keep them by us, as copper fpectacles, you know, are better than nothing.'

By this time the unfortunate Mofes was undeceived. He now faw that he had indeed been impofed upon by a prowling harper, who, obferving his figure, had marked him for an eafy prey. I therefore afked him the circumitances of his deception. He fold the horse, it feems, and walked the fair in fearch of another. A reverend looking man brought him to a tent, under pretence of having one to fell. Here,* continued Mofes, we met another man, $ very well dreft, who defired to borrow twenty pounds upon thefe, faying, that he wanted money, and would difpofe of them for a third of the ⚫ value. The firft gentleman, who pretended to be my friend, whifpered me to buy them, and cautioned me not to let fo good an offer pafs. I fent for Mr. Flamborough, and they talked him up as finely as they did me, and so at laft we were perfuaded to buy the two groce between us.'

CHAP. XIII.

MR. BURCHELL IS FOUND TO BE AN ENEMY; FOR HE HAS THE CONFIDENCE то GIVE DISAGREEABLE ADVICE.

Oral attempts be fine; but fome

UR family had now made feve

unforeseen difafter demolished each as foon as projected. I endeavoured to take the advantage of every difappointment, to improve their good fenfe in proportion as they were fruftrated in ambition. You fee, my children,' cried I, how little is to be got by attempts to impofe upon the world, in coping with our betters. Such as are poor and will affociate with none but the rich, are hated by those they avoid, and defpifed by thole they follow. Unequal combinations are always difadvantageous to the weaker fide: the rich having the pleafure, and the poor the inconveniencies that refult from them. But come, Dick, my boy, and repeat the fable you were reading to-day, for the good of the company."

Once upon a time,' cried the child, a giant and a dwarf were friends,

and kept together. They made a bargain that they would never forfake each other, but go feek advenThe first battle they fought

<tures.

was with two Saracens, and the dwarf, who was very courageous, dealt one of the champions a moft angry blow. It did the Saracen but very little injury, who lifting up his fword, fairly "ftruck off the poor dwarf's arm. He was now in a woeful plight; but the giant coming to his affiftance, in a hort time left the two Saracens dead on the plain, and the dwarf cut off the dead man's head out of spite. They then travelled on to another adventure. This was against three bloody-minded fatyrs, who were carrying away a damfel in diftrefs. The dwarf was not quite fo fierce now as before; but for all that, ftruck the first blow, which was returned by another that knocked out his eye: but the giant was foon up with them, and had they not fled, would certainly have killed them every one. They were all very joyful for this victory, and the damfel who was relieved fell in love with the giant, and married him. They now travelled far, and farther than I can tell, till they met with a company of robbers. The giant, for the first time, was foremost now; but the dwarf was not far behind. The battle was ftout and long. Wherever the giant came, all fell before him; but the dwarf had like to have been killed more than once. At laft the victory declared for the two adventurers; but the dwarf loft his leg. The dwarf had now loft an arm, a leg, and an eye, while the giant was without a fingle wound. Upon which he cried out to his little companion, "My "little hero, this is glorious fport; let

us get one victory more, and then we shall have honour for ever." "No," cries the dwarf, who was by this time grown wifer, "no, I de"clare off; I'll fight no more: for I "find in every battle, that you get all "the honour and rewards, but all the

blows fall upon me."

I was going to moralize this fable, when our attention was called off to a warm difpute between my wife and Mr. Burchell, upon my daughters intended expedition to town. My wife very ftrenuously infifted upon the advantages

that

that would refult from it. Mr.Burchell, on the contrary, diffuaded her with great ardour, and I ftood neuter. His prefent diffuafions feemed but the fecond part of those which were received with fo ill a grace in the morning. The difpute grew high, while poor Deborah, inftead of reafoning ftronger, talked louder, and at laft was obliged to take fhelter from a defeat in clamour. The conclufion of her harangue, however, was highly difpleafing to us all: the knew, the faid, of fome who had their fecret reafons for what they advised; but, for her part, the wifhed fuch to stay away from her houfe for the future. (Madam,' cried Burchell, with looks of great compofure, which tended to enflame her the more, as for fecret reafons, you are right; I have fecret reasons, which I forbear to mention, because you are not able to ⚫ answer thofe of which I make no fecret: but I find my vifits here are become troublefome; I'll take my leave therefore now, and perhaps < come once more to take a final farewel when I am quitting the country.' Thus faying, he took up his hat, nor could the attempts of Sophia, whofe looks feemed to upbraid his precipitancy, prevent his going.

