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(except my two daughters) to be completely sides: he asserted that I was heterodox, 1 re pretty. Her youth, health, and innocence, torted the charge; he replied, and I rejoined. were still heightened by a complexion so In the meantime, while the controversy was transparent, and such a happy sensibility of hottest, I was called out by one of my relalook, as even age could not gaze on with in- tions, who, with a face of concern, advised. difference. As Mr Wilmot knew that I could me to give up the dispute, at least till my make a very handsome settlement on my son, son's wedding was over. "How," cried I, he was not averse to the match; so both fami- "relinquish the cause of truth, and let him be lies lived together in all that harmony which a husband already driven to the very verge generally precedes an expected alliance. Be of absurdity. You might as well advise me ing convinced by experience that the days of to give up my fortune, as my argument." courtship are the most happy of our lives, I" Your fortune," returned my friend, "I am was willing enough to lengthen the period; and now sorry to inform you, is almost nothing. the various amusements which the young The merchant in town, in whose hands your couple every day shared in each other's com- money was lodged, has gone off, to avoid a pany, seemed to increase their passion. We statute of bankruptcy, and is thought not to were generally awaked in the morning by have left a shilling in the pound. I was unmusic, and on fine days rode a-hunting. The willing to shock you or the family with the hours between breakfast and dinner the ladies account till after the wedding: but now it devoted to dress and study: they usually read may serve to moderate your warmth in the a page, and then gazed at themselves in the argument; for, I suppose, your own prudence, glass, which even philosophers might own will enforce the necessity of dissembling, at often presented the page of greatest beauty. least, till your son has the young lady's forAt dinner my wife took the lead; for as she tune secure.”—“ Well,” returned I, “if what always insisted upon carving every thing her- you tell me be true, and if I am to be a self, it being her mother's way, she gave us beggar, it shall never make me a rascal, or inupon these occasions the history of every dish. duce me to disavow my principles. I'll go When we had dined, to prevent the ladies this moment and inform the company of my leaving us, I generally ordered the table to be circumstances: and as for the argument, I removed; and sometimes, with the music- even here retract my former concessions in the master's assistance, the girls would give us a old gentleman's favour, nor will I allow him very agreeable concert. Walking out, drink- now to be a husband in any sense of the exing tea, country dances, and forfeits, shortened pression." the rest of the day, without the assistance of cards, as I hated all manner of gaming, except back-gammon, at which my old friend and I sometimes took a two-penny hit. Nor can I here pass over an ominous circumstance that happened the last time we played together, I only wanted to fling a quatre, and yet I threw deuce ace five times running.

It would be endless to describe the different sensations of both families when I divulg ed the news of our misfortune: but what others felt was slight to what the lovers appeared to endure. Mr Wilmot, who seemed before sufficiently inclined to break off the match, was by this blow soon determined; one virtue he had in perfection, which was pru dence, too often the only one that is left us at seventy-two.

Some months were elapsed in this manner, till at last it was thought convenient to fix a day for the nuptials of the young couple, who seemed earnestly to desire it. During the preparations for the wedding, I need not describe the busy importance of my wife, nor the sly looks of my daughters: in fact, my attention was fixed on another object, the complet- A ing a tract which I intended shortly to publish in defence of my favourite principle. As I looked upon this as a master-piece, both for argument and style, I could not in the pride of my heart avoid showing it to my old friend Mr Wilmot, as I made no doubt of receiving his approbation; but not till too late I discovered that he was most violently attached to the contrary opinion, and with good reason; for he was at that time actually courting a fourth wife. This, as may be expected, produced a dispute attended with some acrimony, which threatened to interrupt our intended alliance: but on the day before that appointed for the ceremony, we agreed to discuss the subject at large.

It was managed with proper spirit on both

CHAPTER III.

MIGRATION. THE FORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES OF OUR LIVES ARE GENERALLY FOUND AT LAST TO BE OF OUR OWN PROCURING.

THE only hope of our family now was, that the report of our misfortune might be malicious or premature; but a letter from my agent in town soon came with a confirmation of every particular. The loss of fortune to myself alone would have been trifling; the only uneasiness I felt was for my family, who were to be humble without an education to render them callous to contempt.

Near a fortnight had passed before I attempted to restrain their affliction; for premature consolation is but the remembrancer of sorrow. During this interval, my thoughts

were employed on some future means of sup. porting them; and at last a small cure of fifteen pounds a-year was offered me in a distant neighbourhood, where I could still enjoy my principles without molestation. With this proposal I joyfully closed, having determined to increase my salary by managing a little farm.

