1 files changed, 4452 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/35397.txt b/35397.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3bc6236
--- /dev/null
+++ b/35397.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,4452 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Christmas Stories, by Edward Berens
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Christmas Stories
+
+Author: Edward Berens
+
+Release Date: February 25, 2011 [EBook #35397]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRISTMAS STORIES ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Heather Clark, billyeiser and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This
+book was produced from scanned images of public domain
+material from the Google Print project.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+    CHRISTMAS STORIES.
+
+    CONTAINING
+
+    JOHN WILDGOOSE THE POACHER,
+
+    THE SMUGGLER,
+
+    AND
+
+    GOOD-NATURE, OR PARISH MATTERS.
+
+    OXFORD,
+
+    _PRINTED BY W. BAXTER_,
+    FOR J. PARKER; AND F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S
+    CHURCH YARD, AND WATERLOO PLACE, LONDON.
+
+    1823.
+
+
+
+
+    THE
+
+    HISTORY
+
+    OF
+
+    JOHN WILDGOOSE.
+
+ADVERTISEMENT.
+
+The Author of the following Tale has, for some time, wished to put
+together a little Tract on the evil and danger of _poaching_; an offence
+which so often leads on to the most immoral habits, and the most heinous
+crimes. It seemed that his object might be answered by the aid of
+narrative and dialogue, more effectually than by a regular and continued
+discourse. If it should be thought, in any degree, worthy of standing on
+the same shelf with "Trimmer's Instructive Tales," and the "Cheap
+Repository Tracts," the ambition of the Author will be gratified.
+
+    _Jan._ 27, 1821.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+THE
+
+HISTORY
+
+OF
+
+JOHN WILDGOOSE.
+
+Thomas Wildgoose was an honest and hard-working man, in one of the
+midland counties. He had long been attached to Susan Jenkins, a
+well-behaved young woman of the same village; but from prudence and a
+proper independence of mind, he determined not to take a wife until he
+had a house to bring her to, as well as some prospect of providing for a
+family without being a burthen to the farmers, who were already
+complaining of the pressure of the poor-rates.
+
+In consequence of his good character he was never out of work; and
+though his wages were not high, yet he almost every week contrived to
+put by something, which he deposited in a bank for savings, lately
+established in the neighbouring market town. His weekly deposits were
+not very large sums, yet "many a little makes a mickle." This was helped
+out by a legacy of thirty pounds from an uncle; so that in a few years
+he was enabled to purchase a cottage with a small garden, and had still
+something over for a few articles of furniture. Susan, meanwhile, had
+gone on steadily in service, always making a point of putting by some
+part of her wages; so that when they married, they were comparatively
+rich. For some time after his marriage Wildgoose continued to work for
+his old master; and Susan, by field work in the hay-making and harvest,
+and by taking in sewing at other times of the year, was able to earn a
+good deal towards maintaining their children. The wants of an increasing
+family, however, led him to consider how he might enlarge his means of
+subsistence; and the success of an old acquaintance in the adjoining
+village, determined him to endeavour to purchase a horse and cart, and
+commence business as a higler.
+
+A higler's business is liable to so many chances, and takes a man so
+much from home, that perhaps he would have acted more wisely if he had
+stuck to work. We cannot however blame him for endeavouring to better
+his circumstances in an honest way. Though he occasionally met with some
+losses from bad debts, yet upon the whole he did pretty well.
+
+One day in November, as he was returning home from market rather late in
+the evening, and was walking quietly by the side of the cart, he was
+suddenly startled by a rattling noise behind him; and turning round, saw
+the True Blue stage driving furiously along the road, and the Opposition
+coach a short distance behind. Wildgoose immediately went to his horse's
+head, and drew his cart as close as he could to the hedge; but just at
+that moment the Opposition coach had got up with the other, and in
+endeavouring to pass it, one of the leaders knocked poor Wildgoose down,
+and the wheels went over him. The unfeeling coachmen were too eager in
+the race to attend to the mischief which they had occasioned; and the
+poor man was left lying in the road, until two neighbouring farmers,
+returning from market, found him, and brought him home, more dead than
+alive, in his own cart. At first some faint expectations were
+entertained of his recovery; but soon it was found that the injury which
+he had sustained was too serious to admit of hope.
+
+Mr. Hooker, the clergyman of the parish, came to visit him frequently,
+for the purpose both of assisting his devotions, and of comforting his
+poor wife: and on one of these occasions he took an opportunity of
+asking him, in as kind a manner as possible, whether he had settled his
+worldly affairs. This certainly had not occurred to Wildgoose: when,
+however, Mr. Hooker explained to him, that if he died without a will,
+his house and garden would all go to his eldest son, subject to dower to
+his wife; and that in strictness of law his household furniture,
+shop-goods, and cart and horse, would be to be divided in three parts,
+one to his wife, and two between his children; he saw the propriety of
+arranging these matters while he was able. Mr. Smith the attorney was
+accordingly sent for. Poor Wildgoose, who had reason to have full
+confidence in the good sense and judgment of his wife, and in her
+impartial affection to her children, felt that he could not do better
+than leave every thing to her, at the same time constituting her sole
+executrix. He knew that she would consider herself as a trustee for the
+children, felt sure that she would not marry again, and thought it best
+not to fetter her by any minute directions. Mr. Smith prepared the will
+accordingly; and as three witnesses are necessary to a will bequeathing
+a freehold, their good neighbour Simpson the tailor was called in, who
+together with Mr. Hooker and Mr. Smith attested Wildgoose's execution of
+the will. When this was done, the poor man felt his mind relieved: and
+endeavoured more and more to detach his thoughts from all earthly cares,
+and to fix them on subjects connected with those unseen things which are
+eternal. The next day he received the sacrament, which he had been in
+the habit of receiving frequently during his life; and before the end of
+the week he died.
+
+Poor Susan had been for some time preparing for this sad event; but
+still when it actually happened, it seemed to come upon her by surprise.
+She felt quite stunned by the blow. At first, she could attend to, could
+think of, nothing but her own loss, her own sad and desolate condition.
+She was however soon enabled to turn for support to that Being, who
+bids the widow to trust in him, and who promises to protect the
+fatherless children. Her mind found a comfort in prayer; and the sort of
+strain and oppression which she felt through her whole frame was soon
+relieved by a flood of tears. The necessity of acting forced her to
+rouse and exert herself. Her husband had desired to be buried in as
+plain and simple a manner as possible; and she felt that she shewed him
+more real respect by complying with this direction, than by spending in
+useless shew that money which was wanted to provide necessaries for the
+children.
+
+Thomas had been one of the singers. The band accordingly met, and shewed
+their respect to his memory by singing the funeral psalm, after the
+conclusion of the beautiful and impressive lesson in the burial service.
+Poor Susan, who was naturally a strong-minded woman, had been able so
+far to exert herself as to attend the last sad ceremony, but had nearly
+sunk while the psalm was singing. She felt, however, the ground of
+consolation suggested to her by the service. When the clergyman read,
+"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord," and again, when he spoke
+of "the souls of the faithful after they are delivered from the burden
+of the flesh being in joy and felicity with the Lord," she felt an
+humble trust that these words were applicable to her dear departed
+husband. Deep therefore and acute as her sorrow was, she endeavoured to
+comply with the admonition of the holy apostle St. Paul, "not to be
+sorry as one without hope."
+
+She had little time, however, for the indulgence of grief. The
+circumstances of her family made it absolutely necessary for her to
+consider by what means she should provide for them. One of her first
+cares was to administer to the will. Mr. Hooker told her that she was
+liable to a heavy penalty if she neglected this; and that though the
+penalty was seldom levied, she was hardly complete executrix until it
+was done. The next thing to be considered was, how she could get a
+living without being a burden to the parish. Once she had some thoughts
+of carrying on the higling business herself; but the being taken so much
+from her home and children, and several other circumstances, convinced
+her that this plan was not advisable. She therefore determined to sell
+the horse and cart, and set up a shop, for which there was a fair
+opening in the village, without doing injury to any of her neighbours.
+
+It went to her heart to part with the horse, which had been her dear
+husband's fellow-traveller in so many journeys, and of which he had
+taken such good care; but prudence forbad her to give way to feelings of
+this nature. She therefore endeavoured to find for him a kind master,
+and got quite as good a price as she could expect. The cart too sold for
+as much as it was worth; and with the money which was thus produced, she
+was enabled to open her shop with a good supply of articles purchased at
+the ready money price. One plan, which she very early adopted, may be
+worth the attention of those who are engaged in the same business. She
+soon contrived to learn, what was the usual rate of profit, which the
+shops in the neighbourhood made upon the articles which they sold. They
+all sold upon credit, and of course lost a good deal by bad debts. Mrs.
+Wildgoose would gladly have sold nothing but for ready money; but as she
+soon found that this was out of the question, partly because some of
+the poor were irregularly paid by their employers, and partly from other
+causes, she adopted the following plan. In general she gave the same
+credit as the other shops, and thought it fair to make the same profit,
+but always gladly gave up half the profit to a ready money customer.
+
+Three of her children were able to make themselves of use. John, the
+eldest, who was now eleven years old, was employed by a farmer at
+seven-pence per day. Mary, the next, assisted in washing and mending,
+and in taking care of little Sarah while her mother was in the shop; and
+Sam could earn two shillings a week, sometimes by pig-keeping, and
+sometimes by jingling a sheep-bell, to keep the birds from the corn.
+
+And here I must just mention by the bye a scrape that little Sam once
+got into. He was sitting on the watch, under a hedge close to the public
+road, when a flight of pigeons settled on the wheat. Up jumped Sam, and,
+all at once, began hallooing as loud as his lungs would let him, and
+making the most alarming noise with his bell. He succeeded in driving
+off the plunderers but, unluckily, the suddenness of the noise close by
+the road so frightened the horse of a gentleman who was riding by, that
+he turned short round, and threw his rider into the dirt. The gentleman
+was not much hurt, but a good deal out of temper; and vented his anger
+by giving a few cuts with his whip to the boy, who caused his disaster.
+Poor Sam meant no harm; but perhaps he deserved some punishment, as his
+thoughtlessness in making a sudden noise so near the public road, might
+have been the occasion of a broken limb, or even a more serious
+accident.
+
+Notwithstanding a few occasional rubs and grievances, the family for
+some time got on pretty well; but there was something in the character
+of her eldest son, which gave Mrs. Wildgoose much uneasiness. He had, I
+am afraid, been rather spoilt from his infancy. Both father and mother
+were so fond of their first child, that they humoured him in every
+thing. Whatever he cried for he was almost sure to have, and this
+mistaken indulgence made him, from very early years, selfish, and
+wilful. Care and diligence afterwards, prospered by the grace of God,
+may certainly correct the effects of early spoiling; but, though they
+had so many other good qualities, the parents of John Wildgoose had not
+been sufficiently aware of the necessity of paying attention to the
+forming of his temper and principles. For a few years he was sent to the
+day school, and learnt to read tolerably well; but when he was between
+eight and nine years old, he was taken to work; and employed, sometimes
+by the farmers, sometimes to go on errands for his father. He felt his
+father's death a good deal, and for some time seemed anxious to do what
+he could to assist his mother. He stuck to his work, and regularly
+brought his earnings home; and was kind to his brother and sisters.
+Soon, however, the wilfulness of his character began again to shew
+itself, and gained strength by being no longer checked by the authority
+of a father. His mother was grieved to find that he would often go his
+own way instead of complying with her wishes. One of his principal
+faults at this time was a neglect of the Lord's day. He seldom came to
+church; and when he did happen to come, was inattentive to every part of
+the service. Mr. Hooker several times endeavoured to persuade him to
+come to the Sunday school; he told him that one principal use of such
+schools was the enabling those boys, who were engaged in labour during
+the week, to keep up and to improve the learning which they had acquired
+at the day school before they went to work; but he would not be
+persuaded. In spring he was bird's nesting; in summer he was lying on
+the grass, or bathing in the river; in autumn he was nutting, and, I am
+sorry to say, was sometimes guilty of making an inroad on a neighbour's
+orchard; and in winter he was engaged in sliding on the ice, hunting
+squirrels, or some other diversion. Both his mother and Mr. Hooker
+lamented this, and in the kindest manner endeavoured to make him
+sensible of the folly of his conduct. He received their admonitions in
+sullen silence; and instead of feeling, as he ought to have felt, that
+their advice proceeded from a regard for his welfare, seemed to think
+that it was meant to answer some object of their own.
+
+When he was just past seventeen, he unluckily struck up a close intimacy
+with a young man in the village, a few years older than himself. His
+name was William Atkins, but he was usually called Black Will. Atkins
+was a lively fellow, with a good deal of coarse humour. He was one of
+those men who neither fear God nor regard man, and who take pleasure in
+turning religion and every thing serious into ridicule. With him young
+Wildgoose passed many of his leisure hours; and sometimes on a Sunday
+evening they used to join a party of idlers at the Fighting Cocks, a
+lone public house, about a quarter of a mile from the village.
+
+Mrs. Wildgoose saw the intimacy which her son had formed with great
+pain, and repeatedly cautioned him against it. "Jack," she one day said
+to him, "I do wish from my heart that you would not keep company with
+that Will Atkins. I am sure no good can come of it." "Why, mother,"
+answered Jack, "what harm is there in poor Will? He is a good-humoured
+fellow, that loves a joke; and, I'm sure, he's always very kind and
+friendly to me." "As pleasant as you may find him," replied his mother,
+"you know that he bears but a middling character." "Yes," said the son,
+"but I shall take care not to be hurt by that." "Don't be too sure,"
+rejoined she; "the _Good Book_ tells us, that _evil communications
+corrupt good manners, that he that toucheth pitch shall be defiled
+therewith_, and that _the companion of fools shall be destroyed_." Jack
+never liked any thing approaching to a lecture; and sulkily saying, "I
+think, mother, I'm old enough now to judge for myself," left the house.
+
+Black Will, among other qualifications, possessed that of being an
+experienced poacher; and it was not long before he let John Wildgoose
+into the art and mystery of this species of marauding. He used to tell
+him stories of his dexterity in eluding the keepers, of his skill in
+entrapping the game, of the fine sums of money he made by it, and of the
+jolly parties which that money enabled them to have at the Fighting
+Cocks. Jack was amused with his stories, and began very soon to think
+that he should like to have a share in these adventures. As a boy he was
+always fond of bird's nesting, and bat fowling, and was eager to try his
+hand upon game of a higher description. Will was ready enough to lead
+him on. The next autumn he gave him a few wires, taught him how to set
+them in the most likely places, and how to make more. Young Wildgoose
+was at this time employed in keeping sheep, and was with them early and
+late. His friend instructed him to set his wires in the evening, and
+when he returned to his flock in the morning, to go round and see how
+they had succeeded. When he found a hare, he directly hid it in a ditch,
+or some snug place, till dark, and then carried it to Atkins, who used
+to meet him for this purpose near the Fighting Cocks. Secretly as he
+managed this, he did not escape the vigilant eye of Sir John's keeper;
+but besides that he felt for the young man's mother, and therefore was
+unwilling to expose him, he thought that he should do his master and the
+public more service by discovering the receiver of the hares, than by
+proceeding against the catcher of them. He had seen the direction which
+young Wildgoose usually took when he left his sheep, and contrived one
+night to station himself so, that he witnessed his meeting with Atkins,
+and saw the latter directly carry the booty into the public house.
+Stephen Tomkins the landlord was a keen, knowing kind of person. Though
+he sold a good deal of beer, yet he chose to say that he could not get
+his bread by keeping to his regular business, and had many other ways of
+earning a few shillings. Among the rest, he kept a horse and cart, with
+which he travelled every week as a higler, either to the county town, or
+wherever else suited his purpose. The game-keeper had long suspected him
+of carrying game, but had never been able actually to catch him. What he
+now saw, added to some private information which he had received,
+satisfied him that his suspicions were just. Early next morning
+therefore he applied for a warrant to search for game, and waited with
+the constable and two other men at the turn of the road, before you come
+to the turnpike at the entrance of the town. About the hour they
+reckoned upon, Tomkins's cart made its appearance, and they sallied out
+from the hovel where they had concealed themselves. Tomkins, upon being
+desired to stop, at first looked a little frightened, but soon contrived
+to put a good face upon the business. When they shewed him their
+warrant, he pretended to be surprised, and affronted that they should
+suspect such a man as him of any thing improper; at the same time
+asserting with many oaths, that he had nothing in his cart but a few
+fowls and the butter which he had collected from the dairymen. The
+keepers, however, insisted upon searching; and were so long before they
+succeeded, that they almost thought that he had got some hint of their
+intentions. At last, however, quite at the bottom of the cart, under
+butter baskets, fowls, and other commodities of the same nature, they
+discovered first one hare, then a second, then a third. As it was market
+day, the magistrates were holding their usual petty sessions. The
+keepers immediately carried Stephen Tomkins and the hares into the
+justice room. The regular steps having been gone through, and the
+witnesses sworn and examined, Tomkins had not a word to say in his
+defence. Mr. Hale, therefore, who acted as chairman of the bench,
+proceeded to conviction, and addressed him in the following words.
+
+"Stephen Tomkins, you have been convicted upon the clearest evidence of
+having game in your possession in your higler's cart, by which offence
+you have incurred the penalty of 15[English Pound]; that is, 5[English
+Pound] for each head of game, half to the informer and half to the poor
+of the parish[a]. The law does not give us the power of mitigating this
+penalty; and even if it did, we probably should not feel that there was
+any cause for mitigation. The offence of which you are convicted is one,
+the effects of which are very mischievous. It has been said, that if
+there were no receivers of stolen goods there would be no thieves: and
+it may be said, with equal truth, that there would be few poachers if
+there were no clandestine receivers of game. Such men as you encourage
+thoughtless young men in this manner to break the laws of their country,
+and to take to a course of life which often brings them to an untimely
+end. We hope that this conviction will be a warning to you, and will
+induce you to desist from such practices."
+
+[Footnote a: See Note [A.]]
+
+Tomkins said, that it was very hard that he should have to pay so heavy
+a fine, only for having a few hares in his cart; and did not see how he
+was more to blame than the poulterer, to whom he was going to send them,
+or than the gentlemen who bought them of the poulterers. Mr. Hale
+replied, that he and his brother justices sat there to execute the laws,
+and had not time to discuss the propriety of them, or the cases of
+other offenders who were not before them. "As for you, Mr. Tomkins," he
+continued, "for the reasons which I have given, I do not think your
+punishment at all too severe: at all events, it is the punishment
+prescribed by law, which we are bound to inflict. As for those other
+persons to whom you allude, a poulterer exposing game for sale, and a
+gentleman or other person _buying it_[b], are liable to the same
+penalty, and if they should be brought before us with sufficient
+evidence against them, it would be our duty to convict them. Perhaps I
+might also feel it right to give them the same admonition that I have
+given you. I might feel it right to hint to them, as I have done to you,
+that they are encouraging poor men to break the laws by poaching, and
+that they are in one point of view more to blame than the poachers
+themselves. A poacher often pleads distress and poverty. This is no
+excuse for him, but can certainly often be pleaded with truth. Now,
+certainly, a poor, uneducated man, who breaks the laws through
+distress--though mind, I again say, that that is no excuse for him--must
+in one point of view at least, be considered as less blameable than he
+who knowingly breaks them for the purpose of mere gain, or, than he who
+violates them for the sake of gratifying his appetite or his vanity, by
+seeing game upon his table."
+
+[Footnote b: See Note [B.]]
+
+Tomkins had nothing more to say, excepting that he had not the money by
+him, and wanted a little time to raise it. The justices therefore
+allowed him to defer the payment till that day fortnight.
+
+When the culprit returned into the market-place, he pretended to make
+light of the affair; and calling at the Red Lion for a pot of ale with
+some gin in it, drank "good luck to poaching," and affected to laugh at
+the magistrates. Fifteen pounds, however, was really a heavy pull upon
+Tomkins's purse, and whatever he might pretend, it weighed upon his mind
+a good deal.
+
+When he got back to his own house, he was loud in expressing his ill
+humour against Mr. Hale, and the whole bench of justices: and uttered
+against them the most dreadful curses. "Come, come, Stephen," said old
+Truman, his father-in-law, who was quietly sitting in the
+chimney-corner, "come, come, you are going a little too far; I am sorry
+for many reasons that you have got into this scrape, and don't wonder
+at your being vexed; but what right have you to cry out so against Mr.
+Hale?"--"Right!" said Tomkins, "right enough, I think. Why, has'nt he
+fined me fifteen pounds?"--"Yes; but could he do otherwise? Every
+magistrate, you know, is sworn to execute the laws to the best of his
+judgment. If, after such clear evidence, he had let you off, he would
+have broken his oath, and have acted ill towards the public at large,
+and unjustly towards those who are entitled to receive the money.
+Besides, Stephen, you don't suppose, because a magistrate punishes you
+as an _offender_, that he bears any ill will to you as a _man_.
+Excepting on licensing-day, he probably never saw you before, and never
+thought about you one way or the other."--"Well then," said Tomkins, "I
+hate him for being a magistrate at all."--"Now there you're wrong
+again," said the old man; "I'm sure we all ought to be very thankful to
+those gentlemen, who will undertake such a troublesome office,
+especially as they get nothing by it. There are few people in these days
+that will work without pay. The judges get some thousands a year, and a
+pension when they are too old for service. I do not wish them one
+farthing less, for they deserve richly all they get, and are, generally
+speaking, an honour to the country. The attorneys too, if you have any
+dealings with them, come pretty quick upon you with their
+three-and-fourpences, and their six-and-eightpences; and the counsellors
+seldom open their mouths under a guinea or two. Tho' here again I must
+say, that I don't think either of these sorts of lawyers over-paid, when
+you consider how many years most of them work before they get any thing,
+(many, I believe, never get any thing at all.) The gentlemen, however,
+who act as justices, give their time and attention for nothing, and run
+the risk of giving offence to many of their neighbours into the bargain.
+No one, I'm sure, will undertake the office, who values his own ease,
+and quiet, and comfort, at a higher rate than the being of use to his
+neighbours and the public."--"I wish," said Tomkins peevishly, "there
+were no such things as laws or magistrates in the world."--"Like enough,
+like enough," replied Truman, "men are apt to quarrel with the laws
+when the laws are too hard for 'em. You don't often look into the Bible,
+Stephen, but that would tell you, that the magistrate _beareth not the
+sword in vain, but is an avenger to execute wrath upon every soul that
+doeth evil_. It is, therefore, natural for a man, who has done evil, or
+who means to do evil, to wish that there was no such check upon him. But
+those who, instead of doing evil, wish to lead quiet and peaceable lives
+in an honest way, are glad to have the laws to protect them from evil
+doers, and are thankful to those who duly execute them."
+
+Tomkins did not much like Truman's lecture, and instead of being
+benefited by it, retained in his heart all his ill-will against Mr.
+Hale. In this he was not only very wrong, but, I am disposed to think,
+more unreasonable than the generality of men who may be in the same
+unlucky circumstances with himself. For men, who are convicted upon
+sufficient evidence, have generally the sense to see that the magistrate
+who convicts them, merely does his bounden duty. Tomkins put common
+sense and reason out of the question, and determined to do something by
+way of revenge. Mr. Hale's house was situated about seven miles off. It
+stood at the extremity of a rather extensive paddock, at the other end
+of which was a large fish pond, well stored with jack and perch. Tomkins
+knew the pond well, and took it into his head, that he would make it
+refund part of his fifteen pounds. He communicated his plan to Will
+Atkins, young Wildgoose, and Mike Simmons, who readily entered into it.
+They heard that Mr. Hale was from home for a few days, and determined to
+execute their plan without delay. They accordingly furnished themselves
+with a large net, and in the dusk of the evening proceeded to a barn, at
+a little distance from Mr. Hale's grounds. Here they concealed
+themselves till towards twelve o'clock at night. They then got over the
+pales, and were just beginning to open their net, when they were alarmed
+by the sound of horses coming swiftly along the road. They thought
+themselves safe from the owner of the pond, but were of course afraid of
+being seen at that time of night by any one else, and crouched down to
+avoid observation. In this they did not succeed. It was a cloudy night,
+but still the moon gave some light, and the horsemen, who proved to be
+Mr. Hale, (who had been unexpectedly called home,) his brother the
+Captain, and a servant, caught a glimpse of them. The gentlemen directly
+gave their horses to the servant, and jumping over the pales hastened
+towards the pond. The plunderers immediately ran off, and three of them
+were soon lost in the plantations. Wildgoose, however, in the hurry set
+his foot in a drain, threw himself down, and was taken.
+
+When told his name and place of abode, Mr. Hale said, that "he
+remembered his father as an honest and industrious man:" indeed the sad
+accident by which he lost his life, had made his name known throughout
+the neighbourhood. And then addressing himself to his prisoner, "Young
+man," said he, "I respected your father, and have heard that your mother
+bears an excellent character; I am therefore, heartily sorry to find
+that their son has taken to such bad practices. It is well for you that
+I did not come up a little later, after you had carried your scheme into
+execution. Had that been the case, you might have been transported."
