Continent would come over to take pattern from -ours; for there are no such wives in Europe as our own. 'But let -us have one bottle more, Deborah, my life, and Moses give us a -good song. What thanks do we not owe to heaven for thus bestowing -tranquillity, health, and competence. I think myself happier now -than the greatest monarch upon earth. He has no such fire-side, -nor such pleasant faces about it. Yes, Deborah, we are now -growing old; but the evening of our life is likely to be happy. -We are descended from ancestors that knew no stain, and we shall -leave a good and virtuous race of children behind us. While we -live they will be our support and our pleasure here, and when we -die they will transmit our honour untainted to posterity. Come, -my son, we wait for a song: let us have a chorus. But where is my -darling Olivia? That little cherub's voice is always sweetest in -the concert.'--Just as I spoke Dick came running in. 'O pappa, -pappa, she is gone from us, she is gone from us, my sister Livy -is gone from us for ever'--'Gone, child'--'Yes, she is gone off -with two gentlemen in a post chaise, and one of them kissed her, -and said he would die for her; and she cried very much, and was -for coming back; but he persuaded her again, and she went into -the chaise, and said, O what will my poor pappa do when he knows -I am undone!'--'Now then,' cried I, 'my children, go and be -miserable; for we shall never enjoy one hour more. And O may -heaven's everlasting fury light upon him and his! Thus to rob me -of my child! And sure it will, for taking back my sweet innocent -that I was leading up to heaven. Such sincerity as my child was -possest of. But all our earthly happiness is now over! Go, my -children, go, and be miserable and infamous; for my heart is -broken within me!'--'Father,' cried my son, "is this your -fortitude?'--'Fortitude, child! Yes, he shall see I have -fortitude! Bring me my pistols. I'll pursue the traitor. While he -is on earth I'll pursue him. Old as I am, he shall find I can -sting him yet. The villain! The perfidious villain!'--I had by -this time reached down my pistols, when my poor wife, whose -passions were not so strong as mine, caught me in her arms. 'My -dearest, dearest husband,' cried she, 'the bible is the only -weapon that is fit for your old hands now. Open that, my love, -and read our anguish into patience, for she has vilely deceived -us.'--'Indeed, Sir,' resumed my son, after a pause, 'your rage is -too violent and unbecoming. You should be my mother's comforter, -and you encrease her pain. It ill suited you and your reverend -character thus to curse your greatest enemy: you should not have -curst him, villian as he is.'--'I did not curse him, child, did -I?'--'Indeed, Sir, you did; you curst him twice.'--'Then may -heaven forgive me and him if I did. And now, my son, I see it was -more than human benevolence that first taught us to bless our -enemies! Blest be his holy name for all the good he hath given, -and for all that he hath taken away. But it is not, it is not, a -small distress that can wring tears from these old eyes, that -have not wept for so many years. My Child!--To undo my darling! -May confusion seize! Heaven forgive me, what am I about to say! -You may remember, my love, how good she was, and how charming; -till this vile moment all her care was to make us happy. Had she -but died! But she is gone, the honour of our family contaminated, -and I must look out for happiness in other worlds than here. But -my child, you saw them go off: perhaps he forced her away? If he -forced her, she may 'yet be innocent.'--'Ah no, Sir!' cried the -child; 'he only kissed her, and called her his angel, and she -wept very much, and leaned upon his arm, and they drove off very -fast.' --'She's an ungrateful creature,' cried my wife, who could -scarce speak for weeping, 'to use us thus. She never had the -least constraint put upon her affections. The vile strumpet has -basely deserted her parents without any provocation, thus to -bring your grey hairs to the grave, and I must shortly follow.' - -In this manner that night, the first of our real misfortunes, was -spent in the bitterness of complaint, and ill supported sallies -of enthusiasm. I determined, however, to find out our betrayer, -wherever he was, and reproach his baseness. The next morning we -missed our wretched child at breakfast, where she used to give -life and cheerfulness to us all. My wife, as before, attempted to -ease her heart by reproaches. 'Never,' cried she, 'shall that -vilest stain of our family again darken those harmless doors. I -will never call her daughter more. No, let the strumpet live with -her vile seducer: she may bring us to shame but she shall never -more deceive us.' - -'Wife,' said I, 'do not talk thus hardly: my detestation of her -guilt is as great as yours; but ever shall this house and this -heart be open to a poor returning repentant sinner. The sooner -she returns from her transgression, the more welcome shall she be -to me. For the first time the very best may err; art may -persuade, and novelty spread out its charm. The first fault is -the child of simplicity; but every other the offspring of guilt. -Yes, the wretched creature shall be welcome to this heart and -this house, tho' stained with ten thousand vices. I will again -hearken to the music of her voice, again will I hang fondly on -her bosom, if I find but repentance there. My son, bring hither -my bible and my staff, I will pursue her, wherever she is, and -tho' I cannot save her from shame, I may prevent the continuance -of iniquity.' - - - -CHAPTER 18 - -The pursuit of a father to reclaim a lost child to virtue - - -Tho' the child could not describe the gentleman's person who -handed his sister into the post-chaise, yet my suspicions fell -entirely upon our young landlord, whose character for such -intrigues was but too well known. I therefore directed my steps -towards Thornhill-castle, resolving to upbraid him, and, if -possible, to bring back my daughter: but before I had reached his -seat, I was met by one of my parishioners, who said he saw a -young lady resembling my daughter in a post-chaise with a -gentleman, whom, by the description, I could only guess to be Mr -Burchell, and that they drove very fast. This information, -however, did by no means satisfy me. I therefore went to the -young 'Squire's, and though it was yet early, insisted upon -seeing him immediately: he soon appeared with the most open -familiar air, and seemed perfectly amazed at my daughter's -elopement, protesting upon his honour that he was quite a -stranger to it. I now therefore condemned my former suspicions, -and could turn them only on Mr Burchell, who I recollected had of -late several private conferences with her: but the appearance of -another witness left me no room to doubt of his villainy, who -averred, that he and my daughter were actually gone towards the -wells, about thirty miles off, where there was a great deal of -company. Being driven to that state of mind in which we are more -ready to act precipitately than to reason right, I never debated -with myself, whether these accounts might not have been given by -persons purposely placed in my way, to mislead me, but resolved -to pursue my daughter and her fancied deluder thither. I walked -along with earnestness, and enquired of several by the way; but -received no accounts, till entering the town, I was met by a -person on horseback, whom I remembered to have seen at the -'Squire's, and he assured me that if I followed them to the -races, which were but thirty miles farther, I might depend upon -overtaking them; for he had seen them dance there the night -before, and the whole assembly seemed charmed with my daughter's -performance. Early the next day I walked forward to the races, -and about four in the afternoon I came upon the course. The -company made a very brilliant appearance, all earnestly employed -in one pursuit, that of pleasure; how different from mine, that -of reclaiming a lost child to virtue! I thought I perceived Mr -Burchell at some distance from me; but, as if he dreaded an -interview, upon my approaching him, he mixed among a crowd, and I -saw him no more. I now reflected that it would be to no purpose -to continue my pursuit farther, and resolved to return home to an -innocent family, who wanted my assistance. But the agitations of -my mind, and the fatigues I had undergone, threw me into a fever, -the symptoms of which I perceived before I came off the course. -This was another unexpected stroke, as I was more than seventy -miles distant from home: however, I retired to a little ale-house -by the road-side, and in this place, the usual retreat of -indigence and frugality, I laid me down patiently to wait the -issue of my disorder. I languished here for near three weeks; but -at last my constitution prevailed, though I was unprovided with -money to defray the expences of my entertainment. It is possible -the anxiety from this last circumstance alone might have brought -on a relapse, had I not been supplied by a traveller, who stopt -to take a cursory refreshment. This person was no other than the -philanthropic bookseller in St Paul's church-yard, who has -written so many little books for children: he called himself -their friend; but he was the friend of all mankind. He was no -sooner alighted, but he was in haste to be gone; for he was ever -on business of the utmost importance, and was at that time -actually compiling materials for the history of one Mr Thomas -Trip. I immediately recollected this good-natured man's red -pimpled face; for he had published for me against the -Deuterogamists of the age, and from him I borrowed a few pieces, -to be paid at my return. Leaving the inn, therefore, as I was yet -but weak, I resolved to return home by easy journies of ten miles -a day. My health and usual tranquillity were almost restored, and -I now condemned that pride which had made me refractory to the -hand of correction. Man little knows what calamities are beyond -his patience to bear till he tries them; as in ascending the -heights of ambition, which look bright from below, every step we -rise shews us some new and gloomy prospect of hidden -disappointment; so in our descent from the summits of pleasure, -though the vale of misery below may appear at first dark and -gloomy, yet the busy mind, still attentive to its own amusement, -finds as we descend something to flatter and to please. Still as -we approach, the darkest objects appear to brighten, and the -mental eye becomes adapted to its gloomy situation. - -I now proceeded forward, and had walked about two hours, when I -perceived what appeared at a distance like a waggon, which I was -resolved to overtake; but when I came up with it, found it to be -a strolling company's cart, that was carrying their scenes and -other theatrical furniture to the next village, where they were -to exhibit. The cart was attended only by the person who drove -it, and one of the company, as the rest of the players were to -follow the ensuing day. Good company upon the road, says the -proverb, is the shortest cut, I therefore entered into -conversation with the poor player; and as I once had some -theatrical powers myself, I disserted on such topics with my -usual freedom: but as I was pretty much unacquainted with the -present state of the stage, I demanded who were the present -theatrical writers in vogue, who the Drydens and Otways of the -day.--'I fancy, Sir,' cried the player, 'few of our modern -dramatists would think themselves much honoured by being compared -to the writers you mention. Dryden and Row's manner, Sir, are -quite out of fashion; our taste has gone back a whole century, -Fletcher, Ben Johnson, and all the plays of Shakespear, are the -only things that go down.'--'How,' cried I, 'is it possible the -present age can be pleased with that antiquated dialect, that -obsolete humour, those overcharged characters, which abound in -the works you mention?'--'Sir,' returned my companion, 'the -public think nothing about dialect, or humour, or character; for -that is none of their business, they only go to be amused, and -find themselves happy when they can enjoy a pantomime, under the -sanction of Johnson's or Shakespear's name.'--'So then, I -suppose,' cried I, 'that our modern dramatists are rather -imitators of Shakespear than of nature.'-- 'To say the truth,' -returned my companion, 'I don't know that they imitate any thing -at all; nor, indeed does the public require it of them: it is not -the composition of the piece, but the number of starts and -attitudes that may be introduced into it that elicits applause. I -have known a piece, with not one jest in the whole, shrugged into -popularity, and another saved by the poet's throwing in a fit of -the gripes. No, Sir, the works of Congreve and Farquhar have too -much wit in them for the present taste; our modern dialect is -much more natural.' - -By this time the equipage of the strolling company was arrived at -the village, which, it seems, had been apprised of our approach, -and was come out to gaze at us; for my companion observed, that -strollers always have more spectators without doors than within. -I did not consider the impropriety of my being in such company -till I saw a mob gather about me. I therefore took shelter, as -fast as possible, in the first ale-house that offered, and being -shewn into the common room, was accosted by a very well-drest -gentleman, who demanded whether I was the real chaplain of the -company, or whether it was only to be my masquerade character in -the play. Upon informing him of the truth, and that I did not -belong in any sort to the company, he was condescending enough to -desire me and the player to partake in a bowl of punch, over -which he discussed modern politics with great earnestness and -interest. I set him down in my mind for nothing less than a -parliament-man at least; but was almost confirmed in my -conjectures, when upon my asking what there was in the house for -supper, he insisted that the Player and I should sup with him at -his house, with which request, after some entreaties, we were -prevailed on to comply. - - - -CHAPTER 19 - -The description of a person discontented with the present -government, and apprehensive of the loss of our liberties - - -The house where we were to be entertained, lying at a small -distance from the village, our inviter observed, that as the -coach was not ready, he would conduct us on foot, and we soon -arrived at one of the most magnificent mansions I had seen in -that part of the country. The apartment into which we were shewn -was perfectly elegant and modern; he went to give orders for -supper, while the player, with a wink, observed that we were -perfectly in luck. Our entertainer soon returned, an elegant -supper was brought in, two or three ladies, in an easy -deshabille, were introduced, and the conversation began with some -sprightliness. Politics, however, was the subject on which our -entertainer chiefly expatiated; for he asserted that liberty was -at once his boast and his terror. After the cloth was removed, he -asked me if I had seen the last Monitor, to which replying in the -negative, 'What, nor the Auditor, I suppose?' cried he. 'Neither, -Sir,' returned I. 'That's strange, very strange,' replied my -entertainer. 'Now, I read all the politics that come out. The -Daily, the Public, the Ledger, the Chronicle, the London Evening, -the Whitehall Evening, the seventeen magazines, and the two -reviews; and though they hate each other, I love them all. -Liberty, Sir, liberty is the Briton's boast, and by all my coal -mines in Cornwall, I reverence its guardians.' 'Then it is to be -hoped,' cried I, 'you reverence the king.' 'Yes,' returned my -entertainer, 'when he does what we would have him; but if he goes -on as he has done of late, I'll never trouble myself more with -his matters. I say nothing. I think only. I could have directed -some things better. I don't think there has been a sufficient -number of advisers: he should advise with every person willing to -give him advice, and then we should have things done in -anotherguess manner.' - -'I wish,' cried I, 'that such intruding advisers were fixed in -the pillory. It should be the duty of honest men to assist the -weaker side of our constitution, that sacred power that has for -some years been every day declining, and losing its due share of -influence in the state. But these ignorants still continue the -cry of liberty, and if they have any weight basely throw it into -the subsiding scale.' - -'How,' cried one of the ladies, 'do I live to see one so base, so -sordid, as to be an enemy to liberty, and a defender of tyrants? -Liberty, that sacred gift of heaven, that glorious privilege of -Britons!' - -'Can it be possible,' cried our entertainer, 'that there should -be any found at present advocates for slavery? Any who are for -meanly giving up the privileges of Britons? Can any, Sir, be so -abject?' - -'No, Sir,' replied I, 'I am for liberty, that attribute of Gods! -Glorious liberty! that theme of modem declamation. I would have -all men kings. I would be a king myself. We have all naturally an -equal right to the throne: we are all originally equal. This is -my opinion, and was once the opinion of a set of honest men who -were called Levellers.' They tried to erect themselves into a -community, where all should be equally free. But, alas! it would -never answer; for there were some among them stronger, and some -more cunning than others, and these became masters of the rest; -for as sure as your groom rides your horses, because he is a -cunninger animal than they, so surely will the animal that is -cunninger or stronger than he, sit upon his shoulders in turn. -Since then it is entailed upon humanity to submit, and some are -born to command, and others to obey, the question is, as there -must be tyrants, whether it is better to have them in the same -house with us, or in the same village, or still farther off, in -the metropolis. Now, Sir, for my own part, as I naturally hate -the face of a tyrant, the farther off he is removed from me, the -better pleased am I. The generality of mankind also are of my way -of thinking, and have unanimously created one king, whose -election at once diminishes the number of tyrants, and puts -tyranny at the greatest distance from the greatest number of -people. Now the great who were tyrants themselves before the -election of one tyrant, are naturally averse to a power raised -over them, and whose weight must ever lean heaviest on the -subordinate orders. It is the interest of the great, therefore, -to diminish kingly power as much as possible; because whatever -they take from that is naturally restored to themselves; and all -they have to do in the state, is to undermine the single tyrant, -by which they resume their primaeval authority. Now, the state -may be so circumstanced, or its laws may be so disposed, or its -men of opulence so minded, as all to conspire in carrying on this -business of undermining monarchy. For, in the first place, if the -circumstances of our state be such, as to favour the accumulation -of wealth, and make the opulent still more rich, this will -encrease their ambition. An accumulation of wealth, however, must -necessarily be the consequence, when as at present more riches -flow in from external commerce, than arise from internal -industry: for external commerce can only be managed to advantage -by the rich, and they have also at the same time all the -emoluments arising from internal industry: so that the rich, with -us, have two sources of wealth, whereas the poor have but one. -For this reason, wealth in all commercial states is found to -accumulate, and all such have hitherto in time become -aristocratical. Again, the very laws also of this country may -contribute to the accumulation of wealth; as when by their means -the natural ties that bind the rich and poor together are broken, -and it is ordained that the rich shall only marry with the rich; -or when the learned are held unqualified to serve their country -as counsellors merely from a defect of opulence, and wealth is -thus made the object of a wise man's ambition; by these means I -say, and such means as these, riches will accumulate. Now the -possessor of accumulated wealth, when furnished with the -necessaries and pleasures of life, has no other method to employ -the superfluity of his fortune but in purchasing power. That is, -differently speaking, in making dependents, by purchasing the -liberty of the needy or the venal, of men who are willing to bear -the mortification of contiguous tyranny for bread. Thus each very -opulent man generally gathers round him a circle of the poorest -of the people; and the polity abounding in accumulated wealth, -may be compared to a Cartesian system, each orb with a vortex of -its own. Those, however, who are willing to move in a great man's -vortex, are only such as must be slaves, the rabble of mankind, -whose souls and whose education are adapted to servitude, and who -know nothing of liberty except the name. But there must still be -a large number of the people without the sphere of the opulent -man's influence, namely, that order of men which subsists between -the very rich and the very rabble; those men who are possest of -too large fortunes to submit to the neighbouring man in power, -and yet are too poor to set up for tyranny themselves. In this -middle order of mankind are generally to be found all the arts, -wisdom, and virtues of society. This order alone is known to be -the true preserver of freedom, and may be called the People. Now -it may happen that this middle order of mankind may lose all its -influence in a state, and its voice be in a manner drowned in -that of the rabble: for if the fortune sufficient for qualifying -a person at present to give his voice in state affairs, be ten -times less than was judged sufficient upon forming the -constitution, it is evident that greater numbers of the rabble -will thus be introduced into the political system, and they ever -moving in the vortex of the great, will follow where greatness -shall direct. In such a state, therefore, all that the middle -order has left, is to preserve the prerogative and privileges of -the one principal governor with the most sacred circumspection. -For he divides the power of the rich, and calls off the great -from falling with tenfold weight on the middle order placed -beneath them. The middle order may be compared to a town of which -the opulent are forming the siege, and which the governor from -without is hastening the relief. While the besiegers are in dread -of an enemy over them, it is but natural to offer the townsmen -the most specious terms; to flatter them with sounds, and amuse -them with privileges: but if they once defeat the governor from -behind, the walls of the town will be but a small defence to its -inhabitants. What they may then expect, may be seen by turning -our eyes to Holland, Genoa, or Venice, where the laws govern the -poor, and the rich govern the law. I am then for, and would die -for, monarchy, sacred monarchy; for if there be any thing sacred -amongst men, it must be the anointed sovereign of his people, and -every diminution of his power in war, or in peace, is an -infringement upon the real liberties of the subject. The sounds -of liberty, patriotism, and Britons, have already done much, it -is to be hoped that the true sons of freedom will prevent their -ever doing more. I have known many of those pretended champions -for liberty in my time, yet do I not remember one that was not in -his heart and in his family a tyrant.' - -My warmth I found had lengthened this harangue beyond the rules -of good breeding: but the impatience of my entertainer, who often -strove to interrupt it, could be restrained no longer. 'What,' -cried he, 'then I have been all this while entertaining a Jesuit -in parson's cloaths; but by all the coal mines of Cornwall, out -he shall pack, if my name be Wilkinson.' I now found I had gone -too far, and asked pardon for the warmth with which I had spoken. -'Pardon,' returned he in a fury: 'I think such principles demand -ten thousand pardons. What, give up liberty, property, and, as -the Gazetteer says, lie down to be saddled with wooden shoes! -Sir, I insist upon your marching out of this house immediately, -to prevent worse consequences, Sir, I insist upon it.' I was -going to repeat my rernonstrances; but just then we heard a -footman's rap at the door, and the two ladies cried out, 'As sure -as death there is our master and mistress come home.' It seems my -entertainer was all this while only the butler, who, in his -master's absence, had a mind to cut a figure, and be for a while -the gentleman himself; and, to say the truth, he talked politics -as well as most country gentlemen do. But nothing could now -exceed my confusion upon seeing the gentleman, and his lady, -enter, nor was their surprize, at finding such company and good -cheer, less than ours. 'Gentlemen,' cried the real master of the -house, to me and my companion, 'my wife and I are your most -humble servants; but I protest this is so unexpected a favour, -that we almost sink under the obligation.' However unexpected our -company might be to them, theirs, I am sure, was still more so to -us, and I was struck dumb with the apprehensions of my own -absurdity, when whom should I next see enter the room but my dear -miss Arabella Wilmot, who was formerly designed to be married to -my son George; but whose match was broken off, as already -related. As soon as she saw me, she flew to my arms with the -utmost joy. 