my distemper, which I find grows very fast upon me, puts it out of my power.

'But I shall waste my strength too much. I in' tended to speak concerning my will, which, though 'I have settled long ago, I think proper to mention 'such heads of it as concern any of you, that I may ' have the comfort of perceiving you are all satisfied 'with the provision I have there made for you.

Nephew Blifil, I leave you the heir to my whole estate, except only 500l. a-year, which is to revert to you after the death of your mother, and except one other estate of 500l. a-year, and the sum of 6000l., which I have bestowed in the following

'manner:

The estate of 500l. a-year I have given to you, Mr. Jones and as I know the inconvenience which attends the want of ready money, I have added 1000l. in specie. In this I know not whether I have exceeded or fallen short of your expecta tion. Perhaps you will think I have given you too little, and the world will be as ready to con'demn me for giving you too much; but the latter 'censure I despise; and as to the former, unless you 'should entertain that common error which I have ' often heard in my life pleaded as an excuse for a total want of charity; namely, that, instead of raising gratitude by voluntary acts of bounty, we are apt to raise demands, which of all others are the most boundless and most difficult to satisfy.Pardon me the bare mention of this; I will not suspect any such thing.'

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Jones flung himself at his benefactor's feet, and taking eagerly hold of his hand, assured him his goodness to him, both now and all other times, had so infinitely exceeded not only his merit but his hopes, that no words could express his sense of it. And I assure you, sir,' said he, your present generosity hath left me no other concern than for the present melancholy occasion. Oh! my friend! my

• father!' Here his words choked him, and he turned away to hide a tear which was starting from

his eyes.

Allworthy then gently squeezed his hand, and proceeded thus: I am convinced, my child, that you have much goodness, generosity, and honour, in your temper: if you will add prudence and religion to these, you must be happy; for the three former qualities, I admit, make you worthy of happiness, but they are the latter only which will put you in possession of it.

'One thousand pound I have given to you, Mr. Thwackum; a sum I am convinced which greatly exceeds your desires, as well as your wants. However, you will receive it as a memorial of my friendship; and whatever superfluities may redound to you, that piety which you so rigidly 'maintain will instruct you how to dispose of them.

'A like sum, Mr. Square, I have bequeathed to you. This, I hope, will enable you to pursue your profession with better success than hitherto. I have often observed with concern, that distress is more apt to excite contempt than commiseration, espe' cially among men of business, with whom poverty is understood to indicate want of ability. But the ' little I have been able to leave you will extricate 'you from those difficulties with which you have formerly struggled; and then I doubt not but you will meet with sufficient prosperity to supply "what a man of your philosophical temper will require.

I find myself growing faint, so I shall refer you to my will for my disposition of the residue. My 'servants will there find some tokens to remember me by; and there are a few charities which, I trust, my executors will see faithfully performed. Bless you all. I am setting out a little before you.'

Here a footman came hastily into the room, and

said there was an attorney from Salisbury who had a particular message, which he said he must communicate to Mr. Allworthy himself: that he seemed in a violent hurry, and protested he had so much business to do, that, if he could cut himself into four quarters, all would not be sufficient.

'Go, child,' said Allworthy to Blifil, 'see what 'the gentleman wants. I am not able to do any 'business now, nor can he have any with me, in "which you are not at present more concerned than myself. Besides, I really am-I am incapable of seeing any one at present, or of any longer atten'tion.' He then saluted them again; but said he should be now glad to compose himself a little, finding that he had too much exhausted his spirits in discourse.

Some of the company shed tears at their parting; and even the philosopher Square wiped his eyes, albeit unused to the melting mood. As to Mrs. Wilkins, she dropt her pearls as fast as the Arabian trees their medicinal gums; for this was a ceremonial which that gentlewoman never omitted on a proper occasion.

After this Mr. Allworthy again laid himself down on his pillow, and endeavoured to compose himself

to rest.

CHAP. VIII.

Containing matter rather natural than pleasing. BESIDES grief for her master, there was another source for that briny stream which so plentifully rose above the two mountainous cheek-bones of the housekeeper. She was no sooner retired, than she began to mutter to herself in the following pleasant strain: Sure master might have made some difference, methinks, between me and the other 'servants. I suppose he hath left me mourning; 'but, i'fackins! if that be all, the devil shall wear it for him, for me. I'd have his worship know I

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am no beggar. I have saved five hundred pound in his service, and after all to be used in this man'ner. It is a fine encouragement to servants to be 'honest; and to be sure, if I have taken a little. 'something now and then, others have taken ten 'times as much; and now we are all put in a lump together. If so be that it be so, the legacy may go to the devil with him that gave it. No, I won't give it up neither, because that will please some folks. No, I'll buy the gayest gown I can get, ' and dance over the old curmudgeon's grave in it. This is my reward for taking his part so often, 'when all the country have cried shame of him, for breeding up his bastard in that manner; but he is going now where he must pay for all. It 'would have become him better to have repented ' of his sins on his death-bed, than to glory in them, ' and give away his estate out of his own family to a misbegotten child. Found in his bed, forsooth! ' a pretty story! ay, ay, those that hide know where to find. Lord forgive him! I warrant he hath many more bastards to answer for, if the truth was 'known. One comfort is, they will all be known 'where he is a going now." The servants will find 'some token to remember me by." Those were the very words; I shall never forget them, if I was to ' live a thousand years. Ay, ay, I shall remember you for huddling me among the servants. One 'would have thought he might have mentioned my ' name as well as that of Square; but he is a gen'tleman forsooth, though he had not clothes on his back when he came hither first. Marry come up with such gentlemen! though he hath lived here this many years, I don't believe there is arrow a 'servant in the house ever saw the colour of his

money. The devil shall wait upon such a gentle'man for me.' Much more of the like kind she muttered to herself; but this taste shall suffice to the reader.

Neither Thwackum nor Square were much better

satisfied with their legacies. Though they breathed not their resentment so loud, yet from the discontent which appeared in their countenances, as weil as from the following dialogue, we collect that no great pleasure reigned in their minds.

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About an hour after they had left the sick room, Square met Thwackum in the hall, and accosted him thus: Well, sir, have you heard any news of your friend since we parted from him? If you mean Mr. Allworthy,' answered Thwackum, I think you might rather give him the appellation of your friend; for he seems to me to have deserved that title.' The title is as good on your side,' replied Square, for his bounty, such as it is, hath been equal to both. I should not have mentioned it first,' cries Thwackum, but since you begin, I must inform you I am of a different opinion. There is a wide distinction between voluntary favours and rewards. The duty I have done in his family, and the care i have taken in the education of his two boys, are services for which some men might have expected a greater reI would not have you imagine I am therefore dissatisfied; for St. Paul hath taught me to be ' content with the little I have. Had the modicum been less, I should have known my duty. But though the scripture obliges me to remain contented, it doth not enjoin me to shut my eyes to 'my own merit, nor restrain me from seeing when I am injured by an unjust comparison. Since you provoke me,' returned Square, that injury is done to me; nor did I ever imagine Mr. Allworthy had held my friendship so light, as to put me in balance with me who received his wages. I know to what it is owing; it proceeds from those narrow principles which you have been so long endeavouring to infuse into him, in contempt of every thing which is great and noble. The beauty ' and loveliness of friendship is too strong for dim eyes, nor can it be perceived by any other medium

turn.