+"Transported!" said Wildgoose in astonishment, "what, transported for
+taking a few fish!" "Yes, transported," replied the magistrate; "if a
+man steals fish from a pond in any inclosed ground, he is, upon
+conviction before one Justice, to be sentenced to pay five pounds: but
+if he enters into any park, or paddock, or garden adjoining to a house,
+and steals fish from any river, or pond in it, he is liable to be
+indicted at the Assizes, and transported for seven years[c]. The law
+often finds it necessary to protect, by a severe penalty, property that
+is much exposed; and when a man is daring enough to carry on his
+depredations in the very homestead of his neighbour, he requires a
+severe punishment. In the present case, though your intention is
+sufficiently clear, I have no wish, and do not feel bound, to prosecute
+you. Nor shall I (as I might do) sue you for the trespass. Go home to
+your mother, and never again allow yourself to be led by bad advisers
+into the like crime."
+
+[Footnote c: See Note [C.]]
+
+Jack had told his mother that he was going to a friend at a distance,
+and should not return home that night. This made her sadly anxious; but
+she knew by experience that persuasion was lost upon him. When he
+returned home in the morning, she was confirmed in the suspicion that
+something was wrong. From his intimacy with Will Atkins she concluded he
+had been upon some poaching scheme; and determined, as she could do
+nothing herself, to try what effect Mr. Hooker could produce upon her
+son. It was not long before a good opportunity offered. Just as Jack
+left Mr. Hale's paddock, a heavy rain had come on, which soon soaked his
+clothes. Wet as he was, he got into a shed, partly for shelter, and
+partly to fill up the time, till his mother was up in the morning to let
+him in. The consequence was, that he caught a severe cold, attended with
+so much fever and head-ache, that he was unfit to go to work. Mr. Hooker
+called, and having kindly enquired after his health, began giving some
+hints on the subject of poaching. Jack sulkily answered, that "no one
+had a right to consider him as a poacher, until he was caught." Mr.
+Hooker, however, who had had some communication with Sir John's keeper,
+soon let him know that he had good ground for what he said; and
+endeavoured to make him sensible of the criminality and danger of his
+conduct. Jack would not acknowledge that poaching was wrong. Stealing he
+knew was disgraceful and sinful. To carry off a sheep, or to rob a
+henroost, deserved, he allowed, to be severely punished; "but," said he,
+"I cannot see the harm of _poaching_: animals that run wild by nature
+belong to nobody, and any body that can has a right to catch them. I
+don't know why it is more wrong to kill a partridge than it is to kill a
+crow or a sparrow; or why catching a hare is worse than knocking down a
+squirrel." "The laws of the land," said Mr. Hooker, "have made a
+difference between those animals, and it is the duty of every man to
+obey the laws of the country in which he lives." "Not," answered Jack,
+"if the laws are hard or unfair." "Our duty," replied Mr. Hooker, "is to
+obey the laws as we find them. If every one were at liberty to reject
+such laws as he disliked, we might almost as well have no laws at all.
+The thief would cast off the laws against stealing; the drunkard those
+against drunkenness; and of course the poacher would have no laws
+against poaching. The Scriptures teach us _to submit ourselves to every
+ordinance of man_; why? _for the Lord's sake_:--as a matter of religious
+duty. They bid us to be subject not only for wrath, for fear of
+punishment, but _for conscience sake_. They teach us _to obey
+magistrates_: to be dutiful _to the king as supreme, and to magistrates
+as to them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and
+the praise of them that do well_. Remember, therefore, that quiet
+obedience to the laws of the land is a Christian duty. We are to obey
+the laws, whether we approve of them or not: but perhaps, after all, the
+laws against poaching are not so unreasonable as you take them to be.
+Upon what do the hares, and pheasants, and partridges feed?" "Why, upon
+a number of things; chiefly upon the grass and corn, and such like; and
+a deal of mischief they do." "Well then, being supported by the produce
+of the land, they ought in some way to belong to the land; but as from
+their wildness they move about from place to place, it is for the law to
+say in what manner they shall belong to it; and the law does this by
+making a certain property in land the principal qualification for
+killing game. Perhaps I may think that some alteration in the
+qualification might be an advantage; but I am not a lawgiver, Jack, any
+more than you; and as I said before, we are to obey the laws as we find
+them." "It's very well," said Jack, sulkily, "for a gentleman like you
+to talk about obedience to the laws, but I don't know what good the laws
+do to such a poor fellow as I am." Mr. Hooker did not immediately notice
+this, but, seeming to change the conversation, said, "By the bye, John,
+I was sorry to hear of your quarrel with Tom Nutman, the blacksmith at
+Ratton. I'm told that he threatens to break every bone in your skin. Are
+you not afraid of meeting him?" "Afraid," said Jack, "let him touch me
+if he dare." "Why, do you think that he is prevented by any sense of
+religion from putting his threat in execution?" "Religion! he has no
+more religion than a dog." "Oh! then you think that he is afraid of you,
+and that you are more than a match for him?" "Why no, I can't say
+that:--he's much the strongest man of the two, and is a noted prize
+fighter." "Then why should he not dare to touch you?" "Because he
+knows, that if he should strike me, I should get a warrant against him,
+and have him off to prison before he was a day older." "Oh! that is what
+you mean, is it? it seems then that the law is of some use to you, poor
+as you are. And as you say that he is not influenced by the fear of God,
+what is there that prevents his coming to-morrow, with half a dozen of
+the Ratton men, carrying off every thing in your mother's shop, and
+breaking your head if you said a word against it?--The laws of the land
+certainly, which he knows would severely punish his wrong doing." John
+was forced to acknowledge, that even the poor had an interest in the
+protection afforded by the law to persons and property.
+
+"But," continued Mr. Hooker, "poaching is positively wrong, not only as
+it is a breach of the laws, but on many other accounts. It is plainly
+contrary to the great rule of doing as you would be done by. You would
+not like, if the law gave you a right to any particular thing, to have
+any man come and take that thing from you: and so, when the proprietor
+of an estate and manor, like Sir John, is at much expence and trouble
+in order to preserve the game, which the law gives him a right to
+preserve, it is clearly wrong, and in opposition to the great rule which
+I have mentioned, for any man to invade that right. Besides, poaching is
+apt to bring a man into bad company, which is always most dangerous. The
+habit of being out at nights makes him familiar with deeds which shun
+the light; and too often, if he is disappointed of his game, the poacher
+makes up for it by taking poultry, or any thing else he can lay his
+hands on. We hear too every day, how poaching leads on to deeds of
+violence, and even of bloodshed, in the conflicts which it occasions
+with the men, whose duty it is to protect the game. In short, John,
+poaching is wrong in itself; it leads a man into a lawless way of life,
+and frequently is the beginning of all kinds of wickedness."
+
+Young Wildgoose felt that there was much truth in what Mr. Hooker said;
+and though the pride, or stubbornness of his character would not allow
+him to acknowledge it at the time, yet when he came to reflect on it
+after the clergyman was gone, he pretty much determined within himself
+that he would give up the sinful and dangerous practice into which he
+had been drawn. Perhaps some private reason came in aid of his good
+resolution. He stuck to his work; kept away from the Fighting Cocks; and
+avoided the company of Will Atkins and his old associates. His mother
+observed the alteration in his conduct with heartfelt pleasure. From the
+odd temper of her son, she thought it might be prudent not to say much
+about it: but she was particularly kind in her manner to him, and did
+all that she could to make his home comfortable. Young Wildgoose felt
+this as he ought, and for some time every thing went on well.
+
+Unhappily one evening in November, as John was returning from his work,
+he accidentally fell in with his old companion Atkins: "Why, Jack,"
+cried he, "what have you been doing with yourself? We never see thee
+among us now; and many a merry night have we had. What has made thee so
+shy of late?" Wildgoose told him that he was going to turn over a new
+leaf, and had given up poaching. "Well now, I'm sorry for that; but
+still that's no reason why you should'nt now and then join a friend or
+two over a pot of beer; so come along with me to Tomkins's. He'll be
+quite glad to see thee again." John refused with some steadiness, but
+Atkins said so much, with a sort of good-humoured raillery, that at last
+he gave way. In one pot of ale he thought there could be no harm.
+
+At the Fighting Cocks they found four or five of Will Atkins's
+particular friends sitting round the fire. They had not been drinking
+much, seemed sociable and friendly, and talked about any thing that came
+uppermost. Wildgoose soon went beyond the quantity, to which he had
+stinted himself; when all at once Atkins called out, "Come now, Jack, do
+tell us what could possess you to give up sporting. You used to take as
+much pleasure in it as any gentleman in the land." John was taken by
+surprise, and did not well know what to answer. At length he fairly
+acknowledged that he gave it up in consequence of what Mr. Hooker had
+said to him. "Well now, that is too bad," said Will, "I thought that you
+had been a lad of too much spirit to be talked over by a parson. I
+concluded that you had some real good reason, and never should have
+guessed that you had nothing more to say for yourself than that." John
+replied, that Mr. Hooker spoke very kindly to him; and that in what he
+said, he seemed to have both sense and Scripture on his side.
+"Scripture!" exclaimed Bob Fowler, "why sure enough Jack Wildgoose is
+turned methodist." They all laughed heartily at the joke, and went on
+for some time bantering Wildgoose upon his being so straight-laced. Jack
+never could stand being laughed at. He had not resolution enough to hold
+fast his integrity, when his integrity exposed him to ridicule. He did
+not remember the words of the prophet, _Fear ye not the reproach of men,
+neither be afraid of their revilings_: nor those of our Saviour,
+_Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words_--that is, ashamed of
+being religious, of being a Christian--_in this adulterous and sinful
+generation, of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he cometh in his
+glory with his holy angels_. In short, Atkins and his comrades plied
+Jack Wildgoose so successfully with ale and bantering, that he gave up
+his good resolutions, and agreed to accompany them on a scheme which
+they had already planned for making an attack upon Sir John's preserve.
+They sat drinking till past twelve o'clock at night, and then repaired
+by different roads to the scene of action.
+
+It so happened, that the keepers had received some information, which
+had carried them to the opposite side of the manor. The gang, therefore,
+carried on their operations for some time without interruption; and when
+their firing had drawn the keepers towards them, one of the party, who
+had been posted on the look-out, contrived to give them a signal, so
+that they got away without difficulty. They returned to their rendezvous
+loaded with pheasants, for which Tomkins paid them a good price, with
+some gin into the bargain. They gave Wildgoose more than his fair share
+of the money by way of encouragement; and agreed to meet again on the
+following Thursday.
+
+On that day they determined to try their luck in the wood which covers
+the north side of the hill, just at the outside of Sir John's park. The
+party consisted of Black Will, Bob Fowler, John Wildgoose, Tom Cade, and
+one more. Will and Bob were provided with guns; the rest had bludgeons,
+in order to assist them, in case of any interruption from the keepers.
+Atkins and Cade entered the wood from the park, and the three others a
+little lower down. Atkins had just fired at a pheasant, when one of the
+under keepers jumped up out of the ditch, and calling out, "Holloa! what
+are you at there?" ran to Atkins, and collared him. Tom, who was at a
+small distance behind a tree, immediately came to his friend's
+assistance, and a well aimed blow of his bludgeon laid the assailant at
+their feet. At this moment the head keeper and several of Sir John's men
+came up, and secured Tom. The other poachers were brought by the noise
+to the field of battle, and attempted to rescue their comrade; but as
+Fowler was aiming a blow at the man who had hold of him, one of Sir
+John's garden men struck him on the right arm, just above the elbow,
+with such tremendous force, that the bone was broken. The poachers, who
+before had begun to find that the keepers were too many for them,
+immediately ran, leaving Bob wounded, and Tom a prisoner. The former, in
+consequence of the hurt which he had received, was allowed to return to
+his family; but Tom was carried off to a magistrate, and then to gaol,
+in order to take his trial at the ensuing Quarter Sessions. The other
+three, when they found themselves safe from pursuit, slackened their
+pace. Will first broke silence, by exclaiming, "A pretty business we
+have made of it to-night. Well, we can't always manage as we did last
+week; but I hate to go home empty-handed." They were now passing through
+the orchard at the back of Farmer Dobson's house, when Will spied some
+turkeys, which had imprudently chosen to roost in the trees, instead of
+going into the poultry house. The opportunity was tempting; and for want
+of other game, Will twitched two of them from their branch, and carried
+them off so quietly, that the farmer's dog did not utter a single bark.
+Wildgoose was a good deal shocked at this. In the pursuit of game,
+though illegal, he thought there was something spirited and manly; but
+revolted at the idea of _stealing_. What Mr. Hooker had said on the
+tendency of poaching to lead on to other crimes occurred to him. He
+ventured to remonstrate; but Will answered, "Why, what's the harm? The
+old fellow is rich enough, and can well spare a turkey or two. If I had
+left them, they would only have bought a little more finery for his
+daughters." John still persisted that stealing was dishonourable, but
+his comrade replied, "Come, come, let's have no more preaching; in our
+way of life a man must not mind trifles. To tell you the truth, I have
+done as much by a sheep before now;--only then, to be sure, I had a
+little bit of a grudge against the farmer, and I knew he could easily
+afford it." Wildgoose was more and more staggered. He saw how easily a
+man, who was in the habit of breaking the laws in one instance, could go
+on to break them in another, but gave up arguing the point with his
+companion.
+
+Fowler contrived to get home with his broken arm before the morning.
+When the surgeon arrived, he found that the fracture was a bad one; and
+the worse from the severe bruise with which it was accompanied. On the
+Saturday morning, his wife, who had four small children, went to the
+overseer for relief. "And so you think," said he, "Nanny, that because
+your husband has thrown himself out of work, by his own misconduct, he
+is to be supported out of the pockets of the farmers? We have enough to
+do to pay rents and taxes, and provide for our own families, without
+having to provide for the families of poachers. If your husband had met
+with an accident in an honest way, I'm sure, I for one should have been
+for giving him all possible assistance; and no farmer in the parish
+would have said a word against it: but it is very hard that we should be
+expected to pay for his bad deeds." Nanny Fowler felt the truth of what
+he said, but replied, "that still they must not starve." "It is true,"
+answered the overseer, "the law does say that nobody shall starve; but
+you must not expect much more from me than is just necessary to keep you
+from starving. I'm sorry, Nanny, for you and your children, but when the
+father of a family breaks the laws, he must expect his family to suffer
+for it as well as himself. It is in the nature of things that it should
+be so. You shall have from the parish just what is necessary; but even
+that you shall receive by way of loan[d], and if your husband recovers
+the use of his arm, we shall compel him to repay it in the summer. If
+his arm never gets well again, which I fear may possibly be the case,
+we can't expect to get the money back; but we shall not maintain him in
+idleness. We shall set him to do what he can; and if he earns but a
+little, and is kept but just from starving, he will have no one to blame
+but himself."
+
+[Footnote d: See Note [D.]]
+
+The bad success of the last expedition, and the loss of strength which
+they had sustained, kept the gang of plunderers comparatively quiet.
+Jack Wildgoose, however, and Black Will, again took to their old
+practice of wiring hares[e]; and contrived to dispose of a considerable
+number. The keepers were aware of it, but somehow could never manage to
+come upon them exactly at the right time. One Sunday morning, when Jack
+had gone round to examine into the state of his snares, and had just
+taken up a hare with the wire round its neck, Stokes the under-keeper,
+who had been concealed on the other side of the hedge, suddenly started
+up, and caught him in the fact. An information against him was
+immediately laid by one of Stokes's fellow-servants; a summons was
+procured; and John Wildgoose appeared at the Justice meeting, which took
+place next day.
+
+[Footnote e: See Note [E.]]
+
+The information having been read, and Wildgoose having pleaded not
+guilty, the keeper was sworn, and began to give his evidence. Being
+asked at what hour in the morning the transaction took place, he
+replied, "A little after seven: for I had heard the great clock at Sir
+John's strike a few minutes before." "That's false, however," said a
+voice from the crowd, which was assembled in the Justice room. "Come
+forward there," said one of the Justices; when who should make his
+appearance but Black Will. The magistrate told him not to interrupt the
+witness, but that if he had any thing to say, he should state it upon
+oath when the keeper's evidence had been gone through. This was soon
+done; and then Atkins being sworn, and desired to state what he knew of
+the business, replied, "I know but little about it; but this I _can_
+say, before seven on Sunday morning Jack Wildgoose and I started
+together to see a friend at Hollybourn, which your Worship may perhaps
+know is about six miles off. We went to church there, and did not get
+back till the afternoon. So how Jack can have been wiring hares after
+seven I don't very well know." The Justices looked surprised, as the
+under-keeper had the character of being an honest, truth-telling man.
+Wildgoose himself said nothing. Mr. Hale, who acted as chairman, was
+beginning to put some questions to Stokes, in the hope of finding
+something either to confirm or to weaken his testimony, when an elderly
+man in a smock frock came to the bar, and said, "I should be as glad as
+any one to have the young man got off, both for his own sake, and for
+the sake of his good mother; but I cannot stand by in silence, and hear
+a man take such an audacious false oath as that sworn by Will Atkins.
+Why you know, Will," continued he, "that you skulked by the Fighting
+Cocks soon after seven; I was afraid that you were about no good, and if
+the gentlemen won't believe me, I can name another who saw you as well
+as I." This was old Truman, who had got a lift in Tomkins's cart for the
+sake of hearing the proceedings, but without the most distant thought of
+taking any part in them himself. His high respect for the name of God,
+and his general love of truth, compelled him to speak against his own
+wishes.
+
+The fact was this. Atkins, who had gone to meet Wildgoose on the Sunday
+morning, in order to receive from him the hares which he had snared,
+heard that he had been detected, and almost immediately determined to
+try the chance of setting up an _alibi_. For himself, as he had not the
+fear of God before his eyes, he cared not whether what he swore was
+false or true, so that it answered his purpose. He therefore had
+directed Wildgoose, though without telling him his intention, to keep
+close at home, and let no one see him; and had hastened himself to get
+out of the village, unobserved as he thought by any one.
+
+When Truman spoke, Black Will turned pale with vexation and rage, and
+darted at the old man a look, which said that he longed to strike him to
+the earth. When Truman, however, had repeated his statement upon oath,
+Atkins endeavoured to get out of the scrape as well as he could, and
+stammered out something about mistaking the hour. Mr. Hale the chairman
+gave him a most serious reprimand. He told him, that "the deliberately
+calling upon the God of truth to bear witness to a falsehood, was daring
+the Almighty to his face. That, as the property, the good name, and
+even the lives of men depended in great measure upon preserving the
+proper respect for an oath, the man who wilfully took a false oath
+deserved to be banished out of all civilized society; he added, that he
+hoped Sir John would indict him for perjury." He then proceeded to
+convict Wildgoose. "The penalty," said he, "for using engines for the
+destruction of game, on other days, is, as you know well enough, five
+pounds. But as your offence was committed on the Lord's Day, the penalty
+is any sum that we think fit, provided it is not more than 20 [English
+Pound] nor less than 10 [English Pound]. In compassion to your mother we
+will fix the lower sum. This it is our duty to sentence you to pay. If
+you cannot pay it, and have not goods which we can distrain, you must go
+to prison." Wildgoose answered that as for the penalty, he neither could
+nor would pay it: that he had no goods, as he was only a sort of a
+lodger in his mother's house, and that he had as soon go to prison as
+not. He knew that there he should have plenty to eat and little to do.
+In this last supposition he was mistaken, as the magistrates had, though
+with some difficulty, contrived to find work enough to keep the
+prisoners continually employed. The parish constable, under whose care
+Wildgoose was, said, that of his own certain knowledge he was able to
+confirm the truth of his statement as to his having no goods to
+distrain. The commitment therefore was made out, and Jack was sent off
+to the county gaol.
+
+Lightly as he had talked of going to prison, yet he felt a good deal
+when actually on his way thither; and when he saw the high walls, the
+grated windows, the narrow cells,--still more when he heard the clank of
+the fetters of some of his fellow prisoners, who were confined for
+heinous offences, his soul sank within him. He was shocked too and
+mortified at being required to put on that token of disgrace, a prison
+dress. He did not, however, remain there long. His poor mother was
+thunderstruck at hearing that her son was really sent to prison, and
+lost no time in endeavouring to get money enough to pay the fine in
+order to procure his freedom. She had hardly any money in the house; but
+her neighbours were ready to lend her what they had by them; and four
+pounds, being the whole of her savings in service, were eagerly and
+freely given by Lucy Wilmot, a well-behaved young woman, to whom Jack
+Wildgoose had for some time been attached.
+
+Mrs. Wildgoose could not bear to be in debt; and as she never was able
+to do much more than just maintain her family, she knew that she must
+deny herself and her children every little indulgence in order to repay
+her kind neighbours. But she thought that any thing was better than
+suffering her son to remain in prison, in the society, it might be, of
+depraved and abandoned characters.
+
+The penalty having been paid, Jack was immediately set at liberty. He
+felt a little abashed at first coming home; but the kind manner of his
+mother, who, though her heart was full of grief, would not utter the
+least reproach, relieved him. Jack soon observed in a variety of little
+things a change in his mother's manner of living. She had been
+accustomed, for instance, to give her children a bit of meat baked with
+a pudding on Sundays. When, instead of this, nothing made its appearance
+but some potatoes and dripping, with bread and cheese, the girls looked
+disconcerted, and Sam cried out, "Why, mother, what's become of the
+meat and pudding? This is no better than a working-day's dinner." Mrs.
+Wildgoose told them, that she could not at present afford to give them a
+better, and they should be thankful for what they had. John knew well
+enough the meaning of this, and, to do him justice, felt a good deal.
+Often did he now wish that he had in his pocket again those many
+shillings and sixpences, which he had uselessly spent at the Fighting
+Cocks.
+
+His mother, who had always been pleased with his attachment to Lucy
+Wilmot, thought it but fair to tell him one day how generously she had
+contributed to his enlargement. John was much overcome, and took the
+first opportunity of warmly thanking Lucy for her kindness to him. Lucy
+was vexed at his knowing it, and was a good deal confused; but there was
+something in her manner, which encouraged him to express his hopes of
+being some day united to her. Lucy was a frank, ingenuous, open-hearted
+girl, and did not pretend to deny the regard that she felt for him;
+"but, John," said she, "I can never consent to marry a poacher; I should
+not think it right to unite myself to a man who lives in the habit of
+breaking the laws. I could not bear to have for a husband, the companion
+of nightly plunderers, drunkards, and sabbath-breakers. Besides, I
+should never have a moment's peace. The thoughts of fines, and
+imprisonments, and fightings with game-keepers, and all sorts of
+terrible things, would never be out of my head. Instead of your coming
+home to me at night, I should expect to hear of your being taken up, or
+wounded, or being forced to fly the country. No, John; I don't pretend
+to deny the kindness I feel for you. We were play-fellows when children;
+were always good friends as we were growing up; and--perhaps--I might
+now use a stronger term of regard; but I never will--I never can--marry
+a poacher." Wildgoose promised again and again, that he would give it
+up. "So you said before, John. Nobody could promise fairer than you did;
+and for a little while I hoped you would keep your promise. But you know
+how little came of it after all." John promised that this time he would
+be more steady. Lucy replied, "As yet, John, we are both much too young
+to think of settling. If I know my own heart, I think that I shall
+never love any man but you: but I will never become your wife, until you
+have shewn, by the experience of a year or two, that you have firmness
+enough to keep to your present resolution."
+
+Wildgoose's spirit was a little _up_ at Lucy's not choosing to _trust_
+him at once. He was deeply gratified by her acknowledgment that she was
+attached to him; but at the same time felt something like pique and
+ill-humour, at what he called her want of confidence in him. He was
+doubly resolved, however, to prove by his conduct that she had no reason
+to doubt his steadiness.
+
+Every thing now seemed going on well. John passed his days in honest
+labour, and spent his evenings at home. He saw Lucy frequently; but soon
+after Christmas she was obliged to return to her place, which was in the
+family of a respectable gentleman, at some distance.
+
+Towards the latter end of the second week in January, Wildgoose happened
+to be passing the public house, when Atkins and two or three others came
+running out, and eagerly asked him whether he had heard the news.
+"News!" said John, "what news do you mean?" "News in which you are very
+nearly concerned," said Mike Simmons; "but we can't tell you here; come
+in with us into the house." To enter the door of the Fighting Cocks was
+rather contrary to Wildgoose's resolution; but his desire to hear news,
+in which he was so greatly interested, got the better of his scruples.
+He therefore went in, and found two or three other men, of no very good
+character, sitting round the fire, with their beer on the table. Jack
+felt bound to call for some too, and asked to hear their news. "And sad
+news it is," said Will; "the Quarter Sessions are just over; and--would
+you believe it!--they have sentenced poor Tom Cade to transportation."
