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 girls the preceding night to be dressed early the next day; for I always Loved to be at church a good while before the rest of the congregation. They punctaly obeyed my directions; but when we were to assemble in the morning at breakfast, down came my wife and daughters, dressed out in all their former splendour; their hair plastered up with pomatum, their faces patched to taste, their trains andled 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. "Serely, 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 ili hoot after us."-" Indeed," replied my wife, "I always imagined that my harles was fond of seeing his children beat and handsome about him."-" You ay be as neat as you please," interrupted 1, "and I shall love you the better for it; Fat all this is not neatness, but frippery. These rufflings, and pinkings, and patchwill only make us hated by all the wives our neighbours. No, my children," continued I, more gravely, "those gowns may be altered into something of a plainer cat; for finery is very unbecoming in us, who want the means of decency. I do ot 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 the proper effect: they went with great composure, that very stant, 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, generally proves most fatal. over AT a small distance from the house, my predecessor had made a seat, shadowed by a 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 now was become an occasional banquet; and, as we had it but seldom, it diffused a new joy, the preparations for it being made with no small share of bustle and ceremony. On these occasions, our two little ones always read for us, and they were regularly served after we had done. Sometimes, to give a variety to our amusements, the girls sang 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 may bring its own peculiar pleasures: every morning waked us to a repetition of toil; but the evening repaid it with vacant hilarity. It was about the beginning of autumn, on a holiday-for I kept such as intervals of relaxation from labour-that I had drawn out my family to our usual place of amusement, and our young musicians began their usual concert. As we were thus engaged, we saw a stag bound nimbly by, within about twenty paces of where we were sitting, and by its panting it seemed pressed 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 trary, gave him a question or two from the ancients, for which he had the satisfaction of being laughed at. My little ones were no less busy, and fondly stuck close to the stranger. All my endeavours could scarce keep their dirty fingers from handling and tarnishing the lace on his clothes, and lifting up the flaps of his pocket-holes, to see what was there. At the approach of evening he took leave; but not till be had requested permission to renew his visit, which, as he was our landlord, we most readily agreed to. SE As soon as he was gone, my wife called a council on the conduct of the day. She was of opinion, that it was a most fortn nate hit; for she had known even stranger things than that brought to bear. hoped again to see the day in which v might hold up our heads with the best them; and concluded, she protested sl could see no reason why the two Mi Wrinklers should marry great fortune and her children get none. As this la argument was directed to me, I proteste I could see no reason for it neither, no why Mr. Simpkins got the ten thousand pound prize in the lottery, and we sat down with a blank. "I protest, Charles,” cried my wife, "this is the way you always damp my girls and me when we are in spirits. Tell me, Sophy, my dear, what do you think of our new visitor? Don't you think he seemed to be good-natured?" Immensely so, indeed, mamma, 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 passed us with great swiftness, followed by four or five persons more, who seemed in equal haste. At last, a young gentleman of more genteel appearance than the rest came forward, and for a while regarding us, instead of pursuing the chase, stopped short, and giving his horse to a servant who attended, approached us with a careless superior air. He seemed to want no introduction, but was going to salute my daughters as one certain of a kind reception; but they had early learnt the lesson of looking presumption out of countenance. Upon which he let us know that his name was Thornhill, and that he was owner of the estate that lay for some extent round us. He again therefore offered to salute the female part of the family, and such was the power of fortune and fine 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. Thorn-plied she: "I think he has a great deal hill seemed highly delighted with their per- to say upon everything, and is never at a formance and choice, and then took up the loss; and the more trifling the subject, guitar himself. He played but very indif- the more he has to say."-" "Yes," cried ferently; however, my eldest daughter re- Olivia, "he is well enough for a man; but, paid his former applause with interest, and for my own part, I don't much like him, assured him that his tones were louder he is so extremely impudent and familiar; than even those of her master. At this but on the guitar he is shocking." These compliment he bowed, which she returned two last speeches I interpreted by conwith a curtsey. He praised her taste, and traries. I found by this, that Sophia inshe commended his understanding; an ternally despised, as much as Olivia seage could not have made them better ac- cretly admired him. "Whatever may be quainted: while the fond mother too, your opinions of him, my children,” cried equally happy, insisted upon her landlord's I, "to confess the truth, he has not prestepping in, and tasting a glass of her possessed me in his favour. Disp ro gooseberry. The whole family seemed portioned friendships ever terminate in earnest to please him: my girls attempted disgust; and I thought, notwithstanding to entertain him with topics they thought all his case, that he seemed perfectly senmost modern; while Moses, on the con- sible of the distance between us. re Let us keep to companions of our own rank. There is no character more contemptible than a man that is a fortune-hunter; and I can see no reason why fortune-hunting women should not be contemptible too. Tau-, at best, we shall be contemptible if, his views are honourable; but if they be otherwise!