'My dear sir,' cried she, 'to what happy accident is -it that we owe so unexpected a visit? I am sure my uncle and aunt -will be in raptures when they find they have the good Dr Primrose -for their guest.' Upon hearing my name, the old gentleman and -lady very politely stept up, and welcomed me with most cordial -hospitality. Nor could they forbear smiling upon being informed -of the nature of my present visit: but the unfortunate butler, -whom they at first seemed disposed to turn away, was, at my -intercession, forgiven. - -Mr Arnold and his lady, to whom the house belonged, now insisted -upon having the pleasure of my stay for some days, and as their -niece, my charming pupil, whose mind, in some measure, had been -formed under my own instructions, joined in their entreaties. I -complied. That night I was shewn to a magnificent chamber, and -the next morning early Miss Wilmot desired to walk with me in the -garden, which was decorated in the modern manner. After some time -spent in pointing out the beauties of the place, she enquired -with seeming unconcern, when last I had heard from my son George. -'Alas! Madam,' cried I, 'he has now been near three years absent, -without ever writing to his friends or me. Where he is I know -not; perhaps I shall never see him or happiness more. No, my dear -Madam, we shall never more see such pleasing hours as were once -spent by our fire-side at Wakefield. My little family are now -dispersing very fast, and poverty has brought not only want, but -infamy upon us.' The good-natured girl let fall a tear at this -account; but as I saw her possessed of too much sensibility, I -forbore a more minute detail of our sufferings. It was, however, -some consolation to me to find that time had made no alteration -in her affections, and that she had rejected several matches that -had been made her since our leaving her part of the country. She -led me round all the extensive improvements of the place, -pointing to the several walks and arbours, and at the same time -catching from every object a hint for some new question relative -to my son. In this manner we spent the forenoon, till the bell -summoned us in to dinner, where we found the manager of the -strolling company that I mentioned before, who was come to -dispose of tickets for the Fair Penitent, which was to be acted -that evening, the part of Horatio by a young gentleman who had -never appeared on any stage. He seemed to be very warm in the -praises of the new performer, and averred, that he never saw any -who bid so fair for excellence. Acting, he observed, was not -learned in a day; 'But this gentleman,' continued he, 'seems born -to tread the stage. His voice, his figure, and attitudes, are all -admirable. We caught him up accidentally in our journey down.' -This account, in some measure, excited our curiosity, and, at the -entreaty of the ladies, I was prevailed upon to accompany them to -the play-house, which was no other than a barn. As the company -with which I went was incontestably the chief of the place, we -were received with the greatest respect, and placed in the front -seat of the theatre; where we sate for some time with no small -impatience to see Horatio make his appearance. The new performer -advanced at last, and let parents think of my sensations by their -own, when I found it was my unfortunate son. He was going to -begin, when, turning his eyes upon the audience, he perceived -Miss Wilmot and me, and stood at once speechless and immoveable. -The actors behind the scene, who ascribed this pause to his -natural timidity, attempted to encourage him; but instead of -going on, he burst into a flood of tears, and retired off the -stage. I don't know what were my feelings on this occasion; for -they succeeded with too much rapidity for description: but I was -soon awaked from this disagreeable reverie by Miss Wilmot, who, -pale and with a trembling voice, desired me to conduct her back -to her uncle's. When got home, Mr Arnold, who was as yet a -stranger to our extraordinary behaviour, being informed that the -new performer was my son, sent his coach, and an invitation, for -him; and as he persisted in his refusal to appear again upon the -stage, the players put another in his place, and we soon had him -with us. Mr Arnold gave him the kindest reception, and I received -him with my usual transport; for I could never counterfeit false -resentment. Miss Wilmot's reception was mixed with seeming -neglect, and yet I could perceive she acted a studied part. The -tumult in her mind seemed not yet abated; she said twenty giddy -things that looked like joy, and then laughed loud at her own -want of meaning. At intervals she would take a sly peep at the -glass, as if happy in the consciousness of unresisting beauty, -and often would ask questions, without giving any manner of -attention to the answers. - - - -CHAPTER 20 - -The history of a philosophic vagabond, pursuing novelty, but -losing content - - -After we had supped, Mrs Arnold politely offered to send a couple -of her footmen for my son's baggage, which he at first seemed to -decline; but upon her pressing the request, he was obliged to -inform her, that a stick and a wallet were all the moveable -things upon this earth that he could boast of. 'Why, aye my son,' -cried I, 'you left me but poor, and poor I find you are come -back; and yet I make no doubt you have seen a great deal of the -world.'-- 'Yes, Sir,' replied my son, 'but travelling after -fortune, is not the way to secure her; and, indeed, of late, I -have desisted from the pursuit.'--'I fancy, Sir,' cried Mrs -Arnold, 'that the account of your adventures would be amusing: -the first part of them I have often heard from my niece; but -could the company prevail for the rest, it would be an additional -obligation.'--'Madam,' replied my son, 'I promise you the -pleasure you have in hearing, will not be half so great as my -vanity in repeating them; and yet in the whole narrative I can -scarce promise you one adventure, as my account is rather of what -I saw than what I did. The first misfortune of my life, which you -all know, was great; but tho' it distrest, it could not sink me. -No person ever had a better knack at hoping than I. The less kind -I found fortune at one time, the more I expected from her -another, and being now at the bottom of her wheel, every new -revolution might lift, but could not depress me. I proceeded, -therefore, towards London in a fine morning, no way uneasy about -tomorrow, but chearful as the birds that caroll'd by the road, -and comforted myself with reflecting that London was the mart -where abilities of every kind were sure of meeting distinction -and reward. - -'Upon my arrival in town, Sir, my first care was to deliver your -letter of recommendation to our cousin, who was himself in little -better circumstances than I. My first scheme, you know, Sir, was -to be usher at an academy, and I asked his advice on the affair. -Our cousin received the proposal with a true Sardonic grin. Aye, -cried he, this is indeed a very pretty career, that has been -chalked out for you. I have been an usher at a boarding school -myself; and may I die by an anodyne necklace, but I had rather be -an under turnkey in Newgate. I was up early and late: I was brow- -beat by the master, hated for my ugly face by the mistress, -worried by the boys within, and never permitted to stir out to -meet civility abroad. But are you sure you are fit for a school? -Let me examine you a little. Have you been bred apprentice to the -business? No. Then you won't do for a school. Can you dress the -boys hair? No. Then you won't do for a school. Have you had the -small-pox? No. Then you won't do for a school. Can you lie three -in a bed? No. Then you will never do for a school. Have you got a -good stomach? Yes. Then you will by no means do for a school. No, -Sir, if you are for a genteel easy profession, bind yourself -seven years as an apprentice to turn a cutler's wheel; but avoid -a school by any means. Yet come, continued he, I see you are a -lad of spirit and some learning, what do you think of commencing -author, like me? You have read in books, no doubt, of men of -genius starving at the trade: At present I'll shew you forty very -dull fellows about town that live by it in opulence. All honest -joggtrot men, who go on smoothly and dully, and write history and -politics, and are praised; men, Sir, who, had they been bred -coblers, would all their lives have only mended shoes, but never -made them. - -'Finding that there was no great degree of gentility affixed to -the character of an usher, I resolved to accept his proposal; and -having the highest respect for literature, hailed the antiqua -mater of Grub-street with reverence. I thought it my glory to -pursue a track which Dryden and Otway trod before me. I -considered the goddess of this region as the parent of -excellence; and however an intercourse with the world might give -us good sense, the poverty she granted I supposed to be the nurse -of genius! Big with these reflections, I sate down, and finding -that the best things remained to be said on the wrong side, I -resolved to write a book that should be wholly new. I therefore -drest up three paradoxes with some ingenuity. They were false, -indeed, but they were new. The jewels of truth have been so often -imported by others, that nothing was left for me to import but -some splendid things that at a distance looked every bit as well. -Witness you powers what fancied importance sate perched upon my -quill while I was writing. The whole learned world, I made no -doubt, would rise to oppose my systems; but then I was prepared -to oppose the whole learned world. Like the porcupine I sate self -collected, with a quill pointed against every opposer.' - -'Well said, my boy,' cried I, 'and what subject did you treat -upon? I hope you did not pass over the importance of Monogamy. -But I interrupt, go on; you published your paradoxes; well, and -what did the learned world say to your paradoxes?' - -'Sir,' replied my son, 'the learned world said nothing to my -paradoxes; nothing at all, Sir. Every man of them was employed in -praising his friends and himself, or condemning his enemies; and -unfortunately, as I had neither, I suffered the cruellest -mortification, neglect. - -'As I was meditating one day in a coffee-house on the fate of my -paradoxes, a little man happening to enter the room, placed -himself in the box before me, and after some preliminary -discourse, finding me to be a scholar, drew out a bundle of -proposals, begging me to subscribe to a new edition he was going -to give the world of Propertius, with notes. This demand -necessarily produced a reply that I had no money; and that -concession led him to enquire into the nature of my expectations. -Finding that my expectations were just as great as my purse, I -see, cried he, you are unacquainted with the town, I'll teach you -a part of it. Look at these proposals, upon these very proposals -I have subsisted very comfortably for twelve years. The moment a -nobleman returns from his travels, a Creolian arrives from -Jamaica, or a dowager from her country seat, I strike for a -subscription. I first besiege their hearts with flattery, and -then pour in my proposals at the breach. If they subscribe -readily the first time, I renew my request to beg a dedication -fee. If they let me have that, I smite them once more for -engraving their coat of arms at the top. Thus, continued he, I -live by vanity, and laugh at it. But between ourselves, I am now -too well known, I should be glad to borrow your face a bit: a -nobleman of distinction has just returned from Italy; my face is -familiar to his porter; but if you bring this copy of verses, my -life for it you succeed, and we divide the spoil.' - -'Bless us, George,' cried I, 'and is this the employment of poets -now! Do men of their exalted talents thus stoop to beggary! Can -they so far disgrace their calling, as to make a vile traffic of -praise for bread?' - -'O no, Sir,' returned he, 'a true poet can never be so base; for -wherever there is genius there is pride. The creatures I now -describe are only beggars in rhyme. The real poet, as he braves -every hardship for fame, so he is equally a coward to contempt, -and none but those who are unworthy protection condescend to -solicit it. - -'Having a mind too proud to stoop to such indignities, and yet a -fortune too humble to hazard a second attempt for fame, I was -now, obliged to take a middle course, and write for bread. But I -was unqualified for a profession where mere industry alone was to -ensure success. I could not suppress my lurking passion for -applause; but usually consumed that time in efforts after -excellence which takes up but little room, when it should have -been more advantageously employed in the diffusive productions of -fruitful mediocrity. My little piece would therefore come forth -in the mist of periodical publication, unnoticed and unknown. The -public were more importantly employed, than to observe the easy -simplicity of my style, of the harmony of my periods. Sheet after -sheet was thrown off to oblivion. My essays were buried among the -essays upon liberty, eastern tales, and cures for the bite of a -mad dog; while Philautos, Philalethes, Philelutheros, and -Philanthropos, all wrote better, because they wrote faster, than -I. - -'Now, therefore, I began to associate with none but disappointed -authors, like myself, who praised, deplored, and despised each -other. The satisfaction we found in every celebrated writer's -attempts, was inversely as their merits. I found that no genius -in another could please me. My unfortunate paradoxes had entirely -dried up that source of comfort. I could neither read nor write -with satisfaction; for excellence in another was my aversion, and -writing was my trade. - -'In the midst of these gloomy reflections, as I was one day -sitting on a bench in St James's park, a young gentleman of -distinction, who had been my intimate acquaintance at the -university, approached me. We saluted each other with some -hesitation, he almost ashamed of being known to one who made so -shabby an appearance, and I afraid of a repulse. But my -suspicions soon vanished; for Ned Thornhill was at the bottom a -very good-natured fellow. - -'What did you say, George?' interrupted I. 'Thornhill, was not -that his name? It can certainly be no other than my landlord.'-- -'Bless me,' cried Mrs Arnold, 'is Mr Thornhill so near a -neighbour of yours? He has long been a friend in our family, and -we expect a visit from him shortly.' - -'My friend's first care,' continued my son, 'was to alter my -appearance by a very fine suit of his own cloaths, and then I was -admitted to his table upon the footing of half-friend, half- -underling. My business was to attend him at auctions, to put him -in spirits when he sate for his picture, to take the left hand in -his chariot when not filled by another, and to assist at -tattering a kip, as the phrase was, when we had a mind for a -frolic. Beside this, I had twenty other little employments in the -family. I was to do many small things without bidding; to carry -the cork screw; to stand godfather to all the butler's children; -to sing when I was bid; to be never out of humour; always to be -humble, and, if I could, to be very happy. - -'In this honourable post, however, I was not without a rival. A -captain of marines, who was formed for the place by nature, -opposed me in my patron's affections. His mother had been -laundress to a man of quality, and thus he early acquired a taste -for pimping and pedigree. As this gentleman made it the study of -his life to be acquainted with lords, though he was dismissed -from several for his stupidity; yet he found many of them who -were as dull as himself, that permitted his assiduities. As -flattery was his trade, he practised it with the easiest address -imaginable; but it came aukward and stiff from me; and as every -day my patron's desire of flattery encreased, so every hour being -better acquainted with his defects, I became more unwilling to -give it. Thus I was once more fairly going to give up the field -to the captain, when my friend found occasion for my assistance. -This was nothing less than to fight a duel for him, with a -gentleman whose sister it was pretended he had used ill. I -readily complied with his request, and tho' I see you are -displeased at my conduct, yet as it was a debt indispensably due -to friendship, I could not refuse. I undertook the affair, -disarmed my antagonist, and soon after had the pleasure of -finding that the lady was only a woman of the town, and the -fellow her bully and a sharper. This piece of service was repaid -with the warmest professions of gratitude; but as my friend was -to leave town in a few days, he knew no other method of serving -me, but by recommending me to his uncle Sir William Thornhill, -and another nobleman of great distinction, who enjoyed a post -under the government. When he was gone, my first care was to -carry his recommendatory letter to his uncle, a man whose -character for every virtue was universal, yet just. I was -received by his servants with the most hospitable smiles; for the -looks of the domestics ever transmit their master's benevolence. -Being shewn into a grand apartment, where Sir William soon came -to me, I delivered my message and letter, which he read, and -after pausing some minutes, Pray, Sir, cried he, inform me what -you have done for my kinsman, to deserve this warm -recommendation? But I suppose, Sir, I guess your merits, you have -fought for him; and so you would expect a reward from me, for -being the instrument of his vices. I wish, sincerely wish, that -my present refusal may be some punishment for your guilt; but -still more, that it may be some inducement to your repentance.-- -The severity of this rebuke I bore patiently, because I knew it -was just. My whole expectations now, therefore, lay in my letter -to the great man. As the doors of the nobility are almost ever -beset with beggars, all ready to thrust in some sly petition, I -found it no easy matter to gain admittance. However, after -bribing the servants with half my worldly fortune, I was at last -shewn into a spacious apartment, my letter being previously sent -up for his lordship's inspection. During this anxious interval I -had full time to look round me. Every thing was grand, and of -happy contrivance: the paintings, the furniture, the gildings, -petrified me with awe, and raised my idea of the owner. Ah, -thought I to myself, how very great must the possessor of all -these things be, who carries in his head the business of the -state, and whose house displays half the wealth of a kingdom: -sure his genius must be unfathomable! During these awful -reflections I heard a step come heavily forward. Ah, this is the -great man himself! No, it was only a chambermaid. Another foot -was heard soon after. This must be He! No, it was only the great -man's valet de chambre. At last his lordship actually made his -appearance. Are you, cried he, the bearer of this here letter? I -answered with a bow. I learn by this, continued he, as how that-- -But just at that instant a servant delivered him a card, and -without taking farther notice, he went out of the room, and left -me to digest my own happiness at leisure. I saw no more of him, -till told by a footman that his lordship was going to his coach -at the door. Down I immediately followed, and joined my voice to -that of three or four more, who came, like me, to petition for -favours. His lordship, however, went too fast for us, and was -gaining his Chariot door with large strides, when I hallowed out -to know if I was to have any reply. He was by this time got in, -and muttered an answer, half of which only I heard, the other -half was lost in the rattling of his chariot wheels. I stood for -some time with my neck stretched out, in the posture of one that -was listening to catch the glorious sounds, till looking round -me, I found myself alone at his lordship's gate. - -'My patience,' continued my son, 'was now quite exhausted: stung -with the thousand indignities I had met with, I was willing to -cast myself away, and only wanted the gulph to receive me. I -regarded myself as one of those vile things that nature designed -should be thrown by into her lumber room, there to perish in -obscurity. I had still, however, half a guinea left, and of that -I thought fortune herself should not deprive me: but in order to -be sure of this, I was resolved to go instanily and spend it -while I had it, and then trust to occurrences for the rest. As I -was going along with this resolution, it happened that Mr -Cripse's office seemed invitingly open to give me a welcome -reception. In this office Mr Cripse kindly offers all his -majesty's subjects a generous promise of 30 pounds a year, for -which promise all they give in return is their liberty for life, -and permission to let him transport them to America as slaves. I -was happy at finding a place where I could lose my fears in -desperation, and entered this cell, for it had the appearance of -one, with the devotion of a monastic. Here I found a number of -poor creatures, all in circumstances like myself, expecting the -arrival of Mr Cripse, presenting a true epitome of English -impatience. Each untractable soul at variance with fortune, -wreaked her injuries on their own hearts: but Mr Cripse at last -came down, and all our murmurs were hushed. He deigned to regard -me with an air of peculiar approbation, and indeed he was the -first man who for a month past talked to me with smiles. After a -few questions, he found I was fit for every thing in the world. -He paused a while upon the properest means of providing for me, -and slapping his forehead, as if he had found it, assured me, -that there was at that time an embassy talked of from the synod -of Pensylvania to the Chickasaw Indians, and that he would use -his interest to get me made secretary. I knew in my own heart -that the fellow lied, and yet his promise gave me pleasure, there -was something so magnificent in the sound. I fairly, therefore, -divided my half guinea, one half of which went to be added to his -thirty thousand pound, and with the other half I resolved to go -to the next tavern, to be there more happy than he. - -'As I was going out with that resolution, I was met at the door -by the captain of a ship, with whom I had formerly some little -acquaintance, and he agreed to be my companion over a bowl of -punch. As I never chose to make a secret of my circumstances, he -assured me that I was upon the very point of ruin, in listening -to the office-keeper's promises; for that he only designed to -sell me to the plantations. But, continued he, I fancy you might, -by a much shorter voyage, be very easily put into a genteel way -of bread. Take my advice. My ship sails to-morrow for Amsterdam; -What if you go in her as a passenger? The moment you land all you -have to do is to teach the Dutchmen English, and I'll warrant -you'll get pupils and money enough. I suppose you understand -English, added he, by this time, or the deuce is in it. I -confidently assured him of that; but expressed a doubt whether -the Dutch would be willing to learn English. He affirmed with an -oath that they were fond of it to distraction; and upon that -affirmation I agreed with his proposal, and embarked the next day -to teach the Dutch English in Holland. The wind was fair, our -voyage short, and after having paid my passage,with half my -moveables, I found myself, fallen as from the skies, a stranger -in one of the principal streets of Amsterdam. In this situation I -was unwilling to let any time pass unemployed in teaching. I -addressed myself therefore to two or three of those I met whose -appearance seemed most promising; but it was impossible to make -ourselves mutually understood. It was not till this very moment I -recollected, that in order to teach Dutchmen English, it was -necessary that they should first teach me Dutch. How I came to -overlook so obvious an objection, is to me amazing; but certain -it is I overlooked it - -'This scheme thus blown up, I had some thoughts of fairly -shipping back to England again; but happening into company with -an Irish student, who was returning from Louvain, our -conversation turning upon topics of literature, (for by the way -it may be observed that I always forgot the meanness of my -circumstances when I could converse upon such subjects) from him -I learned that there were not two men in his whole university who -understood Greek. This amazed me. I instantly resolved to travel -to Louvain, and there live by teaching Greek; and in this design -I was heartened by my brother student, who threw out some hints -that a fortune might be got by it. 