+Wildgoose did not happen to have heard of the law, by which such nightly
+depredators, if armed in any way, are made liable to that punishment[f],
+and expressed some surprise. "Yes, they have condemned him to
+transportation," exclaimed the whole party; "transportation! only for
+trying to shoot a pheasant or two." "Now there you mistake the matter,"
+said old Truman, (who, as he lodged with his son-in-law, was present at
+more of these conversations than he wished,) "you mistake the matter
+altogether. The law does not transport a man merely for killing a
+pheasant, but for going out at night _armed_, and prepared for deeds of
+violence against those whose duty it is to protect the game. The law
+gives every man a right to take care of his property. It gives the owner
+of a manor and land a sort of property in the game on his manor and
+land, and a right to appoint persons to preserve it. If lawless men
+choose to go, where they have no right to be at all, prepared to beat,
+wound, and perhaps to kill, the men, whose duty it is to protect the
+game, they deserve to be trounced pretty tightly. Besides, you must
+remember, when a man is taken to in this way, he can't be punished at
+all without a fair trial by a jury; while in common game cases the
+justice is both judge and jury too. To be sure," added he, "if a man
+thinks himself wronged by a justice's judgment, he has always a right to
+appeal against it." Having said this, old Truman, who did not much like
+the company, and had no hopes of reforming them, went to bed.
+
+[Footnote f: See Note [F.]]
+
+"For all the old man's fine talking," cried Atkins, "I say it is very
+hard and cruel usage of poor Tom: and I never suffer a friend to be
+wronged without being revenged. Sir John's pheasants, at all rates,
+shall pay for it, and I would advise the keepers not to put themselves
+in harm's way." "Let's go to-night," said Tim Nesbit, "there will be a
+fine moon; and besides, I understand Sir John comes home to-morrow from
+Wales, and then we shan't have so good a chance." This was agreed upon,
+and Tim began singing the poacher's song;
+
+    Oh! 'tis a merry moony night;
+    To catch the little hares O!
+
+They sat on drinking, though not so as to get intoxicated, till they
+thought the time suited their purpose. When preparing to start, Atkins
+said to Wildgoose, who had taken a good deal more beer than of late he
+had been accustomed to, "You'll go with us, Jack?" Wildgoose replied,
+that he had given up poaching for good and all, and should go quietly
+home. "Now don't ye be shy," said Maurice Croft, "come along, like a
+hearty fellow as you used to be." John still continued firm, and said
+that he should go back to his mother. "Aye, let Johnny go and be tied
+to his mother's apron string; that's a good Johnny," cried Tim Nesbit,
+"I always thought him a chicken-hearted fellow. Why, did'nt Bob tell you
+that he was turned methodist? You can't expect a fellow like that to be
+true to his friends, or to have any spirit about him." "When a man has,
+as you may say, lost a limb in the service," said Bob Fowler, who was
+sitting by the fire with his arm in a sling, "it's all fair that he
+should be a little backward, but I can't bear that a stout young fellow
+like that should turn coward." Wildgoose felt mortified, and vexed, and
+angered; and his anger was upon the point of so far getting the better,
+as to make him still more determined upon avoiding their company; when
+Atkins, who had not joined in the cry against him, pretended to take his
+part. "Jack's as stout-hearted a fellow as any of you," said he, "and
+he'll shew it to-night. I know he'll go with us, if it's only to
+pleasure me, that have always been his friend, and run the risk of the
+pillory to get him off; and just to prove to you once for all that he's
+no coward." "Come, Jack, I know you'll come with us this once, and we
+won't plague you again about it. What has been said now, was all said in
+joke, so you mus'nt be angry. You know you need'nt carry a gun if you
+do'nt like it, but you _shall_ just come and see the sport. No harm
+_can_ come of it: as we shall be five of us, you may be sure the keepers
+will be wise enough to keep their distance."
+
+Wildgoose, at last, suffered himself to be persuaded. He thought that
+Lucy would not hear of it; and that at all events it should be the last
+time. Away they went, and were soon at the outside of Sir John's
+preserve. It was a still serene night. The moon shone brightly, and the
+hoar frost sparkled like diamonds on the twigs and few dead leaves.
+
+Atkins, who on these occasions always took a sort of lead, turned to his
+companions, and said, "Now, remember, my boys, we don't come here to be
+taken, and sent out of the country like poor Tom. For my part I don't
+think the keepers will come near us; but if they do, we must stand true
+to each other, and send them home again as wise as they came." They
+entered the wood, and dispersing themselves so as to be at no great
+distance from each other, began their attack upon the sleeping
+pheasants. They had not fired many shots before the game-keeper, who was
+going his rounds, was brought to the spot. As he was getting over the
+hedge, one of the stakes of which he had taken hold broke short off, and
+let him fall back into the ditch. The noise gave the alarm to the
+poachers, and they most of them concealed themselves behind large trees,
+or the inequalities of ground in an old gravel pit. Michael Simmons was
+not so quick as the rest. The keeper got sight of, and soon contrived to
+seize him, exclaiming, "So ho! my lad! you must go along with me." He
+hardly uttered the words, when Maurice Croft came to the rescue of his
+comrade. The keeper, who was a powerful man, still kept hold of him, and
+warded off a blow or two which Maurice aimed, as well as he could, when
+he found himself suddenly seized by two men from behind, and borne to
+the ground. "Blind his eyes, that he may'nt see too much of us," said
+Black Will; "tie his hands behind him, and make him fast to this young
+oak tree; he shall then have the amusement of hearing what pretty work
+we make among his pheasants."
+
+These orders were immediately obeyed. His gun was given to Wildgoose,
+who was growing more and more eager in the sport. A handkerchief was
+placed over his eyes, and he was bound to the tree so tightly, as to
+occasion a considerable degree of pain. The gang went gaily to work
+again, and the keeper had the mortification of hearing the pheasants
+fall on all sides of him.
+
+His trusty fellow-servant, Stokes, however, was not idle. He inhabited a
+cottage in the park. The first shot that was fired had made him rub his
+eyes and raise his head from the pillow: and the second made him jump
+out of bed. From the number of shots he judged that the poachers were in
+force; and accordingly called up the two garden-men, the stable
+servants, and a labourer or two, who were kept in pay for such
+occasions. They hastened altogether to the scene of action, armed, some
+with guns, and the rest with stout bludgeons. The marauders soon got
+together, and appeared disposed to face them: but when a few blows had
+been struck, they found themselves so decidedly outnumbered, that they
+turned about and ran off in different directions. Some of Sir John's men
+hastened to unbind the game-keeper, while others went in pursuit.
+Stokes, as it happened, followed Wildgoose, and having nearly come up
+with him, called upon him to surrender. Wildgoose turned short round,
+presented his gun, and bad him keep off, or he would fire. He was
+determined not to be taken: and upon recognizing Stokes, he saw in him
+the occasion of his imprisonment, and of the difficulties which the
+payment of the fine had occasioned to his mother. He ought rather to
+have felt that he himself was the only cause of these evils, and that
+Stokes had merely done his duty. He had no time for reflection however;
+and his angry feelings of hostility, together with the desire to escape,
+so got the better of him, that upon Stokes's advancing to take hold of
+him, he fired. Stokes uttered a cry--exclaimed, "I'm a dead man"--and
+fell lifeless upon the ground.
+
+Upon hearing the report of the gun, the keeper and his men quitted the
+pursuit of the other poachers, and hurried to the spot. For a moment or
+two Wildgoose stood motionless with horror at what he had done; but
+when he saw the men coming towards him, he endeavoured to provide for
+his safety by flight. Some difficulty which he found in clearing a
+hedge, enabled three of them to get up with him. He defended himself for
+a short time with the butt end of the fowling piece, but was at length
+overpowered and taken.
+
+During the remainder of the night he was guarded at the keeper's house;
+and next morning was carried before a magistrate, who having taken the
+evidence of Sir John's men, committed him to the county gaol in order to
+take his trial at the Assizes.
+
+Every body was sorry for poor Stokes, who was as honest and civil a
+fellow as any in the neighbourhood. All too felt for his widow, who with
+three small children were thus suddenly deprived of a kind husband, on
+whose industry and good character she depended for subsistence.
+
+When the dreadful intelligence reached Wildgoose's mother, she stood
+like a statue. She shed no tears; she uttered no lamentations; she
+stirred neither hand nor foot. At last, uttering a faint scream, she
+dropped senseless on the floor. Her eldest daughter, and a neighbour who
+had been called in, got her to bed, and it was long before she came to
+herself. At first she had but an indistinct recollection of what had
+happened, and felt as if awaking from a horrible dream. In proportion as
+her senses returned, she felt that it was no dream, but a sad reality.
+Her first impulse was to go to her son; but when she attempted to get
+up, she was unable to stand, and fell back upon the bed. A violent fever
+came on, attended with almost constant delirium, and the doctor had
+great apprehensions for her life.
+
+The country house of the gentleman, in whose family Lucy Wilmot lived as
+house-maid, was at a considerable distance; and she had now accompanied
+her master and mistress to London. It so happened that the sad news did
+not reach her till a few days before the Assizes. When she had a little
+recovered from the first dreadful shock, she immediately determined to
+hasten to poor Wildgoose, in order to give him whatever comfort or
+assistance his awful situation would admit of. She requested therefore
+her mistress to allow her a short leave of absence; borrowed a few
+pounds of the house-keeper, placed herself on the top of a stage, and
+next morning reached the county town. With an aching heart, and
+trembling steps, she hurried to the gaol. The gaoler, who, like most of
+his brethren of the present day, was a kind and humane man, having asked
+her a few questions, conducted her into his own parlour, and promised to
+bring Wildgoose to her: adding, that though his duty did not permit him
+to leave them alone together, yet that they might depend upon his not
+repeating any thing of what might pass between them. Poor Lucy's heart
+sickened at the heavy creaking of the door which led to the prisoners'
+day room; and she was nearly fainting when she heard footsteps
+approaching the little parlour where she was sitting. When Wildgoose
+entered, she started up, and without speaking, eagerly tried to take his
+hand. He, however, uttering a deep groan, clasped both his hands to his
+face, and turning his head away, burst into a convulsive fit of sobbing.
+Lucy still held her hand stretched towards him, when he at last said in
+a smothered voice, "Oh! Lucy, don't try to shake hands with me; the hand
+of such a good girl as you are must not be touched by the hand of a
+murderer." He then sank on a bench, and in spite of all his efforts to
+command himself, gave way to an agony of grief. Lucy could hardly stand;
+she had, however, been internally seeking strength from Him, who alone
+can give it, and by his aid was supported. Her ardent wish too, to be of
+use, led her to exert herself to the utmost. When, after some minutes,
+Wildgoose became a little more composed, she spoke to him of taking
+steps for his defence at his trial; and said that she was provided with
+money in order to secure the assistance of a lawyer. At first he would
+not hear of it. He said that it would be of no use, and that he deserved
+to suffer. Lucy herself, from what she had heard, hardly indulged any
+hope of his acquittal; but still urged him to make use of what
+assistance he could, both that he might have longer space for
+repentance, and also for the sake of his mother. "Oh, my mother! my
+dear, dear mother!" exclaimed Wildgoose, striking his hand to his
+forehead, and giving way to the expression of the most piercing anguish.
+Several minutes passed before he could at all compose himself, but when
+he was a little calmed, he at last consented that Lucy should take
+whatever steps she thought expedient. With a voice almost stifled with
+emotion, Wildgoose then asked Lucy if she had heard any thing of the
+poor woman who had been deprived by his rashness of a tender husband.
+Lucy replied that she had not. "Alas!" said he, "what is done cannot be
+undone, nothing can make up to her for her loss; but if my life should
+be spared, how gladly would I work night and day, to keep her and her
+poor children from want."
+
+The gaoler now hinted to them that his duty required his attendance in
+another part of the gaol. The prisoner was therefore reconducted to his
+ward; and Lucy was just leaving the parlour, when a gentleman entered.
+From his dress and appearance she guessed him to be the chaplain of the
+gaol; and having ascertained by a timid and respectful enquiry that her
+conjecture was well founded, she implored him in the most earnest and
+pathetic manner to use his best offices in preparing Wildgoose for
+whatever might be the event of his trial. The chaplain answered, that he
+had already had many very serious conversations with the prisoner, about
+whom she seemed to be so much interested, and that he trusted that he
+was properly affected by his awful situation; "He appears," said he,
+"never to have been entirely without some impressions of religion,
+though his conduct was not sufficiently governed by it; and dreadful as
+is the crime with which he is charged, yet it has not the additional
+guilt of premeditation. I never dare to build much upon a profession of
+repentance occasioned by the near prospect of death; but as far as I can
+judge, his repentance is deep and sincere. He is full of shame and
+sorrow for having lived in such neglect of God and his laws, and for
+having paid no better attention to serious religion. The anguish which
+he feels from this last fatal deed is heart-breaking; and it becomes
+doubly acute, when he thinks of the desolate condition of her whom his
+hand has made a widow. His only hope of forgiveness is founded on God's
+mercy in Christ." "May I understand then, Sir," said Lucy, in an eager
+though tremulous voice, "that you think that if--if--if he should suffer
+for the crime, his eternal interests are safe?" "I dare not say so; it
+is not for one sinful and erring mortal to pronounce confidently on the
+final state of another. The mercy of God is extended to all truly
+penitent sinners, through the atonement of Christ. I hope that the faith
+and the repentance of your friend are sincere; but, generally speaking,
+repentance under such circumstances must be attended with much of fear
+and doubt[g]. As I said before, I hope that the penitence of this poor
+young man is such, that it would, if his life should be spared, shew
+itself to have been real, by producing the fruits of a holy life; but I
+presume not to speak with confidence. Let us both pray to God to perfect
+his repentance, and to increase and strengthen his faith." Many
+aspirations to this effect had already been fervently offered up by
+Lucy, and she renewed them with redoubled earnestness.
+
+[Footnote g: See Note [G.] To which I particularly request attention.]
+
+Lucy was allowed to see Wildgoose frequently. When the anxious time of
+trial came, she secured him the assistance of an able lawyer, who
+exerted himself in his defence. It was however all in vain. The facts of
+the case were so clear, and the evidence so strong, that the jury
+without hesitation returned a verdict of guilty. The Judge, after a
+short preface, in which he emphatically introduced the words of
+Scripture, _whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed_,
+proceeded to pronounce the awful sentence of the law. He did this in the
+most feeling and impressive manner, and many of the audience were in
+tears. When he concluded in the solemn words, "The Lord have mercy on
+your soul," the prisoner, who during the trial had maintained a steady
+but melancholy composure, seemed torn and agitated by conflicting
+emotions. After half uttering a deep and smothered groan, however, he in
+some measure recovered himself, and was removed from the bar. Lucy, it
+may easily be imagined, could not bear to be present at the trial, but
+waited in painful and breathless suspense at her lodgings. She thought
+that she was prepared for the worst, and had in fact never allowed
+herself to encourage any hope; but when the tidings of the sentence
+reached her, she felt a sudden mist before her eyes, and fell lifeless
+on the ground. The woman of the house kindly gave her every assistance;
+but it was long before she came to herself. At length she opened her
+eyes, and wildly looking round her, exclaimed, "Where is he? where is
+he? they have not torn him from me?" Again her eyes closed; and she lost
+the sense of her misery in another swoon. When she was a little
+recovered, the people with whom she lodged endeavoured to prevail on her
+to go to bed. She was, however, steady in her refusal; and as soon as
+her limbs were able to support her, hastened to the prison.
+
+She now found Wildgoose heavily ironed, and additional measures taken
+for securing him. They grasped each other's hand in silent agony, and
+were long unable to speak. At length Wildgoose exerted himself so far as
+to give her a message to his mother and family, and Lucy employed the
+little time she was allowed to remain with him, in suggesting such
+religious consolation as seemed most adapted to his situation. The next
+day, which was Sunday, she received the Sacrament with him. Wildgoose
+was calm beyond her expectations; and behaved throughout with a
+seriousness and fervour of devotion, which gave her more comfort than
+she had yet experienced.
+
+I must spare both myself and the reader the pain of speaking of
+the awful scene of the day following. It is distressing even to
+think, or to speak of an execution. How is it possible that such
+numbers--sometimes, I fear, even women--can seem to take pleasure in
+going to witness the last pangs of a fellow-creature, who is condemned
+to forfeit his life to the offended laws of his country! I would have
+every one pray for, and feel for, the criminal, but on no account seek
+to gratify curiosity, by actually witnessing his death.
+
+The following paper was handed about, as the last dying speech of John
+Wildgoose.
+
+"I acknowledge the justice of the sentence by which I suffer; and would
+have all young men take warning from my example. I attribute my crime
+and punishment, in the first place, to my neglect of the Lord's Day; and
+in the second, to my keeping bad company. Had I been regular in going to
+church, and attentive to my religious duties, I should, under the
+blessing of God, have preserved and increased the good impressions,
+which I had received from my parents. These impressions, however, I
+suffered to wither away. By keeping bad company I was led into
+_poaching_, in which I at first thought there was not much harm. When by
+a kind friend I was convinced that it was wrong, the want of firmness
+in religion prevented me from giving it up. Poaching made me the
+companion of sabbath-breakers, swearers, drunkards, and thieves; and at
+last led me on to the dreadful crime of murder. May God support and
+comfort the poor woman whom my hand has robbed of a husband, and the
+dear and excellent parent, whom the same rash action has deprived of a
+son; may He make my sad fate productive of good to all who hear of it;
+and may He have mercy on my own soul through Jesus Christ!"
+
+As soon as Lucy had recovered her strength sufficiently to enable her to
+travel, she went to her native village, where she found that Mrs.
+Wildgoose had passed the crisis of her disorder, and was beginning to
+recover. Her two daughters were most attentive to her; but Lucy obtained
+permission to assist them in nursing, and to take her turn in sitting up
+by her bed-side during the night. When the poor woman's health was in
+some degree re-established, Lucy felt it right to return to her kind
+mistress; but her cheerfulness and good spirits had entirely forsaken
+her, and a settled melancholy seemed to have taken possession of her
+soul. Her only comfort is in prayer, and the consolations of religion.
+
+After a confinement to her bed of several weeks, Susan Wildgoose was at
+length able to move about her house; and the wants of herself and family
+forced her to return to her former occupations: but she hardly spoke to
+any one; she served her customers in silence; and it is evident that the
+deep affliction under which she continually labours, will shortly bring
+her to the grave. Her daughters and surviving son have youth and health
+on their side; but their behaviour and appearance are totally changed:
+and instead of being merry and light-hearted, they have become pensive
+and serious. Time will wear away much of the acuteness of their grief,
+but it is probable that, as long as they live, they will never be free
+from the most painful and distressing recollection, that they have had a
+brother who was executed as a murderer.
+
+_N.B. This Tale is sold as a Tract, price 9 d._
+
+NOTES.
+
+_The following Extracts from Acts of Parliament are much abridged._
+
+
+[Footnote A.:
+
+If any higler, carrier, inn-keeper, &c. shall have in his possession, or
+shall buy, sell, or offer for sale, any hare, pheasant, partridge, or
+grouse, every such higler, &c. unless such game be sent by some person
+qualified, shall forfeit for every hare, pheasant, &c. the sum of five
+pounds, half to the informer, and half to the poor. 5 Ann. c. 14. s. 2.]
+
+
+[Footnote B.:
+
+If any person whatsoever, _whether qualified or not qualified to kill
+game_, shall buy any hare, pheasant, partridge, or grouse, he shall, on
+conviction before one justice, forfeit 5_l._ half to the informer and
+half to the poor. 58 G. III. c. 75. s. 1.
+
+Any person may recover the said penalty by information, or may sue for
+and recover the _whole for his own use_, in any court of record, wherein
+the plaintiff if he recovers shall have double costs. Sect. 3.]
+
+
+[Footnote C.:
+
+If any person shall enter any park or paddock, fenced in and inclosed,
+or into any garden, orchard, or yard, adjoining or belonging to any
+dwelling house, and shall steal any fish kept in any water therein; or
+shall be assisting therein; or shall receive or buy any such fish,
+knowing the same to be stolen; and at the Assizes be convicted of such
+offence, he shall be transported for seven years. 5 G. III. c. 14. s. 1,
+2.
+
+And if any person shall take or destroy, or attempt to take or destroy,
+any fish, in any other inclosed ground, being private property, without
+the consent of the owner, he shall upon conviction by one justice
+forfeit 5_l._ to the owner of the pond or fishery, and, in default of
+payment, shall be committed to the house of correction for any time not
+exceeding six months. Sect. 3, 4.]
+
+
+[Footnote D.:
+
+Whenever it shall appear to the justices, or to the overseers, to whom
+application shall be made for relief of any poor person, that he might,
+but for his _extravagance_, _neglect_, or _wilful misconduct_, have been
+able to maintain himself, or to support his family, it shall be lawful
+for the overseers (by the direction of the justices, &c.) to advance
+money to the person applying, by way of _loan_ only, and take his
+receipt for, and engagement to repay, (without stamp;) upon default of
+payment, two justices may commit him for not exceeding three calendar
+months. 59 G. III. cap. 12. sect. 29.]
+
+
+[Footnote E.:
+
+If any person shall knowingly and wilfully kill, take, or destroy any
+hare, or use any gun, dog, snare, net, or other engine, with intent to
+kill, take, or destroy any hare in the night, (or in the day time, upon
+a Sunday or Christmas-day,) he shall on conviction, on oath of one
+witness, before one justice, forfeit for the first offence not exceeding
+20_l._ nor less than 10_l._; and for the second not exceeding 30_l._ nor
+less than 20_l._]
+
+
+[Footnote F.:
+
+If any person or persons, having entered into any park, wood,
+plantation, or other open or inclosed ground, with intent illegally to
+take, or kill, game, or rabbits, or to aid and assist in so doing, shall
+be found at night armed with any gun, fire arms, bludgeon, or any other
+offensive weapon, such person being lawfully convicted, shall be
+adjudged guilty of a misdemeanour, and shall be sentenced to
+transportation for seven years, or such other punishment as may be
+inflicted on persons guilty of misdemeanour; and if any such offender
+shall return before the expiration of such term, he shall be sentenced
+to transportation for life. 57 G. III. cap. 90. sect. 1.]
+
+
+[Footnote G.:
+
+_Extracts from Stonhouse's "Sick Man's Friend," on a Death-bed
+Repentance._
+
+Bishop Burnet, in his excellent book entitled the Pastoral Care, (page
+173, of the fourth edition,) says, "A clergyman ought to give no
+encouragement to men, who have led a bad course of life, to hope much
+from a death-bed repentance; yet he is to set them to implore the
+mercies of God in Christ Jesus, and to do all they can to obtain his
+favour. But unless the sickness has been of long continuance, and that
+the person's repentance, patience, and piety, have been very
+extraordinary during the course of it, he must be sure to give him no
+positive ground of hope, but leave him to the mercies of God. For there
+cannot be any greater treachery to souls that is more fatal and
+pernicious than the giving quick and easy hopes, upon so short, so
+forced, and so imperfect a repentance. It not only makes those persons
+perish securely themselves, but it leads all about them to destruction,
+when they see one, of whose bad life and late repentance they have been
+the witnesses, put so soon in hopes, nay by some unfaithful guides made
+sure of salvation. This must make them go on very secure in their sins,
+when they see how small a measure of repentance sets all right at last:
+all the order and justice of a nation would be presently dissolved,
+should the howlings of criminals and their promises work on juries,
+judges, and princes. So the hopes that are given to death-bed penitents
+must be the most effectual means to root out the sense of religion from
+the minds of all who see it. Therefore, though no dying man is to be
+driven to despair, and left to die obstinate in his sins, yet, if we
+love the souls of our people, if we set a due value on the blood of
+Christ, and if we are touched with any sense of the honour or interests
+of religion, we must not say any thing that may encourage others, who
+are but too apt of themselves, to put all off to the last hour. We can
+give them no hopes from the nature of the Gospel covenant; yet, after
+all, the best thing a dying man can do is to repent. If he recover, that
+may be the seed and beginning of a new life, and a new nature in him:
+nor do we know the measure of the _riches of God's grace and mercy_."
+
+"When," says Dr. Assheton, page 45 and 46 of his Death-bed Repentance,
+"you visit sick beds, and hear a poor dying creature lamenting his sins
+with tears, and most earnestly begging pardon for the sake of Jesus
+Christ; when you observe how passionately he resolves, that if God will
+but spare him, he will become a new man, and never be guilty of such
+extravagance; what do you say or do in such a case? Nay, what must such
+a wicked man do, who having lived in sin, shall thus happen to be
+surprised by death? Dare you be so uncharitable as to declare that he is
+past hope, that there is no remedy, but that he will certainly be
+damned? I answer, that I dare not presume to limit God, whose mercies
+are infinite. In such a case I will not censure him, but admonish and
+instruct him to the best of my judgment and abilities. I will exhort the
+dying sinner to remember his sins, to bewail them, to beg pardon for
+them, to form firm resolutions of amendment, and (when there is
+occasion) to make restitution; and having prayed earnestly for him, and
+recommended him to God's mercy, do I _then_ say such a one will be
+damned? No, I _dare_ not. But do I say he shall be _saved_? No, I
+_cannot_. What then do I resolve? What do I determine in this matter? I
+will be silent, and determine nothing; for as I dare not flatter him
+into a false and groundless presumption, so neither would I sink him
+into the horror of despair. I say, I will determine nothing: I will
+judge nothing before the time. However, I must be so faithful to my
+ministerial office as to admonish this dying sinner, that the Gospel (by
+the laws of which we are to be judged) expressly declares, that "without
+holiness no man shall see the Lord," and that Christ is the author of
+eternal salvation unto them (and to them _only_) who obey him. _Heb._ v.