--I should shudder but to think of that. It is true, I have no apprehensons from the conduct of my children; bat I think there are some from his character. I would have proceeded, but fer the interruption of a servant from the Squire, who, with his compliments, sent as a side of venison, and a promise to dine with us some days after. This well-timed present pleaded more powerfully in his favour than anything I had to say could obviate. I therefore continued silent, atisfied with just having pointed out da r, and leaving it to their own discretion to avoid it. That virtue which requires to be ever guarded is scarce worth the sentinel. CHAPTER VI. The Happiness of a Country Fireside. As we carried on the former dispute with some degree of warmth, in order to accommodate matters, it was universally agreed that we should have a part of the Tenison for supper; and the girls undertook the task with alacrity. "I am sorry," cried I," that we have no neighbar or stranger to take part in this good cheer: feasts of this kind acquire a double relish from hospitality."-" Bless me," cried my wife, "here comes our good friend Mr. Burchell, that saved our Sophia, and that run you down fairly in the arguDent"-"Confute me in argument, dd!" cried I. "You mistake there, my dear; I believe there are but few that can do that I never dispute your abilities making a goose-pie, and I beg you'll leave argument to me. As I spoke, poor Mr. Burchell entered the house, and was welcomed by the family, who shook him heartily by the hand, while little Dick oficiously reached him a chair. I was pleased with the poor man's friendship for two reasons: because I knew that he wanted mine, and I knew him to be friendly as far as he was able. He was known in our neighbourhood by the character of the poor gentleman, that would do no good when he was young, though he was not yet thirty. He would at intervals talk with great good sense; but, in general, he was fondest of the company of children, whom he used to call harmless little men. He was famous, I found, for singing them ballads, and telling them stories, and seldom went out without something in his pockets for them -a piece of gingerbread, or an halfpenny whistle. He generally came for a few days into our neighbourhood once a year, and lived upon the neighbours' hospitality. He sat down to supper among us, and my wife was not sparing of her gooseberrywine. The tale went round; he sung us old songs, and gave the children the story of the Buck of Beverland, with the history of Patient Grissel, the adventures of Catskin, and then Fair Rosamond's Bower. Our cock, which always crew at eleven, now told us it was time for repose; but an unforeseen difficulty started about lodging the stranger-all our beds were already taken up, and it was too late to send him to the next alehouse. In this dilemma, little Dick offered him his part of the bed, if his brother Moses would let him lie with him: "And I," cried Bill, "will give Mr. Burchell my part, if my sisters will take me to theirs." "Well done, my good children," cried I, “hospitality is one of the first Christian duties. The beast retires to its shelter, and the bird flies to its nest; but helpless man can only find refuge from his fellow-creature. The greatest stranger in this world was He that came to save it. He never had a house, as if willing to see what hospitality was left remaining among us. Deborah, my dear," cried I to my wife, "give those boys a lump of sugar each; and let Dick's be the largest, because he spoke first." In the morning early I called out my whole family to help at saving an aftergrowth of hay, and our guest offering his assistance, he was accepted among the number. Our labours went on lightly; I went we turned the swath to the wind. foremost, and the rest followed in due succession. I could not avoid, however, observing the assiduity of Mr. Burchell in assisting my daughter Sophia in her part of the task. When he had finished his own, he would join in hers, and enter into a close conversation; but I had too good an opinion of Sophia's understanding, and was too well convinced of her ambition, to be under any uneasiness from a man of broken fortune. When we were finished for the day, Mr. Burchell was invited as on the night before, but he refused, as he was to lie that night at a neighbour's, to whose child he was carrying a whistle. When gone, our conversation at supper turned upon our late unfortunate guest. "What a strong instance," said I, "is that poor man of the miseries attending a youth of levity and extravagance. He by no means wants sense, which only serves to aggravate his former folly. Poor forlorn creature! where are now the revellers, the flatterers, that he could once inspire and command! Gone, perhaps, to attend the bagnio pander, grown rich by his extravagance. They once praised him, and now they applaud the pander: their former raptures at his wit are now converted into sarcasms at his folly: he is poor, and perhaps deserves poverty; for he has neither the ambition to be independent, nor the skill to be useful." Prompted perhaps by some secret reasons, I delivered this observation with too much acrimony, which my Sophia gently reproved. "Whatsoever his former conduct may have been, papa, his circumstances should exempt him from censure now. His present indigence is a sufficient punishment for former folly; and I have heard! my papa himself say, that we should never strike one unnecessary blow at a victim, over whom Providence holds the scourge of its resentment."