'I set boldly forward the next -morning. Every day lessened the burthen of my moveables, like -Aesop and his basket of bread; for I paid them for my lodgings to -the Dutch as I travelled on. When I came to Louvain, I was -resolved not to go sneaking to the lower professors, but openly -tendered my talents to the principal himself. I went, had -admittance, and offered him my service as a master of the Greek -language, which I had been told was a desideratum in his -university. The principal seemed at first to doubt of my -abilities; but of these I offered to convince him, by turning a -part of any Greek author he should fix upon into Latin. Finding -me perfectly earnest in my proposal, he addressed me thus: You -see me, young man, continued he, I never learned Greek, and I -don't find that I have ever missed it. I have had a doctor's cap -and gown without Greek: I have ten thousand florins a year -without Greek; I eat heartily without Greek, and in short, -continued he, as I don't know Greek, I do not believe there is -any good in it. - -'I was now too far from home to think of returning; so I resolved -to go forward. I had some knowledge of music, with a tolerable -voice, and now turned what was once my amusement into a present -means of subsistence. I passed among the harmless peasants of -Flanders, and among such of the French as were poor enough to be -very merry; for I ever found them sprightly in proportion to -their wants. Whenever I approached a peasant's house towards -night- fall, I played one of my most merry tunes, and that -procured me not only a lodging, but subsistence for the next day. -I once or twice attempted to play for people of fashion; but they -always thought my performance odious, and never rewarded me even -with a trifle. This was to me the more extraordinary, as whenever -I used in better days to play for company, when playing was my -amusement, my music never failed to throw them into raptures, and -the ladies especially; but as it was now my only means, it was -received with contempt: a proof how ready the world is to under -rate those talents by which a man is supported. - -'In this manner I proceeded to Paris, with no design but just to -look about me, and then to go forward. The people of Paris are -much fonder of strangers that have money, than of those that have -wit. As I could not boast much of either, I was no great -favourite. After walking about the town four or five days, and -seeing the outsides of the best houses, I was preparing to leave -this retreat of venal hospitality, when passing through one of -the principal streets, whom should I meet but our cousin, to whom -you first recommended me. This meeting was very agreeable to me, -and I believe not displeasing to him. He enquired into the nature -of my journey to Paris, and informed me of his own business -there, which was to collect pictures, medals, intaglios, and -antiques of all kinds, for a gentleman in London, who had just -stept into taste and a large fortune. I was the more surprised at -seeing our cousin pitched upon for this office, as he himself had -often assured me he knew nothing of the matter. Upon my asking -how he had been taught the art of a connoscento so very suddenly, -he assured me that nothing was more easy. The whole secret -consisted in a strict adherence to two rules: the one always to -observe, that the picture might have been better if the painter -had taken more pains; and the other, to praise the works of -Pietro Perugino. But, says he, as I once taught you how to be an -author in London, I'll now undertake to instruct you in the art -of picture buying at Paris. - -'With this proposal I very readily closed, as it was a living, -and now all my ambition was to live. I went therefore to his -lodgings, improved my dress by his assistance, and after some -time, accompanied him to auctions of pictures, where the English -gentry were expected to be purchasers. I was not a little -surprised at his intimacy with people of the best fashion, who -referred themselves to his judgment upon every picture or medal, -as to an unerring standard of taste. He made very good use of my -assistance upon these occasions; for when asked his opinion, he -would gravely take me aside, and ask mine, shrug, look wise, -return, and assure the company, that he could give no opinion -upon an affair of so much importance. Yet there was sometimes an -occasion for a more supported assurance. I remember to have seen -him, after giving his opinion that the colouring of a picture was -not mellow enough, very deliberately take a brush with brown -varnish, that was accidentally lying by, and rub it over the -piece with great composure before all the company, and then ask -if he had not improved the tints. - -'When he had finished his commission in Paris, he left me -strongly recommended to several men of distinction, as a person -very proper for a travelling tutor; and after some time I was -employed in that capacity by a gentleman who brought his ward to -Paris, in order to set him forward on his tour through Europe. I -was to be the young gentleman's governor, but with a proviso that -he should always be permitted to govern himself. My pupil in fact -understood the art of guiding in money concerns much better than -I. He was heir to a fortune of about two hundred thousand pounds, -left him by an uncle in the West Indies; and his guardians, to -qualify him for the management of it, had bound him apprentice to -an attorney. Thus avarice was his prevailing passion: all his -questions on the road were how money might be saved, which was -the least expensive course of travel; whether any thing could be -bought that would turn to account when disposed of again in -London. Such curiosities on the way as could be seen for nothing -he was ready enough to look at; but if the sight of them was to -be paid for, he usually asserted that he had been told they were -not worth seeing. He never paid a bill, that he would not -observe, how amazingly expensive travelling was, and all this -though he was not yet twenty-one. When arrived at Leghorn, as we -took a walk to look at the port and shipping, he enquired the -expence of the passage by sea home to England. This he was -informed was but a trifle, compared to his returning by land, he -was therefore unable to withstand the temptation; so paying me -the small part of my salary that was due, he took leave, and -embarked with only one attendant for London. - -'I now therefore was left once more upon the world at large, but -then it was a thing I was used to. However my skill in music -could avail me nothing in a country where every peasant was a -better musician than I; but by this time I had acquired another -talent, which answered my purpose as well, and this was a skill -in disputation. In all the foreign universities and convents, -there are upon certain days philosophical theses maintained -against every adventitious disputant; for which, if the champion -opposes with any dexterity, he can claim a gratuity in money, a -dinner, and a bed, for one night. In this manner therefore I -fought my way towards England, walked along from city to city, -examined mankind more nearly, and, if I may so express it, saw -both sides of the picture. My remarks, however, are but few: I -found that monarchy was the best government for the poor to live -in, and commonwealths for the rich. I found that riches in -general were in every country another name for freedom; and that -no man is so fond of liberty himself as not to be desirous of -subjecting the will of some individuals in society to his own. - -'Upon my arrival in England, I resolved to pay my respects first -to you, and then to enlist as a volunteer in the first expedition -that was going forward; but on my journey down my resolutions -were changed, by meeting an old acquaintance, who I found -belonged to a company of comedians, that were going to make a -summer campaign in the country. The company seemed not much to -disapprove of me for an associate. They all, however, apprized me -of the importance of the task at which I aimed; that the public -was a many headed monster, and that only such as had very good -heads could please it: that acting was not to be learnt in a day; -and that without some traditional shrugs, which had been on the -stage, and only on the stage, these hundred years, I could never -pretend to please. The next difficulty was in fitting me with -parts, as almost every character was in keeping. I was driven for -some time from one character to another, till at last Horatio was -fixed upon, which the presence of the present company has happily -hindered me from acting.' - - - -CHAPTER 21 - -The short continuance of friendship amongst the vicious, which is -coeval only with mutual satisfaction - - -My son's account was too long to be delivered at once, the first -part of it was begun that night, and he was concluding the rest -after dinner the next day, when the appearance of Mr Thornhill's -equipage at the door seemed to make a pause in the general -satisfaction. The butler, who was now become my friend in the -family, informed me with a whisper, that the 'Squire had already -made some overtures to Miss Wilmot, and that her aunt and uncle -seemed highly to approve the match. Upon Mr Thornhill's entering, -he seemed, at seeing my son and me, to start back; but I readily -imputed that to surprize, and not displeasure. However, upon our -advancing to salute him, he returned our greeting with the most -apparent candour; and after a short time, his presence served -only to encrease the general good humour. - -After tea he called me aside, to enquire after my daughter; but -upon my informing him that my enquiry was unsuccessful, he seemed -greatly surprised; adding, that he had been since frequently at -my house, in order to comfort the rest of my family, whom he left -perfectly well. He then asked if I had communicated her -misfortune to Miss Wilmot, or my son; and upon my replying that I -had not told them as yet, he greatly approved my prudence and -precaution, desiring me by all means to keep it a secret: 'For at -best,' cried he, 'it is but divulging one's own infamy; and -perhaps Miss Livy may not be so guilty as we all imagine.' We -were here interrupted by a servant, who came to ask the 'Squire -in, to stand up at country dances; so that he left me quite -pleased with the interest he seemed to take in my concerns. His -addresses, however, to Miss Wilmot, were too obvious to be -mistaken; and yet she seemed not perfectly pleased, but bore them -rather in compliance to the will of her aunt, than from real -inclination. I had even the satisfaction to see her lavish some -kind looks upon my unfortunate son, which the other could neither -extort by his fortune nor assiduity. Mr Thornhill's seeming -composure, however, not a little surprised me: we had now -continued here a week, at the pressing instances of Mr Arnold; -but each day the more tenderness Miss Wilmot shewed my son, Mr -Thomhill's friendship seemed proportionably to encrease for him. - -He had formerly made us the most kind assurances of using his -interest to serve the family; but now his generosity was not -confined to promises alone: the morning I designed for my -departure, Mr Thornhill came to me with looks of real pleasure to -inform me of a piece of service he had done for his friend -George. This was nothing less than his having procured him an -ensign's commission in one of the regiments that was going to the -West Indies, for which he had promised but one hundred pounds, -his interest having been sufficient to get an abatement of the -other two. 'As for this trifling piece of service,' continued the -young gentleman, 'I desire no other reward but the pleasure of -having served my friend; and as for the hundred pound to be paid, -if you are unable to raise it yourselves, I will advance it, and -you shall repay me at your leisure.' This was a favour we wanted -words to express our sense of. I readily therefore gave my bond -for the money, and testified as much gratitude as if I never -intended to pay. - -George was to depart for town the next day to secure his -commission, in pursuance of his generous patron's directions, who -judged it highly expedient to use dispatch, lest in the mean time -another should step in with more advantageous proposals. The next -morning, therefore, our young soldier was early prepared for his -departure, and seemed the only person among us that was not -affected by it. Neither the fatigues and dangers he was going to -encounter, nor the friends and mistress, for Miss Wilmot actually -loved him, he was leaving behind, any way damped his spirits. -After he had taken leave of the rest of the company, I gave him -all I had, my blessing. 'And now, my boy,' cried I, 'thou art -going to fight for thy country, remember how thy brave -grandfather fought for his sacred king, when loyalty among -Britons was a virtue. Go, my boy, and immitate him in all but his -misfortunes, if it was a misfortune to die with Lord Falkland. -Go, my boy, and if you fall, tho' distant, exposed and unwept by -those that love you, the most precious tears are those with which -heaven bedews the unburied head of a soldier.' - -The next morning I took leave of the good family, that had been -kind enough to entertain me so long, not without several -expressions of gratitude to Mr Thornhill for his late bounty. I -left them in the enjoyment of all that happiness which affluence -and good breeding procure, and returned towards home, despairing -of ever finding my daughter more, but sending a sigh to heaven to -spare and to forgive her. I was now come within about twenty -miles of home, having hired an horse to carry me, as I was yet -but weak, and comforted myself with the hopes of soon seeing all -I held dearest upon earth. But the night coming on, I put up at a -little public-house by the roadside, and asked for the landlord's -company over a pint of wine. We sate beside his kitchen fire, -which was the best room in the house, and chatted on politics and -the news of the country. We happened, among other topics, to talk -of young 'Squire Thornhill, who the host assured me was hated as -much as his uncle Sir William, who sometimes came down to the -country, was loved. He went on to observe, that he made it his -whole study to betray the daughters of such as received him to -their houses, and after a fortnight or three weeks possession, -turned them out unrewarded and abandoned to the world. As we -continued our discourse in this manner, his wife, who had been -out to get change, returned, and perceiving that her husband was -enjoying a pleasure in which she was not a sharer, she asked him, -in an angry tone, what he did there, to which he only replied in -an ironical way, by drinking her health. 'Mr Symmonds,' cried -she, 'you use me very ill, and I'll bear it no longer. Here three -parts of the business is left for me to do, and the fourth left -unfinished; while you do nothing but soak with the guests all day -long, whereas if a spoonful of liquor were to cure me of a fever, -I never touch a drop.' I now found what she would be at, and -immediately poured her out a glass, which she received with a -curtesy, and drinking towards my good health, 'Sir,' resumed she, -'it is not so much for the value of the liquor I am angry, but -one cannot help it, when the house is going out of the windows. -If the customers or guests are to be dunned, all the burthen lies -upon my back, he'd as lief eat that glass as budge after them -himself.' There now above stairs, we have a young woman who has -come to take up her lodgings here, and I don't believe she has -got any money by her over-civility. I am certain she is very slow -of payment, and I wish she were put in mind of it.'--'What -signifies minding her,' cried the host, 'if she be slow, she is -sure.'--'I don't know that,' replied the wife; 'but I know that I -am sure she has been here a fortnight, and we have not yet seen -the cross of her money.'--'I suppose, my dear,' cried he, 'we -shall have it all in a, lump.'--'In a lump!' cried the other, 'I -hope we may get it any way; and that I am resolved we will this -very night, or out she tramps, bag and baggage.'--'Consider, my -dear,' cried the husband, 'she is a gentlewoman, and deserves -more respect.'--'As for the matter of that,' returned the -hostess, 'gentle or simple, out she shall pack with a sassarara. -Gentry may be good things where they take; but for my part I -never saw much good of them at the sign of the Harrow.'--Thus -saying, she ran up a narrow flight of stairs, that went from the -kitchen to a room over-head, and I soon perceived by the loudness -of her voice, and the bitterness of her reproaches, that no money -was to be had from her lodger. I could hear her remonstrances -very distinctly: 'Out I say, pack out this moment, tramp thou -infamous strumpet, or I'll give thee a mark thou won't be the -better for this three months. What! you trumpery, to come and -take up an honest house, without cross or coin to bless yourself -with; come along I say.'--'O dear madam,' cried the stranger, -'pity me, pity a poor abandoned creature for one night, and death -will soon do the rest.' I instantly knew the voice of my poor -ruined child Olivia. I flew to her rescue, while the woman was -dragging her along by the hair, and I caught the dear forlorn -wretch in my arms.--'Welcome, any way welcome, my dearest lost -one, my treasure, to your poor old father's bosom. Tho' the -vicious forsake thee, there is yet one in the world that will -never forsake thee; tho' thou hadst ten thousand crimes to answer -for, he will forget them all.'--'O my own dear'--for minutes she -could no more--'my own dearest good papa! Could angels be kinder! -How do I deserve so much! The villain, I hate him and myself, to -be a reproach to such goodness. You can't forgive me. I know you -cannot.'--'Yes, my child, from my heart I do forgive thee! Only -repent, and we both shall yet be happy. We shall see many -pleasant days yet, my Olivia!'--'Ah! never, sir, never. The rest -of my wretched life must be infamy abroad and shame at home. But, -alas! papa, you look much paler than you used to do. Could such a -thing as I am give you so much uneasiness? Sure you have too much -wisdom to take the miseries of my guilt upon yourself.'--'Our -wisdom, young woman,' replied I.--'Ah, why so cold a name papa?' -cried she. 'This is the first time you ever called me by so cold -a name.'--'I ask pardon, my darling,' returned I; 'but I was -going to observe, that wisdom makes but a slow defence against -trouble, though at last a sure one. - -The landlady now returned to know if we did not chuse a more -genteel apartment, to which assenting, we were shewn a room, -where we could converse more freely. After we had talked -ourselves into some degree of tranquillity, I could not avoid -desiring some account of the gradations that led to her present -wretched situation. 'That villain, sir,' said she, 'from the -first day of our meeting made me honourable, though private, -proposals.' - -'Villain indeed,' cried I; 'and yet it in some measure surprizes -me, how a person of Mr Burchell's good sense and seeming honour -could be guilty of such deliberate baseness, and thus step into a -family to undo it.' - -'My dear papa,' returned my daughter, 'you labour under a strange -mistake, Mr Burchell never attempted to deceive me. Instead of -that he took every opportunity of privately admonishing me -against the artifices of Mr Thornhill, who I now find was even -worse than he represented him.'--'Mr Thornhill,' interrupted I, -'can it be?' --'Yes, Sir,' returned she, 'it was Mr Thornhill who -seduced me, who employed the two ladies, as he called them, but -who, in fact, were abandoned women of the town, without breeding -or pity, to decoy us up to London. Their artifices, you may -remember would have certainly succeeded, but for Mr Burchell's -letter, who directed those reproaches at them, which we all -applied to ourselves. How he came to have so much influence as to -defeat their intentions, still remains a secret to me; but I am -convinced he was ever our warmest sincerest friend.' - -'You amaze me, my dear,' cried I; 'but now I find my first -suspicions of Mr Thornhill's baseness were too well grounded: but -he can triumph in security; for he is rich and we are poor. But -tell me, my child, sure it was no small temptation that could -thus obliterate all the impressions of such an education, and so -virtuous a disposition as thine.' - -'Indeed, Sir,' replied she, 'he owes all his triumph to the -desire I had of making him, and not myself, happy. I knew that -the ceremony of our marriage, which was privately performed by a -popish priest, was no way binding, and that I had nothing to -trust to but his honour.' 'What,' interrupted I, 'and were you -indeed married by a priest, and in orders?'--'Indeed, Sir, we -were,' replied she, 'though we were both sworn to conceal his -name.'-- 'Why then, my child, come to my arms again, and now you -are a thousand times more welcome than before; for you are now -his wife to all intents and purposes; nor can all the laws of -man, tho' written upon tables of adamant, lessen the force of -that sacred connexion.' - -'Alas, Papa,' replied she, 'you are but little acquainted with -his villainies: he has been married already, by the same priest, -to six or eight wives more, whom, like me, he has deceived and -abandoned.' - -'Has he so?' cried I, 'then we must hang the priest, and you -shall inform against him to-morrow.'--'But Sir,' returned she, -'will that be right, when I am sworn to secrecy?'--'My dear,' I -replied, 'if you have made such a promise, I cannot, nor will I -tempt you to break it. Even tho' it may benefit the public, you -must not inform against him. In all human institutions a smaller -evil is allowed to procure a greater good; as in politics, a -province may be given away to secure a kingdom; in medicine, a -limb may be lopt off, to preserve the body. But in religion the -law is written, and inflexible, never to do evil. And this law, -my child, is right: for otherwise, if we commit a smaller evil, -to procure a greater good, certain guilt would be thus incurred, -in expectation of contingent advantage. And though the advantage -should certainly follow, yet the interval between commission and -advantage, which is allowed to be guilty, may be that in which we -are called away to answer for the things we have done, and the -volume of human actions is closed for ever. But I interrupt you, -my dear, go on.' - -'The very next morning,' continued she, 'I found what little -expectations I was to have from his sincerity. That very morning -he introduced me to two unhappy women more, whom, like me, he had -deceived, but who lived in contented prostitution. I loved him -too tenderly to bear such rivals in his affections, and strove to -forget my infamy in a tumult of pleasures. With this view, I -danced, dressed, and talked; but still was unhappy. The gentlemen -who visited there told me every moment of the power of my charms, -and this only contributed to encrease my melancholy, as I had -thrown all their power quite away. Thus each day I grew more -pensive, and he more insolent, till at last the monster had the -assurance to offer me to a young Baronet of his acquaintance. -Need I describe, Sir, how his ingratitude stung me. My answer to -this proposal was almost madness. I desired to part. As I was -going he offered me a purse; but I flung it at him with -indignation, and burst from him in a rage, that for a while kept -me insensible of the miseries of my situation. But I soon looked -round me, and saw myself a vile, abject, guilty thing, without -one friend in the world to apply to. Just in that interval, a -stage- coach happening to pass by, I took a place, it being my -only aim to be driven at a distance from a wretch I despised and -detested. I was set down here, where, since my arrival, my own -anxiety, and this woman's unkindness, have been my only -companions. The hours of pleasure that I have passed with my -mamma and sister, now grow painful to me. Their sorrows are much; -but mine is greater than theirs; for mine are mixed with guilt -and infamy.' - -'Have patience, my child,' cried I, 'and I hope things will yet -be better. Take some repose to-night, and to-morrow I'll carry -you home to your mother and the rest of the family, from whom you -will receive a kind reception. Poor woman, this has gone to her -heart: but she loves you still, Olivia, and will forget it. - - - -CHAPTER 22 - -Offences are easily pardoned where there is love at bottom - - -The next morning I took my daughter behind me, and set out on my -return home. As we travelled along, I strove, by every -persuasion, to calm her sorrows and fears, and to arm her with -resolution to bear the presence of her offended mother. I took -every opportunity, from the prospect of a fine country, through -which we passed, to observe how much kinder heaven was to us, -than we to each other, and that the misfortunes of nature's -making were very few. I assured her, that she should never -perceive any change in my affections, and that during my life, -which yet might be long, she might depend upon a guardian and an -instructor. I armed her against the censures of the world, shewed -her that books were sweet unreproaching companions to the -miserable, and that if they could not bring us to enjoy life, -they would at least teach us to endure it. - -The hired horse that we rode was to be put up that night at an -inn by the way, within about five miles from my house, and as I -was willing to prepare my family for my daughter's reception, I -determined to leave her that night at the inn, and to return for -her, accompanied by my daughter Sophia, early the next morning. -It was night before we reached our appointed stage: however, -after seeing her provided with a decent apartment, and having -ordered the hostess to prepare proper refreshments, I kissed her, -and proceeded towards home. And now my heart caught new -sensations of pleasure the nearer I approached that peaceful -mansion. As a bird that had been frighted from its nest, my -affections out-went my haste, and hovered round my little -fire-side, with all the rapture of expectation. I called up the -many fond things I had to say, and anticipated the welcome I was -to receive. I already felt my wife's tender embrace, and sniiled -at the joy of my little ones. As I walked but slowly, the night -wained apace. The labourers of the day were all retired to rest; -the lights were out in every cottage; no sounds were heard but of -the shrilling cock, and the deep-mouthed watch-dog, at hollow -distance. I approached my little abode of pleasure, and before I -was within a furlong of the place, our honest mastiff came -running to welcome me. - -It was now near mid-night that I came to knock at my door: all -was still and silent: my heart dilated with unutterable -happiness, when, to my amazement, I saw the house bursting out in -a blaze of fire, and every apperture red with conflagration! I -gave a loud convulsive outcry, and fell upon the pavement -insensible. This alarmed my son, who had till this been asleep, -and he perceiving the flames, instantly waked my wife and -daughter, and all running out, naked, and wild with apprehension, -recalled me to life with their anguish. But it was only to -objects of new terror; for the flames had, by this time, caught -the roof of our dwelling, part after part continuing to fall in, -while the family stood, with silent agony, looking on, as if they -enjoyed the blaze. I gazed upon them and upon it by turns, and -then looked round me for my two little ones; but they were not to -be seen. O misery! 