When gone, we all regarded each other for fome minutes with confufion. My wife, who knew herself to be the caufe, ftrove to hide her concern with a forced fimile, and an air of affurance, which I was willing to reprove: How, woman,' cried I to her, is it thus

"attachment?' His conversation ‹ with me, Sir,' ́replied my daughter, has ever been fenfible, modelt, and pleafing. As to aught elfe; no, never. Once indeed, I remember to have heard him fay he never knew a woman who could find merit in a man that seemed poor. Such, my dear,' cried I, is the common · cant of all the unfortunate or idle. But I hope you have been taught to judge properly of fuch men, and that it would be even madnefs to expect happinets from one who has been fo very bad an economift of his own. Your mother and I have now better profpects for you. The next winter, which you will probably fpend in town, will give you opportunities of making a more prudent choice.'

What Sophia's reflections were upon this occation, I cannot pretend to determine; but I was not displeased at the bottom, that we were rid of a guest from whom I had much to fear. Our breach of hofpitality went to my confcience a little: but I quickly filenced that monitor by two or three fpecious reafons, which ferved to fatisfy and reconcile me to myfelf. The pain which confcience gives the man who has already done wrong, is foon got over. Confcience is a coward,and thofe faults it has not ftrength to prevent, it feldom has juftice enough to accufe.

CHA P. XIV.

FRESH MORTIFICATIONS, OR A DEMONSTRATION THAT SEEMING CALAMITIES MAY BE REAL BLES

SINGS..

Why

advice perfectly well. He would prevent my girls from going to town, that he may have the pleature of my youngest daughter's company here at home. But, whatever happens, the fhall chufe better company than fuch low-lived fellows as he. Lowlived, my dear, do you call him?' cried I; it is very poflible we may miftake this man's character: for he feems upon fome occafions the most finished gentleman I ever knew. Tell me, Sophia, my girl, has he ever given you any fecret inftances of his

HE journey of my daughters to

Mr. Thornhill having kindly promifed to infpect their conduct himself, and inform us by letter of their behaviour. But it was thought indifpenfably neceflary that their appearance should equal the greatnefs of their expecta tions, which could not be done without expence. We debated therefore in full council what were the eafieft. methods of raising money; or, more properly speaking, what we could most conveniently fell. The deliberation was foon finifhed; it was found that our remaining horfe was utterly use

lefs

lefs for the plough, without his companion, and equally unfit for the road, as wanting an eye: it was therefore determined that we fhould difpofe of him for the purpofes above mentioned, at the neighbouring fair; and, to prevent impofition, that I fhould go with him myfelf. Though this was one of the firft mercantile tranfactions of my life, yet I had no doubt about acquitting myfelf with reputation. The opinion a man forms of his own prudence is meafured by that of the company he keeps; and as mine was moftly in the family way, I had conceived no unfavourable fentiments of my worldly wifdom. My wife, however, next morning, at parting, after I had got fome paces from the door, called me back, to advise me, in a whisper, to have all my eyes about me.

I had, in the ufual forms, when I came to the fair, put my horfe through all his paces; but for fome time had no bidders. At laft a chapinan approach, ed, and after he had for a good while examined the horse round, finding him blind of one eye, he would have nothing to fay to him; a fecond came up, but obferving he had a fpavin, declared he would not take him for the driving home; a third perceived he had a windgall, and would bid no money; a fourth knew by his eye that he had the botts; a fifth wondered what a plague I could do at the fair with a blind, fpavined, galled hack, that was only fit to be cut up for a dog-kennel. By this time I began to have a moft hearty contempt for the poor animal myfelf, and was almost ashamed at the approach of every cuftomer: for though I did not entirely believe all the. fel lovs told me yet I reflected that the number of witneffes was a strong prefumption they were right, and St. Gregory upon good works, profeffes himfelf to be of the fame opinion.

I was in this mortifying fituation, when a brother clergyman, an old acquaintance, who had alfo bufinefs to the fair, came up, and fhaking me by the hand, propofed adjourning to a public-houfe and taking a glass of whatever we could get. I readily clofed with the offer, and entering an alehoufe, we were fhewn into a little back room, where there was only a venerable old man, who fat wholly intent over a large book, which he was reading. I

never in my life faw a figure that prepoffeffed me more favourably. His locks of filver grey venerably fhaded his temples, and his green old age feemed to be the refult of health and benevolence. However his prefence did not interrupt our conversation; my friend and I difcourfed on the various turns of fortune we had met: the Whiftonian controverfy, my laft pamphlet, the archdeacon's reply, and the hard measure that was dealt me. But our attention was in a fhort time taken off by the appearance of a youth, who, entering the room, refpectfully faid fomething foftly to the old ftranger.