Having taken this resolution, my next care was to get together the wrecks of my fortune and, all debts collected and paid, out of fourteen thousand pounds we had but four hundred remaining. My chief attention, therefore, was now to bring down the pride of my family to their circumstances; for I well knew that aspiring beggary is wretchedness itself. "You cannot be ignorant, my children," eried I, "that no prudence of ours could have prevented our late misfortune; but prudence may do much in disappointing its effects. We are now poor, my fondlings, and wisdom bids us conform to our humble situation. Let us then, without repining, give up those splendours with which numbers are wretched, and seck in humbler circumstances that peace with which all may be happy. The poor live pleasantly without our help, why then should not we learn to live without theirs? No, my children, let us from this moment give up all pretensions to gentility; we have still enough left for happiness, if we are wise; and let us draw upon content for the deficiencies of fortune."

The leaving a neighbourhood in which we had enjoyed so many hours of tranquillity, was not without a tear which scarcely fortitude itself could suppress. Besides, a journey of seventy miles to a family that had hitherto never been above ten from home, filled us with apprehension; and the cries of the poor, who followed us for some miles, contributed to increase it. The first day's journey brought us in safety within thirty miles of our future retreat, and we put up for the night at an obscure inn in a village by the way. When we were shown a room, I desired the landlord, in my usual way, to let us have his company, with which he complied, as what he drank would increase the bill next morning.-He knew, however, the whole neighbourhood to which I was removing, particularly 'Squire THORNHILL, who was to be my landlord, and who lived within a few miles of the place. This gentleman he described as one who desired to know little more of the world than its pleasures, being particularly remarkable for his attachment to the fair sex. He observed that no virtue was able to resist his arts and assiduity, and that scarcely. a farmer's daughter within ten miles round, but what had found him successful and faithless. Though this account gave me some pain, it had a very different effect upon my daughters, whose features seemed to brighten with the expectation of an approaching triumph: nor was my wife less pleased and confident of their allurements and virtue. While As my eldest son was bred a scholar, I de. our thoughts were thus employed, the hostess termined to send him to town, where his entered the room to inform her husband, that abilities might contribute to our support and the strange gentleman, who had been two days his own. The separation of friends and in the house, wanted money, and could not families is, perhaps, one of the most distress-satisfy them for his reckoning. ful circumstances attendant on penury, The day soon arrived on which we were to disperse for the first time. My son, after taking leave of his mother and the rest, who mingled their tears with their kisses, came to ask a blessing from me. This I gave him from my heart, and which, added to five guineas, was all the patrimony I had now to bestow. "You are going, my boy," cried I, "to London on foot, in the manner Hooker, your great ancestor, travelled there before you. Take from me the same horse that was given him by the good bishop Jewel, this staff, and this book too, it will be your comfort on the way these two lines in it are worth a million, I have been young, and now am old, yet never saw I the righteous man forsaken, or his seed begging their bread. Let this be your consolation as you travel on. Go, my boy; whatever be thy fortune, let me see thee once a-year; still keep a good heart, and farewell." As he was possessed of integrity and honour, I was under no apprehensions from throwing him naked into the amphitheatre of life; for I knew he would act a good part whether vanquished or victorious.

His departure only prepared the way for our own, which arrived a few days afterwards.

"Want

money!" replied the host, "that must be impossible; for it was no later than yesterday he paid three guineas to our beadle to spare an old broken soldier that was to be whipped through the town for dog-stealing." The hostess, however, still persisting in her first assertion, he was preparing to leave the room, swearing that he would be satisfied one way or another, when I begged the landlord would introduce me to a stranger of so much charity as he described. With this he complied, showing in a gentleman who seemed to be about thirty, dressed in clothes that once were laced. His person was well formed, and his face marked with the lines of thinking. He had something short and dry in his address, and seemed not to understand ceremony, or to despise it. Upon the landlord's leaving the room, I could not avoid expressing my concern to the stranger at seeing a gentleman in such circumstances, and offered him my purse to satisfy the present demand. "I take it with all my heart, Sir," replied he, "and am glad that a late oversight in giving what money I had about me, has shown me that there are still some men like you. I must, however, previously entreat being informed of the name and residence of my benefactor, in order to