'Where,' cried I, 'where are my little ones?'- --'They are burnt to death in the flames,' says my wife calmly, -'and I will die with them.'--That moment I heard the cry of the -babes within, who were just awaked by the fire, and nothing could -have stopped me. 'Where, where, are my children?' cried I, -rushing through the flames, and bursting the door of the chamber -in which they were confined, 'Where are my little ones?'--'Here, -dear papa, here we are,' cried they together, while the flames -were just catching the bed where they lay. I caught them both in -my arms, and snatched them through the fire as fast as possible, -while just as I was got out, the roof sunk in. 'Now,' cried I, -holding up my children, 'now let the flames burn on, and all my -possessions perish. Here they are, I have saved my, treasure. -Here, my dearest, here are our treasures, and we shall yet be -happy.' We kissed our little darlings a thousand times, they -clasped us round the neck, and seemed to share our transports, -while their mother laughed and wept by turns. - -I now stood a calm spectator of the flames, and after some time, -began to perceive that my arm to the shoulder was scorched in a -terrible manner. It was therefore out of my power to give my son -any assistance, either in attempting to save our goods, or -preventing the flames spreading to our corn. By this time, the -neighbours were alarmed, and came running to our assistance; but -all they could do was to stand, like us, spectators of the -calamity. My goods, among which were the notes I had reserved for -my daughters' fortunes, were entirely consumed, except a box, -with some papers that stood in the kitchen, and two or three -things more of little consequence, which my son brought away in -the beginning. The neighbours contributed, however, what they -could to lighten our distress. They brought us cloaths, and -furnished one of our out-houses with kitchen utensils; so that by -day-light we had another, tho' a wretched, dwelling to retire to. -My honest next neighbour, and his children, were not the least -assiduous in providing us with every thing necessary, and -offering what ever consolation untutored benevolence could -suggest. - -When the fears of my family had subsided, curiosity to know the -cause of my long stay began to take place; having therefore -informed them of every particular, I proceeded to prepare them -for the reception of our lost one, and tho' we had nothing but -wretchedness now to impart, I was willing to procure her a -welcome to what we had. This task would have been more difficult -but for our recent calamity, which had humbled my wife's pride, -and blunted it by more poignant afflictions. Being unable to go -for my poor child myself, as my arm grew very painful, I sent my -son and daughter, who soon returned, supporting the wretched -delinquent, who had not the courage to look up at her mother, -whom no instructions of mine could persuade to a perfect -reconciliation; for women have a much stronger sense of female -error than men. 'Ah, madam,' cried her mother, 'this is but a -poor place you are come to after so much finery. My daughter -Sophy and I can afford but little entertainment to persons who -have kept company only with people of distinction. Yes, Miss -Livy, your poor father and I have suffered very much of late; but -I hope heaven will forgive you.'--During this reception, the -unhappy victim stood pale and trembling, unable to weep or to -reply; but I could not continue a silent spectator of her -distress, wherefore assuming a degree of severity in my voice and -manner, which was ever followed with instant submission, 'I -entreat, woman, that my words may be now marked once for all: I -have here brought you back a poor deluded wanderer; her return to -duty demands the revival of our tenderness. The real hardships of -life are now coming fast upon us, let us not therefore encrease -them by dissention among each other. If we live harmoniously -together, we may yet be contented, as there are enough of us to -shut out the censuring world, and keep each other in countenance. -The kindness of heaven is promised to the penitent, and let ours -be directed by the example. Heaven, we are assured, is much more -pleased to view a repentant sinner, than ninety nine persons who -have supported a course of undeviating rectitude. And this is -right; for that single effort by which we stop short in the -downhill path to perdition, is itself a greater exertion of -virtue, than an hundred acts of justice.' - - - -CHAPTER 23 - -None but the guilty can be long and completely miserable - - -Some assiduity was now required to make our present abode as -convenient as possible, and we were soon again qualified to enjoy -our former serenity. Being disabled myself from assisting my son -in our usual occupations, I read to my family from the few books -that were saved, and particularly from such, as, by amusing the -imagination, contributed to ease the heart. Our good neighbours -too came every day with the kindest condolence, and fixed a time -in which they were all to assist at repairing my former dwelling. -Honest farmer Williams was not last among these visitors; but -heartily offered his friendship. He would even have renewed his -addresses to my daughter; but she rejected them in such a manner -as totally represt his future solicitations. Her grief seemed -formed for continuing, and she was the only person of our little -society that a week did not restore to cheerfulness. She now lost -that unblushing innocence which once taught her to respect -herself, and to seek pleasure by pleasing. Anxiety now had taken -strong possession of her mind, her beauty began to be impaired -with her constitution, and neglect still more contributed to -diminish it. Every tender epithet bestowed on her sister brought -a pang to her heart and a tear to her eye; and as one vice, tho' -cured, ever plants others where it has been, so her former guilt, -tho' driven out by repentance, left jealousy and envy behind. I -strove a thousand ways to lessen her care, and even forgot my own -pain in a concern for her's, collecting such amusing passages of -history, as a strong memory and some reading could suggest. 'Our -happiness, my dear,' I would say, 'is in the power of one who can -bring it about a thousand unforeseen ways, that mock our -foresight. If example be necessary to prove this, I'll give you a -story, my child, told us by a grave, tho' sometimes a romancing, -historian. - -'Matilda was married very young to a Neapolitan nobleman of the -first quality, and found herself a widow and a mother at the age -of fifteen. As she stood one day caressing her infant son in the -open window of an apartment, which hung over the river Volturna, -the child, with a sudden spring, leaped from her arms into the -flood below, and disappeared in a moment. The mother, struck with -instant surprize, and making all effort to save him, plunged in -after; but, far from being able to assist the infant, she herself -with great difficulty escaped to the opposite shore, just when -some French soldiers were plundering the country on that side, -who immediately made her their prisoner. - -'As the war was then carried on between the French and Italians -with the utmost inhumanity, they were going at once to perpetrate -those two extremes, suggested by appetite and cruelty. This base -resolution, however, was opposed by a young officer, who, tho' -their retreat required the utmost expedition, placed her behind -him, and brought her in safety to his native city. Her beauty at -first caught his eye, her merit soon after his heart. They were -married; he rose to the highest posts; they lived long together, -and were happy. But the felicity of a soldier can never be called -permanent: after an interval of several years, the troops which -he commanded having met with a repulse, he was obliged to take -shelter in the city where he had lived with his wife. Here they -suffered a siege, and the city at length was taken. Few histories -can produce more various instances of cruelty, than those which -the French and Italians at that time exercised upon each other. -It was resolved by the victors, upon this occasion, to put all -the French prisoners to death; but particularly the husband of -the unfortunate Matilda, as he was principally instrumental in -protracting the siege. Their determinations were, in general, -executed almost as soon as resolved upon. The captive soldier was -led forth, and the executioner, with his sword, stood ready, -while the spectators in gloomy silence awaited the fatal blow, -which was only suspended till the general, who presided as judge, -should give the signal. It was in this interval of anguish and -expectation, that Matilda came to take her last farewell of her -husband and deliverer, deploring her wretched situation, and the -cruelty of fate, that had saved her from perishing by a premature -death in the river Volturna, to be the spectator of still greater -calamities. The general, who was a young man, was struck with -surprize at her beauty, and pity at her distress; but with still -stronger emotions when he heard her mention her former dangers. -He was her son, the infant for whom she had encounter'd so much -danger. He acknowledged her at once as his mother, and fell at -her feet. The rest may be easily supposed: the captive was set -free, and all the happiness that love, friendship, and duty could -confer on each, were united.' - -In this manner I would attempt to amuse my daughter; but she -listened with divided attention; for her own misfortunes -engrossed all the pity she once had for those of another, and -nothing gave her ease. In company she dreaded contempt; and in -solitude she only found anxiety. Such was the colour of her -wretchedness, when we received certain information, that Mr -Thornhill was going to be married to Miss Wilmot, for whom I -always suspected he had a real passion, tho' he took every -opportunity before me to express his contempt both of her person -and fortune. This news only served to encrease poor Olivia's -affliction; such a flagrant breach of fidelity, was more than her -courage could support. I was resolved, however, to get more -certain information, and to defeat, if possible, the completion -of his designs, by sending my son to old Mr Wilmot's, with -instructions to know the truth of the report, and to deliver Miss -Wilmot a letter, intimating Mr Thornhill's conduct in my family. -My son went, in pursuance of my directions, and in three days -returned, assuring us of the truth of the account; but that he -had found it impossible to deliver the letter, which he was -therefore obliged to leave, as Mr Thornhill and Miss Wilmot were -visiting round the country. They were to be married, he said, in -a few days, having appeared together at church the Sunday before -he was there, in great spiendour, the bride attended by six young -ladies, and he by as many gentlemen. Their approaching nuptials -filled the whole country with rejoicing, and they usually rode -out together in the grandest equipage that had been seen in the -country for many years. All the friends of both families, he -said, were there, particularly the 'Squire's uncle, Sir William -Thornhill, who bore so good a character. He added, that nothing -but mirth and feasting were going forward; that all the country -praised the young bride's beauty, and the bridegroom's fine -person, and that they were immensely fond of each other; -concluding, that he could not help thinking Mr Thornhill one of -the most happy men in the world. - -'Why let him if he can,' returned I: 'but, my son, observe this -bed of straw, and unsheltering roof; those mouldering walls, and -humid floor; my wretched body thus disabled by fire, and my -children weeping round me for bread; you have come home, my -child, to all this, yet here, even here, you see a man that would -not for a thousand worlds exchange situations. O, my children, if -you could but learn to commune with your own hearts, and know -what noble company you can make them, you would little regard the -elegance and splendours of the worthless. Almost all men have -been taught to call life a passage, and themselves the -travellers. The similitude still may be improved when we observe -that the good are joyful and serene, like travellers that are -going towards home; the wicked but by intervals happy, like -travellers that are going into exile.' - -My compassion for my poor daughter, overpowered by this new -disaster, interrupted what I had farther to observe. I bade her -mother support her, and after a short time she recovered. She -appeared from that time more calm, and I imagined had gained a -new degree of resolution; but appearances deceived me; for her -tranquility was the langour of over-wrought resentment. A supply -of provisions, charitably sent us by my kind parishioners, seemed -to diffuse new cheerfulness amongst the rest of the family, nor -was I displeased at seeing them once more sprightly and at ease. -It would have been unjust to damp their satisfactions, merely to -condole with resolute melancholy, or to burthen them with a -sadness they did not feel. Thus, once more, the tale went round -and the song was demanded, and cheerfulness condescended to hover -round our little habitation. - - - -CHAPTER 24 - -Fresh calamities - - -The next morning the sun rose with peculiar warmth for the -season; so that we agreed to breakfast together on the -honeysuckle bank: where, while we sate, my youngest daughter, at -my request, joined her voice to the concert on the trees about -us. It was in this place my poor Olivia first met her seducer, -and every object served to recall her sadness. But that -melancholy, which is excited by objects of pleasure, or inspired -by sounds of harmony, sooths the heart instead of corroding it. -Her mother too, upon this occasion, felt a pleasing distress, and -wept, and loved her daughter as before. 'Do, my pretty Olivia,' -cried she, 'let us have that little melancholy air your pappa was -so fond of, your sister Sophy has already obliged us. Do child, -it will please your old father.' She complied in a manner so -exquisitely pathetic as moved me. - - -When lovely woman stoops to folly, -And finds too late that men betray, -What charm can sooth her melancholy, -What art can wash her guilt away? - -The only art her guilt to cover, -To hide her shame from every eye, -To give repentance to her lover, -And wring his bosom--is to die. - - -As she was concluding the last stanza, to which an interruption -in her voice from sorrow gave peculiar softness, the appearance -of Mr Thornhill's equipage at a distance alarmed us all, but -particularly encreased the uneasiness of my eldest daughter, who, -desirous of shunning her betrayer, returned to the house with her -sister. In a few minutes he was alighted from his chariot, and -making up to the place where I was still sitting, enquired after -my health with his usual air of familiarity. 'Sir,' replied I, -'your present assurance only serves to aggravate the baseness of -your character; and there was a time when I would have chastised -your insolence, for presuming thus to appear before me. But now -you are safe; for age has cooled my passions, and my calling -restrains them.' - -'I vow, my dear sir,' returned he, 'I am amazed at all this; nor -can I understand what it means! I hope you don't think your -daughter's late excursion with me had any thing criminal in it.' - -'Go,' cried I, 'thou art a wretch, a poor pitiful wretch, and -every way a lyar; but your meanness secures you from my anger! -Yet sir, I am descended from a family that would not have borne -this! And so, thou vile thing, to gratify a momentary passion, -thou hast made one poor creature wretched for life, and polluted -a family that had nothing but honour for their portion.' - -'If she or you,' returned he, 'are resolved to be miserable, I -cannot help it. But you may still be happy; and whatever opinion -you may have formed of me, you shall ever find me ready to -contribute to it. We can marry her to another in a short time, -and what is more, she may keep her lover beside; for I protest I -shall ever continue to have a true regard for her.' - -I found all my passions alarmed at this new degrading proposal; -for though the mind may often be calm under great injuries, -little villainy can at any time get within the soul, and sting it -into rage.--'Avoid my sight, thou reptile,' cried I, 'nor -continue to insult me with thy presence. Were my brave son at -home, he would not suffer this; but I am old, and disabled, and -every way undone.' - -'I find,' cried he, 'you are bent upon obliging me to talk in an -harsher manner than I intended. But as I have shewn you what may -be hoped from my friendship, it may not be improper to represent -what may be the consequences of my resentment. My attorney, to -whom your late bond has been transferred, threatens hard, nor do -I know how to prevent the course of justice, except by paying the -money myself, which, as I have been at some expences lately, -previous to my intended marriage, is not so easy to be done. And -then my steward talks of driving for the rent: it is certain he -knows his duty; for I never trouble myself with affairs of that -nature. Yet still I could wish to serve you, and even to have you -and your daughter present at my marriage, which is shortly to be -solemnized with Miss Wilmot; it is even the request of my -charming Arabella herself, whom I hope you will not refuse.' - -'Mr Thornhill,' replied I, 'hear me once for all: as to your -marriage with any but my daughter, that I never will consent to; -and though your friendship could raise me to a throne, or your -resentment sink me to the grave, yet would I despise both. Thou -hast once wofully, irreparably, deceived me. I reposed my heart -upon thine honour, and have found its baseness. Never more, -therefore, expect friendship from me. Go, and possess what -fortune has given thee, beauty, riches, health, and pleasure. Go, -and leave me to want, infamy, disease, and sorrow. Yet humbled as -I am, shall my heart still vindicate its dignity, and though thou -hast my forgiveness, thou shalt ever have my contempt.' - -'If so,' returned he, 'depend upon it you shall feel the effects -of this insolence, and we shall shortly see which is the fittest -object of scorn, you or me.'--Upon which he departed abruptly. - -My wife and son, who were present at this interview, seemed -terrified with the apprehension. My daughters also, finding that -he was gone, came out to be informed of the result of our -conference, which, when known, alarmed them not less than the -rest. But as to myself, I disregarded the utmost stretch of his -malevolence: he had already struck the blow, and now I stood -prepared to repel every new effort. Like one of those instruments -used in the art of war, which, however thrown, still presents a -point to receive the enemy. - -We soon, however, found that he had not threatened in vain; for -the very next morning his steward came to demand my annual rent, -which, by the train of accidents already related, I was unable to -pay. The consequence of my incapacity was his driving my cattle -that evening, and their being appraised and sold the next day for -less than half their value. My wife and children now therefore -entreated me to comply upon any terms, rather than incur certain -destruction. They even begged of me to admit his visits once -more, and used all their little eloquence to paint the calamities -I was going to endure. The terrors of a prison, in so rigorous a -season as the present, with the danger, that threatened my health -from the late accident that happened by the fire. But I continued -inflexible. - -'Why, my treasures,' cried I, 'why will you thus attempt to -persuade me to the thing that is not right! My duty has taught me -to forgive him; but my conscience will not permit me to approve. -Would you have me applaud to the world what my heart must -internally condemn? Would you have me tamely sit down and flatter -our infamous betrayer; and to avoid a prison continually suffer -the more galling bonds of mental confinement! No, never. If we -are to be taken from this abode, only let us hold to the right, -and wherever we are thrown, we can still retire to a charming -apartment, when we can look round our own hearts with intrepidity -and with pleasure!' - -In this manner we spent that evening. Early the next morning, as -the snow had fallen in great abundance in the night, my son was -employed in clearing it away, and opening a passage before the -door. He had not been thus engaged long, when he came running in, -with looks all pale, to tell us that two strangers, whom he knew -to be officers of justice, were making towards the house. - -Just as he spoke they came in, and approaching the bed where I -lay, after previously informing me of their employment and -business, made me their prisoner, bidding me prepare to go with -them to the county gaol, which was eleven miles off. - -'My friends,' said I, 'this is severe weather on which you have -come to take me to a prison; and it is particularly unfortunate -at this time, as one of my arms has lately been burnt in a -terrible manner, and it has thrown me into a slight fever, and I -want cloaths to cover me, and I am now too weak and old to walk -far in such deep snow: but if it must be so--' - -I then turned to my wife and children, and directed them to get -together what few things were left us, and to prepare immediately -for leaving this place. I entreated them to be expeditious, and -desired my son to assist his elder sister, who, from a -consciousness that she was the cause of all our calamities, was -fallen, and had lost anguish in insensibility. I encouraged my -wife, who, pale and trembling, clasped our affrighted little ones -in her arms, that clung to her bosom in silence, dreading to look -round at the strangers. In the mean time my youngest daughter -prepared for our departure, and as she received several hints to -use dispatch, in about an hour we were ready to depart. - - - -CHAPTER 25 - -No situation, however wretched it seems, but has some sort of -comfort attending it - - -We set forward from this peaceful neighbourhood, and walked on -slowly. My eldest daughter being enfeebled by a slow fever, which -had begun for some days to undermine her constitution, one of the -officers, who had an horse, kindly took her behind him; for even -these men cannot entirely divest themselves of humanity. My son -led one of the little ones by the hand, and my wife the other, -while I leaned upon my youngest girl, whose tears fell not for -her own but my distresses. - -We were now got from my late dwelling about two miles, when we -saw a crowd running and shouting behind us, consisting of about -fifty of my poorest parishioners. These, with dreadful -imprecations, soon seized upon the two officers of justice, and -swearing they would never see their minister go to gaol while -they had a drop of blood to shed in his defence, were going to -use them with great severity. The consequence might have been -fatal, had I not immediately interposed, and with some difficulty -rescued the officers from the hands of the enraged multitude. My -children, who looked upon my delivery now as certain, appeared -transported with joy, and were incapable of containing their -raptures. But they were soon undeceived, upon hearing me address -the poor deluded people, who came, as they imagined, to do me -service. - -'What! my friends,' cried I, 'and is this the way you love me! Is -this the manner you obey the instructions I have given you from -the pulpit! Thus to fly in the face of justice, and bring down -ruin on yourselves and me! Which is your ringleader? Shew me the -man that has thus seduced you. As sure as he lives he shall feel -my resentment. Alas! my dear deluded flock, return back