6

Make no apologies, my child,' faid the old man; to do good is a duty we owe to all our fellow-creatures: take this, I wish it were more; but five pounds will relieve your diftrefs, and you are welcome. The modeft youth shed tears of gratitude, and yet his gratitude was fcarce equal to mine. I could have hugged the good old man in my arms, his benevolence pleafed me fo. He continued to read, and we refumed our converfation, until my companion, after fome time, recollect ing that he had bufinefs to tranfact in the fair, promised to be foon back adding, that he always defired to have as much of Dr. Primrose's company as poffible. The old gentleman, hearing my name mentioned, feemed to look at me with attention, for fome time, and when my friend was gone, most refpectfully demanded if I was any way related to the great Primrose, that courageous monogamift, who had been the bulwark of the church. Never did my heart feel fincerer rapture than at that moment. Sir,' cried I, the

applaufe of fo good a man, as I am fure you are, adds to that happiness in my breaft which your benevolence has already excited. You behold before you, Sir, that Doctor Primrofe, the monogamit, whom you have been pleafed to call great. You here fee that unfortunate divine, who has fo long, and it would ill become me to fay fuccessfully, fought against the deuterogamy of the age-Sir,' cried the ftranger, ftruck with awe, I fear I have been too familiar; but you'll forgive my curiofity, Sir: I beg pardon. Sir,' cried I, grafping his hand, you are fo far from difpleafing me by your familiarity, that I mufй

E

< beg

beg you'll accept my friendship, as you already have my efteen.'Then with gratitude I accept the offer,' cried he, fqueezing me by the hand, thou glorious pillar of unfhaken orthodoxy; and do I behold I here interrupted what he was going to fay; for though, as an author, I could digest no finall share of flattery, yet now my modefty would permit no more. However, no lovers

in romance ever cemented a more inftantaneous friendship. We talked upon feveral fubjects: at first, I thought him rather devout than learned, and began to think he defpifed all human doctrines as drofs. Yet this no way leffened him in my esteem: for I had for fome time begun privately to harbour fuch an opinion myself. I therefore took accafion to obferve, that the world in general began to be blameably indifferent as to doctrinal matters, and followed human fpeculation too much. Aye, Sir,' replied he, as if he had referved all his learning to that moment; Ave, Sir, the world is in it's dotage, and yet the cofmogony or creation of the world has puzzled philofophers of all ages. What a medley of opinions have they not broached upon 3. the creation of the world? Sanconia

6

thon, Manetho, Bérofus, and Ocellus Lucanus, have all attempted it in vain. The latter has these words, Anarchon ara kai atelutaion to pan, which imply that all things have neither beginning nor end. Manetho alfo, who lived about the time of Nebuchadon-Affer, Affer being a Syriac word ufually applied as a firname to the kings of that country, as Teglat Phael-Affer, Nabon-Affer; he, I fay, formed a conjecture equally abfurd; for as we ufually fay, ek to biblion kubernetes, which implies that books will never teach the world; fo he attempted to inveftigate. But, Sir, I afk pardon, I am ftraying from the question. That he actually was; nor could I for my life fee how the creation of the world had any thing to do with the business I was talking of; but it was fufficient to fhew me that he was a man of letters, and I now re"verenced him the more. I was refolved therefore to bring him to the touchftone; but he was too mild and too gentle to contend for victory. Whenever I made any obfervation that