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repay him as soon as possible." In this I slightest touch gives pain: what some have satisfied him fully, not only mentioning my thus suffered in their persons, this gentleman name and late misfortunes, but the place to felt in his mind. The slightest distress, whewhich I was going to remove. This," cried ther real or fictitious, touched him to the be, "happens still more luckily than I hoped quick, and his soul laboured under a sickly for, as I am going the same way myself, hav-sensibility of the miseries of others. Thus ing been detained here two days by the floods, disposed to relieve, it will be easily conjecwhich I hope by to-morrow will be found pass- tured he found numbers disposed to solicit; able." I testified the pleasure I should have his profusions began to impair his fortune, in his company, and my wife and daughters but not his good-nature; that, indeed, was joining in entreaty, he was prevailed upon to seen to increase as the other seemed to decay; stay supper. The stranger's conversation, which he grew provident as he grew poor; and was at once pleasing and instructive, induced though he talked like a man of sense, his acme to wish for a continuance of it; but it tions were those of a fool. Still, however, was now high time to retire and take refresh- being surrounded with importunity, and no ment against the fatigues of the following day. longer able to satisfy every request that was The next morning we all set forward toge- made him, instead of money he gave promises. ther: my family on horseback, while Mr BUR- They were all he had to bestow, and he had CHELL, our new companion, walked along the not resolution enough to give any man pain by foot-path by the road-side, observing with a a denial. By this he drew round him crowds smile, that as we were ill mounted, he would of dependents, whom he was sure to disappoint be too generous to attempt leaving us behind. yet wished to relieve. These hung upon him As the floods were not yet subsided, we were for a time, and left him with merited reobliged to hire a guide, who trotted on before, proaches and contempt. But in proportion as Mr Burchell and I bringing up the rear. We he became contemptible to others, he became lightened the fatigues of the road with philo- despicable to himself. His mind had leaned sophical disputes, which he seemed to under- upon their adulation, and that support taken stand perfectly. But what surprised me most away, he could find no pleasure in the applause was, that though he was a money-borrower, of his heart, which he had never learnt to revhe defended his opinions with as much obsti- erence. The world now began to wear a nacy as if he had been my patron. He now different aspect; the flattery of his friends beand then also informed me to whom the diffe- gan to dwindle into simple approbation. Aprent seats belonged that lay in our view as we probation soon took the more friendly form of travelled the road. "That," cried be, point- advice, and advice when rejected produced ing to a very magnificent house which stood their reproaches. He now therefore found, at some distance, "belongs to Mr Thornhill, that such friends as benefits had gathered a young gentleman who enjoys a large fortune, round him, were little estimable; he now though entirely dependent on the will of his found that a man's own heart must be ever uncle, Sir William Thornhill, a gentleman, given to gain that of another. I now found, who, content with a little himself, permits his that-that-I forget what I was going to obnephew to enjoy the rest, and chiefly resides serve in short, Sir, he resolved to respect in town." "What!" cried I, "is my young himself, and laid down a plan of restoring his landlord then the nephew of a man, whose falling fortune. For this purpose, in his own virtues, generosity, and singularities are so whimsical manner, he travelled through Euuniversally known? I have heard Sir William rope on foot, and now, though he has scarcely Thornhill represented as one of the most gen attained the age of thirty, his circumstances erous yet whimsical men in the kingdom; a are more affluent than ever. At present, his man of consummate benevolence."" Some-bounties are more rational and moderate than thing, perhaps, too much so,” replied Mr Bur chell; "at least be carried benevolence to an excess when young; for his passions were then strong, and as they were all upon the side of virtue, they led it up to a romantic extreme. He early began to aim at the qualifications of the soldier and scholar; was soon distinguish. ed in the army, and had some reputation among men of learning. Adulation ever follows the ambitious; for such alone receive most pleasure from flattery. He was surrounded with crowds, who showed him only one side of their character; so that he began to lose a regard for private interest in universal sympathy, He loved all mankind; for fortune prevented him from knowing that there were rascals. Physicians tell us of a disorder, in which the whole body is so exquisitely sensible that the

before; but still he preserves the character of a humourist, and finds most pleasure in eccentric virtues."