-"You are right, Sophy," cried my son Moses; "and one of the ancients finely represents so malicious a conduct, by the attempts of a rustic to flay Marsyas, whose skin, the fable tells us, had been wholly stripped off by another. Besides, I don't know if this poor man's situation be so bad as my father would represent it. We are not to judge of the feelings of others by what we might feel in their place. However dark the habitation of the mole to our eyes, yet the animal itself finds the apart ment sufficiently lightsome. And, to con fess a truth, this man's mind seems fitted to his station; for I never heard any one more sprightly than he was to-day, when he conversed with you."-This was said without the least design; however, it excited a blush, which she strove to cover by an affected laugh, assuring him that she scarce took any notice of what he said to her, but that she believed he might once have been a very fine gentleman. The readiness with which she undertook to vindicate herself, and her blushing, were symptoms I did not internally ap prove; but I repressed my suspicions. As we expected our landlord the next day, my wife went to make the venison pasty. Moses sat reading, while I taught the little ones. My daughters seemed equally busy with the rest; and I observed them for a good while cooking something over the fire. I at first supposed they were assisting their mother, but little Dick informed me, in a whisper, that they were making a wash for the face. Washes of all kinds I had a natural antipathy to; for I knew that, instead of mending the complexion, they spoil it. I therefore approached my chair by sly degrees to the fire, and grasping the poker, as if it wanted mending, seemingly by accident overturned the whole composition, and it was too late to begin another. CHAPTER VII. A Town Wit described. The dullest Fellows may learn to be comical for a Night or Two. WHEN the morning arrived on which we were to entertain our young landlord, it may be easily supposed what provisions were exhausted to make an appearance. It may also be conjectured that my wife and daughters expanded their gayest plumage on this occasion. Mr. Thornhill came with a couple of friends, his chaplain and feeder. The servants, who were numerous, he politely ordered to the next alehouse: but my wife, in the triumph of her heart, insisted on entertaining them all; for which, by the by, our family was pinched for three weeks after. As Mr. Burchell had hinted to us the day before, that he was making some proposals of part is less than the whole."-"I grant marriage to Miss Wilmot, my son George's former mistress, this a good deal damped the heartiness of his reception: but accident in some measure relieved our embarrassment; for one of the company happening to mention her name, Mr. Tomhill observed with an oath, that he never knew anything more absurd than calling such a fright a beauty; “For,Squire, speaking very quick, “the prestrke me ugly," continued he, "if I should not find as much pleasure in ching my mistress by the information falamp under the clock of St. Dunstan's." A: this he laughed, and so did we: the sts of the rich are ever successful. Olivia, bon, could not avoid whispering, loud erough to be heard, that he had an infinite ad of humour. misses being thus settled, I proceed to observe, that the concatenation of selfexistences, proceeding in a reciprocal duplicate ratio, naturally produce a problematical dialogism, which, in some measure, proves that the essence of spirituality may be referred to the second predicable." "Hold, hold!" cried the other, "I deny that: do you think that I can thus tamely submit to such heterodox doctrines?"- "What!" replied the Squire, as if in a passion, "not submit! Answer me one plain question: Do you think Aristotle right when he says that relatives are related?"—" Undoubtedly," replied the other." If so, then,' cried the Squire, "answer me directly to what I propose: Whether do you judge the analytical investigation of the first part of my enthymem deficient secundum quoad, or quoad minus; and give me your reasons After dinner, I began with my usual hast, the Church: for this I was thanked the chaplain, as he said the Church was the only mistress of his affections. * Come, tell us honestly, Frank," said the Squire, with his usual archness, "suppose the Church, your present mistress, dressed lawn sleeves, on one hand, and Miss phia, with no lawn about her, on the other, which would you be for?"-"For bath, to be sure," cried the chaplain. "Right, Frank," cried the Squire; "for ay this glass suffocate me, but a fine girl worth all the priestcraft in the creation! For what are tithes and tricks but an imposition, all a confounded imposture, and can prove it."—"I wish you would," cred my son Moses; "and I think," contaged he, "that I should be able to answer "-"Very well, sir," cried the Squire, who immediately smoked him, and winked on the rest of the company to prepare us the sport; "if you are for a cool arguent upon that subject, I am ready to accept the challenge. And, first, whether are you for managing it analogically or fabgically?"-"I am for managing it rationally," cried Moses, quite happy at But though all this gave me no pleasure, ng permitted to dispute. "Good it had a very different effect upon Olivia, an" cried the Squire; "and, firstly, who mistook it for humour, though but a of the first, I hope you'll not deny, that mere act of the memory. She thought him, whatever is, is. If you don't grant me therefore, a very fine gentleman; and Chat, I can go no further."-"Why," re- such as consider what powerful ingredients turned Moses, "I think I may grant that; a good figure, fine clothes, and fortune are and make the best of it."-"I hope, too,' in that character, will easily forgive her. returned the other, "you'll grant that a Mr. Thornhill, notwithstanding his real give me your reasons, I say, directly." "I protest," cried Moses, "I don't rightly comprehend the force of your reasoning; but if it be reduced to one simple proposition, I fancy it may then have an answer."-" Oh, sir," cried the Squire, "I am your most humble servant; I find you want me to furnish you with argument and intellects too. No, sir, there I protest you are too hard for me.' This effectually raised the laugh against poor Moses, who sat the only dismal figure in a group of merry faces; nor did he offer a single syllable more during the whole entertainment. |