+9. When therefore the sick man has been vicious and extravagant all his
+life long, if God accepts his dying _resolutions_, it is more than he
+has _promised_, and it is more than he has given his ministers power to
+_preach_ and _declare_."
+
+Repentance is a change of heart from an evil to a good disposition; no
+man can justly be called a true penitent, till his heart be thus
+changed, and whenever that change is made, repentance is certainly
+complete.
+
+Now there is reason to conclude, God will consider that life as amended,
+which would have been amended if he had spared it. Repentance in the
+sight of man cannot be known but by its fruits. The only way man can
+judge is by the rule Christ himself has given us, "by their fruits ye
+shall know them." _Matt._ vii. 20.
+
+But God (our great Creator) sees the fruit in the _blossom_ or in the
+_seed_. He (and He _only_) knows those resolutions which are _fixed_;
+those conversions which would be lasting; and will receive such as are
+qualified by holy desires for works of righteousness, without exacting
+from them those _outward_ duties, which the shortness of their lives
+hindered them from performing. All, therefore, a minister can do, is to
+recommend a _death-bed_ penitent to the mercies of God. But it is
+impossible for _him_ to pronounce what will be his state in another
+world.]
+
+
+    THE
+    SMUGGLER.
+
+
+ADVERTISEMENT.
+
+It is possible that in the following little Tale there may be several
+inaccuracies with regard to the habits and manners both of seamen, and
+of smugglers. The residence of the author in an _inland_ county must be
+his apology.
+
+The similarity in some respects of the offence of smuggling, to the
+illegal pursuit which forms the subject of the preceding Tale--written
+two years ago--must be the author's excuse for the recurrence of similar
+sentiments and expressions.
+
+    _Jan. 1823._
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+THE
+
+SMUGGLER.
+
+It was the latter end of the month of November, when Mary Waldron,
+having carefully put her two children to bed, sat down with an aching
+head and a heavy heart, to wait for the return of her husband.
+
+He had sailed from Folkestone in a stiff half-decked vessel, in company
+with eight or ten of his sea-faring companions, and then told his wife
+that she might expect him back on the day following. But that day and
+another had passed away, and he was still absent.
+
+The night was dark and tempestuous. The wind howled mournfully round the
+house; the rain beat hard against the windows; and whenever the storm
+seemed lulled for a moment, the continued roar of the waves, as they
+broke on the shingly beach, came heavily on her ear. She tried to occupy
+herself in mending one of her husband's fishing jackets; but her hands
+and the jacket were constantly in her lap, and it was with difficulty
+that from time to time she was able in some degree to rouse herself.
+
+At length, wearied out with watching and anxiety, and her candle having
+nearly burnt to the socket, she lay down on the bed in her clothes, and
+was just falling into an unquiet slumber, when she was waked by a
+knocking at the door. She hurried down stairs, and let in her husband,
+who was accompanied by a short stout-built ill-looking man, in a rough
+seaman's jacket, from one of the pockets of which peeped forth the butt
+end of a pistol. Both were wet and tired, and both seemed sullen, and
+out of temper. At their first entrance, Mary eagerly cried out, "Oh!
+James, I am so glad to have you home again. I have passed a sad
+wearisome time since you went." But Waldron received his wife's greeting
+coldly, and almost in silence. He walked up to the fire place, and,
+stooping over the embers, began drawing them together, at the same time
+telling his wife to get a bit or two of wood, and then to warm a little
+beer. His companion had under his arm a large bundle, tied round with a
+piece of sail-cloth. "At least we've got that safe," said James, placing
+it in one of the chairs: and he then ordered his wife to put it under
+the bed for the night, and to carry it early in the morning, before it
+was quite light, to Mrs. Hawker's shop, near the church. "I," added he,
+"shall be glad to lie in bed a bit, after being up three nights
+running." When they had finished their beer, the stranger withdrew; and
+Mary, after uttering a fervent prayer for all who are in peril by land
+or by water, and for the bringing back to the right way of those who
+have strayed from it, retired to rest.
+
+Early the next morning, Mary, in compliance with her husband's
+directions, carried the sail-cloth bundle to Mrs. Hawker, who received
+it with one of her most gracious smiles, while her little black eyes
+sparkled with satisfaction. She immediately took it into a back parlour,
+and then returning to the shop, pressed Mary Waldron to take a glass of
+something comfortable. This Mary declined, and immediately hastened
+home, carrying with her a loaf for her husband's breakfast.
+
+She found him still asleep, and the eldest of the two children trying to
+keep his little sister quiet, that she might not disturb him. At
+length, towards eleven o'clock, he got up, and the refreshment of a
+night's rest, a comfortable breakfast, and the active though quiet
+assiduity of his wife, seemed to have restored him to good humour. "We'd
+a roughish time of it last night," said he. "Yes, indeed," replied Mary;
+"and I wish, my dear James, you did but know a hundredth part of what I
+have suffered since you took to your present way of life." "Why should
+you be more uneasy now," said James, "than when I was nothing but a
+fisherman? We were then often out night after night, and sometimes in
+rough weather too." "To be sure, I used now and then to be a little
+anxious," said Mary, "but you were seldom out when it blew hard, and
+besides"--she hesitated a little--"besides--don't now be angry with me,
+James, for saying it--I felt then that you were trying to get your
+living in a lawful and honest way. Now when you are absent, my thoughts
+run upon all horrible things. I do not think so much of the perils of
+the wind and the waves, though that is bad enough, as of the chance of
+your being taken as a smuggler, or of your doing some dreadful deed in
+order to escape. They tell me, that the preventive-service men keep a
+sharp look out."
+
+"A pretty deal too sharp," said Waldron, "I can tell you; if it had not
+been for them, we should have been back to Folkestone the night before
+last. We were to have landed our tubs just beyond Dimchurch, and had
+made a signal for the men to be ready with the horses to meet us. There
+was a thickish fog at the time; but still, these fellows somehow got
+sight of us, and pulled off in their boat, just as we were nearing the
+land. Jack Spraggon, the man that was here last night, proposed sinking
+them; but, though they deserved it, I was not quite bloody-minded enough
+for that. We had nothing else to do, therefore, but to put about, and as
+the wind blew off shore, we soon by the help of the fog gave them the
+slip. As it was of no use to think of landing then, we stood right out
+to sea. The wind soon after chopped about, and freshened to a gale. When
+we were nearly off Folkestone, a Dane merchantman had managed to run
+aground at some distance from the shore. The king's men--I must say
+_that_ for them--are always ready enough to help any ship in distress,
+and dashed away to take the poor fellows off the wreck. And while they
+were busy at this job, two of our boats came out to us, and put us and
+part of our cargo on shore in East Weare Bay--just under the red and
+white cliff there, under the signal house. As ill luck would have it,
+one of the men on the look out saw us, and gave the alarm. We soon
+knocked him down; but the rest of them got together so fast, that we
+were forced to run for it, leaving our tubs behind. I kept hold,
+however, of my bale of silk, and Jack and I scrambled up one of the
+winding paths in the cliff, and got clear off."
+
+"Oh! James," said Mary, "how many risks do you run since you've taken to
+this free-trading, as you call it."
+
+"Nonsense," replied Waldron, "a seaman's wife must never talk of
+danger."
+
+"I feel," replied Mary, "as if I could almost consent to your braving
+any danger in a good cause; but the cause that you are now engaged in is
+not a good one."
+
+"Not a good one! Why where's the harm, I should like to know, in buying
+in France a little brandy, or a few silks, or cambric, or laces, or what
+not, and selling them cheap in England, without going through all the
+trouble and expense of the custom-house?"
+
+"There _must_ be harm," said Mary, "in constant opposition to the laws
+of the land; there _must_ be harm in living with such wicked men, as you
+now keep company with."
+
+"Why, to be sure," replied Waldron, "the consciences of some of our
+free-traders are not over-scrupulous, but there are indifferent
+characters in all professions; and as for breaking the laws, I don't see
+much harm in that--I'm sure the laws do me no good."
+
+"And what else but the laws," said Mary, "protect your house from
+plunder, and your wife and children from violence, when you are far
+away? But I don't pretend to argue the matter, nor is it necessary that
+I should; you know the word of God."
+
+"Come, come," retorted James, with a good deal of quickness and ill
+humour, "don't be trying to come over me with your lecturing and cant."
+
+"Oh! my dear, dear James," said Mary, with much earnestness, "if you
+love me, do not let me again hear you call the mention of the word of
+God by the name of cant. You used formerly to keep your church, and you
+still sometimes read your Bible; surely the evil men with whom you have
+associated lately have not taught you to deny the authority of the
+Scriptures?"
+
+"Why no," said James, "it's not quite so bad as that; but what do the
+Scriptures say about the laws, or about smuggling?"
+
+"Why, in one place the Scriptures tell us to _submit to the powers that
+be_, that is, to the laws and constitution of the country, not only from
+fear of punishment, but _for conscience sake_, and from a sense of the
+advantage derived from them by society. In another place they bid us _to
+submit to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake_. And with respect
+to smuggling, they command us to _render tribute to whom tribute is due,
+custom to whom custom_. Therefore, whenever you smuggle goods into the
+country without paying duty at the custom-house, you directly fly in the
+face of this injunction of the Scriptures. And at the same time that the
+smuggler thus breaks the laws of God and the laws of his country, he
+also injures the regular trader by underselling him; for, of course, the
+man, who conscientiously pays duty, cannot sell so cheap as he who pays
+no duty at all."
+
+"And that puts me in mind," said Waldron, who wished to put an end to
+the conversation, "that I shall want a couple of pounds before night.
+Do, Mary, just step up to Mrs. Hawker's, and ask her to let me have them
+on account of the silk." Mary was always ready to comply with the wishes
+of her husband, and putting on her cloak, went to Mrs. Hawker's house.
+
+She found her in her back parlour, shewing the silks to two smartly
+dressed young ladies. The eldest appeared to be about nineteen, the
+other two or three years younger. The countenances of both were
+expressive of good humour and liveliness, without much indication of
+thought or reflection. Each had selected a sufficient quantity of silk
+for a gown, and they were in the act of cheapening their purchases, when
+Mary came in. "No, indeed now, Mrs. Hawker, you _must_ take off a
+shilling a yard. We really could get it as cheap in London, and, after
+all, the English silk they make now is quite as good." "That may be
+true," said Mrs. Hawker, "but you must consider, my dear young ladies,
+the difficulty I have in getting it, and the risk the poor fellows run."
+"Yes, indeed," said Mary, with a sigh, "it is the blood of men that you
+are buying."
+
+The young ladies, who had not before seen Mary, as she was waiting near
+the door, turned round, and were just going to ask her what she meant,
+when one or two loud authoritative raps were heard at the outer door. At
+the same moment the maid servant came running in with every symptom of
+alarm, saying, in a suppressed voice, "Mistress, Mistress, make haste,
+the custom-house officers are here." Mrs. Hawker's countenance changed,
+but she was too much used to such occurrences to lose her presence of
+mind. "There, ladies, pop the silks under your pelisses--there--quick."
+The knocking was repeated more loudly than before. "Who's there," said
+Mrs. Hawker, in a shrill tone. A man's voice replied, "Let us in, we
+must come in directly." "Coming, sir, coming immediately." then in the
+same breath turning to the young ladies, "Stay, that will not do. If
+they find you here, they, perhaps, will search you. There, run into that
+back pantry, and keep the door tight." Molly, meanwhile, had run off
+with the bale of silk to a hiding-place prepared for such occasions,
+and Mrs. Hawker hastened to the door.
+
+Before the officers had time to express their anger at being kept
+waiting, she put on one of her best smiles, and addressed them with,
+"Mr. Scroggins, is it you? Well now, I'm so sorry that you've had to
+wait; but the girl was down at the farther end of the garden, and I
+happened to be busy with my needle up stairs, and did not come down the
+first moment, as I did not know but that she was in the house. But pray
+come in--I'm so sorry that I made you wait."
+
+This speech gave their wrath a little time to cool: but Scroggins
+answered gravely, "Mrs. Hawker, we are come upon rather an unpleasant
+piece of business. We have had information that a suspicious looking
+parcel was brought to your house this morning."
+
+"What, to my house!" said Mrs. Hawker; "well! what will people say next.
+I'm sure I should never have thought of such a thing; but pray satisfy
+yourselves--search wherever you please."
+
+The officers looked about the shop and the back parlour, and went up
+stairs. The place where the silk was concealed was, however, so well
+contrived, as to escape their observation; and Mrs. Hawker put on the
+appearance of innocence so completely, that the men began to think that
+they really had been misinformed. The young ladies trembled with
+apprehension when they heard them come into the kitchen, and still more,
+when, as they passed the pantry, one of the men called out, "What door
+is that?" "O," said Mrs. Hawker, "that is a sort of out building, but it
+let in so much cold wind to the kitchen, that we had it nailed up before
+Michaelmas;--but, I dare say, we can get it open, if you wish to see
+it;--I'm sure I want no concealment;--run, Molly, run down to Mr.
+Bellows, the blacksmith--you know where he lives--near the pier."--"Why,
+I believe, we need not give you that trouble," said Scroggins; "I must
+say that you have been very ready to let us search every where: and, to
+tell you the truth, we are just now rather in a hurry, and it would be
+some time before Bellows with his lame leg could hobble here."
+
+"Well, as you please," said Mrs. Hawker, "it's all one to me--I only
+hope that another time, Mr. Scroggins, you will not be quite so ready to
+believe idle stories that people make against their neighbours." The
+officers wished her good day, and walked off.
+
+She watched them to a considerable distance before she ventured to
+release her prisoners from their confinement. They had been sadly
+frightened, but could not help laughing when they got out, though the
+eldest of them had greased the bottom of her pelisse against a flitch of
+bacon, which was lying on the bricks under the dresser; and the feathers
+of her sister were not improved by the intercourse which had taken place
+between them and a bunch of tallow candles, which were suspended from
+the low ceiling.
+
+Having directed the silks which they had purchased to be wrapped up in a
+few yards of Manchester cotton and sent after them, and having put half
+a dozen pair of French gloves in their reticules, they set out on their
+return to Sandgate, where their father, Admiral Mowbray, had passed the
+greatest part of the autumn.
+
+Before descending the hill, they stopped, as in their walks back from
+Folkestone they generally did, to contemplate the scene before them,
+which though, perhaps, not remarkably striking, has something of a
+pleasing character. Immediately beneath them was Sandgate, sheltered
+from the east and north by a range of sand hills of no great height,
+but presenting considerable variety of form. From the top of this range
+a nearly level tract of country stretched along to the foot of the chalk
+ridge, the line of which is here relieved by several singular conical
+hills, which stand forward as detached outworks of the principal rampart
+of chalk. Close under them on the left was the castle, the grey tints
+and roughnesses of which have been smoothed and polished away by modern
+trowels, till it has acquired the appearance of a cluster of Martello
+towers. Beyond Sandgate were some traces of the unfinished works, once
+destined to protect the commencement of the military canal, and the sea,
+now nearly at high water, almost breaking over the road. The middle
+distance was formed by the town of Hythe, with its church on the bold
+rising ground to the north, its lancet-shaped east window peeping
+through the trees; and far to the left ran the long line of low land
+terminating in Dunge Ness. The fishing boats of Hythe and Romney, with a
+revenue cutter and three or four brigs, gave animation to the near sea
+view; while, at a considerable distance, a couple of Indiamen were
+majestically making their way down the channel.
+
+After admiring the prospect, the two sisters were slowly descending the
+hill, when they heard behind them the footsteps of two persons, who
+seemed to be rapidly approaching. Their imaginations were filled with
+the idea of custom-house officers, and they immediately concluded that
+they were pursued. They therefore walked on as fast as they could, being
+apprehensive that if they _ran_ they should confirm the suspicions of
+their pursuers. The same apprehension prevented them from looking back.
+The strangers, however, continued to gain upon them, but when almost
+ready to sink with alarm, the young ladies found that their fears were
+groundless. They were overtaken and passed by a remarkably well-made
+active man, with a stout bludgeon in his hand, in company with a woman
+of a slight and elegant form, who contrived to keep pace with him,
+though she had a child in her arms.
+
+They were in earnest conversation; the woman appearing to be using
+entreaties, to which the man refused to listen. Just after they had
+passed them, they heard the man say in a voice, at once expressive of
+determination and of an agitated state of feeling, "Come--there's no
+use in trying to persuade me; I've told you that I must be in the marsh
+to-night. Do you go home and mind the children, I shall not be absent
+long, and shall, most likely, get back to you before to-morrow night."
+He then seemed to make an effort, disengaged himself from his companion,
+and went on with a hurried step.
+
+The poor woman gazed after him for some time, and then turned back with
+an expression of anxiety and woe, which went to the hearts of the two
+sisters. Their compassion and benevolence prompted them to endeavour to
+offer some consolation, but delicacy prevented them from intruding on
+the sorrows of a perfect stranger. Upon looking at her more attentively,
+they recognized the same woman whom they had seen, not long before, at
+Mrs. Hawker's, and by whose remark upon their smuggling purchases they
+had been surprised and shocked. They could not resist bringing it to her
+recollection, and asking her what she meant. Poor Mary immediately burst
+into a flood of tears; the violence of her grief affected and alarmed
+the young ladies; and while they were trying to soothe both her and her
+child, the eldest of the young ladies exclaimed, "Surely you are--but
+no, it is not likely:--you cannot be the Mary Allen, who, about ten
+years since lived as house-maid with Mrs. Stanwick in Hertfordshire?"
+
+Surprise and a sensation of pleasure checked the current of Mary's
+sorrow. "Yes, indeed, I am," said she; "and is it possible that you
+young ladies are my dear mistress's nieces, who used so often to be
+staying with her when your father, the Admiral, was at sea? Oh! how kind
+you were to me, and how fond I used to be of you both! But then you were
+both little girls, and I could venture to talk to you with freedom."
+
+"And so you may now," said Emily Mowbray; "you seem to be in some
+affliction. Before we knew who you were, we longed to comfort you; and
+now that we find that you are an old acquaintance, we shall have double
+pleasure in being of any use to you."
+
+The circumstance of having, in early youth, been inmates of the same
+house, and in habits of frequent and kindly intercourse, leaves
+generally a lasting impression upon the heart. This is often felt by
+schoolfellows, who, when they meet, after having been long separated,
+have a peculiar frankness and warmth of feeling towards each other,
+which is seldom produced by an acquaintance contracted in maturer years.
+And something of the same warmth and disposition to freedom of
+communication is occasionally produced in children--children of the
+gentler sex particularly--towards the tried and valued servants of the
+families, in which many of their earliest and happiest days have been
+passed.
+
+This species of feeling now glowed in full vigour in the bosoms of the
+two sisters, and of Mary Waldron. Mary had met with sympathizing friends
+when she most wanted them; and the Miss Mowbrays found the interest,
+which had been excited by witnessing her grief, increased to a ten-fold
+degree by this unexpected recognition. They pressed her to accompany
+them to their father's lodging house. The child, however, which she had
+left at home under the care of a neighbour, made this impossible. They
+therefore turned back, and walked slowly with her towards Folkestone,
+Caroline Mowbray having relieved her, by taking the child out of her
+arms.
+
+During their walk, Mary told them, that nine years before she had
+accompanied her mistress to Hastings. They passed the winter there, and
+during that time, she became acquainted with James Waldron, who
+frequently came to the house with fish. Every body spoke well of him, as
+a sober, industrious, good-tempered man; and she became his wife when
+Mrs. Stanwick returned into Hertfordshire. For about six years they
+lived happily together at Hastings; they then removed to Folkestone,
+where a small house had been left to Waldron by a relation. Here he
+continued for some time to follow his old occupation, but unhappily
+became acquainted with some notorious smugglers, and was persuaded
+occasionally to accompany them in their expeditions to the French coast.
+He was led on step by step, till smuggling had become his principal
+employment.
+
+"From the time that he took to the smuggling line," continued poor Mary,
+"my happiness has been at an end. He used to be the kindest of husbands
+and of fathers. Now he is seldom at home, and when he is, is generally
+out of temper. Now and then he will play with his children a little, but
+more frequently complains of their being troublesome. He used to be
+sobriety itself, but latterly has taken to drinking spirits. His very
+countenance is changed; it used to be frank and open, but now is apt to
+have a downcast anxious look, like that of a man who has some sad burden
+on his mind. And oh! how many fears do I have for him! Sometimes, I
+think he will be lost at sea, for they are out in all weathers; and
+sometimes I tremble lest he should be taken on shore, or that to prevent
+himself from being taken, he should do some dreadful deed that should
+bring him to the gallows."
+
+"I now too well understand," said Emily Mowbray, "what you meant by what
+you said to us at Mrs. Hawker's."
+
+"I should not have said it," answered Mary, "had I known who I was
+speaking to--but still it was nothing but the truth. Little do ladies,
+who in the lightness of their hearts come to purchase the smuggled
+silks, and the gloves, and the cambrics, little do they think what a sad
+business they are encouraging; that they are in fact buying men's blood.
+And oh! my dear, dear young ladies, would to heaven that were all--I
+tremble to think how not only the lives, but the souls, of these poor
+fellows--the soul of"--but here her voice failed, she clapped her hands
+to her face, and burst into an agony of grief. The two sisters soothed
+her as well as they could, and when she seemed tolerably composed again,
+turned their steps towards Sandgate.
+
+The Admiral had been a little uneasy at their long absence. "Well!
+girls," he exclaimed upon seeing them, "where _have_ you been all this
+time?" "Why, papa?"--"Well, you must not stop to tell me now, but make
+haste to get ready for dinner. Your cousin Harry Stanwick has promised
+to dine with us. We can seldom catch him, you know; but I told him, that
+coming to us was not being off duty, as he is as handy here as at the
+castle, in case any of these smuggling fellows should require to be
+looked after."
+
+The young ladies hurried to their rooms, and when they came down stairs,
+found their cousin already arrived. The Admiral was eagerly trying to
+get from him some of the particulars of his saving the poor shipwrecked
+Danes. "We had some difficulty," said Lieutenant Stanwick, "in launching
+our boat. The first time, when we had just got her into the water, a
+heavy wave knocked her clean over. Upon a second attempt we got her
+afloat, and were just beginning to use our oars, when she was swamped
+again, and two of the men were nearly lost in trying to get back to the
+shore. My brave fellows, however, would not give it up: they could not
+bear, they said, to leave fellow-creatures to perish almost within hale
+of the land. At the third trial we succeeded. We got under the lee of
+the ship, and found her fast a-ground, her main-mast and mizen-mast
+blown away, and a tremendous sea breaking over her. Several of the crew
+had been already washed off the deck. I never shall forget the joy the
+poor fellows expressed, when we got them into our boat. There was a
+black man particularly, whom they had brought with them from the West
+Indies, and who seemed quite overpowered with gratitude. We brought them
+all safely on shore, and weary and buffeted as they were, the
+preventive-service men gave them up their beds, and the greatest part of
+their rations[h]."
+
+[Footnote h: Founded on fact.]
+
+During dinner the Admiral was continually asking for some particulars
+respecting the shipwreck, and it was with delight, mixed with a sort of
+trepidation, that the sisters heard the different instances of
+intrepidity and considerate kindness of these rough seamen. Emily
+Mowbray especially, every now and then, could not help betraying, by the
+animation of her eyes and the glow on her countenance, the deep interest
+she felt in the display of these qualities in their commander, anxious
+as he seemed to be in his narrative to keep himself in the back ground.
+
+When the servants had withdrawn, the Admiral turned to his daughters, to
+enquire what had become of them all the morning. "Why to tell you the
+truth, papa," said Emily, "we had a little business in Folkestone."
+"Some smuggling transaction, I dare say," replied the Admiral; "but why
+did that detain you so long?"
+
+The young ladies felt, that in prudence the less they said the better,
+but still they were so full of their morning's adventure with the
+custom-house officers, that they could not help telling it. "And could
+there, papa, have been _really_ any danger of their searching us?"
+
+"They would not have dared," said Henry eagerly, his dark eyes flashing
+fire, and his face becoming crimson; but almost immediately both his
+manner and his countenance changed--"But I don't know--perhaps they
+would."
+
+"Yes, indeed," said the Admiral; "from what little I have seen or heard
+of these custom-house officers, they are well enough disposed to be
+civil where they have no ground of suspicion; but where persons choose
+to place themselves in suspicious circumstances, they are bound to do
+their duty.--I own I am quite astonished that any lady, with the
+slightest sense of propriety or delicacy of feeling, can expose herself
+to the possibility of being placed in so unpleasant a predicament."
+
+"Why do you speak of ladies only, papa? I'm sure gentlemen smuggle as
+much as we do."