My attention was so much taken up by Mr Burchell's account, that I scarcely looked forward as he went along, till we were alarmed by the cries of my family, when turning, I perceived my youngest daughter in the midst of a rapid stream, thrown from her horse, and struggling with the torrent. She had sunk twice, nor was it in my power to disengage myself in time to bring her relief. My sensations were even too violent to permit my attempting her rescue: she must have certainly perished had not my companion, perceiving her danger, instantly plunged in to her relief, and, with some difficulty, brought her in safety to the opposite shore. By taking the current

a little farther up, the rest of the family got safely over, where we had an opportunity of joining our acknowledgments to her's. Her gratitude may be more readily imagined than described: she thanked her deliverer more with looks than words, and continued to lean upon his arm, as if still willing to receive asBistance. My wife also hoped one day to have the pleasure of returning his kindness at her own house. Thus, after we were refreshed at the next inn, and had dined together, as Mr Burchell was going to a different part of the country, he took leave; and we pursued our journey, my wife observing as we went, that she liked him extremely, and protesting, that if he had birth and fortune to entitle him to match into such a family as our's, she knew no man she would sooner fix upon. I could not but smile to hear her talk in this lofty strain; but I was never much displeased with those harmless delusions that tend to make us more happy.

CHAPTER IV.

▲ PROOF THAT EVEN THE HUMBLEST FORTUNE MAY GRANT HAPPINESS, WHICH DEPENDS NOT

ON CIRCUMSTANCES BUT CONSTITUTION.

THE place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty. As they had almost all the conveniences of life within themselves, they seldom visited towns or cities, in search of superfluity. Remote from the polite, they still retained the primeval simplicity of manners, and frugal by habit, they scarcely knew that temperance was a virtue. They wrought with cheerfulness on days of labour; but observed festivals as intervals of idleness and pleasure. They kept up the Christmas carol, sent true love knots on Valentine morning, eat pancakes on Shrove-tide, showed their wit on the first of April, and religiously cracked nuts on Michaelmas eve. Being apprized of our approach, the whole neighbourhood came out to meet their minister, dressed in their finest clothes, and preceded by pipe and tabor. A feast also was provided for our reception, at which we sat cheerfully down; and what the conversation wanted in wit, was made up in laughter.

Our little habitation was situated at the foot of a sloping hill, sheltered with a beautiful underwood behind, and a prattling river before: on one side a meadow, on the other a green. My farm consisted of about twenty acres of excellent land, having given an hundred pounds for my predecessor's good-will. Nothing could exceed the neatness of my little enclosures; the elms and hedge-rows appearing with inexpressible beauty. My house consisted of but one story, and was covered

with thatch, which gave it an air of great sug ness: the walls on the inside were nicely white-washed, and my daughters undertook to adorn them with pictures of their own desinging. Though the same room served us for parlour and kitchen, that only made it the

warmer.

Besides, as it was kept with the utmost neatness, the dishes, plates, and coppers being well scoured, and all disposed in bright rows on the shelves, the eye was agreeably relieved, and did not want richer furniture. There were three other apartments, one for my wife and me, another for our two daughters, within our own, and the third, with two beds, for the rest of the children.

The little republic to which I gave laws, was regulated in the following manner: by sun-rise we all assembled in our common apartment; the fire being previously kindled by the servant. After we had saluted each other with proper ceremony, for I always thought fit to keep up some mechanical forms of good breeding, without which freedom ever destroys friendship, we all bent in gratitude to that Being who gave us another day. This duty being performed, my son and I went to pursue our usual industry abroad, while my wife and daughters employed themselves in providing breakfast, which was always ready at a certain time. I allowed half an hour for this meal, and an hour for dinner; which time was taken up in innocent mirth between my wife and daughters, and in philosophical arguments between my son and me.

As we rose with the sun, so we never pursued our labours after it was gone down, but returned home to the expecting family; where smiling looks, a neat hearth, and pleasant fire, were prepared for our reception. Nor were we without guests: sometimes farmer Flamborough, our talkative neighbour, and often the blind piper, would pay us a visit, and taste our gooseberry wine; for the making of which we had lost neither the receipt nor the reputation. These harmless people had several ways of being good company; while one played, the other would sing some soothing ballad, Johnny Armstrong's last good night, or the cruelty of Barbary Allen. The night was concluded in the manner we began the morning, my youngest boys being appointed to read the lessons of the day; and he that read loudest, distinctest, and best, was to have an halfpenny on Sunday to put in the poor's box.

When Sunday came, it was indeed a day of finery, which all my sumptuary edicts could not restrain. How well soever I fancied my lectures against pride had conquered the vanity of my daughters; yet I found them still secretly attached to all their former finery: they still loved laces, ribands, bugles, and catgut; my wife herself retained a passion for her crimson paduasoy, because I formerly happened to say it became her.