looked like a challenge to controverfy, he would fmile, fhake his head, and fay nothing; by which I understood he could fay much, if he thought proper. The fubject therefore infentibly changed from the bufinefs of antiquity to that which brought us to the fair; mine, I told him, was to fell an horfe, and very luckily, indeed, his was to buy one for one of his tenants. My horfe was foon produced, and in fine we ftruck a bargain. Nothing now remained but to pay me, and he accordingly pulled out a thirty pound note, and bid me change it. Not being in a capacity of complying with his demand, he ordered his footman to be called up, who made his appearance in a very genteel livery. "Here, Abraham,' cried he, " go and get gold for this; you'll do it at neighbour Jack fon's, or any where. While the fellow was gone, he entertained me with a pathetic harangue on the great scarcity of filver, which I undertook to improve, by deploring alfo the great fcarcity of gold; so that by the time Abraham returned, we had both agreed that money was never fo hard to be come at as now, Abraham returned to inform us, that he had been over the whole fair and could not get change, though he had offered half a crown for doing it. This was a very great dif appointment to us all; but the old gentleman having paufed a little, asked me if I knew one Solomon Flamborough in my part of the country: upon replying that he was my next door neighbour, If that be the cafe then,' returned he, I believe we fhall deal. You fhall have a draft upon him, payable at fight; and let me tell you he is as warm a man as any within five miles round him. Honeft Solomon and I have been acquainted for many years together. I remember I always beat him at three jumps; but he could hop upon one leg farther than I. A draft upon my neighbour was to me the fame as money; for I was fufficiently convinced of his ability; the draft was figned and put into my hands, and Mr. Jenkinson, the old gentleman, his man Abraham, and my horfe, old Blackberry, trotted off very well pleafed with each other.

3

After a fhort interval, being left to reflection, I began to recollect that I had done wrong in taking a draft

frem

6

from a ftranger, and fo prudently refolved upon following the purchafer, and having back iny horfe. But this was now too late: I therefore made directly homewards, refolving to get the draft changed into money at my friend's as fast as poffible. found my honeft neighbour finoaking his pipe at his own door, and informing him that I hað a small bill upon him, he read it twice over. • You can read the name, I fuppofe, cried I, Ephraim Jen kinfon.-Yes, returned he, the name is written plain enough, and I know the gentleman too, the greatest rafcal under the canopy of heaven. This is the very fame rogue who fold us the fpectacles. Was he not a venerable looking man, with grey hair, and no flaps to his pocket-holes? And did he not talk long ftring of learning about Greek, and cofinoand the world?' To this I re

gony,

plied with a groan. Aye,' continued he, he has but one piece of learning in the world, and he always talks it wherever he finds a fcholar in company but I know the rogue, and will catch him yet."

:

Though I was already fufficiently mortified, my greatest ftruggle was to come, in facing my wife and daugh ters. No truant was ever more afraid of returning to fchool, there to behold the mafter's vifage, than I was of ing home. I was determined, however, to anticipate their fury, by first falling into a paffion myself.

go

But, alas! upon entering, I found the family no way difpofed for battle. My wife and girls were all in tears, Mr. Thornhill having been there that day to inform them, that their journey to town was entirely over. The two ladies having heard reports of us from fome malicious perfon about us, were that day fet out for London. He couldneither discover the tendency, nor the author of thefe, but whatever they might be, or whoever might have broached them, he continued to affure our family of his friendship and protection. I found, therefore, that they bore my difappointment with great refignation, as it was eclipfed in the greatnefs of their own. But what perplexed us moft was to think who could be fo bafe as to afperfe the character of a family fo harmless as ours; too hum

As

THAT evening and part of the following day was employed in fruitless attempts to difcover our enemies: fcarce a family in the neigh bourhood but incurred our fufpicions, and each of us had reafons for our opinion best known to ourselves. we were in this perplexity, one of our little boys, who had been playing abroad, brought in a letter-cafe, which he found on the green. It was quickly known to belong to Mr. Burchell, with whom it had been feen, and upon examination, contained fome hints upon different fubjects; but what particularly engaged our attention, was a fealed note fuperfcribed, The copy of a letter to be fent to the ladies at Thorn-, bill Caffle. It inftantly occurred that he was the bafe informer, and we deliberated whether the note should not be broke open. I was against it; but Sophia, who faid he was fure that of all men he would be the laft to be guilty of fo much bafenefs, infifted upon it's being read. In this he was feconded by the rest of the family; and, at their joint folicitation, I read as follows:

'LADIES,

HE bearer will fufficiently fa

Ttisfy you as to the perfon

from whom this comes: one at leaft the friend of innocence, and ready to prevent it's being feduced. I am. informed for a truth, that you have fome intention of bringing two young ladies to town, whom I have fome knowledge of, under the character of companions. As I would neither have fimplicity impofed upon, nor virtue contaminated, I must offer it as my opinion, that the impropriety of fuch a step will be attended with dangerous confequences. It has never been my way to treat the infamous or the lewd with feverity; nor fhould I now have taken this E 2 method