+
+"I am afraid that some do," said the Admiral, "but it is generally in
+your service. I am quite hurt for the credit of the class of society
+with which I associate, when I hear of any gentleman or lady taking
+advantage of the confidence, which is reposed in them as such, for the
+purpose of evading the laws of their country. And for what?--for the
+sake of saving a few pounds; or for the gratification of some foolish
+vanity. I have sometimes fallen in with men, who would have shot me
+through the head if I had barely hinted the possibility of their telling
+a lie, who would yet be guilty of the most paltry falsehood and
+equivocation for the sake of deceiving a custom-house officer; who,
+after all, allowed himself to be deceived, only because he trusted that,
+being gentlemen, they would not condescend to lie. No, my dear girls,
+don't let me hear of your smuggling again."
+
+The two sisters in the course of the morning had received a lesson
+against smuggling, which had not been lost upon them; but still the
+spirit of Emily rose at this attack, and she replied, "What, not smuggle
+at all? Why it is one of the chief amusements of coming to the sea
+coast."
+
+"I wonder what pleasure you can find in it," said her father.
+
+"Why, in the first place, the things are so much better and prettier
+than we can get in England; and then the little difficulties which we
+have to surmount, and the contrivances and concealment which we have to
+manage, produce a sort of excitement, somewhat similar to that, which I
+imagine men to derive from the sports of the field. And, after all,
+what is the harm of smuggling? It is no offence in itself, and is merely
+made an offence by the arbitrary enactments of human laws."
+
+"And ought you not, my dear Emily, to pay obedience to the laws, under
+the protection of which you live? I might take higher ground, and refer
+you to the express words of Scripture.--You know the passage to which I
+allude.--The poorest man in the country is protected by the laws, but if
+he is not sufficiently aware of the benefits which he derives from them,
+some little allowance may be made for him on the plea of ignorance, want
+of education, and the many wants and privations which he actually
+encounters. No such excuse, however, can be made for you, possessed as
+you are not only of all the necessaries, but of many of the
+superfluities, of life. In the enjoyment of all these comforts and
+luxuries--in the rank and station which you hold in society--you are
+protected by the laws of your country, and surely those laws have a just
+claim to your obedience."
+
+"There is, I acknowledge," replied Emily, "much force in what you say;
+but I am sure, that you must think the laws against smuggling are much
+too severe."
+
+"The severity of laws is occasioned by the boldness of those who break
+them: when more lenient methods are found ineffectual, recourse is had
+to stronger and harsher measures. Smuggling, as you know, consists
+either in evading the payment of the legal duties, or in purchasing
+articles which are prohibited altogether.--The evading of the payment of
+duties is clearly the same as robbing the public of so much of its
+revenue[i]. A poor man, who steals from distress, is punished, and
+justly punished, for no distress can justify doing wrong; but, I must
+say, that I think a well-educated person, who is guilty of wilfully
+plundering the public by smuggling, is a more guilty person than he is."
+
+[Footnote i: "_Worthy._ Pray, Mr. Bragwell, what should you think of a
+man, who would dip his hand into a bag, and take out a few guineas?
+
+_Bragwell._ Think! why I think that he should be hanged, to be sure.
+
+_Worthy._ But suppose that bag stood in the king's treasury?
+
+_Bragwell._ In the king's treasury! worse and worse! what, rob the
+king's treasury! Well, I hope the robber will be taken up and executed,
+for I suppose we shall all be taxed to pay the damage.
+
+_Worthy._ Very true. If one man takes money out of the treasury, others
+must be obliged to pay the more into it; but what think you if the
+fellow should be found to have stopped some money _in its way_ to the
+treasury, instead of taking it out of the bag after it got there?
+
+_Bragwell._ Guilty, Mr. Worthy; it is all the same, in my opinion. If I
+was a juryman, I should say, Guilty, death.
+
+_Worthy._ Hark ye, Mr. Bragwell, he that deals in smuggled brandy is the
+man who takes to himself the king's money in its way to the treasury,
+and he as much robs the government, as if he dipped his hands into a bag
+of guineas in the treasury-chamber. It comes to the same thing exactly."
+
+From the Cheap Repository Tract, called "The Two Wealthy Farmers:"--a
+story, which, while it abounds in most useful moral and religious
+instruction, displays an insight into human nature, a talent for lively
+description, and a turn for quiet humour, which have seldom been
+surpassed.]
+
+"Well; but you can't say that we defraud the revenue, when we buy silks,
+or gloves, or lace, upon which we _can_ pay no duty, even if we wished
+it!"
+
+"These articles are absolutely prohibited by law, and you break the laws
+by purchasing them."
+
+"But if the English can't make these things so well as the French, I
+don't see why I am obliged to buy inferior articles when I can get
+better--I am sure that I have heard you say yourself, that all matters
+of trade and manufacture should be suffered to find their own level,
+with as few restrictions as possible."
+
+"This doctrine may be generally true; but there are many circumstances
+of a local or of a temporary nature, which may make restrictions
+expedient. However, you and I Emily are not _legislators_. _Our_
+business is to obey the laws of our country, even if they should happen
+to be not quite consistent with our own notions of political
+[oe]conomy.--But I must just add one or two observations upon the
+articles which you ladies are the most fond of smuggling. The
+prohibition of French and Italian silks was intended for the
+encouragement of our home manufacturers; especially the silk weavers in
+Spitalfields. You have often heard of the distress and poverty of those
+poor people. By buying foreign silk in preference to British, you, to a
+certain degree, add to that distress, and rob them of the encouragement,
+which they are entitled to by law. Of late, I believe, that branch of
+our manufactures has been in a flourishing state, and that the silk
+weavers are not only fully employed, but that they manufacture silks
+quite equal to those from abroad. If so, the ladies who smuggle them
+have no inducement but the pleasure of doing what is forbidden. The
+French and Italians you know, have advantages in the production of the
+raw material, which we have not; and it seems reasonable to give our own
+countrymen some protection to countervail those advantages.--So again
+with respect to gloves, and lace. One of the principal difficulties
+which in these times we have to contend with, is the difficulty of
+finding employment for our overflowing population. Glove-making and
+lace-making furnish employment for our poor women; employment the more
+desirable, inasmuch as they follow it at their own homes. If you knew
+how eagerly multitudes of your own sex catch at any employment, by which
+they can earn but a few shillings a week, both your patriotism and your
+benevolence would render you unwilling to deprive them of it. For you,
+Emily, with your warm and affectionate heart, are not one of those who
+would annihilate all distinctions of kindred and country, in a vague
+idea of universal benevolence.
+
+"But, after all," continued the Admiral, "perhaps my principal objection
+to your smuggling is the encouragement, which you thereby give to the
+poor fellows, who follow this dangerous and illegal occupation. The
+habit of living in constant opposition to the laws is not only criminal
+in itself, but has a most injurious effect upon the whole of a man's
+character. I have just given you credit for some feelings of patriotism,
+but you know that these feelings seldom exist in the breast of a
+smuggler. We have Buonaparte's testimony, that, during the war, they
+were constantly employed in traitorously giving intelligence to the
+enemy; and in assisting the escape of the French prisoners of war. This
+is bad enough; but we all know how frequently they are guilty of crimes
+of a still higher description, of the dreadful crime of murder itself.
+And are you lady-smugglers quite sure that you are clear of all
+participation in this accumulated guilt? The receiver of stolen goods is
+deemed by the law the accessary of the thief: and is not the purchaser
+of smuggled goods in some degree an accessary of the smugglers? Besides,
+if you knew the distress and misery which smuggling often occasions to
+the families of those engaged in it, you could not, I think, encourage
+it."
+
+The sisters felt the force of this latter argument more deeply than
+their father was aware of. They were both silent. At length Emily said,
+"Come, cousin Henry, cannot you put in a word to help us?"
+
+"To help you?" replied he; "no indeed:" and then added gravely, "But I
+am sure, that my dear cousins will not continue smuggling, while I and
+my brave fellows are daily hazarding our lives for its prevention."
+
+Emily looked down, while her face and neck became scarlet, and a long
+pause ensued. The Admiral felt that enough had been said, and was
+endeavouring to change the conversation to some other subject, when a
+servant opened the door, and said to Henry, "You are wanted, if you
+please, Sir."
+
+He went out, and returning in a few minutes, said to his uncle, "I must
+be off directly. A large smuggling lugger has been for some time
+hovering off the coast, and we have reason to believe, that they mean
+to land their cargo to-night in Romney Marsh, in spite of us. One of my
+brother officers has sent me word, that a number of men from a
+considerable distance inland are getting together with their led horses,
+and that he apprehends that they will muster one or two hundred. We, of
+course, must join forces to be a match for them; so good night."
+
+He affectionately shook hands with the Admiral and the two sisters, and
+went out. The door had hardly closed, when he came back, and a second
+time, taking Emily's hand, said, "You are not angry with me for what I
+said?" "Angry, oh no!" He pressed her hand in his, and disappeared.
+
+In less than five minutes, he was in his boat. Two of his men waited on
+the beach to shove him off, and then jumping in, they pulled stoutly to
+the westward. The moon shone brightly, the water sparkled on their oars,
+and the clean white sides of the boat were reflected brilliantly on the
+waves.
+
+They had passed Hithe, and were nearly off Dimchurch, when they saw the
+lugger at some distance from them getting under weigh. By the assistance
+of her sweeps, and that of a favourable breeze which had just sprung
+up, she was soon out of sight. Five boats had just completed their
+second trip, and were beginning to land the remainder of her cargo.
+
+The beach presented an animated scene of activity and bustle. Several
+horsemen, each with one or more led horses, were gallopping down the
+beach, making the pebbles fly around them in all directions. One of
+their light carts was disappearing behind the mound of earth, which at
+high water forms a sort of barrier against the sea; a second was
+labouring up the steep bank of shingles; and two others were just
+quitting the water's edge. A considerable number of men on foot, each
+with a tub slung at his back, were hurrying from the shore. The men in
+the boats were clearing them of the remainder of their cargo as fast as
+possible; while others were loading with tubs the horses which had just
+reached them.
+
+At some distance to the right, Lieutenant Stanwick, to his surprise and
+indignation, discovered a pretty strong party of king's men in a state
+of inaction, and apparently uncertain what to do. The fact was, that the
+smugglers had posted behind the sea bank, which served as a breastwork,
+two strong parties of sixty or seventy men each, one on each side of the
+passage leading to the sea. These parties, being well provided with
+fire-arms, rendered any attempt to approach the carrying party extremely
+hazardous. Stanwick made his men pull right for the shore; but the
+moment the boat touched the ground, they were received with a volley of
+musketry, discharged by an invisible enemy. The balls whistled over
+their heads, but from the lowness of their position not a man was
+touched.
+
+They immediately leaped on shore, and advanced rapidly towards the spot
+from which the fire proceeded. A second volley more destructive than the
+first arrested their progress. Three of their number fell; one killed on
+the spot, and two dangerously wounded. Stanwick himself received a
+bullet in his left arm, which shattered the bone a little above the
+elbow.
+
+The men for a moment hesitated, and seemed almost disposed to retreat.
+Their commander, however, having contrived to support his arm in the
+breast of his jacket, again pressed forward, calling to his men, "Come,
+my lads, don't let us be beat by a parcel of smugglers!" At the same
+moment they were joined by the other party of seamen, and both uniting
+together, soon came to close quarters with the motley, but resolute,
+band of men, who were opposed to them.
+
+The vigour of their attack made the smugglers give ground; but as they
+were almost immediately supported by the party from the other side of
+the road, the combat was renewed. The seamen fought with the most
+determined gallantry, but were so greatly outnumbered, that they were in
+some danger of being overpowered, when they heard the trampling of
+horses rapidly approaching, and saw the glittering of arms in the
+moon-light. The alarm had been given at the barracks, and a troop of
+dragoons had been immediately ordered out, who had been directed by the
+firing to the scene of action. The smugglers, who, by this time, had
+nearly secured the whole of their cargo, commenced a hasty retreat,
+leaving three of their number killed.
+
+For a short distance, they kept the public road; then turning suddenly
+to the right, crossed a broad ditch by means of a light wooden bridge,
+or pontoon, which was ready prepared for that purpose; and continued
+their flight across the marsh. The cavalry came up in time to make
+prisoners of two of the gang, who having been slightly wounded, had not
+kept up with the rest: but they found the bridge removed.
+
+The three foremost of the dragoons, without hesitation, spurred their
+horses at the ditch. One of them swerved to the left; another came
+against the opposite bank and fell back upon his rider, who extricated
+himself with difficulty from his perilous situation. The third leaped
+short, and came into the ditch on his legs: he floundered on for a short
+way in the mud, the dragoon preserving his seat as steadily as if he had
+been on parade, until a low place in the bank enabled him to scramble
+back to his companions. The moon was now setting, and farther pursuit
+appeared to be not only useless, but dangerous.
+
+The excitement occasioned by the short but vigorous conflict having
+ceased, Henry Stanwick found his strength beginning to fail. Exhausted
+by pain and fatigue, and faint from the loss of blood, he sunk down on
+the sea bank. One of his men, however, quickly contrived to tap one of
+the kegs, which had been dropped in the confusion, and gave him a small
+quantity of brandy, by which he was a good deal revived. As his men were
+anxiously proffering assistance, "Never mind me," said he, "I am only
+hurt in the arm, and shall do well enough; but there's a poor fellow
+there, who stands much more in need of assistance than I do." At the
+same time, he pointed to a man in a seaman's jacket, who was lying on
+the ground at a short distance from him. His hat was off, he had
+received a severe gash in the forehead, and a pistol ball had passed
+through the upper part of his body near the right shoulder. An old
+musket which appeared to have been recently discharged, and the stock of
+which was broken, was lying near him. When Stanwick's men approached
+him, he was hardly able to articulate. They, however, made out, that he
+wished to be conveyed to Folkestone.
+
+They accordingly carried him carefully down the beach, and placed him in
+the boat, in the easiest posture they could. Henry Stanwick was able to
+get on board without much assistance.
+
+They rowed slowly back to Sandgate, and having landed their Lieutenant,
+proceeded on to Folkestone.
+
+It was not without difficulty that the wounded man was lifted from the
+boat; and then, some of his brother townsmen having taken a door off the
+hinges, and gently laid him on it, set off with slow and heavy steps
+towards his house. As Waldron had told his wife not to expect him till
+the next day, she had gone to bed, and was quietly asleep with her
+children. Hannah Reeves, a poor woman who lived near the pier, had
+kindly gone forward to prepare Mary for what she had to go through, and
+knocked gently at her door. She started up in her bed immediately, for
+the anxious state in which she had been living had accustomed her to
+awake at the slightest noise. Having put on a few clothes, and struck a
+light, she hurried down stairs. In the countenance and manner of her
+kind-hearted neighbour, she immediately saw that she had some sad
+intelligence to communicate; but when she heard that her husband had
+been brought to Folkestone severely wounded, her eyes grew dizzy, her
+head swam, and she would have fallen to the ground had not Hannah
+supported her.
+
+It was no time, however, for giving way to grief, and, by a strong
+effort, she almost immediately roused herself. Understanding that there
+might be some difficulty in getting her husband up the narrow winding
+staircase, she set to work, with the assistance of Hannah Reeves, to
+bring the matress on which she slept into a little back room, the floor
+of which was boarded. She made it as comfortable as she could, and had
+hardly completed her preparations, when the heavy tread of a number of
+men was heard approaching the door. Mary was unable to speak, but
+silently assisted in placing her unhappy husband on the bed, that she
+had got ready for him. The rough weather-beaten countenances of the men
+who had brought him, were softened to an expression of mournful
+sympathy; the eyes of several of them were filled with tears. As soon as
+they found they could be of no farther use, they quietly withdrew.
+
+Waldron had hardly shewn any signs of life, excepting by uttering now
+and then a deep and heavy groan: but when the men were gone, he
+contrived to raise himself a little in the bed; and taking the hand of
+his wife, who was hanging over him in speechless agony, said in a voice,
+almost inarticulate from weakness and emotion, "Oh! Mary, why did I not
+listen to your advice! I might have earned my bread in an honest way,
+and been happy with you and the children; but I listened to the
+persuasion of evil men, and now, smuggling has brought me to this." He
+would have said more, but the effort which he had made was too much for
+him--he sank down on the bed, and after one or two deep but feeble
+groans, expired.
+
+Mary did not immediately perceive what had happened; but when the
+dreadful reality burst upon her, the shock was too powerful for her
+frame, exhausted as it was by anxiety and grief. While there was an
+immediate call for exertion--while there was any thing to be done for
+her husband--the exertion had roused and supported her. That support was
+now at an end, and she fell senseless on the floor.
+
+Hannah Reeves was up stairs with the children, one of them having begun
+to cry, and she had succeeded in quieting and lulling it asleep. Upon
+returning to the back room, she found Mary Waldron extended motionless
+by the side of her husband. Gently raising her up, she endeavoured to
+restore her to herself by throwing cold water in her face, applying
+burnt feathers to her nostrils, and making use of such other remedies,
+as either she, or two or three neighbours, who had come in to her
+assistance, could think of. For a long time their endeavours were
+ineffectual. At length a slight convulsive tremor seemed to pass over
+her. Her lips, which had been deadly pale, began to assume something of
+their natural colour, and after one or two deep and long drawn sighs,
+she appeared to breathe with some degree of freedom. The first care of
+her kind attentive neighbours was, to remove her from the sad object
+which was stretched out by her side. With difficulty they got her up
+stairs, and undressing her, laid her in the same bed with her children.
+
+Hannah Reeves was anxiously watching over her, when she opened her eyes,
+and said in a faint voice, "What, is it you, Hannah? What brings you
+here so early in the morning? But I suppose it is time for me to think
+of getting up.--Oh! Hannah, I have had such a dreadful dream! But it is
+all over now, I am so glad that you woke me." And then after a little
+pause, added, "How soon do you think James will be home again? He told
+me that he should come back before night." Poor Hannah turned away her
+head, and seemed to busy herself in another part of the room, and Mary
+again fell into an unquiet slumber.
+
+Henry Stanwick had been landed near the castle at Sandgate, supported by
+one of his men, he was slowly ascending the beach, when he was met by
+the Admiral muffled up in a sea cloak. He had heard of the engagement
+with the smugglers, and of his nephew's wounds. "Come along, Harry, with
+me," said he, "we must nurse you at my house. I have no doubt that you
+would be taken very good care of here: but still there are some little
+comforts, which perhaps can be furnished better at a private house; and
+we must allow that the women understand these matters better than we
+do." Henry yielded to his uncle's persuasions. He found his two cousins
+ready to receive him, with looks expressive of tender affection, mixed
+with deep anxiety. They had been busily occupied in preparing his room.
+As the surgeon was expected every moment, they were fearful of altering
+the position of the wounded arm until his arrival.
+
+In the interval Lieutenant Stanwick, though suffering a good deal of
+pain, shortly mentioned a few particulars of the conflict; adding, "I
+cannot help longing to hear what becomes of the poor fellow, that we
+brought away in our boat. He wished to be carried to Folkestone, and
+"--"To Folkestone!" exclaimed Emily, "I hope it is not poor Mary's
+husband!" "He did not mention his name," said Henry; "indeed he could
+hardly speak at all, but he was a remarkably well-made active looking
+fellow, and I was vexed to my heart at his having engaged in such a
+service." The sisters could not help having some misgivings, but they
+had a nearer cause for anxiety in the severe wound of a relation so
+deservedly dear to them.
+
+When the surgeon arrived, he found the bone of the arm so much injured,
+that immediate amputation was necessary. The operation was successfully
+performed, but was followed by a considerable degree of fever, during
+which the two sisters nursed him with unremitting assiduity.
+
+The fourth day after the amputation Henry seemed much better, and both
+he and the Admiral begged them not to continue to keep themselves such
+close prisoners, but to resume their usual exercise. They were the more
+ready to comply, as they were very anxious to go themselves to
+Folkestone, to enquire after Mary Waldron. They found out the house; but
+upon approaching it, observed a degree of bustle, and saw several men in
+sailors' jackets--most of them with some symbol of mourning about their
+dress--issuing from the door. Presently the coffin was brought out; the
+men raised it on their shoulders; the black pall was thrown over it; and
+with measured steps they moved towards the church-yard, while the solemn
+toll of the bell, being heard at shorter intervals, announced the near
+approach of the corpse to its last mansion.
+
+The sisters waited at some little distance, till the melancholy
+procession had passed on; and then going up to the door of one of the
+neighbouring cottages, enquired with feelings of deep interest after
+poor Mary.
+
+She, they found, was perfectly insensible to all that was passing. The
+morning after her husband had been brought home, she for sometime
+appeared to retain no trace of what had happened. The circumstance of
+her being not in her own bed, and the manner of Hannah Reeves, who was
+unable to control her feelings, by degrees brought back to her
+recollection the dreadful calamity which had befallen her. She uttered
+one piercing cry of woe, and then a deadly stupor took possession of her
+whole frame. From this she had at last been roused, but it was succeeded
+by a wild delirium, and a burning fever, which no skill or attention had
+been able in the slightest degree to mitigate.
+
+The sisters went to this house of mourning. The children had been
+removed to the cottage of a neighbour, but Hannah Reeves came down to
+them. She had hardly ever quitted the bedside of the sufferer, and
+attended her with that watchful kindness, which the poor so often shew
+to each other when in distress. The Miss Mowbrays begged Hannah to let
+nothing be omitted which might contribute to the recovery of poor Mary,
+at the same time mentioning their intention to take every expense upon
+themselves. They did not know Hannah, but there was something in her
+manner which told them that any hint of remuneration to her would be
+misplaced.
+
+Upon their return to Sandgate they found sitting with the Admiral the
+captain of the troop of dragoons, which had come to the assistance of
+the seamen. From him they understood, that of the two smugglers who had
+been taken, one was a Folkestone man of the name of Spraggon, a man of
+notoriously bad character, and who had behaved in the engagement with
+the king's men with a boldness bordering on ferocity. The other prisoner
+was a labourer belonging to a village just above the marsh, who had long
+been in the practice of assisting in running smuggled goods. He received
+high pay--five, eight, ten shillings a night--sometimes even more. Money
+obtained by breaking the laws seldom does a man any good. And, in fact,
+when he came to deduct the sum which he might have earned by more
+creditable work--for a man who had been out all night could not work
+the day following--and also the money which went in drink and other
+expenses--it was generally found that little came home to his family.
+His earnings of all descriptions, however, were now put an end to. He
+and Spraggon were convicted at the next assizes of the murder of the
+seaman; and two days after were executed.
+
+It was long before Mary Waldron shewed any signs of returning health.
+The fever, however, gradually gave way, but it left her in a state of
+the most deplorable weakness. Emily and Caroline called at the house
+very frequently during the whole progress of her illness, supplying
+abundantly whatever they thought likely to contribute to her recovery,
+or to her comfort in her present state of suffering. But from the time
+that her reason and recollection began to return, their walks to
+Folkestone became almost daily. In the gentlest and kindest manner they
+said and did all they could, to comfort her, and to assist in directing
+her thoughts to the only unfailing source of consolation--to that Being,
+who invites the widow to trust in him, and promises to protect and
+provide for the fatherless children.
+
+From such considerations as these, and from that aid which was granted
+from above in answer to her humble and fervent supplication, Mary
+recovered a degree of calm composure almost sooner than the sisters had
+anticipated.
+
+Once, when speaking of her future means of subsistence, they hinted the
+idea of making up, with the assistance of their friends, an annual sum,
+which would be sufficient to keep her from want. But Mary would not hear
+of this. "If it please God," said she, "to restore me to health, I have
+no doubt, but that by taking in washing and needle work, I shall be able
+to get bread for myself and my poor children; and as long as I am able
+to work for myself, I could not bear to be a burden to any one." "But it
+would be no _burden_ to _us_ at all," said Emily. "Of that," replied
+Mary, "I am well assured, from the kindness, which you have already
+shewn me; but I feel that I could not be so happy if I depended for my
+livelihood, under Providence, upon any one but myself."
+
+In their walks to Folkestone they were often accompanied by their cousin
+Harry, who in consequence of his wound had been relieved from the
+painful service in which he had been employed, and appointed first
+lieutenant to a frigate, which was destined to the Mediterranean, but
+was not to sail for some months.
+
+One day, as they were approaching Mary's house, the two little children
+came running out, with much glee and animation in their eyes, to thank
+them for their nice new frocks. The sisters knew not what they meant.
+Upon entering the house, Mary expressed her acknowledgments for what
+they had sent the children, as well as for the gown and other clothing
+which she had received herself. They looked surprised, and said that
+they had sent nothing. The colour of Henry's face soon told Mary who had
+been her benefactor.
+
+In their walk they had passed by Mrs. Hawker's shop, and found the
+windows shut up. They asked Mary the meaning of this. She told them,
+that some time before, the officers had made a large seizure of smuggled
+goods in her house, and had sued her for the penalties, which amounted
+to so large a sum, that she was utterly ruined.
+
+It is hardly necessary to say, that the Miss Mowbrays had never visited
+her house since their purchase of the silks. The many crimes and
+calamities which a single day had witnessed, had given them a sufficient
+lesson upon the evils of engaging in illicit traffic; and neither the
+stump of Henry Stanwick's arm, nor the sight of the widowed Mary and her
+fatherless children, were needed to make them resolve, that they would
+never again be guilty of _smuggling_.