to the -duty you owe to God, to your country, and to me. I shall yet -perhaps one day see you in greater felicity here, and contribute -to make your lives more happy. But let it at least be my comfort -when I pen my fold for immortality, that not one here shall be -wanting.' - -They now seemed all repentance, and melting into tears, came one -after the other to bid me farewell. I shook each tenderly by the -hand, and leaving them my blessing, proceeded forward without -meeting any farther interruption. Some hours before night we -reached the town, or rather village; for it consisted but of a -few mean houses, having lost all its former opulence, and -retaining no marks of its ancient superiority but the gaol. - -Upon entering, we put up at an inn, where we had such -refreshments as could most readily be procured, and I supped with -my family with my usual cheerfulness. After seeing them properly -accommodated for that night, I next attended the sheriff's -officers to the prison, which had formerly been built for the -purposes of war, and consisted of one large apartment, strongly -grated, and paved with stone, common to both felons and debtors -at certain hours in the four and twenty. Besides this, every -prisoner had a separate cell, where he was locked in for the -night. - -I expected upon my entrance to find nothing but lamentations, and -various sounds of misery; but it was very different. The -prisoners seemed all employed in one common design, that of -forgetting thought in merriment or clamour. I was apprized of the -usual perquisite required upon these occasions, and immediately -complied with the demand, though the little money I had was very -near being all exhausted. This was immediately sent away for -liquor, and the whole prison soon was filled with riot, laughter, -and prophaneness. - -'How,' cried I to myself, 'shall men so very wicked be chearful, -and shall I be melancholy! I feel only the same confinement with -them, and I think I have more reason to be happy.' - -With such reflections I laboured to become chearful; but -chearfulness was never yet produced by effort, which is itself -painful. As I was sitting therefore in a corner of the gaol, in a -pensive posture, one of my fellow prisoners came up, and sitting -by me, entered into conversation. It was my constant rule in life -never to avoid the conversation of any man who seemed to desire -it: for if good, I might profit by his instruction; if bad, he -might be assisted by mine. I found this to be a knowing man, of -strong unlettered sense; but a thorough knowledge of the world, -as it is called, or, more properly speaking, of human nature on -the wrong side. He asked me if I had taken care to provide myself -with a bed, which was a circumstance I had never once attended -to. - -'That's unfortunate,' cried he, 'as you are allowed here nothing -but straw, and your apartment is very large and cold. However you -seem to be something of a gentleman, and as I have been one -myself in my time, part of my bed-cloaths are heartily at your -service.' - -I thanked him, professing my surprize at finding such humanity in -a gaol in misfortunes; adding, to let him see that I was a -scholar, 'That the sage ancient seemed to understand the value of -company in affliction, when he said, Ton kosman aire, ei dos ton -etairon; and in fact,' continued I, 'what is the World if it -affords only solitude?' - -'You talk of the world, Sir,' returned my fellow prisoner; 'the -world is in its dotage, and yet the cosmogony or creation of the -world has puzzled the philosophers of every age. What a medly of -opinions have they not broached upon the creation of the world. -Sanconiathon, Manetho, Berosus, and Ocellus Lucanus have all -attempted it in vain. The latter has these words. Anarchon ara -kai atelutaion to pan, which implies'--'I ask pardon, Sir,' cried -I, 'for interrupting so much learning; but I think I have heard -all this before. Have I not had the pleasure of once seeing you -at Welbridge fair, and is not your name Ephraim Jenkinson?' At -this demand he only sighed. 'I suppose you must recollect,' -resumed I, 'one Doctor Primrose, from whom you bought a horse.' - -He now at once recollected me; for the gloominess of the place -and the approaching night had prevented his distinguishing my -features before.--'Yes, Sir,' returned Mr Jenkinson, 'I remember -you perfectly well; I bought an horse, but forgot to pay for him. -Your neighbour Flamborough is the only prosecutor I am any way -afraid of at the next assizes: for he intends to swear positively -against me as a coiner. I am heartily sorry, Sir, I ever deceived -you, or indeed any man; for you see,' continued he, shewing his -shackles, 'what my tricks have brought me to.' - -'Well, sir,' replied I, 'your kindness in offering me assistance, -when you could expect no return, shall be repaid with my -endeavours to soften or totally suppress Mr Flamborough's -evidence, and I will send my son to him for that purpose the -first opportunity; nor do I in the least doubt but he will comply -with my request, and as to my evidence, you need be under no -uneasiness about that.' - -'Well, sit,' cried he, 'all the return I can make shall be yours. -You shall have more than half my bed-cloaths to night, and I'll -take care to stand your friend in the prison, where I think I -have some influence.' - -I thanked him, and could not avoid being surprised at the present -youthful change in his aspect; for at the time I had seen him -before he appeared at least sixty.--'Sir,' answered he, you are -little acquainted with the world; I had at that time false hair, -and have learnt the art of counterfeiting every age from -seventeen to seventy. Ah sir, had I but bestowed half the pains -in learning a trade, that I have in learning to be a scoundrel, I -might have been a rich man at this day. But rogue as I am, still -I may be your friend, and that perhaps when you least expect it.' - -We were now prevented from further conversation, by the arrival -of the gaoler's servants, who came to call over the prisoners -names, and lock up for the night. A fellow also, with a bundle of -straw for my bed attended, who led me along a dark narrow passage -into a room paved like the common prison, and in one corner of -this I spread my bed, and the cloaths given me by my fellow -prisoner; which done, my conductor, who was civil enough, bade me -a good- night. After my usual meditations, and having praised my -heavenly corrector, I laid myself down and slept with the utmost -tranquility till morning. - - - -CHAPTER 26 - -A reformation in the gaol. To make laws complete, they should -reward as well as punish - - -The next morning early I was awakened by my family, whom I found -in tears at my bed-side. The gloomy strength of every thing about -us, it seems, had daunted them. I gently rebuked their sorrow, -assuring them I had never slept with greater tranquility, and -next enquired after my eldest daughter, who was not among them. -They informed me that yesterday's uneasiness and fatigue had -encreased her fever, and it was judged proper to leave her -behind. My next care was to send my son to procure a room or two -to lodge the family in, as near the prison as conveniently could -be found. He obeyed; but could only find one apartment, which was -hired at a small expence, for his mother and sisters, the gaoler -with humanity consenting to let him and his two little brothers -lie in the prison with me. A bed was therefore prepared for them -in a corner of the room, which I thought answered very -conveniently. I was willing however previously to know whether my -little children chose to lie in a place which seemed to fright -them upon entrance. - -'Well,' cried I, 'my good boys, how do you like your bed? I hope -you are not afraid to lie in this room, dark as it appears.' - -'No, papa,' says Dick, 'I am not afraid to lie any where where -you are.' - -'And I,' says Bill, who was yet but four years old, 'love every -place best that my papa is in.' - -After this, I allotted to each of the family what they were to -do. My daughter was particularly directed to watch her declining -sister's health; my wife was to attend me; my little boys were to -read to me: 'And as for you, my son,' continued I, 'it is by the -labour of your hands we must all hope to be supported. Your -wages, as a day-labourer, will be full sufficient, with proper -frugality, to maintain us all, and comfortably too. Thou art now -sixteen years old, and hast strength, and it was given thee, my -son, for very useful purposes; for it must save from famine your -helpless parents and family. Prepare then this evening to look -out for work against to-morrow, and bring home every night what -money you earn, for our support.' - -Having thus instructed him, and settled the rest, I walked down -to the common prison, where I could enjoy more air and room. But -I was not long there when the execrations, lewdness, and -brutality that invaded me on every side, drove me back to my -apartment again. Here I sate for some time, pondering upon the -strange infatuation of wretches, who finding all mankind in open -arms against them, were labouring to make themselves a future and -a tremendous enemy. - -Their insensibility excited my highest compassion, and blotted my -own uneasiness from my mind. It even appeared a duty incumbent -upon me to attempt to reclaim them. I resolved therefore once -more to return, and in spite of their contempt to give them my -advice, and conquer them by perseverance. Going therefore among -them again, I informed Mr Jenkinson of my design, at which he -laughed heartily, but communicated it to the rest. The proposal -was received with the greatest good-humour, as it promised to -afford a new fund of entertainment to persons who had now no -other resource for mirth, but what could be derived from ridicule -or debauchery. - -I therefore read them a portion of the service with a loud -unaffected voice, and found my audience perfectly merry upon the -occasion. Lewd whispers, groans of contrition burlesqued, winking -and coughing, alternately excited laughter. However, I continued -with my natural solemnity to read on, sensible that what I did -might amend some, but could itself receive no contamination from -any. - -After reading, I entered upon my exhortation, which was rather -calculated at first to amuse them than to reprove. I previously -observed, that no other motive but their welfare could induce me -to this; that I was their fellow prisoner, and now got nothing by -preaching. I was sorry, I said, to hear them so very prophane; -because they got nothing by it, but might lose a great deal: 'For -be assured, my friends,' cried I, 'for you are my friends, -however the world may disclaim your friendship, though you swore -twelve thousand oaths in a day, it would not put one penny in -your purse. Then what signifies calling every moment upon the -devil, and courting his friendship, since you find how scurvily -he uses you. He has given you nothing here, you find, but a -mouthful of oaths and an empty belly; and by the best accounts I -have of him, he will give you nothing that's good hereafter. - -'If used ill in our dealings with one man, we naturally go -elsewhere. Were it not worth your while then, just to try how you -may like the usage of another master, who gives you fair promises -at least to come to him. Surely, my Friends, of all stupidity in -the world, his must be greatest, who, after robbing an house, -runs to the thieftakers for protection. And yet how are you more -wise? You are all seeking comfort from one that has already -betrayed you, applying to a more malicious being than any -thieftaker of them all; for they only decoy, and then hang you; -but he decoys and hangs, and what is worst of all, will not let -you loose after the hangman has done.' - -When I had concluded, I received the compliments of my audience, -some of whom came and shook me by the hand, swearing that I was a -very honest fellow, and that they desired my further -acquaintance. I therefore promised to repeat my lecture next day, -and actually conceived some hopes of making a reformation here; -for it had ever been my opinion, that no man was past the hour of -amendment, every heart lying open to the shafts of reproof, if -the archer could but take a proper aim. When I had thus satisfied -my mind, I went back to my apartment, where my wife had prepared -a frugal meal, while Mr Jenkinson begged leave to add his dinner -to ours, and partake of the pleasure, as he was kind enough to -express it of my conversation. He had not yet seen my family, for -as they came to my apartment by a door in the narrow passage, -already described, by this means they avoided the common prison. -Jenkinson at the first interview therefore seemed not a little -struck with the beauty of my youngest daughter, which her pensive -air contributed to heighten, and my little ones did not pass -unnoticed. - -'Alas, Doctor,' cried he, 'these children are too handsome and -too good for such a place as this!' - -Why, Mr Jenkinson', replied I, 'thank heaven my children are -pretty tolerable in morals, and if they be good, it matters -little for the rest.' - -'I fancy, sir,' returned my fellow prisoner, 'that it must give -you great comfort to have this little family about you.' - -'A comfort, Mr Jenkinson,' replied I, 'yes it is indeed a -comfort, and I would not be without them for all the world; for -they can make a dungeon seem a palace. There is but one way in -this life of wounding my happiness, and that is by injuring -them.' - -'I am afraid then, sir,' cried he, 'that I am in some measure -culpable; for I think I see here (looking at my son Moses) one -that I have injured, and by whom I wish to be forgiven.' - -My son immediately recollected his voice and features, though he -had before seen him in disguise, and taking him by the hand, with -a smile forgave him. 'Yet,' continued he, 'I can't help wondering -at what you could see in my face, to think me a proper mark for -deception.' - -'My dear sir,' returned the other, 'it was not your face, but -your white stockings and the black ribband in your hair, that -allured me. But no disparagement to your parts, I have deceived -wiser men than you in my time; and yet, with all my tricks, the -blockheads have been too many for me at last.' - -'I suppose,' cried my son, 'that the narrative of such a life as -yours must be extremely instructive and amusing.' - -'Not much of either,' returned Mr Jenkinson. 'Those relations -which describe the tricks and vices only of mankind, by -increasing our suspicion in life, retard our success. The -traveller that distrusts every person he meets, and turns back -upon the appearance of every man that looks like a robber, seldom -arrives in time at his journey's end. - -'Indeed I think from my own experience, that the knowing one is -the silliest fellow under the sun. I was thought cunning from my -very childhood; when but seven years old the ladies would say -that I was a perfect little man; at fourteen I knew the world, -cocked my hat, and loved the ladies; at twenty, though I was -perfectly honest, yet every one thought me so cunning, that not -one would trust me. Thus I was at last obliged to turn sharper in -my own defence, and have lived ever since, my head throbbing with -schemes to deceive, and my heart palpitating with fears of -detection. - -'I used often to laugh at your honest simple neighbour -Flamborough, and one way or another generally cheated him once a -year. Yet still the honest man went forward without suspicion, -and grew rich, while I still continued tricksy and cunning, and -was poor, without the consolation of being honest. - -'However,' continued he, 'let me know your case, and what has -brought you here; perhaps though I have not skill to avoid a gaol -myself, I may extricate my friends.' - -In compliance with his curiosity, I informed him of the whole -train of accidents and follies that had plunged me into my -present troubles, and my utter inability to get free. - -After hearing my story, and pausing some minutes, he slapt his -forehead, as if he had hit upon something material, and took his -leave, saying he would try what could be done. - - - -CHAPTER 27 - -The same subject continued - - -The next morning I communicated to my wife and children the -scheme I had planned of reforming the prisoners, which they -received with universal disapprobation, alledging the -impossibility and impropriety of it; adding, that my endeavours -would no way contribute to their amendment, but might probably -disgrace my calling. - -'Excuse me,' returned I, 'these people, however fallen, are still -men, and that is a very good title to my affections. Good council -rejected returns to enrich the giver's bosom; and though the -instruction I communicate may not mend them, yet it will -assuredly mend myself. If these wretches, my children, were -princes, there would be thousands ready to offer their ministry; -but, in my opinion, the heart that is buried in a dungeon is as -precious as that seated upon a throne. Yes, my treasures, if I -can mend them I will; perhaps they will not all despise me. -Perhaps I may catch up even one from the gulph, and, that will be -great gain; for is there upon earth a gem so precious as the -human soul?' - -Thus saying, I left them, and descended to the common prison, -where I found the prisoners very merry, expecting my arrival; and -each prepared with some gaol trick to play upon the doctor. Thus, -as I was going to begin, one turned my wig awry, as if by -accident, and then asked my pardon. A second, who stood at some -distance, had a knack of spitting through his teeth, which fell -in showers upon my book. A third would cry amen in such an -affected tone as gave the rest great delight. A fourth had slily -picked my pocket of my spectacles. But there was one whose trick -gave more universal pleasure than all the rest; for observing the -manner in which I had disposed my books on the table before me, -he very dextrously displaced one of them, and put an obscene -jest-book of his own in the place. However I took no notice of -all that this mischievous groupe of little beings could do; but -went on, perfectly sensible that what was ridiculous in my -attempt, would excite mirth only the first or second time, while -what was serious would be permanent. My design succeeded, and in -less than six days some were penitent, and all attentive. - -It was now that I applauded my perseverance and address, at thus -giving sensibility to wretches divested of every moral feeling, -and now began to think of doing them temporal services also, by -rendering their situation somewhat more comfortable. Their time -had hitherto been divided between famine and excess, tumultous -riot and bitter repining. Their only employment was quarrelling -among each other, playing at cribbage, and cutting tobacco -stoppers. From this last mode of idle industry I took the hint of -setting such as chose to work at cutting pegs for tobacconists -and shoemakers, the proper wood being bought by a general -subscription, and when manufactured, sold by my appointment; so -that each earned something every day: a trifle indeed, but -sufficient to maintain him. - -I did not stop here, but instituted fines for the punishment of -immorality, and rewards for peculiar industry. Thus in less than -a fortnight I had formed them into something social and humane, -and had the pleasure of regarding myself as a legislator, who had -brought men from their native ferocity into friendship and -obedience. - -And it were highly to be wished, that legislative power would -thus direct the law rather to reformation than severity. That it -would seem convinced that the work of eradicating crimes is not -by making punishments familiar, but formidable. Then instead of -our present prisons, which find or make men guilty, which enclose -wretches for the commission of one crime, and return them, if -returned alive, fitted for the perpetration of thousands; we -should see, as in other parts of Europe, places of penitence and -solitude, where the accused might be attended by such as could -give them repentance if guilty, or new motives to virtue if -innocent. And this, but not the increasing punishments, is the -way to mend a state: nor can I avoid even questioning the -validity of that right which social combinations have assumed of -capitally punishing offences of a slight nature. In cases of -murder their right is obvious, as it is the duty of us all, from -the law of self-defence, to cut off that man who has shewn a -disregard for the life of another. Against such, all nature -arises in arms; but it is not so against him who steals my -property. Natural law gives me no right to take away his life, as -by that the horse he steals is as much his property as mine. If -then I have any right, it must be from a compact made between us, -that he who deprives the other of his horse shall die. But this -is a false compact; because no man has a right to barter his -life, no more than to take it away, as it is not his own. And -beside, the compact is inadequate, and would be set aside even in -a court of modern equity, as there is a great penalty for a very -trifling convenience, since it is far better that two men should -live, than that one man should ride. But a compact that is false -between two men, is equally so between an hundred, or an hundred -thousand; for as ten millions of circles can never make a square, -so the united voice of myriads cannot lend the smallest -foundation to falsehood. It is thus that reason speaks, and -untutored nature says the same thing. Savages that are directed -by natural law alone are very tender of the lives of each other; -they seldom shed blood but to retaliate former cruelty. - -Our Saxon ancestors, fierce as they were in war, had but few -executions in times of peace; and in all commencing governments -that have the print of nature still strong upon them, scarce any -crime is held capital. - -It is among the citizens of a refined community that penal laws, -which are in the hands of the rich, are laid upon the poor. -Government, while it grows older, seems to acquire the moroseness -of age; and as if our property were become dearer in proportion -as it increased, as if the more enormous our wealth, the more -extensive our fears, all our possessions are paled up with new -edicts every day, and hung round with gibbets to scare every -invader. - -I cannot tell whether it is from the number of our penal laws, or -the licentiousness of our people, that this country should shew -more convicts in a year, than half the dominions of Europe -united. Perhaps it is owing to both; for they mutually produce -each other. When by indiscriminate penal laws a nation beholds -the same punishment affixed to dissimilar degrees of guilt, from -perceiving no distinction in the penalty, the people are led to -lose all sense of distinction in the crime, and this distinction -is the bulwark of all morality: thus the multitude of laws -produce new vices, and new vices call for fresh restraints. - -It were to be wished then that power, instead a contriving new -laws to punish vice, instead of drawing hard the cards of society -till a convulsion come to burst them, instead of cutting away -wretches as useless, before we have tried their utility, instead -of converting correction into vengeance, it were to be wished -that we tried the restrictive arts of government, and made law -the protector, but not the tyrant of the people. We should then -find that creatures, whose souls are held as dross, only wanted -the hand of a refiner; we should then find that wretches, now -stuck up for long tortures, lest luxury should feel a momentary -pang, might, if properly treated, serve to sinew the state in -times of danger; that, as their faces are like ours, their hearts -are so too; that few minds are so base as that perseverance -cannot amend; that a man may see his last crime without dying for -it; and that very little blood will serve to cement our security. - - - -CHAPTER 28 - -Happiness and misery rather the result of prudence than of virtue -in this life. Temporal evils or felicities being regarded by -heaven as things merely in themselves trifling and unworthy its -care in the distribution - - -I had now been confined more than a fortnight, but had not since -my arrival been visited by my dear Olivia, and I greatly longed -to see her. Having communicated my wishes to my wife, the next -morning the poor girl entered my apartment, leaning on her -sister's arm. The change which I saw in her countenance struck -me. The numberless graces that once resided there were now fled, -and the hand of death seemed to have molded every feature to -alarm me. Her temples were sunk, her forehead was tense, and a -fatal paleness sate upon her cheek. - -'I am glad to see thee, my dear,' cried I; 'but why this -dejection Livy? I hope, my love, you have too great a regard for -me, to permit disappointment thus to undermine a life which I -prize as my own. Be chearful child, and we yet may see happier -days.' - -'You have ever, sir,' replied she, 'been kind to me, and it adds -to my pain that I shall never have an opportunity of sharing that -happiness you promise. Happiness, I fear, is no longer reserved -for me here; and I long to be rid of a place where I have only -found distress. Indeed, sir, I wish you would make a proper -submission to Mr Thornhill; it may, in some measure, induce him -to pity you, and it will give me relief in dying.' - -'Never, child,' replied I, 'never will I be brought to -acknowledge my daughter a prostitute; for tho' the world may look -upon your offence with scorn, let it be mine to regard it as a -mark of credulity, not of guilt. My dear, I am no way miserable -in this place, however dismal it may seem, and be assured that -while you continue to bless me by living, he shall never have my -consent to make you more wretched by marrying another.' - -After the departure of my daughter, my fellow prisoner, who was -by at this interview, sensibly enough expostulated upon my -obstinacy, in refusing a submission, which promised to give me -freedom. He observed, that the rest of my family was not to be -sacrificed to the peace of one child alone, and she the only one -who had offended me. 