The first Sunday in particular their behaviour served to mortify me; I had desired my

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girls the preceding night to be drest early the next day; for I always loved to be at church a good while before the rest of the congregation. They punctually obeyed my directions; but when we were to assemble in the morning at breakfast, down came my wife and daughters, drest out in all their former splendour: their hair plastered up with pomatum, their faces patched to taste, their trains bundled up in a heap behind, and rustling at every motion. I could not help smiling at their vanity, particularly that of my wife, from whom I expected more discretion. In this exigence, therefore, my only resource was to order my son, with an important air, to call our coach. The girls were amazed at the command; but I repeated it with more solemnity than before." Surely, my dear, you jest," cried my wife, "we can walk it perfectly well: we want no coach to carry us now." You mistake, child," returned I, "we do want a coach; for if we walk to church in this trim, the very children in the parish will hoot after us."-"Indeed," replied my wife, "I always imagined that my Charles was fond of seeing his children neat and handsome about him."-" You may be as neat as you please," interrupted I, "and I shall love you the better for it; but all this is not neatness, but frippery. These rufflings, and pinkings, and patchings, will only make us hated by all the wives of all our neighbours. "No, my children," continued I, more gravely, "those gowns may be altered into something of a plainer cut; for finery is very unbecoming in us, who want the means of decency. I do not know whether such flouncing and shredding is becoming even in the rich, if we consider, upon a moderate calculation, that the nakedness of the indigent world might be clothed from the trimmings of the vain.

This remonstrance had a proper effect; they went with great composure, that very instant, to change their dress; and the next day I had the satisfaction of finding my daughters, at their own request, employed in cutting up their trains into Sunday waistcoats for Dick and Bill, the two little ones, and what was still more satisfactory, the gowns seemed improved by this curtailing.

CHAPTER V.

A NEW AND GREAT ACQUAINTANCE INTRODUCED. —WHAT WE PLACE MOST HOPES UPON, GENE

RALLY PROVES MOST FATAL.

At a small distance from the house, my predecessor had made a seat, overshadowed by an hedge of hawthorn and honeysuckle. Here, when the weather was fine and our labour soon finished, we usually sat together, to enjoy an extensive landscape in the calm of the evening. Here too we drank tea, which was now become an occasional banquet; and as we had it but

seldom it diffused a new joy, the preparations for it being made with no small share of bustle and ceremony. On these occasions our two little ones always read to us, and they were regularly served after we had done. Sometimes, to give a variety to our amusements, the girls sung to the guitar; and while they thus formed a little concert, my wife and I would stroll down the sloping field, that was embellished with blue-bells and centaury, talk of our children with rapture, and enjoy the breeze that wafted both health and harmony.

In this manner we began to find that every situation in life might bring its own peculiar pleasures: every morning awaked us to a repetition of toil; but the evening repaid it with vacant hilarity.

It was about the beginning of autumn, on a holiday, for I kept such as intervals of relaxation from labour, that I had drawn out my family to our usual place of amusement, and our young musicians began their usual concert. As we were thus engaged, we saw a stag bound nimbly by, within about twenty paces of where we were sitting and by its panting it seemed prest by the hunters. We had not much time to reflect upon the poor animal's distress, when we perceived the dogs and horsemen come sweeping along at some distance behind, and making the very path it had taken. I was instantly for returning in with my family; but either curiosity, or surprise, or some more hidden motive, held my wife and daughters to their seats. The huntsman, who rode foremost, past us with great swiftness, followed by four or five persons more, who seemed in equal haste. At last, a young gentleman of a more genteel appearance than the rest came forward, and for a while regarding us, instead of pursuing the chase, stopt short, and giving his horse to a servant who attended, approached us with a careless superior air. He seemed to want no introduction, but was going to salute my daughters, as one certain of a kind reception; but they had early learnt the lesson of looking presumption out of countenance. Upon which he let us know his name was Thornhill, and that he was owner of the estate that lay for some extent round us. He again therefore offered to salute the female part of the family, and such was the power of fortune and fine clothes, that he found no second repulse. As his address, though confident, was easy, we soon became more familiar; and perceiving musical instruments lying near, he begged to be favoured with a song. As I did not approve of such disproportioned acquaintances, I winked upon my daughters in order to prevent their compliance; but my hint was counteracted by one from their mother; so that, with a cheerful air, they gave us a favourite song of Dryden's. Mr Thornhill seemed highly delighted with their performance and choice, and then took up the guitar himself. He played but very indifferently; however, my eldest daughter repaid his former applause with in

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