+
+
+    GOOD-NATURE,
+
+    OR
+
+    PARISH MATTERS.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+GOOD-NATURE,
+
+OR
+
+PARISH MATTERS.
+
+Mr. Stanley had just reached the last stile in the footpath leading to
+Inglewood parsonage, when his progress was for a moment interrupted by
+two persons, who were talking so earnestly, that they did not see him.
+
+One of them was a short fat man, in the dress of a farmer. His round and
+rosy face seemed to be full of good cheer and good humour; but bore no
+great signs of intelligence. He was speaking to an untidy looking woman,
+whose manner was expressive of a sort of low familiarity, not however
+unmixed with symptoms of servility and cringing.
+
+"Never mind, Nanny," said the farmer, "never mind--neighbour Oldacre is,
+I must needs say, a little hard upon the poor--but never mind; I shall
+take to the books in a fortnight's time, and then things will be
+better." "But you know, master," said the woman, "if you could but
+manage that little job for us, we should hardly trouble the parish at
+all." "Well, I'll do what I can," answered the farmer; "my being a
+parish-officer, will help." The woman was going to reply, but happening
+to see Mr. Stanley, she drew back from the stile, and allowed him to
+pass on.
+
+Trifling as the occurrence was, Mr. Stanley happened to mention it to
+his friend at the parsonage, as they were sitting together after dinner.
+Upon his describing the figure and face of the farmer, "Yes," said Mr.
+Hooker, with a smile, "that must have been my parishioner, Farmer
+Barton. He is, as you describe him, a good-humoured looking fellow, and
+it has always been the height of his ambition to be reckoned a
+_good-natured_ man."
+
+"I cannot much blame him for that," replied Stanley; "_good-nature_ is a
+most amiable quality, and I heartily wish there was more of it in the
+world than there is."
+
+"In that wish I cordially agree with you," said Mr. Hooker; "if by
+_good-nature_ you mean a genuine spirit of kindness or Christian
+benevolence, which prompts a man to do whatever good he can to the
+bodies and souls of all within his reach. The _good-nature_, however, of
+Farmer Barton is not exactly of this description. It springs from a love
+of low popularity, from a wish to gain by whatever means the good will
+and good word of all descriptions of people. This wish leads him to
+assent to whatever is said, and to accede to almost every request,
+unless it immediately touches his pocket. To that indeed his
+_good-nature_ does not always extend. In his fear of being thought
+_ill-natured_, he very often loses sight of duty, and his dread of
+offending or of contradicting those who happen to be _present_, makes
+him not unfrequently forget what is due to those who are _absent_."
+
+The conversation was interrupted by the entrance of the servant, who
+came to tell his master that Farmer Barton wished to speak with him.
+"Pray shew him in," said Mr. Hooker; "but I am unable to guess what his
+business can be."
+
+The farmer came in, and, upon Mr. Hooker's asking him what he wanted,
+replied, "Why, it is only to get you to put your hand to this bit of
+paper." "Let us look at it," said Mr. Hooker; and then casting his eye
+over it, added, "This I see is an application to the magistrates, to set
+up a new public house in the village, and a recommendation of Robert
+Fowler as a fit man to keep it." "Yes, Sir," replied the farmer; "poor
+Bob since he got the hurt in his arm has never been able to do the work
+of another man, and he and Nanny have begged me and some of the
+neighbours to help him to set up a public house, as a means of keeping
+him off the parish."
+
+"And do you, Farmer Barton, honestly think," said Mr. Hooker, "that we
+_want_ a public house here? You know that there is hardly any
+thoroughfare through the village; and even if there was, we are but two
+miles from a market town, where there are inns and ale-houses in
+abundance."
+
+"Why I can't say there is any particular want of it," said Barton. "But
+Fowler's family is likely to be a heavy burden to the parish."
+
+"The parish, I am satisfied," rejoined Mr. Hooker, "would be no gainer
+in the end. Don't you suppose that many of the labouring men would
+often, after their day's work, go to the ale-house, instead of going
+home; and spend there, some part of the money which ought to find food
+and clothes for their wives and families? A country ale-house is too
+often found to be attended with raggedness and hunger in the women and
+children; and I know that this is the opinion of the poor women
+themselves. Besides, don't you remember, what drunkenness and
+quarrelling we used to have before Tomkins's house was put down?"
+
+"Why, I must say, that the men have been more quiet and sober of late."
+
+"As clergyman of this parish," said Mr. Hooker, "I shall never assist in
+setting forward a measure, which I think would be hurtful to my
+parishioners: and I must own, that I am surprised to see that so many
+sensible and respectable men have signed their names to this
+recommendation."
+
+"Why a man don't like to seem _ill-natured_," said the farmer.
+
+"We must not," replied Mr. Hooker, "for the sake of assisting one man
+or one family, do that which would be prejudicial to the whole parish.
+And besides, I thought that Fowler was one of the most drunken, idle
+fellows in the village."
+
+"Why to be sure," said the farmer, "he does like drink better than
+work."
+
+"And yet you and your brother farmers are here ready to certify that he
+is of good fame, sober life and conversation, and a fit and proper
+person to be intrusted with a licence! Do you not see that you have all
+set your hands to a direct falsehood?"
+
+Barton looked foolish, but added, "Why one don't like to refuse such a
+thing--and when others do it, it would look so _ill-natured_."
+
+"And so, for fear of being thought _ill-natured_, you can not only set
+your name to a lie, but give a helping hand to a measure, which by your
+own acknowledgment would be likely to increase the poverty as well as
+the immorality of many of your poor neighbours. Indeed, indeed, Mr.
+Barton, an English farmer ought to have had more manliness of character
+than this comes to."
+
+"But then poor Bob is such a _good-tempered_ fellow; and besides, you
+know, he is half disabled for work!"
+
+"Yes, he received his hurt in the very act of breaking the laws of the
+land by poaching, and I do not think _that_ a reason for putting him in
+a situation in some respects above that of the generality of cottagers."
+
+Farmer Barton found that he was not likely to succeed in the object of
+his visit; and saying with a smile, "Well, Sir, I did not think you had
+been so hard-hearted," quitted the room.
+
+"There! Stanley," said Mr. Hooker, "that's the way of the world. Most of
+the men who have signed that certificate are, as times go, decent and
+respectable men, and would, I doubt not, pretty much agree with me as to
+the probability that both poverty and immorality would be increased by
+the establishment of an ale-house in the village; but yet for the sake
+of being _good-natured_ to an individual, they set forward a measure,
+which they think will be generally pernicious; and set their hands to a
+lie, rather than refuse an unreasonable request. Their _good-nature_, to
+be sure, is not confined to Fowler as its only object. Some of them,
+probably, wish to be _good-natured_ to a brother farmer, who is the
+owner of the house; and some think that they shall do a kindness to the
+brewer, who will supply it with beer."
+
+"But what," replied Stanley, "shall you do in this business?"
+
+"Why, I don't very well know," said Mr. Hooker. "You have been
+acquainted with me long enough to be assured, that I would suffer my
+hand to be cut off, rather than set it to a palpable falsehood;--and
+that I would never take any _active_ step in assisting a measure which
+in my opinion will be hurtful to my parishioners.--But perhaps something
+of the same sort of weakness which I blame in others, may prevent me
+from taking any _active_ measures _against_ it. I am not fond of going
+into public, or of encountering the bustle of the justice-room.--Perhaps
+I shall be _passive_, and try to quiet my own conscience by saying, that
+things must take their course: that it is not for me to come forward in
+opposition to the declared wish of most of the respectable part of my
+parishioners."
+
+"But surely the magistrates will not set up a new public house without
+the signature of the clergyman to the certificate?"
+
+"The new Act requires the signature _either_ of the clergyman, _or_ that
+of the majority of the parish officers, together with four reputable and
+substantial householders;--or that of eight respectable and substantial
+householders. Fowler's certificate has all the parish officers but one,
+and other names in abundance, and _good-nature_ will prevent any one
+from saying that some of those names are neither respectable nor
+substantial. The magistrates will see that the requirements of the Act
+are complied with, and they will perhaps feel like me;--they will be
+unwilling to incur the odium of opposing the wishes of all those
+_respectable_ and _substantial_ personages, and thus _good-nature_ may
+induce them to sign the licence."
+
+"At all events," said Stanley, "you will be able to keep Fowler in order
+by the penalties of the new Act. The old system of absolutely forfeiting
+the recognizance was too severe to be acted on."
+
+"Perhaps," said Mr. Hooker, "now and then, in some flagrant case, by
+which some individual is _personally_ injured, these provisions may be
+called into play. But how seldom do you hear--in the country at
+least--of penalties being enforced from a sense of public duty?
+_Good-nature_ is always against it; and the man who from the purest
+motives endeavoured to enforce them, would be sure to have all the host
+of the _good-natured_ arrayed against him."
+
+Two days after was the licensing day: the _good-natured_ Barton having
+undertaken the patronage of Fowler's application, set out in good time
+to advocate it at the justice-meeting. He had got about three quarters
+of a mile from the village, in his way to Chippingden the market town,
+when he was overtaken by Mr. Bentley, one of the magistrates.
+
+"You have a dreadful road here, Farmer Barton," said Mr. Bentley. "Who
+is your surveyor?"
+
+"Why, I am at present," replied Barton, "and as we are a little behind
+hand with the duty, I am afraid that I shall have to go on for another
+year."
+
+"Then why do you suffer the road to continue in this state? The ruts are
+so deep, that it really is hardly safe."
+
+"It is all occasioned by that high hedge," answered the farmer, "which
+keeps off both sun and wind.--And besides, from there being no trunk or
+tunnel in that gate-way, the water of the ditch is thrown into the road.
+To be sure it _was_ pretty dirty in the winter, for all we buried so
+many stones in it." "Then why was not the hedge cut, and a tunnel made
+in the gateway to carry off the water?" said Mr. Bentley.
+
+"I did once give Farmer Dobson a hint about it," answered Barton, "but
+he says, that the hedge is not above nine years' growth, and that he
+shall have better poles by leaving it a few years longer."
+
+"But you know very well," replied the magistrate, "that your warrant
+empowers you to require him to cut it, and if he refuses, to do it
+yourself at his expence."
+
+"I know that well enough," said Barton, "but that would be so
+_ill-natured_ and unneighbourly-neighbourly, that I could not bear to
+think of it."
+
+"And so," rejoined Mr. Bentley, "the necks and limbs of his Majesty's
+subjects are to be endangered, and the whole neighbourhood put to
+inconvenience, for the credit of your _good-nature_? A man in a public
+office, Mr. Barton, should always execute the duties of that office with
+as much civility and kindness as possible; but he must never neglect his
+public duty, for the sake of gratifying any private individual
+whatever.--And look! what business has this dunghill here? your warrant
+tells you that nothing should be laid within fifteen feet of the middle
+of the road--and this dunghill is so close, that the road is ruined by
+the moisture proceeding from it. And see how the farmer has cut the road
+to pieces by drawing out his dung in the wet weather."
+
+"To be sure, what you say is true, but the field won't be ready for the
+dung till the spring."
+
+"Another sacrifice of the interests of the public to private
+convenience!--And here again--you'll think and call me a troublesome
+fellow, Mr. Barton--but why do you suffer these heaps of stones to be so
+forward in the road? They are absolutely dangerous."
+
+"Why the men who work on the road like to have them _handy_."
+
+"As they are paid by the day it can make no difference to them, and even
+if it did, you must not endanger the safety of travellers from a
+_good-natured_ wish to humour your workmen--I suppose the same reason
+induces you to allow them to put in the stones without breaking them?"
+
+Barton acknowledged that it was. Mr. Bentley charged him again not to
+let his _good-nature_ make him forget his duty to the public--"But,"
+added he laughing, "perhaps I must confess that it is some feeling of
+the same sort, which keeps me from fining you five pounds, as I might
+and ought to do, for these neglects of your duty as surveyor."
+
+They now reached the town, and happening to use the same inn, rode into
+the yard together. Fowler and his wife, who were already there, augured
+well from this circumstance--and Mr. Bentley was hardly off his horse,
+when Nanny accosted him in a wheedling tone, with, "I hope, Sir, you'll
+be so kind as to _stand our friend_ about this licence."
+
+"We shall see about that presently," said Mr. Bentley, as he walked off,
+wishing to cut short applications of this nature till he got into the
+justice-room. He found his way stopped, however, by two or three poor
+women from the village near which he resided. "Well!" said he, "and
+what brings you all to Chippingden?"
+
+"Why, Sir, we want a little of your kindness."
+
+"My _kindness_! why can you find none of my _kindness_ at home?"
+
+"O yes, Sir, you are always ready to assist a poor person yourself, but
+we want you to _stand our friend_, and order us a little more relief
+from the farmers."
+
+"That, my good woman, is quite a different story. As a magistrate I must
+not be a _friend_ to any one person more than to another; but must
+endeavour to act without favour or affection either to rich or poor.
+With respect to parochial relief, our business is to consider, as well
+as we are able, what the laws require and allow, and to act accordingly.
+Poor people often apply to us in great distress, and the relief which we
+can order seems but very little. If we listened to our own feelings, our
+own _good-nature_ as you would call it, we should often be glad to order
+much more, but we must not indulge such feelings at another man's
+expense--we must not be _good-natured_ with other people's money."
+
+"But, Sir," said Betty Horseman, "I only wanted about a shilling a week
+more, and I'm sure that can't hurt the farmers."
+
+"Whether it is much or little," said Mr. Bentley, "we cannot order more,
+than the law, in our opinion, appears to require. Knowingly to order
+more than that, is to rob those out of whose pockets the poor rates are
+paid. You would not wish me, Betty, to help you in picking a man's
+pocket."
+
+"But it is so little that I ask for," said Betty, still harping upon the
+same string.
+
+"We may not pick a man's pocket of sixpence, any more than of a hundred
+pounds. Your application shall be heard presently, Betty, and we will
+give it the best attention we can. If we think that you ought to have
+more, we will order it.--But you must remember, that if you have a
+shilling a week more, every family in the like circumstances will expect
+the same, which will make your shilling a week a pretty round sum. In
+short, I am always glad as far as I can to help a poor person out of my
+own pocket, but must consider well before I help him out of the pockets
+of other people."
+
+Mr. Bentley now joined his brother magistrates in the justice-room. The
+licensing business came on first; and the licences to the old
+established houses having been renewed, the applications for _new_
+houses were taken into consideration. Fowler produced his certificate.
+
+"This certificate," said Mr. Hale the chairman, "has not the clergyman's
+name; how happens that?"
+
+Farmer Barton was at Fowler's elbow, and immediately answered, "Mr.
+Hooker has laid down a rule not to set his hand to an application of
+this sort, and could not break through it--but I'm sure he has no
+objection."
+
+"And besides," said one of the justices, "if my memory does not deceive
+me, there was a man of that name in your parish who was a noted
+poacher."
+
+"Why, I must confess," said the farmer, "that some time back the poor
+man was led by distress to go out once or twice; but he has, long ago,
+given it up, and is now quite an altered character.--When a man has seen
+his fault, and turned over a new leaf, I am sure, gentlemen, that you
+are too _good-natured_ to bring it up against him."
+
+The justices still hesitated; but Barton and two or three of the farmers
+of the village represented to them that there always used to be a public
+house; that it was in many respects inconvenient to be without one; and
+that in this instance, it would give occupation and maintenance to a
+poor family. At length the magistrates said, that in general they were
+not disposed to increase the number of ale-houses, but that they would
+give way to the declared wish of almost all the leading men in the
+parish. In a case of doubt, they naturally leant to the side of
+_good-nature_. Accordingly the licence was granted.
+
+Fowler was overjoyed at his success, and after making his
+acknowledgments, set off, first to the carpenter, and then to the
+painter, to give directions for a sign and its appendages. After these
+matters of business, he could not think of returning without drinking
+the health of the magistrates at the Red Lion.
+
+Several friends dropped in to congratulate him; and when he thought
+about going home, he was not quite able to walk straight. The butcher's
+boy, who had made one of the party at the Red Lion, offered to give him
+a lift in his cart. They set off in high glee, and the exalted state of
+their spirits induced them to urge on the horse. Though the night was
+dark and the horse sometimes swerved to one side of the road and
+sometimes to the other, yet the light colour of the road served for a
+guide, and they felt that as long as they kept to that they were safe.
+They were mistaken, however. They were within a mile of Inglewood, and
+had got the horse almost into a gallop, when all at once the wheel came
+upon one of the heaps of stones, which had been shot down in the
+_quartering_, and the cart was overturned. Peter, the butcher's boy,
+called out that he was killed; but having got up and shaken himself, and
+found that he had received no sort of injury, he burst into a loud fit
+of laughter.
+
+Poor Fowler, however, lay groaning in the road, unable to stir. He was
+severely bruised, and both the bones of his right leg were broken. Peter
+scratched his head, and was quite at a loss what to do, when luckily
+Farmer Barton and one of his neighbours came to the spot, in their way
+back from market. They extricated the horse, which, having put his foot
+in the deep rut, had fallen with the cart, and then raised the cart
+without difficulty. It was not, however, so easy a matter to get Fowler
+into it. He cried out from pain every time that they took hold of him,
+and sometimes begged that they would leave him to die where he was. At
+last, however, they succeeded, and at a slow pace he was conveyed to his
+humble cottage, which was soon to assume the dignity and importance of a
+public house.
+
+His wife helped to get him to bed, though not without reproaching him
+with some asperity for staying so long at the Red Lion after he had sent
+her home. Having taken as much care of him, as in her opinion he
+deserved, she hastened down stairs to comfort herself with some tea, of
+which two or three of her neighbours, who had been brought to the house
+by the tidings of the accident, were invited to partake. The condolences
+and lamentations were soon over, and they fell into the usual train of
+village gossip. The hardness of the times, of course, was one of the
+topics of conversation. "Well, Hannah," said one of the party, "and
+what did you get from the justices?"
+
+"Oh! there's no use in a poor person's going to them," said Hannah,
+"they're all for the farmers?"
+
+"I wonder to hear you say that," said Nanny, who was naturally disposed
+to be in good humour with the magistrates, who had just granted a
+licence to her husband; "I wonder to hear you say that, for as I was
+going out of the room, I fell in with two or three overseers, who were
+saying just the contrary. They were complaining that the justices were
+ready to hear all the idle stories of the poor about wanting relief, and
+that they were much too apt to order some little addition. In fact, they
+said, that they were all in favour of the poor; and the farmers could
+not stand it."
+
+"If the poor complain that they were in favour of the farmers, and the
+farmers that they favoured the poor," said an old man sitting in the
+chimney corner, "I dare say they pretty nearly did the thing that was
+right between both parties."
+
+"Well," said Hannah, "if I was a justice, I could'nt bear that the poor
+should think me _ill-natured_. Be it how it would, I'd take care to have
+_their_ good word, even if I did now and then order a trifle more than
+was quite right."
+
+"What should you say, Hannah," said the same old man, "of a justice who
+acted contrary to law for the sake of a sum of money?"
+
+"What! a bribe! Why I'd have him turned out before he was a day older."
+
+"And is not acting contrary to law for the sake of any one's good will,
+or good word, pretty much the same as doing so for a bribe? A magistrate
+is sworn to do justice, according to law, to the best of his knowledge."
+
+All the women, however, consoled themselves with the near approach of
+the time, when the poor would have to apply for their weekly allowances
+to Farmer Barton instead of Farmer Oldacre; it being the custom of the
+parish that the overseers should divide the year between them, each
+taking the trouble of the office for six months.
+
+"Yes, indeed," said Hannah Bolt, "it will be a happy day for us poor
+creatures, when Mr. Barton takes the books;--Farmer Oldacre was always
+a hard man to the poor."
+
+"Farmer Oldacre a hard man to the poor!" said old John Truman, who came
+in at the moment from the sick man's room--"Farmer Oldacre a hard man to
+the poor! I'm sure you're an ungrateful woman for saying so; as I should
+be an ungrateful man, if I allowed you to say it without taking you to
+task.--I've worked for him now these seventeen years, and a better or a
+kinder master cannot be. Did'nt I see you, Hannah, day after day, when
+your little boy was ill, going to his house, sometimes for a little
+milk, sometimes for a little made wine, and did he ever refuse you? did
+he ever refuse _any_ poor person, who was really in want, any thing that
+he was able to give?"
+
+"I can't say but that he's ready enough to help a poor body with any
+thing he has himself; but then if one asks him for a little more parish
+relief, he's so terrible particular, and asks so many questions, that
+it's quite unpleasant, and perhaps we can get nothing after all."
+
+"In short," said John, "you mean to say that he is liberal and kind in
+giving from his own pocket, but careful and cautious how he makes free
+with the pockets of other people. And then again--who employs so many
+men as Farmer Oldacre? I'm sure I have often known him in the winter try
+to find out jobs for the sake of keeping the men at work; and after all
+I believe, that he feels the change of times as much as any man, and
+that he and his family allow themselves little beyond bare necessaries.
+And even with respect to parish relief, I believe that the _old_ men and
+women, who are really past work, are better off when Farmer Oldacre has
+the books, than at any other time."
+
+"But then," answered Hannah, "Farmer Barton is so _good-natured_ when we
+go to him. He says that a shilling or two cannot signify to the farmers,
+and is not worth thinking about."
+
+"I believe it would be better for all parties," replied Truman, "if the
+able-bodied poor thought less of running to the parish, and more of
+depending, under God's blessing, on themselves. When I was young, a man
+would have been ashamed of begging for parish relief. Indeed, the law
+was, that those who were relieved were to be marked by a badge. I know
+that I contrived to bring up a family of seven children without being
+beholden to any body. For a few years it was certainly hard work, but
+God helped us on."
+
+"But wages," said Nanny Fowler, "were better in those days."
+
+"Compared with what they would buy, perhaps they were, but their being
+low now is, I take it, partly owing to the poor rates."
+
+"Why how can you make that out?" cried the whole party.
+
+"In the first place, can you tell me, why wheat is so cheap just at
+present? It was, you know, ten shillings the bushel, and indeed
+sometimes a great deal more--it is now less than five."
+
+"Why it's cheap to be sure, because there is such plenty of it."
+
+"And is it not the over-plenty of labourers, that makes labour cheap? I
+remember this village when there were not more than fifty labourers'
+families, each with a cottage to itself; now there are upwards of eighty
+families, and sometimes two crammed together in one house. I have read
+in the newspapers, that the people throughout England have increased in
+the last twenty years thirty-two in every hundred--that is, where there
+were but ten, there are now more than thirteen."
+
+"But what has that to do with the poor rates?"
+
+"Why do not you think that the poor rates are an encouragement to early
+marriages?"
+
+"And what then," said Hannah; "did not the Almighty say, _Increase and
+multiply_?"
+
+"The command to _increase and multiply and replenish the earth_, was
+given--_first_, when there were upon the face of the whole earth no men
+and women at all, excepting the first pair: and _again_, when all
+mankind had been destroyed, with the exception of the family of Noah.
+The world was pretty well empty of inhabitants then, and wanted
+_replenishing_. But the case is different in an old inhabited country,
+which is already so _replenished_--so full and over-full--that the
+people stand in each other's way."
+
+"But surely, John, you are not for preventing marriages?"
+
+"Heaven forbid!" said the old man, wiping a tear of thankfulness from
+his eye; "Heaven forbid! It is to marriage that I owe the greater part
+of the happiness that I have enjoyed in this life; and marriage, I
+trust, has assisted in preparing me, through divine grace and the merits
+of my Redeemer, for happiness in the life to come. I know too who it is
+that has said, _Marriage is honourable in all_.--No, no, I am no enemy
+to marriage, I am its warmest friend. But then, as the Prayer-Book tells
+us, there are _two_ ways of engaging in marriage. Men may either enter
+upon it _reverently_, _discreetly_, _advisedly_, and _in the fear of
+God_; or else they may engage in it _inadvisedly_, _lightly_, and
+_wantonly_, '_like brute beasts that have no understanding_.' I am
+afraid that now-a-days young people are more apt to engage in marriage
+after the latter manner, than after the former. When I was young, men
+generally did not like to marry--I'm sure I did not--till they had
+secured a bit of a cottage to put a wife in, and a few articles of
+furniture, and perhaps a few pounds to begin the world with. Now boys
+and girls marry without thought and reflection, without sixpence
+beforehand, and trust to the parish for every thing--house, goods,
+clothes, and the maintenance of their children. As for the parish
+finding houses for all that wish to marry, it's what can't be
+done.--No, no, I don't want to prevent their marrying, I only want them
+to wait a very few years, that they may have a better chance of
+happiness when they marry. We all know, that _when want comes in at the
+door, love is very apt to fly out at the window_; and parish pay is but
+a poor dependence after all.
+
+"And why should they not wait? Those, who are better off in the world,
+are for the most part forced to wait a good number of years. The sons of
+the farmers, of the tradesmen, and of the gentlemen, generally wait, I
+think, till they are nearer thirty than five and twenty. Look at Squire
+Bentley's family: there's his eldest son that is the counsellor, who, as
+they say, has been for some years engaged to one of Mr. Hale's
+daughters; he is now, I take it, upwards of thirty, but he waits till
+they have a better chance of maintaining a family. There's his second
+son, who is to be a physician; and the third in the army; both I dare
+say would be glad enough to marry, if they could marry with any sort of
+prudence.--It is because the poor think that the parish must find every
+thing, that they marry without thought or care; and then the numbers of
+the people increase till there are more hands than work; and that makes
+wages so low.