'Beside,' added he, 'I don't know if it be -just thus to obstruct the union of man and wife, which you do at -present, by refusing to consent to a match which you cannot -hinder, but may render unhappy.' - -'Sir,' replied I, 'you are unacquainted with the man that -oppresses us. I am very sensible that no submission I can make -could procure me liberty even for an hour. I am told that even in -this very room a debtor of his, no later than last year, died for -want. But though my submission and approbation could transfer me -from hence, to the most beautiful apartment he is possessed of; -yet I would grant neither, as something whispers me that it would -be giving a sanction to adultery. While my daughter lives, no -other marriage of his shall ever be legal in my eye. Were she -removed, indeed, I should be the basest of men, from any -resentment of my own, to attempt putting asunder those who wish -for an union. No, villain as he is, I should then wish him -married, to prevent the consequences of his future debaucheries. -But now should I not be the most cruel of all fathers, to sign an -Instrument which must send my child to the grave, merely to avoid -a prison myself; and thus to escape one pang, break my child's -heart with a thousand?' - -He acquiesced in the justice of this answer, but could not avoid -observing, that he feared my daughter's life was already too much -wasted to keep me long a prisoner. 'However,' continued he, -'though you refuse to submit to the nephew, I hope you have no -objections to laying your case before the uncle, who has the -first character in the kingdom for every thing that is just and -good. I would advise you to send him a letter by the post, -intimating all his nephew's ill usage, and my life for it that in -three days you shall have an answer.' I thank'd him for the hint, -and instantly set about complying; but I wanted paper, and -unluckily all our money had been laid out that morning in -provisions, however he supplied me. - -For the three ensuing days I was in a state of anxiety, to know -what reception my letter might meet with; but in the mean time -was frequently solicited by my wife to submit to any conditions -rather than remain here, and every hour received repeated -accounts of the decline of my daughter's health. The third day -and the fourth arrived, but I received no answer to my letter: -the complaints of a stranger against a favourite nephew, were no -way likely to succeed; so that these hopes soon vanished like all -my former. My mind, however, still supported itself though -confinement and bad air began to make a visible alteration in my -health, and my arm that had suffered in the fire, grew worse. My -children however sate by me, and while I was stretched on my -straw, read to me by turns, or listened and wept at my -instructions. But my daughter's health declined faster than mine; -every message from her contributed to encrease my apprehensions -and pain. The fifth morning after I had written the letter which -was sent to sit William Thornhill, I was alarmed with an account -that she was speechless. Now it was, that confinement was truly -painful to me; my soul was bursting from its prison to be near -the pillow of my child, to comfort, to strengthen her, to receive -her last wishes, and teach her soul the way to heaven! Another -account came. She was expiring, and yet I was debarred the small -comfort of weeping by her. My fellow prisoner, some time after, -came with the last account. He bade me be patient. She was dead!- --The next morning he returned, and found me with my two little -ones, now my only companions, who were using all their innocent -efforts to comfort me. They entreated to read to me, and bade me -not to cry, for I was now too old to weep. 'And is not my sister -an angel, now, pappa,' cried the eldest, 'and why then are you -sorry for her? I wish I were an angel out of this frightful -place, if my pappa were with me.' 'Yes,' added my youngest -darling, 'Heaven, where my sister is, is a finer place than this, -and there are none but good people there, and the people here are -very bad.' - -Mr Jenkinson interupted their harmless prattle, by observing that -now my daughter was no more, I should seriously think of the rest -of my family, and attempt to save my own life, which was every -day declining, for want of necessaries and wholesome air. He -added, that it was now incumbent on me to sacrifice any pride or -resentment of my own, to the welfare of those who depended on me -for support; and that I was now, both by reason and justice, -obliged to try to reconcile my landlord. - -'Heaven be praised,' replied I, 'there is no pride left me now, I -should detest my own heart if I saw either pride or resentment -lurking there. On the contrary, as my oppressor has been once my -parishioner, I hope one day to present him up an unpolluted soul -at the eternal tribunal. No, sir, I have no resentment now, and -though he has taken from me what I held dearer than all his -treasures, though he has wrung my heart, for I am sick almost to -fainting, very sick, my fellow prisoner, yet that shall never -inspire me with vengeance. I am now willing to approve his -marriage, and if this submission can do him any pleasure, let him -know, that if I have done him any injury, I am sorry for it.' Mr -Jenkinson took pen and ink, and wrote down my submission nearly -as I have exprest it, to which I signed my name. My son was -employed to carry the letter to Mr Thornhill, who was then at his -seat in the country. He went, and in about six hours returned -with a verbal answer. He had some difficulty, he said, to get a -sight of his landlord, as the servants were insolent and -suspicious; but he accidentally saw him as he was going out upon -business, preparing for his marriage, which was to be in three -days. He continued to inform us, that he stept up in the humblest -manner, and delivered the letter, which, when Mr Thornhill had -read, he said that all submission was now too late and -unnecessary; that he had heard of our application to his uncle, -which met with the contempt it deserved; and as for the rest, -that all future applications should be directed to his attorney, -not to him. He observed, however, that as he had a very good -opinion of the discretion of the two young ladies, they might -have been the most agreeable intercessors. - -'Well, sir,' said I to my fellow prisoner, 'you now discover the -temper of the man that oppresses me. He can at once be facetious -and cruel; but let him use me as he will, I shall soon be free, -in spite of all his bolts to restrain me. I am now drawing -towards an abode that looks brighter as I approach it: this -expectation cheers my afflictions, and though I leave an helpless -family of orphans behind me, yet they will not be utterly -forsaken; some friend, perhaps, will be found to assist them for -the sake of their poor father, and some may charitably relieve -them for the sake of their heavenly father.' - -Just as I spoke, my wife, whom I had not seen that day before, -appeared with looks of terror, and making efforts, but unable to -speak. 'Why, my love,' cried I, 'why will you thus encrease my -afflictions by your own, what though no submissions can turn our -severe mister, tho' he has doomed me to die in this place of -wretchedness, and though we have lost a darling child, yet still -you will find comfort in your other children when I shall be no -more.' 'We have indeed lost,' returned she, 'a darling child. My -Sophia, my dearest, is gone, snatched from us, carried off by -ruffians!' - -'How madam,' cried my fellow prisoner, 'Miss Sophia carried off -by villains, sure it cannot be?' - -She could only answer with a fixed look and a flood of tears. But -one of the prisoners' wives, who was present, and came in with -her, gave us a more distinct account: she informed us that as my -wife, my daughter, and herself, were taking a walk together on -the great road a little way out of the village, a post-chaise and -pair drove up to them and instantly stopt. Upon which, a well -drest man, but not Mr Thornhill, stepping out, clasped my -daughter round the waist, and forcing her in, bid the postillion -drive on, so that they were out of sight in a moment. - -'Now,' cried I, 'the sum of my misery is made up, nor is it in -the power of any thing on earth to give me another pang. What! -not one left! not to leave me one! the monster! the child that -was next my heart! she had the beauty of an angel, and almost the -wisdom of an angel. But support that woman, nor let her fall. Not -to leave me one!'--'Alas! my husband,' said my wife, 'you seem to -want comfort even more than I. Our distresses are great; but I -could bear this and more, if I saw you but easy. They may take -away my children and all the world, if they leave me but you.' - -My Son, who was present, endeavoured to moderate our grief; he -bade us take comfort, for he hoped that we might still have -reason to be thankful.--'My child,' cried I, 'look round the -world, and see if there be any happiness left me now. Is not -every ray of comfort shut out; while all our bright prospects -only lie beyond the grave!'--'My dear father,' returned he, 'I -hope there is still something that will give you an interval of -satisfaction; for I have a letter from my brother George'--'What -of him, child,' interrupted I, 'does he know our misery. I hope -my boy is exempt from any part of what his wretched family -suffers?'--'Yes, sir,' returned he, 'he is perfectly gay, -chearful, and happy. His letter brings nothing but good news; he -is the favourite of his colonel, who promises to procure him the -very next lieutenancy that becomes vacant!' - -'And are you sure of all this,' cried my wife, 'are you sure that -nothing ill has befallen my boy?'--'Nothing indeed, madam,' -returned my son, 'you shall see the letter, which will give you -the highest pleasure; and if any thing can procure you comfort, I -am sure that will.' 'But are you sure,' still repeated she, 'that -the letter is from himself, and that he is really so happy?'-- -'Yes, Madam,' replied he, 'it is certainly his, and he will one -day be the credit and the support of our family!'--'Then I thank -providence,' cried she, 'that my last letter to him has -miscarried.' 'Yes, my dear,' continued she, turning to me, 'I -will now confess that though the hand of heaven is sore upon us -in other instances, it has been favourable here. By the last -letter I wrote my son, which was in the bitterness of anger, I -desired him, upon his mother's blessing, and if he had the heart -of a man, to see justice done his father and sister, and avenge -our cause. But thanks be to him that directs all things, it has -miscarried, and I am at rest.' 'Woman,' cried I, 'thou hast done -very ill, and at another time my reproaches might have been more -severe. Oh! what a tremendous gulph hast thou escaped, that would -have buried both thee and him in endless ruin. Providence, -indeed, has here been kinder to us than we to ourselves. It has -reserved that son to be the father and protector of my children -when I shall be away. How unjustly did I complain of being stript -of every comfort, when still I hear that he is happy and -insensible of our afflictions; still kept in reserve to support -his widowed mother, and to protect his brothers and sisters. But -what sisters has he left, he has no sisters now, they are all -gone, robbed from me, and I am undone.'--'Father,' interrupted my -son, 'I beg you will give me leave to read this letter, I know it -will please you.' Upon which, with my permission, he read as -follows:-- - -Honoured Sir,--I have called off my imagination a few moments -from the pleasures that surround me, to fix it upon objects that -are still more pleasing, the dear little fire-side at home. My -fancy draws that harmless groupe as listening to every line of -this with great composure. I view those faces with delight which -never felt the deforming hand of ambition or distress! But -whatever your happiness may be at home, I am sure it will be some -addition to it, to hear that I am perfectly pleased with my -situation, and every way happy here. - -Our regiment is countermanded and is not to leave the kingdom; -the colonel, who professes himself my friend, takes me with him -to all companies where he is acquainted, and after my first visit -I generally find myself received with encreased respect upon -repeating it. I danced last night with Lady G-, and could I -forget you know whom, I might be perhaps successful. But it is my -fate still to remember others, while I am myself forgotten by -most of my absent friends, and in this number, I fear, Sir, that -I must consider you; for I have long expected the pleasure of a -letter from home to no purpose. Olivia and Sophia too, promised -to write, but seem to have forgotten me. Tell them they are two -arrant little baggages, and that I am this moment in a most -violent passion with them: yet still, I know not how, tho' I want -to bluster a little, my heart is respondent only to softer -emotions. Then tell them, sir, that after all, I love them -affectionately, and be assured of my ever remaining - - Your dutiful son. - - -'In all our miseries,' cried I, 'what thanks have we not to -return, that one at least of our family is exempted from what we -suffer. Heaven be his guard, and keep my boy thus happy to be the -supporter of his widowed mother, and the father of these two -babes, which is all the patrimony I can now bequeath him. May he -keep their innocence from the temptations of want, and be their -conductor in the paths of honour.' I had scarce said these words, -when a noise, like that of a tumult, seemed to proceed from the -prison below; it died away soon after, and a clanking of fetters -was heard along the passage that led to my apartment. The keeper -of the prison entered, holding a man all bloody, wounded and -fettered with the heaviest irons. I looked with compassion on the -wretch as he approached me, but with horror when I found it was -my own son.--'My George! My George! and do I find thee thus. -Wounded! Fettered! Is this thy happiness! Is this the manner you -return to me! O that this sight could break my heart at once and -let me die!' - -'Where, Sir, is your fortitude,' returned my son with an intrepid -voice. 'I must suffer, my life is forfeited, and let them take -it.' - -I tried to restrain my passions for a few minutes in silence, but -I thought I should have died with the effort--'O my boy, my heart -weeps to behold thee thus, and I cannot, cannot help it. In the -moment that I thought thee blest, and prayed for thy safety, to -behold thee thus again! Chained, wounded. And yet the death of -the youthful is happy. But I am old, a very old man, and have -lived to see this day. To see my children all untimely falling -about me, while I continue a wretched survivor in the midst of -ruin! May all the curses that ever sunk a soul fall heavy upon -the murderer of my children. May he live, like me, to see--' - -'Hold, Sir,' replied my son, 'or I shall blush for thee. How, -Sir, forgetful of your age, your holy calling, thus to arrogate -the justice of heaven, and fling those curses upward that must -soon descend to crush thy own grey head with destruction! No, -Sir, let it be your care now to fit me for that vile death I must -shortly suffer, to arm me with hope and resolution, to give me -courage to drink of that bitterness which must shortly be my -portion.' - -'My child, you must not die: I am sure no offence of thine can -deserve so vile a punishment. My George could never be guilty of -any crime to make his ancestors ashamed of him.' - -'Mine, Sir,' returned my son, 'is, I fear, an unpardonable one. -When I received my mother's letter from home, I immediately came -down, determined to punish the betrayer of our honour, and sent -him an order to meet me, which he answered, not in person, but by -his dispatching four of his domestics to seize me. I wounded one -who first assaulted me, and I fear desperately, but the rest made -me their prisoner. The coward is determined to put the law in -execution against me, the proofs are undeniable, I have sent a -challenge, and as I am the first transgressor upon the statute, I -see no hopes of pardon. But you have often charmed me with your -lessons of fortitude, let me now, Sir, find them in your -example.' - -'And, my son, you shall find them. I am now raised above this -world, and all the pleasures it can produce. From this moment I -break from my heart all the ties that held it down to earth, and -will prepare to fit us both for eternity. Yes, my son, I will -point out the way, and my soul shall guide yours in the ascent, -for we will take our flight together. I now see and am convinced -you can expect no pardon here, and I can only exhort you to seek -it at that greatest tribunal where we both shall shortly answer. -But let us not be niggardly in our exhortation, but let all our -fellow prisoners have a share: good gaoler let them be permitted -to stand here, while I attempt to improve them.' Thus saying, I -made an effort to rise from my straw, but wanted strength, and -was able only to recline against the wall. The prisoners -assembled according to my direction, for they loved to hear my -council, my son and his mother supported me on either side, I -looked and saw that none were wanting, and then addressed them -with the following exhortation. - - - -CHAPTER 29 - -The equal dealings of providence demonstrated with regard to the -happy and the miserable here below. That from the nature of -pleasure and pain, the wretched must be repaid the balance of -their sufferings in the life hereafter - - -My friends, my children, and fellow sufferers, when I reflect on -the distribution of good and evil here below, I find that much -has been given man to enjoy, yet still more to suffer. Though we -should examine the whole world, we shall not find one man so -happy as to have nothing left to wish for; but we daily see -thousands who by suicide shew us they have nothing left to hope. -In this life then it appears that we cannot be entirely blest; -but yet we may be completely miserable! - -Why man should thus feel pain, why our wretchedness should be -requisite in the formation of universal felicity, why, when all -other systems are made perfect by the perfection of their -subordinate parts, the great system should require for its -perfection, parts that are not only subordinate to others, but -imperfect in themselves? These are questions that never can be -explained, and might be useless if known. On this subject -providence has thought fit to elude our curiosity, satisfied with -granting us motives to consolation. - -In this situation, man has called in the friendly assistance of -philosophy, and heaven seeing the incapacity of that to console -him, has given him the aid of religion. The consolations of -philosophy are very amusing, but often fallacious. It tells us -that life is filled with comforts, if we will but enjoy them; and -on the other hand, that though we unavoidably have miseries here, -life is short, and they will soon be over. Thus do these -consolations destroy each other; for if life is a place of -comfort, its shortness must be misery, and if it be long, our -griefs are protracted. Thus philosophy is weak; but religion -comforts in an higher strain. Man is here, it tells us, fitting -up his mind, and preparing it for another abode. When the good -man leaves the body and is all a glorious mind, he will find he -has been making himself a heaven of happiness here, while the -wretch that has been maimed and contaminated by his vices, -shrinks from his body with terror, and finds that he has -anticipated the vengeance of heaven. To religion then we must -hold in every circumstance of life for our truest comfort; for if -already we are happy, it is a pleasure to think that we can make -that happiness unending, and if we are miserable, it is very -consoling to think that there is a place of rest. Thus to the -fortunate religion holds out a continuance of bliss, to the -wretched a change from pain. - -But though religion is very kind to all men, it has promised -peculiar rewards to the unhappy; the sick, the naked, the -houseless, the heavy-laden, and the prisoner, have ever most -frequent promises in our sacred law. The author of our religion -every where professes himself the wretch's friend, and unlike the -false ones of this world, bestows all his caresses upon the -forlorn. The unthinking have censured this as partiality, as a -preference without merit to deserve it. But they never reflect -that it is not in the power even of heaven itself to make the -offer of unceasing felicity as great a gift to the happy as to -the miserable. To the first eternity is but a single blessing, -since at most it but encreases what they already possess. To the -latter it is a double advantage; for it diminishes their pain -here, and rewards them with heavenly bliss hereafter. - -But providence is in another respect kinder to the poor than the -rich; for as it thus makes the life after death more desirable, -so it smooths the passage there. The wretched have had a long -familiarity with every face of terror. The man of sorrow lays -himself quietly down, without possessions to regret, and but few -ties to stop his departure: he feels only nature's pang in the -final separation, and this is no way greater than he has often -fainted under before; for after a certain degree of pain, every -new breach that death opens in the constitution, nature kindly -covers with insensibility. - -Thus providence has given the wretched two advantages over the -happy, in this life, greater felicity in dying, and in heaven all -that superiority of pleasure which arises from contrasted -enjoyment. And this superiority, my friends, is no small -advantage, and seems to be one of the pleasures of the poor man -in the parable; for though he was already in heaven, and felt all -the raptures it could give, yet it was mentioned as an addition -to his happiness, that he had once been wretched and now was -comforted, that he had known what it was to be miserable, and now -felt what it was to be happy. - -Thus, my friends, you see religion does what philosophy could -never do: it shews the equal dealings of heaven to the happy and -the unhappy, and levels all human enjoyments to nearly the same -standard. It gives to both rich and poor the same happiness -hereafter, and equal hopes to aspire after it; but if the rich -have the advantage of enjoying pleasure here, the poor have the -endless satisfaction of knowing what it was once to be miserable, -when crowned with endless felicity hereafter; and even though -this should be called a small advantage, yet being an eternal -one, it must make up by duration what the temporal happiness of -the great may have exceeded by intenseness. - -These are therefore the consolations which the wretched have -peculiar to themselves, and in which they are above the rest of -mankind; in other respects they are below them. They who would -know the miseries of the poor must see life and endure it. To -declaim on the temporal advantages they enjoy, is only repeating -what none either believe or practise. The men who have the -necessaries of living are not poor, and they who want them must -be miserable. Yes, my friends, we must be miserable. No vain -efforts of a refined imagination can sooth the wants of nature, -can give elastic sweetness to the dank vapour of a dungeon, or -ease to the throbbings of a broken heart. Let the philosopher -from his couch of softness tell us that we can resist all these. -Alas! the effort by which we resist them is still the greatest -pain! Death is slight, and any man may sustain it; but torments -are dreadful, and these no man can endure. - -To us then, my friends, the promises of happiness in heaven -should be peculiarly dear; for if our reward be in this life -alone, we are then indeed of all men the most miserable. When I -look round these gloomy walls, made to terrify, as well as to -confine us; this light that only serves to shew the horrors of -the place, those shackles that tyranny has imposed, or crime made -necessary; when I survey these emaciated looks, and hear those -groans, O my friends, what a glorious exchange would heaven be -for these. To fly through regions unconfined as air, to bask in -the sunshine of eternal bliss, to carrol over endless hymns of -praise, to have no master to threaten or insult us, but the form -of goodness himself for ever in our eyes, when I think of these -things, death becomes the messenger of very glad tidings; when I -think of these things, his sharpest arrow becomes the staff of my -support; when I think of these things, what is there in life -worth having; when I think of these things, what is there that -should not be spurned away: kings in their palaces should groan -for such advantages; but we, humbled as we are, should yearn for -them. - -And shall these things be ours? Ours they will certainly be if we -but try for them; and what is a comfort, we are shut out from -many temptations that would retard our pursuit. Only let us try -for them, and they will certainly be ours, and what is still a -comfort, shortly too; for if we look back on past life, it -appears but a very short span, and whatever we may think of the -rest of life, it will yet be found of less duration; as we grow -older, the days seem to grow shorter, and our intimacy with time, -ever lessens the perception of his stay. Then let us take comfort -now, for we shall soon be at our journey's end; we shall soon lay -down the heavy burthen laid by heaven upon us, and though death, -the only friend of the wretched, for a little while mocks the -weary traveller with the view, and like his horizon, still flies -before him; yet the time will certainly and shortly come, when we -shall cease from our toil; when the luxurious great ones of the -world shall no more tread us to the earth; when we shall think -with pleasure on our sufferings below; when we shall be -surrounded with all our friends, or such as deserved our -friendship; when our bliss shall be unutterable, and still, to -crown all, unending. - - - -CHAPTER 30 - -Happier prospects begin to appear. Let us be inflexible, and -fortune will at last change in our favour - - -When I had thus finished and my audience was retired, the gaoler, -who was one of the most humane of his profession, hoped I would -not be displeased, as what he did was but his duty, observing -that he must be obliged to remove my son into a stronger cell, -but that he should be permitted to revisit me every morning. I -thanked him for his clemency, and grasping my boy's hand, bade -him farewell, and be mindful of the great duty that was before -him. - -I again, therefore laid me down, and one of my little ones sate -by my bedside reading, when Mr Jenkinson entering, informed me -that there was news of my daughter; for that she was seen by a -person about two hours before in a strange gentleman's company, -and that they had stopt at a neighbouring village for -refreshment, and seemed as if returning to town. He had scarce -delivered this news, when the gaoler came with looks of haste and -pleasure, to inform me, that my daughter was found. Moses came -running in a moment after, crying out that his sister Sophy was -below and coming up with our old friend Mr Burchell. - -Just as he delivered this news my dearest girl entered, and with -looks almost wild with pleasure, ran to kiss me in a transport of -affection. Her mother's tears and silence also shewed her -pleasure.