+
+"There's another way in which the poor rates keep down the price of
+labour. A man is out of work. He goes round to the farmers; but they all
+say that they don't want him: they have hands more than enough already.
+He then goes to the overseer for employment.--Now the parish--if bound
+by law to find work for him at all, about which there seems to be some
+doubt--is only bound to pay him enough to keep him from starving, and
+for that may require a full day's work. The farmers of course know this;
+and as in these times it is natural for them to wish to get hands at as
+low a rate as possible, one of them tells this man that he will give him
+a trifle more than the parish, though still a _mere trifle_, and turns
+off one of his regular workmen to make way for him; and so it may go on,
+till all are brought down to the same low key.--Or perhaps the farmers
+will pay all the labourers, either in whole, or in part, out of the poor
+rates. This I take to be a very bad plan for the farmers in the end; for
+as men will seldom do more work than they are paid for, the work will
+not be done so well or so cheerfully; and besides, it sadly breaks the
+spirit of the labourers. In short, I wish, as I said before, that the
+poor depended less upon parish pay, and more upon themselves."
+
+"But, John," said Hannah, "you are not for knocking up the poor laws
+altogether?"
+
+"By no means," answered John: "I am in one sense a poor man myself; and
+I am glad that there is such a provision for those, who can do nothing
+for themselves, and for those who are thrown back by a severe sickness,
+or by some accident. For myself, I hope that, by the blessing of God, I
+shall never be forced to stoop to ask for parish relief. As my wife and
+I contrived to bring up a family without any help from an overseer, so
+when our children were old enough to get out, and take care of
+themselves, we began to think of putting by a trifle against old age.
+The savings bank notion has given us a lift, and I think that I have
+that there, which will keep me from being a burden to any one. As times
+are now, a man with a large family can't help going to the parish, and
+no one can blame him for it--I only wish that times were such as to
+enable him, with industry and prudence, to look for maintenance to no
+one but himself and God Almighty."
+
+By the time that old Truman had finished this _dissertation_ on the poor
+laws, the surgeon had arrived. He examined Fowler's leg, and found the
+fracture to be as bad a one as well could be. It was attended too with a
+considerable degree of fever, which was increased by the heated state of
+the blood, occasioned by excessive drinking.
+
+The next day he was delirious, and the fever had increased so much, that
+but slight hopes were entertained of his recovery. He remained for some
+days in this state, hanging between life and death, till at length the
+fever abated. The delirium too was at an end; but it left him in a state
+of the most deplorable weakness.
+
+Nanny Fowler never had bestowed one serious thought upon a future life;
+but some of her neighbours told her, that with her husband in such a
+dangerous condition, she ought to desire the parson to come and see him.
+This she accordingly did.
+
+Mr. Hooker, at his two or three first visits, found both body and mind
+so weakened, that he did little more than pray by him. Neither Fowler
+nor his wife entered much into the meaning or spirit of his prayers, but
+still they were flattered and pleased by the attention of their pastor.
+
+For many years Fowler had hardly set foot in church, excepting once to
+attend the funeral of a relation, and twice as godfather to the children
+of two of his friends. Though he had not shewn any positive disrespect
+to Mr. Hooker to his face, yet he was in the habit of laughing at him
+behind his back, and of trying to turn whatever he did or said in the
+execution of his sacred office--and indeed his office itself--into
+ridicule. In this, according to the opinion of his thoughtless and
+profligate companions, he succeeded tolerably well; for he had a turn
+for low humour; and it is sometimes found, the more sacred any thing is,
+the greater is the effect of representing it in a ludicrous point of
+view, to those who are unrestrained by any sense of decency or of
+religion. From Mr. Hooker he had never received any thing but tokens of
+kindness, but he disliked him, because he knew that he disapproved of
+his manner of going on, and still more, for one or two admonitions
+which he had received from him. He now felt ashamed of his former
+disrespectful behaviour towards his worthy minister.
+
+The fever having entirely left him, Mr. Hooker determined to take
+advantage of the opportunity which this accident afforded, for the
+purpose of endeavouring to bring Fowler to some proper sense of
+religion. He accordingly often talked to him in the most serious manner,
+trying both to inform his understanding, and to affect his heart.
+
+One day when he called, he found Barton sitting by the bed side. The
+farmer immediately got up to go away; Fowler, however, begged him to
+stay; and Mr. Hooker was not without hopes, that what he said might not
+be entirely lost upon Barton, of whose religious sentiments he had but
+an unfavourable opinion.
+
+After making use of the prayers in the Visitation Office, he represented
+to Fowler the folly of living without God in the world; the hateful
+nature of sin; and the awful consequences of continuing in sin without
+repentance. He spoke of the great atonement, but told him that the
+benefits even of that would be lost to those who continued hardened and
+impenitent. He added a few words upon the particular vice of
+drunkenness, upon its tendency to lead on to almost all other sins
+without exception, and upon its dreadful punishment in the world to
+come, since _drunkards can not inherit the kingdom of God_.
+
+Fowler appeared to be attentive, and to feel what was said, and Barton
+looked every now and then a little uneasy. His uneasiness was
+occasioned, not by the slightest degree of apprehension for his own
+religious interests, but by the wound which his _good-nature_ received,
+at hearing such strong things said. The farmer accompanied Mr. Hooker
+down stairs; but the moment he had quitted the house, exclaimed, "I
+wish, Nanny, you would not let the parson come to your husband any more.
+I'm sure it's enough to make a man ill to hear him talk." "Why, what's
+the matter?" said Nanny, "what's the matter?"
+
+"Why, he has been talking about his soul, and getting drunk, and heaven,
+and hell, and I know not what besides; I'm sure, I thought it very
+_ill-natured_ of him. It's bad enough for poor Bob to have broken his
+leg, without being troubled with such melancholy thoughts. And what's
+the use of it? There's no chance of his dying this bout, and there can
+be no occasion for his making himself uneasy with these church-yard
+thoughts yet."
+
+"Surely you are not in earnest, neighbour," said Farmer Oldacre, who had
+called in to enquire how the broken leg was going on; "you cannot really
+mean what you say."
+
+"Yes, but I do though," replied Barton, "and I say again, it was very
+_ill-natured_ of Mr. Hooker."
+
+"I always thought," said Oldacre, "that you professed and called
+yourself a Christian."
+
+"As good a Christian as yourself," rejoined Barton, with some quickness;
+"aye, or as Mr. Hooker _either_, though, perhaps, I mayn't talk so much
+about it as some people."
+
+"Well, don't be angry," said Oldacre calmly, "but just listen to me for
+two minutes. If a Christian, you of course acknowledge the Scriptures
+to be the word of God?"
+
+"To be sure I do."
+
+"Well--you know--the whole parish knows--that poor Bob Fowler was
+leading a most ungodly and wicked life."
+
+"No, I do _not_ know it; poor Bob was nobody's enemy but his own; and if
+he did get drunk now and then, what was that to any body else? I don't
+call that being wicked."
+
+"And what _do_ you call being _wicked_?"
+
+"Why, I call a man wicked, when he robs and steals, or commits murder,
+or--let me see--let me see--when he takes a false oath before a
+justice--or--when he slanders his neighbours."
+
+"These, certainly," answered Oldacre, "are instances of great
+wickedness; but you seem to confine the word _wickedness_ almost
+entirely to offences, by which _men_ are injured; now I call a man
+_wicked_, when he lives in the wilful and habitual neglect of any part
+of his duty; and since the Scriptures tell us, that the first and chief
+part of our duty is our duty towards God, I particularly call a man
+wicked when he lives in the open neglect of that duty--when he leads, in
+short, an ungodly life."
+
+Barton made no answer, but seemed to be waiting to hear what was to come
+next.
+
+"Now as for poor Bob Fowler, you know very well that he never went to
+church, never thought of keeping holy the Lord's day, that he was in the
+constant habit of profane swearing, that he never spoke of religion but
+to laugh at it, and that instead of having God in all his thoughts, he
+lived in a total forgetfulness both of him and of his laws. Now the
+Scriptures tell us, over and over again, that _the wicked shall be
+turned into hell, and all the people that forget God_. If these words of
+Scripture be true--and you acknowledge yourself that they are so--Fowler
+was certainly in a dangerous state. Now, neighbour, suppose you were to
+see a blind man walking right on to the brink of a pit, and ready to
+fall into it, should you think it _ill-natured_ to tell him of his
+danger? And is it _ill-natured_ of Mr. Hooker, to try to save a man from
+falling into the pit of destruction?"
+
+"But why should he do it at such a time--when Bob has a broken leg to
+vex him?"
+
+"I know," replied Oldacre, "that Mr. Hooker did sometimes speak to him
+when he was in health; but Fowler was either sulky, or turned it into
+joke: he was one of those, who _sit in the seat of the scornful_; it was
+like _casting pearls before swine, which turn again and rend you_. His
+present confinement offers an opportunity for giving him some notions of
+religion; and our good minister, who is always on the watch for
+opportunities of being of use, most likely felt, that if this
+opportunity was not taken advantage of, he might never have another."
+
+"But is it not enough to drive a man to despair," said Barton, "to talk
+to him about death and judgment, and future punishment?"
+
+"It is rather the best way to save a man from despair. Mr. Hooker speaks
+to him of future misery, in order that he may escape it. I dare say that
+he tells him, as he tells us in church, that if he will but repent of
+and forsake his sins, full forgiveness is offered, through the mediation
+of the Redeemer. A man who wilfully goes on in a worldly, ungodly
+course of life, has certainly nothing before him but a _fearful looking
+for of judgment and fiery indignation_. Surely it is not _ill-natured_,
+but rather the kindest thing that can be done for such a man, to try to
+persuade him to flee from the wrath to come, by changing his course of
+life by the aid of God's grace, and by seeking for God's mercy through
+Christ, before the gates of mercy are closed for ever."
+
+There was a pause of some minutes. Barton, however, did not like to give
+up his notions of _ill-nature_, and returned to the charge. "Still, I
+must say, neighbour Oldacre, that the parson speaks of these things much
+too plainly and too strongly; and, to tell you the truth, that is the
+reason why I so seldom go to hear him in church. It would not look well,
+you know, for a man like me _never_ to go to church at all, so I drop in
+sometimes when there is no sermon. I like to be _good-humoured_ and
+pleasant, and don't like to think of these melancholy subjects until
+I've occasion."
+
+Oldacre found that he was impenetrable by any thing that _he_ could say,
+and was not inclined to resume the conversation, and went up stairs to
+Fowler to ask him how he was.
+
+Barton quitted the house, but the door was hardly closed, when his
+_good-nature_ was put to a fresh trial of a different description. He
+was met by a stranger, who, having asked him whether his name was
+Barton, and received his answer that it was, put into his hands a paper,
+which he found was a notice to him as surveyor, that a certain part of
+the road in the parish had been indicted at the Quarter Sessions which
+were just over, and a true bill found.
+
+The fact was this.--A gentleman, who was going to the Sessions on
+business, had occasion to travel along the road, the bad state of which
+Mr. Bentley had pointed out to Farmer Barton. One of his coach-horses
+shyed at a heap of dung lying close to the road side, the coachman
+whipped him, the horses sprang forward, but in crossing the deep ruts,
+one of the fore springs of the carriage snapped, and the near horse was
+thrown down, and cut both his knees. The gentleman proceeded slowly to
+Chippingden; and while his servants were getting the spring made safe
+for the remainder of his journey, had the worst part of the road
+measured, and then travelling on to Sessions in the full heat of his
+anger and vexation, preferred a bill of indictment against the parish of
+Inglewood.
+
+This Farmer Barton thought the most _ill-natured_ proceeding that ever
+was known; and in the first warmth of his indignation said, that there
+should be no _putting off_, but that the parish should try it out at the
+following Sessions. He was still surveyor, for he had so entirely
+neglected calling out the statute-duty, and indeed every part of his
+office, that he was ashamed to attend the justice meeting, which was
+held for the purpose of appointing new surveyors; and felt pretty sure,
+that his non-attendance would not be taken notice of. The magistrates,
+every now and then, threatened _stoutly_, and talked of fining the
+absentees, but they would not be so _ill-natured_ as to carry their
+threats into execution; and the comfort and convenience of the public,
+and the real interests of the several parishes themselves, were
+sacrificed for the credit of their _good-nature_.
+
+Fowler's leg, meanwhile, continued to mend, and he was able to get down
+stairs, and attend to his new business. What Mr. Hooker had said to him,
+produced considerable effect upon his mind and conduct. But though he
+left off drinking himself, yet from his former habits and character he
+could not be expected to possess much authority over those who resorted
+to his house. Many of the poor never entered the public house at all;
+many went to it now and then for a pot of beer to drink in a quiet
+family way at home; but a few of the married men, and several of the
+young ones, spent there many of their evenings, and most of their money.
+
+Many little disturbances consequently took place in the village. One
+evening in particular, Tim Nesbit came from the public house so drunk,
+and was so noisy and troublesome, that some of the neighbours talked of
+having him fined, or set in the stocks. "Surely you wou'dn't be so
+_ill-natured_ as that comes to," said Barton. "When a man robs and
+steals, punish him to the utmost; but drunkenness is a _good-natured_
+fault, and the drunken man is nobody's enemy but his own."
+
+"Nobody's enemy but his own!" said old Truman, who happened to be
+standing by, "I think a drunken man the enemy of every body. He is
+ready to quarrel with every body that comes in his way, and to do all
+sorts of mischief."
+
+"Yes," replied Barton, "but when a man don't know what he is doing, he
+has a right to be excused."
+
+"Now I say just the contrary," answered Truman. "When a man chooses to
+throw away his reason, and to bring himself down to a level with a
+beast, he must take the consequences. Drunkenness, instead of being an
+excuse for any fault, is an aggravation, and the law of the land says
+the same. I heartily wish that the laws against tippling and
+drunkenness[j] were more frequently put in execution."
+
+[Footnote j: If any person (with a few particular exceptions) shall
+continue drinking or tippling in a public house, he shall forfeit three
+shillings and fourpence to the use of the poor, or be set in the stocks
+for four hours.
+
+Any person convicted of drunkenness shall for the first offence forfeit
+five shillings to the use of the poor, or be set in the stocks for six
+hours. Upon a second conviction the offender shall be bound, with two
+sureties, to be thenceforth of good behaviour.]
+
+"These laws," replied Barton, "cannot, generally speaking, be put in
+force, unless some one will _inform_, and that would be so
+_ill-natured_. And besides, every one hates and cries out against the
+very name of an _informer_."
+
+"I grant you," said Truman, "that when a man turns _informer_ from
+spite--or for the sake of getting money--or from a view to private
+interest of any sort--he may perhaps deserve to be disliked. But a man
+who, _after fair notice, informs_ against an offender from a sense of
+public duty--with a view to check a bad practice which is hurtful both
+to society and to those who are guilty of it--or from a sincere zeal for
+the interests of morality and religion, is a benefactor to the
+community. The lawless and profligate, who would be glad to get rid of
+all the restraints of every sort, will of course try to run him down;
+but he ought not to mind that, and he certainly deserves the thanks of
+all the friends of good order and morality."
+
+Not only was the quiet of the village of Inglewood sometimes disturbed
+by drunken _rows_, but many little acts of mischief were committed, not
+from any particular spite, but in the mere wantonness of drunkenness.
+The farmers too found some of their men less disposed to work than
+formerly, and more disposed to be saucy; and they saw the wives and
+children of some few growing more and more ragged and miserable. They
+consoled themselves by abusing the justices for consenting to the
+establishment of the alehouse, and by blaming their minister for not
+taking more active measures to prevent it; and said for themselves, that
+they would never have set their hands to the certificate, if at the time
+they had not felt sure that the licence would not be granted.
+
+Fowler's friends, however, determined to make it as good a thing for him
+as they could. His accident, and long confinement in consequence of it,
+had thrown him back, and they wished, they said, to give him a _start_.
+They resolved to have some _pastime_ in the village, and tried to make
+up a purse for two prize fighters, who resided in the neighbourhood.
+Barton entered zealously into the scheme, and took care to have the fame
+of the projected amusement spread through the adjoining villages. Having
+occasion to call on Mr. Hooker on other business, he said that he hoped
+that he did not object to what was going forward. Mr. Hooker replied,
+that "he disapproved of it most decidedly."
+
+Barton's _good-nature_ was immediately up in arms. "Surely, Sir, it's
+very hard that the poor may not have a little amusement now and then.
+Our only object is, to give them a day's pleasure, and at the same time
+to give a little help to Fowler in his business, after his sad accident,
+which has thrown him back so unluckily."
+
+"Nobody," said Mr. Hooker, "can be more friendly than I am to the
+amusements of the poor; provided they are _innocent_, and do not, almost
+necessarily, lead to immorality and sin. You know, Mr. Barton, as well
+as I do, that the _pastime_, as you call it, which you propose, will be
+attended with a great deal of drunkenness. Your avowed object is, that
+Fowler should sell as much beer and spirits as possible. I need not tell
+you, that drunkenness is not only a great sin in itself, but that it
+also leads to sins of every description. You know very well too, that on
+occasions of this sort, there is generally a great deal of swearing, a
+great deal of improper language, and, perhaps, a great deal of
+quarrelling. With respect to _prize-fighting_, sensible men have
+entertained different sentiments. My own opinion is, that it is a
+positive offence against the laws both of God and man; that it is a most
+disgusting exhibition; and surely a most improper sight for the women
+and children, who, in a village, will be spectators of it. I think also,
+that if one of the combatants should be killed, as is frequently the
+case, all those who have promoted the battle are parties in the guilt of
+manslaughter.
+
+"Do not say that I am an enemy to the amusements of the poor. I like to
+have them enjoy themselves at proper times, and in a proper manner. I
+can take pleasure in seeing them engaged in a game at cricket, at
+football, at quoits, or any other manly exercise, provided they engage
+in it without swearing, or drunkenness, or other vice; but of the
+amusement now proposed in the village, I disapprove most decidedly."
+
+The disapprobation of the clergyman, however, was not attended to.
+Barton talked of the parson's _ill-nature_ in grudging the poor a little
+enjoyment, and said it was all of a piece with his finding fault with
+the poor boys for going to play on a Sunday, instead of going to church
+or the Sunday school.
+
+The promised day at length arrived. The village was filled with a motley
+concourse from all the country round, and the fight took place. The men
+were equally matched, and fought with skill and courage. Both got
+severely bruised; but one of them received an unfortunate blow under the
+ear. He fell into the arms of his second, and it was soon discovered
+that the blow was mortal--he never spoke again. This sad _accident_
+threw a damp over the amusement of the day, and many repented of the
+_good-nature_ which had led them to promote the _pastime_.
+
+We will not, however, dwell upon this melancholy event, but proceed to
+the result of the indictment of the roads of the parish of Inglewood.
+
+January came, and the Quarter Sessions. Both parties wished to have the
+indictment tried at once, and came prepared--the prosecutor with
+witnesses to prove that the road was very bad and unsafe--and Barton
+with several _good-natured_ men, who were ready to swear, that it was as
+good a road as they wished to travel. The parish, however, was beat;
+and it being proved that frequent representations had been made of the
+bad state of the road in question, Inglewood was sentenced to pay a fine
+of fifty pounds, together with all costs, which amounted to forty more.
+
+Farmer Barton hardly knew which was most _ill-natured_, the prosecutor,
+the jury, or the bench of magistrates. Perhaps he was most out of humour
+with the _jury_; for consisting, as it did principally, of farmers, they
+might, he thought, have put their oaths and their consciences a little
+on one side, where brother farmers were concerned. However, there was no
+help for it, and the money was to be found before the Easter Sessions.
+
+He returned to Inglewood to console himself with the popularity, which
+he acquired in the exercise of the office of overseer. His _good-nature_
+led him to accede to almost every application, but his _good-nature_
+arose rather from his "fear of offending the importunate, than his
+desire of making the deserving happy[k]." The industrious and the modest
+remained contented with their former pittance; but the forward, and the
+impudent, and the clamorous, were continually urging their claims for
+more relief, and seldom urged them in vain.
+
+[Footnote k: Goldsmith.]
+
+"I hope, Farmer Barton," said one woman, "you will give me a little more
+allowance: when bread, and candles, and soap are paid for, there's
+hardly any thing left for tea and sugar." "Why I suppose then I must
+give you a trifle more--the parish can't miss it." One petitioner he
+manfully refused, and told her she must be content with what she had.
+"And how am I to buy snuff out of that[l]?" The overseer relented: he
+loved a pinch of snuff himself. Farmer Oldacre would gladly have filled
+a deserving old woman's snuff box at his own expense, but not at the
+expense of the parish.
+
+[Footnote l: Fact.]
+
+The liberal allowances granted by Barton, of course, required frequent
+rates, which it was not very convenient to the farmers to pay. Those,
+however, who happened to have money by them, paid, and allowed
+themselves the satisfaction of grumbling. Those who had it not, begged
+for time, and kept their grumbling to themselves. Barton's _good-nature_
+did not permit him to be very pressing. The consequence was, that, as he
+was neither disposed, nor perhaps able, to advance the money from his
+own pocket, fresh rates became necessary, and those who _could_ pay made
+up for the deficiencies of those who could not.
+
+Farmer Oldacre was one of the former description; and though he often
+told his brother overseer, that he was bound in law to levy and expend
+one rate before he applied for another; yet when his own pocket seemed
+to be concerned, he would not be peremptory.
+
+Another of those who were always ready with their money, and were
+consequently entitled to the privilege of grumbling, was Richard
+Sterling.
+
+Richard occupied five or six acres of land, kept three cows, and got on
+pretty well by supplying his neighbours with milk. "What, another rate,
+Master Barton!--why it seems but t'other day that I paid the last."--"It
+can't be helped, Richard;--the poor must be provided for."--"I know they
+must," answered Sterling, "and as for those who cannot keep themselves,
+and are come to poverty without any fault of their own, I should not
+grudge it them if they had more;--but there are some who might as well
+help to support me, as I to support them. Pray, what may you give to Tim
+Nesbit?"--"Why--perhaps the matter of three and sixpence a
+week."--"Three and sixpence a week?--that comes I think to about nine
+pounds twelve a-year.--Tim and I were born in the same year; when we
+grew up we worked for the same master; we married much about the same
+time, and our families are of the same size. The only difference between
+us was, that while I tried to put by what I could spare, Tim, whether
+single or married, always carried good part of his earnings to the
+ale-house. Now is it not a little hard that I must now be forced to help
+to maintain him, because he chose to squander away his money? He might
+at this present time have been every bit as well off in the world as I
+am; but because he chose to be careless and a spendthrift, I am forced
+to take bread, as it were, from my own children, and give it to his[m]."
+
+[Footnote m: See a lively dialogue to this purpose in that excellent
+little publication, the Cottagers' Monthly Visitor.]
+
+One day, when Barton was going towards his house, he was overtaken by
+Ralph the butcher's lad, who accosted him with, "Mr. Barton, I want you
+to do me a kindness." "What is it?" said Barton. "Why, you must know,
+that I have some thoughts of marrying, and want the parish just to run
+me up a bit of a house. Master will give carriage, and I can manage a
+good deal of the labour myself, so that it will cost the parish a mere
+trifle."
+
+"_You_ going to be married!" said Barton laughing, "why, how old are
+you?" "Old enough in all conscience, I shall be nineteen come February."
+"It might be as well to wait a few years longer," answered Barton;
+"however, I can't wonder at you; and we'll see what can be done."
+
+He accordingly mentioned the subject to his brother overseer, whom he
+found in the field near his house. "I must say," replied Oldacre, "that
+I am no friend to these early marriages in any class of society. Young
+men and women--or rather I should say, boys and girls--take it into
+their heads to marry, before they can be supposed really to know their
+own minds. They are struck by something in the outward appearance, or
+taken by some whim and fancy, and become partners for life, before they
+have become acquainted with each other's temper or character, and
+before they have considered how to provide for a family. The consequence
+too often is, that the marriage turns out unhappily. Among the poor
+especially, who look to the parish for every thing, these early
+marriages produce a habit of dependence, which lowers their character
+and spirit for life."
+
+"What you say, is much about the truth," replied Barton, "but these
+young people are bent upon marrying, and then, you know, there's no
+stopping them. Of course they must have a place to be in, and I suppose
+we may as well run him up a bit of a cottage at once."
+
+"It is a serious thing," said Oldacre, "for farmers at rack-rent to
+begin building houses for their poor; but I am against it, for the sake
+of the poor themselves."
+
+"Now I'm sure you _must_ be wrong in that opinion," said Barton.
+
+"Do just tell me," answered his brother overseer, "have we already
+labourers enough to do all the work of the parish?"
+
+"Enough, and much more than enough. You know how puzzled we are to find
+employment for them in the winter. Indeed, excepting just in hay-making
+and harvest, we have always some men to be paid for their work out of
+the rates."
+
+"Then is not increasing the number a bad thing for the poor themselves,
+if they already stand in each other's way? And do you not see, that
+building cottages is just the way to increase them? If you built twenty
+cottages, you would have them filled in a week's time. We have of late
+been forced to _double_ some families, but that must be so uncomfortable
+in every way, that people do not like to marry upon such a prospect. But
+there are plenty of young men and women quite ready to hasten to the
+altar, if they could be sure of a roof to themselves to shelter them at
+night[n]. This of course, would make a lasting addition to the poor
+rates, would throw a heavy burden on the land, and render it still more
+difficult for the poor to find work.
+
+[Footnote n: Townsend.]
+
+"The cottages that we have I wish to see as comfortable as possible, and
+would have the poor people who inhabit them take a pride in keeping them
+neat and clean, and their gardens in nice order; but I am not for
+increasing the number of them. Such increase, I am persuaded, would be
+against the interest of the poor themselves."
+
+Mr. Stanley, during a former visit to Inglewood, had often fallen in
+with Mr. Oldacre in his walks, and got into conversation with him: he
+happened to come up at the moment, and catching the last words that had
+fallen from the farmer, said to him, "I suspect, Mr. Oldacre, that you
+are not very friendly to the system of the poor laws."
+
+"I will not by any means say that," replied Oldacre; "I believe that in
+every state of society, in a populous and old-inhabited country
+especially, there always will, and must, be poor. As the Scripture says,
+_The poor shall never cease out of the land_. I am glad, therefore, that
+provision is made by law for those who are unable to help themselves.
+Private charity, in many places, does a great deal; and if there were no
+poor-laws, would do a great deal more. But if all were left to be
+provided for by private charity, the kind-hearted would be oppressed by
+claims, and often give more than they could afford, while the selfish
+and covetous would contribute nothing. It is right that these latter
+should be forced to take their share of the burden. In many places
+again, if there was nothing but voluntary benevolence to trust to,
+multitudes would starve, and no civilized country ought to suffer that,
+if it can help it. Indeed, I wish that we were able to give a larger
+measure of parochial relief to the aged and infirm, who are reduced to
+want through no fault of their own. But then, I must say, though I shall
+be thought _ill-natured_ for saying so, that I cannot help seeing that
+the poor-laws--whether from bad management, or from the peculiar
+circumstances of the times, I will not pretend to say--have in many ways
+done no good to the character and the habits of several among the poor."
+
+"I know," said Mr. Stanley, "that many sensible men entertain the same
+opinion; but, perhaps, you can give me a few instances which may make
+your meaning more clear."
+
+"Many of the poor," replied Oldacre, "have not been hurt by them, but
+still preserve the steady, manly, independent character, which becomes
+an Englishman. But too frequently dependence on parish rates has
+produced very pernicious consequences.
+
+"The connection between a farmer and his labourers--you will say, that I
+speak like a farmer, in mentioning that _first_--ought to be
+advantageous to both--not merely as a contract, by which the employer is
+to receive so much work, and the workman so much money; but as it tends
+to produce an interchange between them of kind offices and kind
+feelings. By many of the labourers this is still felt as it ought to be
+felt, and they take a pride and a pleasure in working year after year
+for the same master, and try to obtain his approbation by industry and
+good conduct. Some of them, however, have no notion of fixing
+themselves. They care little whether their employer is pleased with them
+or not, and upon the slightest affront as they call it, or the slightest
+difference about wages, they are off directly. If one wont employ them,
+another _must_; or, at all events, they _must_ be employed by the
+parish.
+
+"Again; the natural affection which subsists between parent and child,
+is strengthened and increased in both--as is the case indeed with brute
+animals--by the dependence of the children on their parents for
+subsistence. But now this dependence is, in many instances, removed from
+the parent to the overseer. On the other hand, when the parents grow old
+and infirm, the children often might do much to assist them, and if left
+to themselves would delight in doing so. But under the present system,
+if they do it at all, they do it by _stealth_; for _why_, say they,
+_should we favour the parish_? If they happen to have a little matter of
+money left them, they are tempted for the same reason to conceal it.
+Here again they ask, why should they favour the parish? and they will
+not feel, that the receiving of parish relief, when they have any thing
+of their own, is a fraud upon the parish, an act of dishonesty.
+
+"Few virtues are more useful in any condition of life than _frugality_
+and _foresight_. Upon these, however, the poor laws have certainly made
+a sad inroad: unmarried men, or those, who though married have no
+families, or whose children have _got out_, while they continue in full
+health and vigour, might often contrive to lay by something against old
+age. But this few of them think of doing, for _why should they favour
+the parish_? The parish must provide for them at any rate, and so they
+may as well spend their money as fast as they get it. The _future_
+satisfaction of living on their own means, instead of on parish pay, is
+not sufficient to stand against the temptation of _present_
+pleasure.--Savings banks are an excellent institution, but when once a
+man has quartered himself as a pauper upon the parish, he will not make
+use of them. Why should he put money into the bank in order to _favour
+the parish_?--I shall tire you, Sir, I fear," continued the farmer,
+"but you must let me mention one thing more. _Beneficence_ is, we know,
+twice blessed; it blesses him that gives, and him that takes; but parish
+relief comes sadly in the way of beneficence. When men are forced to pay
+so much to the poor through the hands of the overseer, they have neither
+the inclination, nor, in fact, the power, to give so largely in the way
+of voluntary charity.
+
+"Many other instances I could give of the unfavourable effect which the
+poor laws have had upon the characters, and consequently upon the
+happiness, of the poor[o]. I do not blame the poor:--many, who would
+otherwise keep off the parish, are driven to it by the low rate of
+wages, which has been occasioned, I suppose, partly by an oversupply of
+hands, and partly by irregularities in our currency.
+
+[Footnote o: See the eloquent and forcible Pamphlets of Townsend,
+Bicheno, and Jerram; and particularly the judicious and well-arranged
+Sermon on "the Immoral Effect of the Poor-Laws," by Dr Richards of
+Bampton.]
+
+"As I said before, I am glad that a legal provision is made for the
+poor, but I wish that more than half the money we now pay in rates was
+paid in wages, and that wages were such that a man in health, and with a
+good character, might always be pretty well able to provide for a
+moderate-sized family by his own exertions. The parish pay should be
+kept chiefly for unforeseen calamities, for the orphan and for the
+widow. We should then be able to give _them_ a better allowance. Now
+there are so many claimants, that we cannot give _much_ to any, and the
+able, bodied and strong are the means of lessening the pittance of the
+sick and the helpless."
+
+Lady-day was now approaching, and with it the time when Barton was to go
+out of office. His _good-nature_ had lavished so much of the public
+money upon clamorous applicants, that many parish bills were still
+unpaid. The fine too imposed upon the inhabitants of Inglewood upon the
+indictment of the road, and the legal costs attending it, were also now
+to be cleared off, so that altogether a very considerable sum was to be
+made up. It was well known, that many of the rates were much in arrears;
+and the farmers who had hitherto paid with some degree of punctuality,
+grumbled more and more at the neglect of the acting overseer in not
+levying them. Most of them expressed their determination to pay no more,
+till all arrears were cleared up. One large farm was about to change its
+occupier, and the in-coming tenant declared--as he had a good right to
+declare--that he would have nothing to do with the debts of the parish
+incurred before his coming into it. Strong hints also were thrown out,
+that Barton should take the consequences of his own neglect upon
+himself, and should make up all deficiencies out of his own pocket.
+These threats answered the purpose of alarming Barton, whose
+_good-nature_, great as it was, had never been able to stifle his regard
+for his own interest. He accordingly set actively to work to collect the
+arrears.
+
+Those who had been unable to pay _one_ rate, were not likely to pay
+_four_, which had now become due, together with the heavy addition
+occasioned by the indictment. Some of the defaulters blamed the
+overseer, for having let it run on so long; and all found fault with him
+for having brought so serious an expense upon the parish by his neglect
+about the roads.
+
+_All_, I should not say;--for the poor widow Wildgoose uttered not a
+word of reproach or complaint against any one, but when asked for her
+arrears of rates, passively replied that she had no money, and that the
+parish must take her goods.
+
+She had never held up her head since the death of her eldest son. When
+she first set up her shop, she dealt a good deal for ready money, of
+course selling to ready-money customers at a much lower rate. From the
+time of her son's death, however, her activity and attention to business
+had deserted her. She suffered many of the poor to run deeply in her
+debt, and if she hinted any thing about payment, they pretended to be
+affronted, and took all their ready money to the other shops. Farmer
+Barton, too, thought that it would be _good-natured_ to give the poor
+widow the _credit_ of his custom and protection, and had almost all his
+shop-goods and grocery from her house. Unfortunately, however, neither
+his _good-nature_, of which he had so much--nor his sense of justice, of
+which he had but little--ever led him to recollect to pay her. She was
+too much depressed--too _meek-spirited_--to urge, or even to ask for,
+payment, and the consequence was, that she was just approaching to utter
+ruin, which was of course likely to be accelerated by her goods being
+distrained for poor rates. Her surviving children were in service in
+creditable places, and would have helped her in a moment; but she could
+not bear to tell them of her difficulties. Now, however, one of her
+neighbours contrived to let them know the situation, in which their
+mother was. Immediately they made up out of their wages a sum
+sufficient not only to pay off her arrears, but to give her a trifle for
+her present wants. And soon after she received by the post a blank cover
+addressed to her, inclosing a five pound note. She had no guess who
+could have sent it, but it was soon discovered that it came from Lucy
+Wilmot, a young woman to whom her eldest son had been attached. Her
+second son Sam lived with a kind-hearted lawyer in London, who, upon
+hearing of the distress of the poor widow and its cause, not only sent
+her some assistance in money, but promised to take an early opportunity
+of looking into her affairs, and of taking measures for compelling those
+of her debtors who were able, to pay what they owed her.
+
+Of the other defaulters, some contrived to procure the necessary money;
+some were summoned before the magistrates, and then, finding that they
+had no remedy, found a friend to advance the money; against others
+warrants of distress were issued.
+
+No case excited more commiseration than that of Michael Fielding.
+Michael had been a remarkably industrious and prudent labourer, and had
+managed to save a considerable sum of money. He married a young woman
+of similar character, and being naturally anxious to get forward in the
+world, they had ventured, seven or eight years before, to take a small
+farm. The rent was moderate when they took their lease, but they had
+felt the change of times severely. The property was in the hands of
+trustees, who did not feel justified in making a diminution of rent; and
+consequently poor Michael, every year, saw his means growing less, while
+his family grew larger. He was at work early and late, his wife gave all
+the help she could in the farm, and mended the children's clothes as
+long as they would hold together; and the hard-earned bread, upon which
+the family lived, was so coarse, that many of the labourers in the
+village would have turned from it in disdain. Michael was naturally of a
+cheerful disposition, and not apt to murmur or complain; sometimes,
+however, he could hardly suppress a sigh, when he thought of his own
+children, and of the hard fare to which they were accustomed, and saw in
+the parish-books the large sums that were given by the _good-nature_ of
+Barton to idle and worthless characters[p]. Now and then he had
+ventured gently to remonstrate upon the hardship of being obliged to
+contribute so large a portion of his limited means towards the
+maintenance of men, who had begun the world with the same advantages
+with himself, and who, but for their own improvidence, might have lived
+without being a burden to any one. The comparative smallness of his
+farm, however, and his former situation in life, prevented his
+remonstrance from being of much weight. He was now nearly insolvent.
+Several persons, to whom his character was known, would have been happy
+to have assisted him, but he was too high-minded to acquaint them with
+his difficulties. All the money, that by his utmost exertion he could
+scrape together, was just gone for rent, and he had nothing at all left
+to meet the demand for the arrears of rates, and for his portion of the
+expenses of the indictment. Barton, in spite of his _good-nature_, felt
+obliged to distrain. This brought other creditors upon poor Michael, and
+he was obliged to sell off every thing.
+
+[Footnote p: Townsend.]
+
+Barton, however, was enabled to make up his accounts, and had got them
+passed at the vestry, though there certainly was among his brother
+farmers a little grumbling. Barton defended himself as well as he could,
+and added, that at all events he had got the _good-word_ of the poor;
+that he always had borne, and always hoped to bear, the character of a
+_good-natured man_. Farmer Oldacre could not suffer this to pass without
+observation. He had been a little irritated by some things which he had
+witnessed at the vestry, and felt deeply for poor Michael, who had
+formerly worked upon his farm, and whom he had always loved and
+respected. "Come, come, neighbour Barton," said he, "let us hear no more
+of your _good-nature_, for which we all have to pay so dear. Your wish
+to obtain the _good-word_ of the poor has not really benefitted them,
+and has done serious injury to the rest of your neighbours. Your
+_good-nature_ about the licence has increased the immorality and the
+poverty of the parish;--and your _good-nature_ to the road-workmen has
+given Fowler a broken leg;--your _good-nature_ to farmer Dobson, in not
+making him cut his hedge, and do his statute-duty, has cost us ninety
+pounds;--and your _good-nature_ as overseer has made the parish less
+able to pay that sum, and has helped to complete the ruin of two or
+three deserving families. And--if I may venture here to mention so
+serious a consideration--your _good-nature_ would have allowed a sinner
+to go on towards eternal destruction without warning, and, for the sake
+of avoiding uneasiness of mind _here_, would have suffered him to incur
+everlasting punishment _hereafter_.
+
+"Farmer Barton--I value brotherly-kindness most highly. I know that the
+love of our neighbour, and a readiness to do him good offices, is the
+second great commandment both of the Law and of the Gospel. But I hope
+that I shall ever be on my guard against that love of low popularity,
+that weak fear of giving offence, that sacrifice of _public_ principle
+to _private_ considerations, which, under the engaging name of
+_good-nature_, often lead to forgetfulness of duty both towards God and
+man, and do as much harm in the world as positive dishonesty."
+
+
+NOTES.
+
+Dr. Benjamin Franklin is well known as the friend of the poor and of
+liberty, and as one of the founders of American independence. The
+following observations will, with many persons, have additional weight,
+as coming from _his_ pen.
+
+_Extract from Observations written in Pennsylvania in 1751._
+
+2.--When families can be easily supported, more persons marry, and
+earlier in life.
+
+3. In cities, where all trades, occupations, and offices are full, many
+delay marrying till they can see how to bear the charges of a family;
+which charges are greater in cities, as luxury is more common: many live
+single during life, and continue servants to families, journeymen to
+trades, &c. Hence cities do not, by natural generation, supply
+themselves with inhabitants; the deaths are more than the births.
+
+4. In countries full settled, the case must be nearly the same, all
+lands being occupied and improved to the height; those who cannot get
+land, must labour for others that have it; when labourers are plenty,
+their wages will be low; by low wages a family is supported with
+difficulty; this difficulty deters many from marriage, who therefore
+long continue servants and single. Only, as the cities take supplies of
+people from the country, and thereby make a little more room in the
+country, marriage is a little more encouraged there, and the births
+exceed the deaths.
+
+
+_Dr. Franklin's Letter on the Labouring Poor. Dated April, 1768._
+
+
+    _Sir,_
+
+     I have met with much invective in the papers, for these two
+     years past, against the hard-heartedness of the rich, and much
+     complaint of the great oppressions suffered in this country by
+     the labouring poor. Will you admit a word or two on the other
+     side of the question? I do not propose to be an advocate for
+     oppression or oppressors; but when I see that the poor are, by
+     such writings, exasperated against the rich, and excited to
+     insurrections, by which much mischief is done, and some lose
+     their lives, I could wish the true state of things were better
+     understood; the poor not made by these busy writers more uneasy
+     and unhappy than their situation subjects them to be, and the
+     nation not brought into disrepute among foreigners, by public
+     groundless accusations of ourselves, as if the rich in England
+     had no compassion for the poor, and Englishmen wanted common
+     humanity.
+
+     In justice, then, to this country, give me leave to remark,
+     that the condition of the poor here is by far the best in
+     Europe; for that, except in England and her American colonies,
+     there is not in any country in the known world (not even in
+     Scotland[q] or Ireland) a provision by law to enforce a support
+     of the poor. Every where else necessity reduces to beggary.
+     This law was not made by the poor. The legislators were men of
+     fortune. By that act they voluntarily subjected their own
+     estates, and the estates of all others, to the payment of a tax
+     for the support of the poor, encumbering those estates with a
+     kind of rent charge for that purpose, whereby the poor are
+     vested with an inheritance, as it were, in all the estates of
+     the rich. I wish they were benefitted by this generous
+     provision, in any degree equal to the good intention with which
+     it was made, and is continued; but I fear the giving mankind a
+     dependence on any thing for support, in age or sickness,
+     besides industry and frugality during health, tends to flatter
+     our natural indolence, to encourage idleness and prodigality,
+     and thereby to promote and increase poverty, the very evil it
+     was intended to cure; thus multiplying beggars, instead of
+     diminishing them.
+
+[Footnote q: This, I believe, is inaccurate.]
+
+     Besides this tax, which the rich in England have subjected
+     themselves to in behalf of the poor, amounting in some places
+     to five or six shillings in the pound of their annual income,
+     they have, by donations and subscriptions, erected numerous
+     schools in various parts of the kingdom, for educating, gratis,
+     the children of the poor in reading and writing; and in many of
+     these schools the children are also fed and clothed; they have
+     erected hospitals at an immense expence, for the reception and
+     cure of the sick, the lame, the wounded, and the insane poor,
+     for lying-in women, and deserted children. They are also
+     continually contributing towards making up losses occasioned by
+     fire, by storms, or by floods; and to relieve the poor in
+     severe seasons of frost, in time of scarcity, &c. in which
+     benevolent and charitable contributions no nation exceeds us.
+     Surely there is some gratitude due for so many instances of
+     goodness.
+
+     Add to this all the laws made to discourage foreign
+     manufactures, by laying heavy duties on them, or totally
+     prohibiting them; whereby the rich are obliged to pay much
+     higher prices for what they wear and consume than if the trade
+     was open. There are so many laws for the support of our
+     labouring poor made by the rich, and continued at their
+     expence: all the difference of price between our own and
+     foreign commodities, being so much given by our rich to our
+     poor; who would indeed be enabled by it to get by degrees above
+     poverty, if they did not, as too generally they do, consider
+     every increase of wages only as something that enables them to
+     drink more and work less; so that their distress in sickness,
+     age, or times of scarcity, continues to be the same as if such
+     laws had never been made in their favour.
+
+     Much malignant censure have some writers bestowed upon the rich
+     for their luxury and expensive living, while the poor are
+     starving, not considering that what the rich expend, the
+     labouring poor receive in payment for their labour. It may seem
+     a paradox if I should assert, that our labouring poor do, in
+     every year, receive the _whole revenue of the nation_; I mean
+     not only the public revenue, but also the revenue or clear
+     income of all private estates, or a sum equivalent to the
+     whole. In support of this position, I reason thus: The rich do
+     not work for one another; their habitations, furniture,
+     clothing, carriages, food, ornaments, and every thing, in
+     short, that they or their families use and consume, is the work
+     or produce of the labouring poor, who are, and must be,
+     continually paid for their labour in producing the same. In
+     these payments the revenues of private estates are expended;
+     for most people live up to their incomes. In clothing, or
+     provision for troops, in arms, ammunition, ships, tents,
+     carriages, &c. &c. (every particular the produce of labour,)
+     much of the public revenue is expended. The pay of officers,
+     civil and military, and of the private soldiers and sailors,
+     requires the rest; and they spend that also in paying for what
+     is produced by the labouring poor. I allow that some estates
+     may increase by the owners spending less than their income; but
+     then I conceive, that other estates do at the same time
+     diminish, by the owners spending more than their incomes; so
+     that when the enriched want to buy more land, they easily find
+     lands in the hands of the impoverished, whose necessities
+     oblige them to sell; and thus this difference is equalled. I
+     allow also, that part of the expense of the rich is in foreign
+     produce, or manufactures, for producing which the labouring
+     poor of other nations must be paid: but then, I say, we must
+     first pay our own labouring poor for an equal quantity of our
+     manufactures or produce, to exchange for those foreign
+     productions, or we must pay for them in money, which money not
+     being a natural produce to our country, must first be purchased
+     from abroad, by sending out its value in the produce or
+     manufactures of this country, for which manufactures our
+     labouring poor are to be paid. And, indeed, if we did not
+     export more than we import, we could have no money at all. I
+     allow farther, that there are middle men, who make a profit,
+     and even get estates, by purchasing the labour of the poor, and
+     selling it at advanced prices to the rich; but then they cannot
+     enjoy that profit, or the increase of estates, but by spending
+     them in employing and paying our labouring poor, in some shape
+     or other, for the products of industry. Even beggars,
+     pensioners, hospitals, &c. all that are supported by charity,
+     spend their incomes in the same manner. So that finally, as I
+     said at first, our labouring poor receive annually the whole of
+     the clear revenues of the nation, and from us they can have no
+     more.
+
+     If it be said that their wages are too low, and that they ought
+     to be better paid for their labour, I heartily wish that any
+     means could be fallen upon to do it consistent with their
+     interest and happiness; but as the cheapness of other things is
+     owing to the plenty of those things, so the cheapness of labour
+     is in most cases owing to the multitude of labourers, and to
+     their underworking one another in order to obtain employment.
+     How is this to be remedied? A law might be made to raise their
+     wages; but if our manufactures are too dear, they will not vend
+     abroad, and all that part of employment will fail, unless, by
+     fighting and conquering, we compel other nations to buy our
+     goods, whether they will or no, which some have been mad enough
+     at times to propose. Among ourselves, unless we give our
+     working people less employment, how can we, for what they do,
+     pay them higher than we do? Out of what fund is the additional
+     price of labour to be paid, when all our present incomes are,
+     as it were, mortgaged to them? Should they get higher wages,
+     would that make them less poor, if in consequence they worked
+     fewer days of the week proportionably? I have said, a law might
+     be made to raise their wages; but I doubt much, whether it
+     could be executed to any purpose, unless another law, now
+     indeed almost obsolete, could at the same time be revived and
+     enforced; a law, I mean, that I have often heard and repeated,
+     but few have ever duly considered, _Six days shalt thou
+     labour_. This is as positive a part of the Commandment, as that
+     which says, _The seventh day thou shalt rest_: but we remember
+     well to observe the indulgent part, and never think of the
+     other. _Saint Monday_[r] is generally as duly kept by our
+     working people as Sunday: the only difference is, that instead
+     of employing it cheaply at church, they are wasting it
+     expensively at the alehouse.
+
+    I am, Sir, your's, &c.
+
+
+[Footnote r: This applies not so much to farmers' workmen as to
+_manufacturers'_ labourers.]
+
+
+_Extract from Dr. Franklin's remarks on Luxury, Idleness, and Industry._
+
+Some of those who grow rich will be prudent, live within bounds, and
+preserve what they have gained for their posterity: others, fond of
+shewing their wealth, will be extravagant, and ruin themselves. Laws
+cannot prevent this; and perhaps it is not always an evil to the public.
+A shilling spent idly by a fool, may be picked up by a wiser person, who
+knows better what to do with it. It is therefore not lost. A vain silly
+fellow builds a fine house, furnishes it richly, lives in it
+expensively, and in a few years ruins himself: but the masons,
+carpenters, smiths, and other honest tradesmen, have been by his employ
+assisted in maintaining and raising their families: the farmer has been
+paid for his labour, and encouraged, and the estate is now in better
+hands. In some cases, indeed, certain modes of luxury may be a public
+evil, in the same manner as it is a private one.
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+                   *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+[Transcriber's Note:
+
+Older form of contractions retained.
+
+Spelling "aground" and "a-ground" used in the text.
+
+Spelling "ale-house" and "alehouse" used in the text.
+
+Spelling "bed-side" and "bedside" used in the text.
+
+Spelling "gate-way" and "gateway" used in the text.
+
+Spelling "benefited" and "benefitted" used in the text.
+
+Spelling "licence" and "license" used in the text.
+
+Spelling "parish officer" and "parish-officer" used in text.
+
+Page 31. Letter 'f' added to text (as a matter of).
+
+Page 47. Comma, blank space and double quote removed after 'answered'.
+(Wildgoose answered that as for the penalty,)
+
+Page 89. Quotation marks around 'Mrs. Hawker' removed. (No, indeed now,
+Mrs. Hawker, you must)
+
+Page 109. The notation '[oe]' is used for the oe-ligature.
+
+Page 118. Word 'carrried' changed to 'carried' (accordingly carried
+him).
+
+Page 120. Word 'matress' spelling retained. May be period correct.
+
+Page 137. Word 'unfrequently' spelling retained. May be period correct.
+
+Page 138. Closing double-quote added. (as a fit man to keep it.)
+
+Page 145. Word 'intrusted' spelling retained. May be period correct.]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Christmas Stories, by Edward Berens
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRISTMAS STORIES ***
+
+***** This file should be named 35397.txt or 35397.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        https://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/3/9/35397/
+
+Produced by Heather Clark, billyeiser and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This
+book was produced from scanned images of public domain
+material from the Google Print project.)
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+https://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+https://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at https://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit https://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including including checks, online payments and credit card
+donations.  To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     https://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.