--'Here, pappa,' cried the charming girl, 'here is the -brave man to whom I owe my delivery; to this gentleman's -intrepidity I am indebted for my happiness and safety--' A kiss -from Mr Burchell, whose pleasure seemed even greater than hers, -interrupted what she was going to add. - -'Ah, Mr Burchell,' cried I, 'this is but a wretched habitation -you now find us in; and we are now very different from what you -last saw us. You were ever our friend: we have long discovered -our errors with regard to you, and repented of our ingratitude. -After the vile usage you then received at my hands I am almost -ashamed to behold your face; yet I hope you'll forgive me, as I -was deceived by a base ungenerous wretch, who, under the mask of -friendship, has undone me.' - -'It is impossible,' replied Mr Burchell, 'that I should forgive -you, as you never deserved my resentment. I partly saw your -delusion then, and as it was out of my power to restrain, I could -only pity it!' - -'It was ever my conjecture,' cried I, 'that your mind was noble; -but now I find it so. But tell me, my dear child, how hast thou -been relieved, or who the ruffians were who carried thee away?' - -'Indeed, Sir,' replied she, 'as to the villain who carried me -off, I am yet ignorant. For as my mamma and I were walking out, -he came behind us, and almost before I could call for help, -forced me into the post-chaise, and in an instant the horses -drove away. I met several on the road, to whom I cried out for -assistance; but they disregarded my entreaties. In the mean time -the ruffian himself used every art to hinder me from crying out: -he flattered and threatened by turns, and swore that if I -continued but silent, he intended no harm. In the mean time I had -broken the canvas that he, had drawn up, and whom should I -perceive at some distance but your old friend Mr Burchell, -walking along with his usual swiftness, with the great stick for -which we used so much to ridicule him. As soon as we came within -hearing, I called out to him by name, and entreated his help. I -repeated my exclamations several times, upon which, with a very -loud voice, he bid the postillion stop; but the boy took no -notice, but drove on with still greater speed. I now thought he -could never overtake us, when in less than a minute I saw Mr -Burchell come running up by the side of the horses, and with one -blow knock the postillion to the ground. The horses when he was -fallen soon stopt of themselves, and the ruffian stepping out, -with oaths and menaces drew his sword, and ordered him at his -peril to retire; but Mr Burchell running up, shivered his sword -to pieces, and then pursued him for near a quarter of a mile; but -he made his escape. I was at this time come out myself, willing -to assist my deliverer; but he soon returned to me in triumph. -The postillion, who was recovered, was going to make his escape -too; but Mr Burchell ordered him at his peril to mount again, and -drive back to town. Finding it impossible to resist, he -reluctantly complied, though the wound he had received seemed, to -me at least, to be dangerous. He continued to complain of the -pain as we drove along, so that he at last excited Mr Burchell's -compassion, who, at my request, exchanged him for another at an -inn where we called on our return.' - -'Welcome then,' cried I, 'my child, and thou her gallant -deliverer, a thousand welcomes. Though our chear is but wretched, -yet our hearts are ready to receive you. And now, Mr Burchell, as -you have delivered my girl, if you think her a recompence she is -yours, if you can stoop to an alliance with a family so poor as -mine, take her, obtain her consent, as I know you have her heart, -and you have mine. And let me tell you, Sir, that I give you no -small treasure, she has been celebrated for beauty it is true, -but that is not my meaning, I give you up a treasure in her -mind.' - -'But I suppose, Sir,' cried Mr Burchell, 'that you are apprized -of my circumstances, and of my incapacity to support her as she -deserves?' - -'If your present objection,' replied I, 'be meant as an evasion -of my offer, I desist: but I know no man so worthy to deserve her -as you; and if I could give her thousands, and thousands sought -her from me, yet my honest brave Burchell should be my dearest -choice.' - -To all this his silence alone seemed to give a mortifying -refusal, and without the least reply to my offer, he demanded if -we could not be furnished with refreshments from the next inn, to -which being answered in the affirmative, he ordered them to send -in the best dinner that could be provided upon such short notice. -He bespoke also a dozen of their best wine; and some cordials for -me. Adding, with a smile, that he would stretch a little for -once, and tho' in a prison, asserted he was never better disposed -to be merry. The waiter soon made his appearance with -preparations for dinner, a table was lent us by the gaoler, who -seemed remarkably assiduous, the wine was disposed in order, and -two very well-drest dishes were brought in. - -My daughter had not yet heard of her poor brother's melancholy -situation, and we all seemed unwilling to damp her cheerfulness -by the relation. But it was in vain that I attempted to appear -chearful, the circumstances of my unfortunate son broke through -all efforts to dissemble; so that I was at last obliged to damp -our mirth by relating his misfortunes, and wishing that he might -be permitted to share with us in this little interval of -satisfaction. After my guests were recovered, from the -consternation my account had produced, I requested also that Mr -Jenkinson, a fellow prisoner, might be admitted, and the gaoler -granted my request with an air of unusual submission. The -clanking of my son's irons was no sooner heard along the passage, -than his sister ran impatiently to meet him; while Mr Burchell, -in the mean time, asked me if my son's name were George, to which -replying in the affirmative, he still continued silent. As soon -as my boy entered the room, I could perceive he regarded Mr -Burchell with a look of astonishment and reverence. 'Come on,' -cried I, 'my son, though we are fallen very low, yet providence -has been pleased to grant us some small relaxation from pain. Thy -sister is restored to us, and there is her deliverer: to that -brave man it is that I am indebted for yet having a daughter, -give him, my boy, the hand of friendship, he deserves our warmest -gratitude.' - -My son seemed all this while regardless of what I said, and still -continued fixed at respectful distance.--'My dear brother,' cried -his sister, 'why don't you thank my good deliverer; the brave -should ever love each other.' - -He still continued his silence and astonishment, till our guest -at last perceived himself to be known, and assuming all his -native dignity, desired my son to come forward. Never before had -I seen any thing so truly majestic as the air he assumed upon -this occasion. The greatest object in the universe, says a -certain philosopher, is a good man struggling with adversity; yet -there is still a greater, which is the good man that comes to -relieve it. After he had regarded my son for some time with a -superior air, 'I again find,' said he, 'unthinking boy, that the -same crime--' But here he was interrupted by one of the gaoler's -servants, who came to inform us that a person of distinction, who -had driven into town with a chariot and several attendants, sent -his respects to the gentleman that was with us, and begged to -know when he should think proper to be waited upon.--'Bid the -fellow wait,' cried our guest, 'till I shall have leisure to -receive him;' and then turning to my son, 'I again find, Sir,' -proceeded he, 'that you are guilty of the same offence for which -you once had my reproof, and for which the law is now preparing -its justest punishments. You imagine, perhaps, that a contempt -for your own life, gives you a right to take that of another: but -where, Sir, is the difference between a duelist who hazards a -life of no value, and the murderer who acts with greater -security? Is it any diminution of the gamester's fraud when he -alledges that he has staked a counter?' - -'Alas, Sir,' cried I, 'whoever you are, pity the poor misguided -creature; for what he has done was in obedience to a deluded -mother, who in the bitterness of her resentment required him upon -her blessing to avenge her quarrel. Here, Sir, is the letter, -which will serve to convince you of her imprudence and diminish -his guilt.' - -He took the letter, and hastily read it over. 'This,' says he, -'though not a perfect excuse, is such a palliation of his fault, -as induces me to forgive him. And now, Sir,' continued he, kindly -taking my son by the hand, 'I see you are surprised at finding me -here; but I have often visited prisons upon occasions less -interesting. I am now come to see justice done a worthy man, for -whom I have the most sincere esteem. I have long been a disguised -spectator of thy father's benevolence. I have at his little -dwelling enjoyed respect uncontaminated by flattery, and have -received that happiness that courts could not give, from the -amusing simplicity around his fire-side. My nephew has been -apprized of my intentions of coming here, and I find is arrived; -it would be wronging him and you to condemn him without -examination: if there be injury, there shall be redress; and this -I may say without boasting, that none have ever taxed the -injustice of Sir William Thornhill.' - -We now found the personage whom we had so long entertained as an -harmless amusing companion was no other than the celebrated Sir -William Thornhill, to whose virtues and singularities scarce any -were strangers. The poor Mr Burchell was in reality a man of -large fortune and great interest, to whom senates listened with -applause, and whom party heard with conviction; who was the -friend of his country, but loyal to his king. My poor wife -recollecting her former familiarity, seemed to shrink with -apprehension; but Sophia, who a few moments before thought him -her own, now perceiving the immense distance to which he was -removed by fortune, was unable to conceal her tears. - -'Ah, Sir,' cried my wife, with a piteous aspect, 'how is it -possible that I can ever have your forgiveness; the slights you -received from me the last time I had the honour of seeing you at -our house, and the jokes which I audaciously threw out, these -jokes, Sir, I fear can never be forgiven.' - -'My dear good lady,' returned he with a smile, 'if you had your -joke, I had my answer: I'll leave it to all the company if mine -were not as good as yours. To say the truth, I know no body whom -I am disposed to be angry with at present but the fellow who so -frighted my little girl here. I had not even time to examine the -rascal's person so as to describe him in an advertisement. Can -you tell me, Sophia, my dear, whether you should know him again?' - -'Indeed, Sir,' replied she, 'I can't be positive; yet now I -recollect he had a large mark over one of his eye-brows.' 'I ask -pardon, madam,' interrupted Jenkinson, who was by, 'but be so -good as to inform me if the fellow wore his own red hair?'--'Yes, -I think so,' cried Sophia.--'And did your honour,' continued he, -turning to Sir William, 'observe the length of his legs?'--'I -can't be sure of their length,' cried the Baronet, 'but I am -convinced of their swiftness; for he out-ran me, which is what I -thought few men in the kingdom could have done.'--'Please your -honour,' cried Jenkinson, 'I know the man: it is certainly the -same; the best runner in England; he has beaten Pinwire of -Newcastle, Timothy Baxter is his name, I know him perfectly, and -the very place of his retreat this moment. If your honour will -bid Mr Gaoler let two of his men go with me, I'll engage to -produce him to you in an hour at farthest.' Upon this the gaoler -was called, who instantly appearing, Sir William demanded if he -knew him. 'Yes, please your honour,' reply'd the gaoler, 'I know -Sir William Thornhill well, and every body that knows any thing -of him, will desire to know more of him.'--'Well then,' said the -Baronet, 'my request is, that you will permit this man and two of -your servants to go upon a message by my authority, and as I am -in the commission of the peace, I undertake to secure you.'-- -'Your promise is sufficient,' replied the other, 'and you may at -a minute's warning send them over England whenever your honour -thinks fit.' - -In pursuance of the gaoler's compliance, Jenkinson was dispatched -in search of Timothy Baxter, while we were amused with the -assiduity of our youngest boy Bill, who had just come in and -climbed up to Sir William's neck in order to kiss him. His mother -was immediately going to chastise his familiarity, but the worthy -man prevented her; and taking the child, all ragged as he was, -upon his knee, 'What, Bill, you chubby rogue,' cried he, 'do you -remember your old friend Burchell; and Dick too, my honest -veteran, are you here, you shall find I have not forgot you.' So -saying, he gave each a large piece of gingerbread, which the poor -fellows eat very heartily, as they had got that morning but a -very scanty breakfast. - -We now sate down to dinner, which was almost cold; but -previously, my arm still continuing painful, Sir William wrote a -prescription, for he had made the study of physic his amusement, -and was more than moderately skilled in the profession: this -being sent to an apothecary who lived in the place, my arm was -dressed, and I found almost instantaneous relief. We were waited -upon at dinner by the gaoler himself, who was willing to do our -guest all the honour in his power. But before we had well dined, -another message was brought from his nephew, desiring permission -to appear, in order to vindicate his innocence and honour, with -which request the Baronet complied, and desired Mr Thornhill to -be introduced. - - - -CHAPTER 31 - -Former benevolence now repaid with unexpected interest - - -Mr Thornhill made his entrance with a smile, which he seldom -wanted, and was going to embrace his uncle, which the other -repulsed with an air of disdain. 'No fawning, Sir, at present,' -cried the Baronet, with a look of severity, 'the only way to my -heart is by the road of honour; but here I only see complicated -instances of falsehood, cowardice, and oppression. How is it, -Sir, that this poor man, for whom I know you professed a -friendship, is used thus hardly? His daughter vilely seduced, as -a recompence for his hospitality, and he himself thrown into a -prison perhaps but for resenting the insult? His son too, whom -you feared to face as a man--' - -'Is it possible, Sir,' interrupted his nephew, 'that my uncle -could object that as a crime which his repeated instructions -alone have persuaded me to avoid.' - -'Your rebuke,' cried Sir William, 'is just; you have acted in -this instance prudently and well, though not quite as your father -would have done: my brother indeed was the soul of honour; but -thou-- yes you have acted in this instance perfectly right, and -it has my warmest approbation.' - -'And I hope,' said his nephew, 'that the rest of my conduct will -not be found to deserve censure. I appeared, Sir, with this -gentleman's daughter at some places of public amusement; thus -what was levity, scandal called by a harsher name, and it was -reported that I had debauched her. I waited on her father in -person, willing to clear the thing to his satisfaction, and he -received me only with insult and abuse. A s for the rest, with -regard to his being here, my attorney and steward can best inform -you, as I commit the management of business entirely to them. If -he has contracted debts and is unwilling or even unable to pay -them, it is their business to proceed in this manner, and I see -no hardship or injustice in pursuing the most legal means of -redress.' - -'If this,' cried Sir William, 'be as you have stated it, there is -nothing unpardonable in your offence, and though your conduct -might have been more generous in not suffering this gentleman to -be oppressed by subordinate tyranny, yet it has been at least -equitable.' - -'He cannot contradict a single particular,' replied the 'Squire, -'I defy him to do so, and several of my servants are ready to -attest what I say. Thus, Sir,' continued he, finding that I was -silent, for in fact I could not contradict him, 'thus, Sir, my -own innocence is vindicated; but though at your entreaty I am -ready to forgive this gentleman every other offence, yet his -attempts to lessen me in your esteem, excite a resentment that I -cannot govern. And this too at a time when his son was actually -preparing to take away my life; this, I say, was such guilt, that -I am determined to let the law take its course. I have here the -challenge that was sent me and two witnesses to prove it; one of -my servants has been wounded dangerously, and even though my -uncle himself should dissuade me, which I know he will not, yet I -will see public justice done, and he shall suffer for it.' - -'Thou monster,' cried my wife, 'hast thou not had vengeance -enough already, but must my poor boy feel thy cruelty. I hope -that good Sir William will protect us, for my son is as innocent -as a child; I am sure he is, and never did harm to man.' - -'Madam,' replied the good man, 'your wishes for his safety are -not greater than mine; but I am sorry to find his guilt too -plain; and if my nephew persists--' But the appearance of -Jenkinson and the gaoler's two servants now called off our -attention, who entered, haling in a tall man, very genteelly -drest, and answering the description already given of the ruffian -who had carried off my daughter--'Here,' cried Jenkinson, pulling -him in, 'here we have him, and if ever there was a candidate for -Tyburn, this is one.' - -The moment Mr Thornhill perceived the prisoner, and Jenkinson, -who had him in custody, he seemed to shrink back with terror. His -face became pale with conscious guilt, and he would have -withdrawn; but Jenkinson, who perceived his design, stopt him-- -'What, 'Squire,' cried he, 'are you ashamed of your two old -acquaintances, Jenkinson and Baxter: but this is the way that all -great men forget their friends, though I am resolved we will not -forget you. Our prisoner, please your honour,' continued he, -turning to Sir William, 'has already confessed all. This is the -gentleman reported to be so dangerously wounded: He declares that -it was Mr Thornhill who first put him upon this affair, that he -gave him the cloaths he now wears to appear like a gentleman, and -furnished him with the post-chaise. The plan was laid between -them that he should carry off the young lady to a place of -safety, and that there he should threaten and terrify her; but Mr -Thornhill was to come in in the mean time, as if by accident, to -her rescue, and that they should fight awhile and then he was to -run off, by which Mr Thornhill would have the better opportunity -of gaining her affections himself under the character of her -defender.' - -Sir William remembered the coat to have been frequently worn by -his nephew, and all the rest the prisoner himself confirmed by a -more circumstantial account; concluding, that Mr Thornhill had -often declared to him that he was in love with both sisters at -the same time. - -'Heavens,' cried Sir William, 'what a viper have I been fostering -in my bosom! And so fond of public justice too as he seemed to -be. But he shall have it; secure him, Mr Gaoler--yet hold, I fear -there is not legal evidence to detain him.' - -Upon this, Mr Thornhill, with the utmost humility, entreated that -two such abandoned wretches might not be admitted as evidences -against him, but that his servants should be examined.--'Your -servants ' replied Sir William, 'wretch, call them yours no -longer: but come let us hear what those fellows have to say, let -his butler be called.' - -When the butler was introduced, he soon perceived by his former -master's looks that all his power was now over. 'Tell me,' cried -Sir William sternly, 'have you ever seen your master and that -fellow drest up in his cloaths in company together?' 'Yes, please -your honour,' cried the butler, 'a thousand times: he was the man -that always brought him his ladies.'--'How,' interrupted young Mr -Thornhill, 'this to my face!'--'Yes,' replied the butler, 'or to -any man's face. To tell you a truth, Master Thornhill, I never -either loved you or liked you, and I don't care if I tell you now -a piece of my mind.'--'Now then,' cried Jenkinson, 'tell his -honour whether you know any thing of me.'--'I can't say,' replied -the butler, 'that I know much good of you. The night that -gentleman's daughter was deluded to our house, you were one of -them.'--'So then,' cried Sir William, 'I find you have brought a -very fine witness to prove your innocence: thou stain to -humanity! to associate with such wretches!' (But continuing his -examination) 'You tell me, Mr Butler, that this was the person -who brought him this old gentleman's daughter.'--'No, please your -honour,' replied the butler, 'he did not bring her, for the -'Squire himself undertook that business; but he brought the -priest that pretended to marry them.'--'It is but too true,' -cried Jenkinson, 'I cannot deny it, that was the employment -assigned me, and I confess it to my confusion.' - -'Good heavens!' exclaimed the Baronet, 'how every new discovery -of his villainy alarms me. All his guilt is now too plain, and I -find his present prosecution was dictated by tyranny, cowardice -and revenge; at my request, Mr Gaoler, set this young officer, -now your prisoner, free, and trust to me for the consequences. -I'll make it my business to set the affair in a proper light to -my friend the magistrate who has committed him. But where is the -unfortunate young lady herself: let her appear to confront this -wretch, I long to know by what arts he has seduced her. Entreat -her to come in. Where is she?' - -'Ah, Sir,' said I, 'that question stings me to the heart: I was -once indeed happy in a daughter, but her miseries--' Another -interruption here prevented me; for who should make her -appearance but Miss Arabella Wilmot, who was next day to have -been married to Mr Thornhill. Nothing could equal her surprize at -seeing Sir William and his nephew here before her; for her -arrival was quite accidental. It happened that she and the old -gentleman her father were passing through the town, on their way -to her aunt's, who had insisted that her nuptials with Mr -Thornhill should be consummated at her house; but stopping for -refreshment, they put up at an inn at the other end of the town. -It was there from the window that the young lady happened to -observe one of my little boys playing in the street, and -instantly sending a footman to bring the child to her, she learnt -from him some account of our misfortunes; but was still kept -ignorant of young Mr Thornhill's being the cause. Though her -father made several remonstrances on the impropriety of going to -a prison to visit us, yet they were ineffectual; she desired the -child to conduct her, which he did, and it was thus she surprised -us at a juncture so unexpected. - -Nor can I go on, without a reflection on those accidental -meetings, which, though they happen every day, seldom excite our -surprize but upon some extraordinary occasion. To what a -fortuitous concurrence do we not owe every pleasure and -convenience of our lives. How many seeming accidents must unite -before we can be cloathed or fed. The peasant must be disposed to -labour, the shower must fall, the wind fill the merchant's sail, -or numbers must want the usual supply. - -We all continued silent for some moments, while my charming -pupil, which was the name I generally gave this young lady, -united in her looks compassion and astonishment, which gave new -finishings to her beauty. 'Indeed, my dear Mr Thornhill,' cried -she to the 'Squire, who she supposed was come here to succour and -not to oppress us, 'I take it a little unkindly that you should -come here without me, or never inform me of the situation of a -family so dear to us both: you know I should take as much -pleasure in contributing to the relief of my reverend old master -here, whom I shall ever esteem, as you can. But I find that, like -your uncle, you take a pleasure in doing good in secret.' - -'He find pleasure in doing good!' cried Sir William, interrupting -her. 'No, my dear, his pleasures are as base as he is. You see in -him, madam, as complete a villain as ever disgraced humanity. A -wretch, who after having deluded this poor man's daughter, after -plotting against the innocence of her sister, has thrown the -father into prison, and the eldest son into fetters, because he -had courage to face his betrayer. And give me leave, madam, now -to congratulate you upon an escape from the embraces of such a -monster.' - -'O goodness,' cried the lovely girl, 'how have I been deceived! -Mr Thornhill informed me for certain that this gentleman's eldest -son, Captain Primrose, was gone off to America with his new -married lady.' - -'My sweetest miss,' cried my wife, 'he has told you nothing but -falsehoods. My son George never left the kingdom, nor was -married. Tho' you have forsaken him, he has always loved you too -well to think of any body else; and I have heard him say he would -die a batchellor for your sake.' She then proceeded to expatiate -upon the sincerity of her son's passion, she set his duel with Mr -Thornhill in a proper light, from thence she made a rapid -digression to the 'Squire's debaucheries, his pretended -marriages, and ended with a most insulting picture of his -cowardice. - -'Good heavens!' cried Miss Wilmot, 'how very near have I been to -the brink of ruin! But how great is my pleasure to have escaped -it! Ten thousand falsehoods has this gentleman told me! He had at -last art enough to persuade me that my promise to the only man I -esteemed was no longer binding, since he had been unfaithful. By -his falsehoods I was taught to detest one equally brave and -generous!' - -But by this time my son was freed from the encumbrances of -justice as the person supposed to be wounded was detected to be -an impostor. Mr Jenkinson also, who had acted as his valet de -chambre, had dressed up his hair, and furnished him with whatever -was necessary to make a genteel appearance. He now therefore -entered, handsomely drest in his regimentals, and, without -vanity, (for I am above it) he appeared as handsome a fellow as -ever wore a military dress. As he entered, he made Miss Wilmot a -modest and distant bow, for he was not as yet acquainted with the -change which the eloquence of his mother had wrought in his -favour. But no decorums could restrain the impatience of his -blushing mistress to be forgiven. Her tears, her looks, all -contributed to discover the real sensations of her heart for -having forgotten her former promise and having suffered herself -to be deluded by an impostor. My son appeared amazed at her -condescension, and could scarce believe it real.--'Sure, madam,' -cried he, 'this is but delusion! I can never have merited this! -To be, blest thus is to be too happy.'--'No, Sir,' replied she, -'I have been deceived, basely deceived, else nothing could have -ever made me unjust to my promise. You know my friendship, you -have long known it; but forget what I have done, and as you once -had my warmest vows of constancy, you shall now have them -repeated; and be assured that if your Arabella cannot be yours, -she shall never be another's.'-- 'And no other's you shall be,' -cried Sir William, 'if I have any influence with your father.' - -This hint was sufficient for my son Moses, who immediately flew -to the inn where the old gentleman was, to inform him of every -circumstance that had happened. But in the mean time the 'Squire -perceiving that he was on every side undone, now finding that no -hopes were left from flattery or dissimulation, concluded that -his wisest way would be to turn and face his pursuers. Thus -laying aside all shame, he appeared the open hardy villain. 'I -find then,' cried he, 'that I am to expect no justice here; but I -am resolved it shall be done me. You shall know, Sir,' turning to -Sir William, 'I am no longer a poor dependent upon your favours. -I scorn them. Nothing can keep Miss Wilmot's fortune from me, -which, I thank her father's assiduity, is pretty large. The -articles, and a bond for her fortune, are signed, and safe in my -possession. It was her fortune, not her person, that induced me -to wish for this match, and possessed of the one, let who will -take the other.' - -This was an alarming blow, Sir William was sensible of the -justice of his claims, for he had been instrumental in drawing up -the marriage articles himself. Miss Wilmot therefore perceiving -that her fortune was irretrievably lost, turning to my son, she -asked if the loss of fortune could lessen her value to him. -'Though fortune,' said she, 'is out of my power, at least I have -my hand to give.' - -'And that, madam,' cried her real lover, 'was indeed all that you -ever had to give; at least all that I ever thought worth the -acceptance. And now I protest, my Arabella, by all that's happy, -your want of fortune this moment encreases my pleasure, as it -serves to convince my sweet girl of my sincerity.' - -Mr Wilmot now entering, he seemed not a little pleased at the -danger his daughter had just escaped, and readily consented to a -dissolution of the match. But finding that her fortune, which was -secured to Mr Thornhill by bond, would not be given up, nothing -could exceed his disappointment. He now saw that his money must -all go to enrich one who had no fortune of his own. He could bear -his being a rascal; but to want an equivalent to his daughter's -fortune was wormwood. He sate therefore for some minutes employed -in the most mortifying speculations, till Sir William attempted -to lessen his anxiety.--'I must confess, Sir' cried he, 'that -your present disappointment does not entirely displease me. Your -immoderate passion for wealth is now justly punished. But tho' -the young lady cannot be rich, she has still a competence -sufficient to give content. Here you see an honest young soldier, -who is willing to take her without fortune; they have long loved -each other, and for the friendship I bear his father, my interest -shall not be wanting in his promotion. Leave then that ambition -which disappoints you, and for once admit that happiness which -courts your acceptance.' - -'Sir William,' replied the old gentleman, 'be assured I never yet -forced her inclinations, nor will I now. If she still continues -to love this young gentleman, let her have him with all my heart. -There is still, thank heaven, some fortune left, and your promise -will make it something more. Only let my old friend here (meaning -me) give me a promise of settling six thousand pounds upon my -girl, if ever he should come to his fortune, and I am ready this -night to be the first to join them together.' - -As it now remained with me to make the young couple happy, I -readily gave a promise of making the settlement he required, -which, to one who had such little expectations as I, was no great -favour. We had now therefore the satisfaction of seeing them fly -into each other's arms in a transport. 'After all my -misfortunes,' cried my son George, 'to be thus rewarded! Sure -this is more than I could ever have presumed to hope for. To be -possessed of all that's good, and after such an interval of pain! -My warmest wishes could never rise so high!'--'Yes, my George,' -returned his lovely bride, 'now let the wretch take my fortune; -since you are happy without it so am I. O what an exchange have I -made from the basest of men to the dearest best!--Let him enjoy -our fortune, I now can be happy even in indigence.'--'And I -promise you,' cried the 'Squire, with a malicious grin, 'that I -shall be very happy with what you despise.'--'Hold, hold, Sir,' -cried Jenkinson, 'there are two words to that bargain. As for -that lady's fortune, Sir, you shall never touch a single stiver -of it. Pray your honour,' continued he to Sir William, 'can the -'Squire have this lady's fortune if he be married to another?'-- -'How can you make such a simple demand,' replied the Baronet, -'undoubtedly he cannot.'--'I am sorry for that,' cried Jenkinson; -'for as this gentleman and I have been old fellow spotters, I -have a friendship for him. But I must declare, well as I love -him, that his contract is not worth a tobacco stopper, for he is -married already.'--'You lie, like a rascal,' returned the -'Squire, who seemed rouzed by this insult, 'I never was legally -married to any woman.'--'Indeed, begging your honour's pardon,' -replied the other, 'you were; and I hope you will shew a proper -return of friendship to your own honest Jenkinson, who brings you -a wife, and if the company restrains their curiosity a few -minutes, they shall see her.'--So saying he went off with his -usual celerity, and left us all unable to form any probable -conjecture as to his design.--'Ay let him go,' cried the 'Squire, -'whatever else I may have done I defy him there. I am too old now -to be frightened with squibs.' - -'I am surprised,' said the Baronet, 'what the fellow can intend -by this. Some low piece of humour I suppose!'--'Perhaps, Sir,' -replied I, 'he may have a more serious meaning. For when we -reflect on the various schemes this gentleman has laid to seduce -innocence, perhaps some one more artful than the rest has been -found able to deceive him. When we consider what numbers he has -ruined, how many parents now feel with anguish the infamy and the -contamination which he has brought into their families, it would -not surprise me if some one of them--Amazement! Do I see my lost -daughter! Do I hold her! It is, it is my life, my happiness. I -thought thee lost, my Olivia, yet still I hold thee--and still -thou shalt live to bless me.'--The warmest transports of the -fondest lover were not greater than mine when I saw him introduce -my child, and held my daughter in my arms, whose silence only -spoke her raptures. 'And art thou returned to me, my darling,' -cried I, 'to be my comfort in age!'--'That she is,' cried -Jenkinson, 'and make much of her, for she is your own honourable -child, and as honest a woman as any in the whole room, let the -other be who she will. And as for you 'Squire, as sure as you -stand there this young lady is your lawful wedded wife. And to -convince you that I speak nothing but truth, here is the licence -by which you were married together.'--So saying, he put the -licence into the Baronet's hands, who read it, and found it -perfect in every respect. 'And now, gentlemen,' continued he, I -find you are surprised at all this; but a few words will explain -the difficulty. That there 'Squire of renown, for whom I have a -great friendship, but that's between ourselves, as often employed -me in doing odd little things for him. Among the rest, he -commissioned me to procure him a false licence and a false -priest, in order to deceive this young lady. But as I was very -much his friend, what did I do but went and got a true licence -and a true priest, and married them both as fast as the cloth -could make them. Perhaps you'll think it was generosity that made -me do all this. But no. To my shame I confess it, my only design -was to keep the licence and let the 'Squire know that I could -prove it upon him whenever I thought proper, and so make him come -down whenever I wanted money.' A burst of pleasure now seemed to -fill the whole apartment; our joy reached even to the common -room, where the prisoners themselves sympathized, - - --And shook their chains - In transport and rude harmony. - -Happiness was expanded upon every face, and even Olivia's cheek -seemed flushed with pleasure. To be thus restored to reputation, -to friends and fortune at once, was a rapture sufficient to stop -the progress of decay and restore former health and vivacity. But -perhaps among all there was not one who felt sincerer pleasure -than I. Still holding the dear-loved child in my arms, I asked my -heart if these transports were not delusion. 'How could you,' -cried I, turning to Mr Jenkinson, 'how could you add to my -miseries by the story of her death! But it matters not, my -pleasure at finding her again, is more than a recompence for the -pain.' - -'As to your question,' replied Jenkinson, 'that is easily -answered. I thought the only probable means of freeing you from -prison, was by submitting to the 'Squire, and consenting to his -marriage with the other young lady. But these you had vowed never -to grant while your daughter was living, there was therefore no -other method to bring things to bear but by persuading you that -she was dead. I prevailed on your wife to join in the deceit, and -we have not had a fit opportunity of undeceiving you till now.' - -In the whole assembly now there only appeared two faces that did -not glow with transport. Mr Thornhill's assurance had entirely -forsaken him: he now saw the gulph of infamy and want before him, -and trembled to take the plunge. He therefore fell on his knees -before his uncle, and in a voice of piercing misery implored -compassion. Sir William was going to spurn him away, but at my -request he raised him, and after pausing a few moments, 'Thy -vices, crimes, and ingratitude,' cried he, 'deserve no -tenderness; yet thou shalt not be entirely forsaken, a bare -competence shall be supplied, to support the wants of life, but -not its follies. This young lady, thy wife, shall be put in -possession of a third part of that fortune which once was thine, -and from her tenderness alone thou art to expect any -extraordinary supplies for the future.' He was going to express -his gratitude for such kindness in a set speech; but the Baronet -prevented him by bidding him not aggravate his meanness, which -was already but too apparent. He ordered him at the same time to -be gone, and from all his former domestics to chuse one such as -he should think proper, which was all that should be granted to -attend him. - -As soon as he left us, Sir William very politely stept up to his -new niece with a smile, and wished her joy. His example was -followed by Miss Wilmot and her father; my wife too kissed her -daughter with much affection, as, to use her own expression, she -was now made an honest woman of. Sophia and Moses followed in -turn, and even our benefactor Jenkinson desired to be admitted to -that honour. Our satisfaction seemed scarce capable of increase. -Sir William, whose greatest leasure was in doing good, now looked -round with a countenance open as the sun, and saw nothing but joy -in the looks of all except that of my daughter Sophia, who, for -some reasons we could not comprehend, did not seem perfectly -satisfied. 'I think now,' cried he, with a smile, 'that all the -company, except one or two, seem perfectly happy. There only -remains an act of justice for me to do. You are sensible, Sir,' -continued he, turning to me, 'of the obligations we both owe Mr -Jenkinson. And it is but just we should both reward him for it. -Miss Sophia will, I am sure, make him very happy, and he shall -have from me five hundred pounds as her fortune, and upon this I -am sure they can live very comfortably together. Come, Miss -Sophia, what say you to this match of my making? Will you have -him?'--My poor girl seemed almost sinking into her mother's arms -at the hideous proposal.--'Have him, Sir!' cried she faintly. -'No, Sir, never.'--'What,' cried he again, 'not have Mr -Jenkinson, your benefactor, a handsome young fellow, with five -hundred pounds and good expectations!'--'I beg, Sir,' returned -she, scarce able to speak, 'that you'll desist, and not make me -so very wretched.'--'Was ever such obstinacy known,' cried he -again, 'to refuse a man whom the family has such infinite -obligations to, who has preserved your sister, and who has five -hundred pounds! What not have him!'--'No, Sir, never,' replied -she, angrily, 'I'd sooner die first.'--'If that be the case -then,' cried he, 'if you will not have him--I think I must have -you myself.' And so saying, he caught her to his breast with -ardour. 'My loveliest, my most sensible of girls,' cried he, 'how -could you ever think your own Burchell could deceive you, or that -Sir William Thornhill could ever cease to admire a mistress that -loved him for himself alone? I have for some years sought for a -woman, who a stranger to my fortune could think that I had merit -as a man. After having tried in vain, even amongst the pert and -the ugly, how great at last must be my rapture to have made a -conquest over such sense and such heavenly beauty.' Then turning -to Jenkinson, 'As I cannot, Sir, part with this young lady -myself, for she has taken a fancy to the cut of my face, all the -recompence I can make is to give you her fortune, and you may -call upon my steward to-morrow for five hundred pounds.' Thus we -had all our compliments to repeat, and Lady Thornhill underwent -the same round of ceremony that her sister had done before. In -the mean time Sir William's gentleman appeared to tell us that -the equipages were ready to carry us to the inn, where every -thing was prepared for our reception. My wife and I led the van, -and left those gloomy mansions of sorrow. The generous Baronet -ordered forty pounds to be distributed among the prisoners, and -Mr Wilmot, induced by his example, gave half that sum. We were -received below by the shouts of the villagers, and I saw and -shook by the hand two or three of my honest parishioners, who -were among the number. They attended us to our inn, where a -sumptuous entertainment was provided, and coarser provisions -distributed in great quantities among the populace. - -After supper, as my spirits were exhausted by the alternation of -pleasure and pain which they had sustained during the day, I -asked permission to withdraw, and leaving the company in the -midst of their mirth, as soon as I found myself alone, I poured -out my heart in gratitude to the giver of joy as well as of -sorrow, and then slept undisturbed till morning. - - - -CHAPTER 32. - -The Conclusion - - -The next morning as soon as I awaked I found my eldest son -sitting by my bedside, who came to encrease my joy with another -turn of fortune in my favour. First having released me from the -settlement that I had made the day before in his favour, he let -me know that my merchant who had failed in town was arrested at -Antwerp, and there had given up effects to a much greater amount -than what was due to his creditors. My boy's generosity pleased -me almost as much as this unlooked for good fortune. But I had -some doubts whether I ought in justice to accept his offer. While -I was pondering upon this, Sir William entered the room, to whom -I communicated my doubts. His opinion was, that as my son was -already possessed of a very affluent fortune by his marriage, I -might accept his offer without any hesitation. His business, -however, was to inform me that as he had the night before sent -for the licences, and expected them every hour, he hoped that I -would not refuse my assistance in making all the company happy -that morning. A footman entered while we were speaking, to tell -us that the messenger was returned, and as I was by this time -ready, I went down, where I found the whole company as merry as -affluence and innocence could make them. However, as they were -now preparing for a very solemn ceremony, their laughter entirely -displeased me. I told them of the grave, becoming and sublime -deportment they should assume upon this Mystical occasion, and -read them two homilies and a thesis of my own composing, in order -to prepare them. Yet they still seemed perfectly refractory and -ungovernable. Even as we were going along to church, to which I -led the way, all gravity had quite forsaken them, and I was often -tempted to turn back in indignation. In church a new dilemma -arose, which promised no easy solution. This was, which couple -should be married first; my son's bride warmly insisted, that -Lady Thornhill, (that was to be) should take the lead; but this -the other refused with equal ardour, protesting she would not be -guilty of such rudeness for the world. The argument was supported -for some time between both with equal obstinacy and good -breeding. But as I stood all this time with my book ready, I was -at last quite tired of the contest, and shutting it, 'I -perceive,' cried I, 'that none of you have a mind to be married, -and I think we had as good go back again; for I suppose there -will be no business done here to-day.'--This at once reduced them -to reason. The Baronet and his Lady were first married, and then -my son and his lovely partner. - -I had previously that morning given orders that a coach should be -sent for my honest neighbour Flamborough and his family, by which -means, upon our return to the inn, we had the pleasure of finding -the two Miss Flamboroughs alighted before us. Mr Jenkinson gave -his hand to the eldest, and my son Moses led up the other; (and I -have since found that he has taken a real liking to the girl, and -my consent and bounty he shall have whenever he thinks proper to -demand them.) We were no sooner returned to the inn, but numbers -of my parishioners, hearing of my success, came to congratulate -me, but among the rest were those who rose to rescue me, and whom -I formerly rebuked with such sharpness. I told the story to Sir -William, my son-in-law, who went out and reprove them with great -severity; but finding them quite disheartened by his harsh -reproof, he gave them half a guinea a piece to drink his health -and raise their dejected spirits. - -Soon after this we were called to a very genteel entertainment, -which was drest by Mr Thornhill's cook. And it may not be -improper to observe with respect to that gentleman, that he now -resides in quality of companion at a relation's house, being very -well liked and seldom sitting at the side-table, except when -there is no room at the other; for they make no stranger of him. -His time is pretty much taken up in keeping his relation, who is -a little melancholy, in spirits, and in learning to blow the -French- horn. My eldest daughter, however, still remembers him -with regret; and she has even told me, though I make a great -secret of it, that when he reforms she may be brought to relent. -But to return, for I am not apt to digress thus, when we were to -sit down to dinner our ceremonies were going to be renewed. The -question was whether my eldest daughter, as being a matron, -should not sit above the two young brides, but the debate was cut -short by my son George, who proposed, that the company should sit -indiscriminately, every gentleman by his lady. This was received -with great approbation by all, excepting my wife, who I could -perceive was not perfectly satisfied, as she expected to have had -the pleasure of sitting at the head of the table and carving all -the meat for all the company. But notwithstanding this, it is -impossible to describe our good humour. I can't say whether we -had more wit amongst us now than usual; but I am certain we had -more laughing, which answered the end as well. One jest I -particularly remember, old Mr Wilmot drinking to Moses, whose -head was turned another way, my son replied, 'Madam, I thank -you.' Upon which the old gentleman, winking upon the rest of the -company, observed that he was thinking of his mistress. At which -jest I thought the two miss Flamboroughs would have died with -laughing. As soon as dinner was over, according to my old custom, -I requested that the table might be taken away, to have the -pleasure of seeing all my family assembled once more by a -chearful fireside. My two little ones sat upon each knee, the -rest of the company by their partners. I had nothing now on this -side of the grave to wish for, all my cares were over, my -pleasure was unspeakable. It now only remained that my gratitude -in good fortune should exceed my former submission in adversity. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Vicar of Wakefield, by Oliver Goldsmith - |