infallibility. To say the truth, the parson had exercised her more ways than one; and the pious woman had so well edified by her husband's sermons, that she had resolved to receive the bad things of this world together with the good. She had indeed been at first a little contentious; but he had long since got the better; partly by her love for this; partly by her fear of that; partly by her religion; partly by the respect he paid himself; and partly by that which he received from the parish. She had, in short, absolutely submitted, and now worshipped her husband, as Sarah. did Abraham, calling him (not lord, but) master. Whilst they were at table, her husband gave her a fresh example of his greatness; for as she had just delivered a cup of ale to Adams, he snatched it out of his hand, and crying out, 'I caal'd vurst,' swallowed down the ale. Adams denied it; it was referred to the wife, who, though her conscience was on the side of Adams, durst not give it against her husband. Upon which he said, 'No, Sir, no; I should not have been so 'rude to have taken it from you, if you had caal'd vurst; 'but I'd have you know I'm a better man than to suffer 'the best he in the kingdom to drink before me in my 6 own house, when I caale vurst.'

As soon as their breakfast was ended, Adams began in the following manner: 'I think, Sir, it is high time to inform you of the business of my embassy. I am a 'traveller, and am passing this way in company with 'two young people, a lad and a damsel, my parishioners, 'towards my own cure; we stopt at a house of hospitality ' in the parish, where they directed me to you, as having 'the cure.'-Though I am but a curate,' says Trulliber, I believe I am as warm as the vicar himself, or perhaps 'the rector of the next parish too; I believe I could buy 'them both.'-'Sir,' cries Adams, 'I rejoice thereat. 'Now, Sir, my business is, that we are by various

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'accidents stript of our money, and are not able to pay 'our reckoning, being seven shillings. I therefore reเ quest you to assist me with the loan of those seven shillings, and also seven shillings more, which, perad' venture, I shall return to you; but if not, I am con'vinced you will joyfully embrace such an opportunity of laying up a treasure in a better place than any this 'world affords.'

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Suppose a stranger, who entered the chambers of a lawyer, being imagined a client, when the lawyer was preparing his palm for the fee,.should pull out a writ against him. Suppose an apothecary, at the door of a chariot containing some great doctor of eminent skill, should, instead of directions to a patient, present him with a potion for himself. Suppose a minister should, instead of a good round sum, treat my lord Sir -, or esq. with a good broomstick. a civil companion, or a led captain, should, instead of virtue, and honour, and beauty, and parts, and admiration; thunder vice, and infamy, and ugliness, and folly, and contempt, in his patron's ears. Suppose when a tradesman first carries in his bill, the man of fashion should pay it; or suppose, if he did so, the tradesman should abate what he had overcharged, on the supposition of waiting. In short,-suppose what you will, you never can nor will suppose any thing equal to the astonishment which seized on Trulliber, as soon as Adams had ended his speech. A while he rolled his eyes in silence; sometimes surveying Adams, then his wife; then casting them on the ground, then lifting them up to heaven. At last he burst forth in the following accents: 'Sir, I believe I 'know where to lay up my little treasure as well as another. I thank G—, if I am not so warm as some, I 'am content; that is a blessing greater than riches; and 'he to whom that is given need ask no more. To be

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content with a little is greater than to possess the world; which a man may possess without being so. Lay up my treasure! what matters where a man's 'treasure is, whose heart is in the scriptures; there is the 'treasure of a Christian.' At these words the water ran from Adams's eyes; and catching Trulliber by the hand in a rapture. 'Brother,' says he, heavens bless the 'accident by which I came to see you! I would have 'walked many a mile to have communed with you; and, 'believe me, I will shortly pay you a second visit; but my friends, I fancy, by this time wonder at my stay; so 'let me have the money immediately.' Trulliber then put on a stern look, and cried out 'Thou dost not intend 'to rob me?' At which the wife, bursting into tears, fell on her kness, and roared out, 'O dear Sir! for 'heaven's sake, don't rob my master; we are but poor people.'—' Get up for a fool, as thou art, and go ' about thy business,' said Trulliber: dost think the man 'will venture his life? he is a beggar, and no robber.'Very true, indeed,' answered Adams. I wish, with all my heart, the tithing-man was here,' cries Trulliber: 'I would have thee punished as a vagabond for thy impu'dence. Fourteen shillings indeed! I won't give thee a farthing. I believe thou art no more a clergyman than 'the woman there (pointing to his wife); but if thou art, 'dost deserve to have thy gown stript over thy shoulders 'for running about the country in such a manner.'—' I forgive your suspicions,' says Adams; but suppose I 'am not a clergyman, I am nevertheless thy brother; and thou, as a Christian, much more as a clergyman, art obliged to relieve my distress.'-' Dost preach to me?' replied Trulliber: 'dost pretend to instruct me in my duty?'—'Ifacks, a good story,' cries Mrs. Trulliber, to preach to my master.'-'Silence, woman,' cries Trulliber. I would have thee know, friend' (addressing

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himself to Adams), 'I shall not learn my duty from 'such as thee. I know what charity is better than to give to vagabonds.'-'Besides, if we were inclined, 'the poor's rate obliges us to give so much charity,' cries the wife. 'Pugh! thou art a fool. Poor's rate! 'Hold thy nonsense,' answered Trulliber; and then turning to Adams, he told him, He would give him nothing.—' I am sorry,' answered Adams, that you do not know what charity is, since you practise it no better: 'I must tell you, if you trust to your knowledge for your 'justification, you will find yourself deceived, though you 'should add faith to it, without good works.'-' Fellow,' cries Trulliber, dost thou speak against faith in my 'house? Get out of my doors: I will no longer remain 'under the same roof with a wretch who speaks wantonly ' of faith and the scriptures.'-' Name not the scriptures,' says Adams. 'How! not name the scriptures! Do you 'disbelieve the scriptures?' cries Trulliber. No; but you do,' answered Adams, if I may reason from your เ practice; for their commands are so explicit, and their rewards and punishments so immense, that it is impos'sible a man should stedfastly believe without obeying. Now, there is no command more express, no duty more frequently enjoined, than charity. Whoever, therefore, is void of charity, I make no scruple of pronouncing 'that he is no Christian.'-'I would not advise thee,' says Trulliber, to say that I am no Christian: I won't take it 'of you; for I believe I am as good a man as thyself;' (and indeed, though he was now rather too corpulent for athletic exercises, he had, in his youth, been of the best boxers and cudgel-players in the county). His wife, seeing him clench his fist, interposed, and begged him not to fight, but show himself a true Christian, and take the law of him. As nothing could provoke Adams to strike, but an absolute assault on himself or his friend, he smiled at

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the angry look and gestures of Trulliber; and telling him, he was sorry to see such men in orders, departed without

further ceremony.

CHAPTER XV.

An adventure, the consequence of a new instance which parson Adams gave of his forgetfulness.

WHEN he came back to the inn, he found Joseph and Fanny sitting together. They were so far from thinking his absence long, as he had feared they would, that they never once missed or thought of him. Indeed, I have been often assured by both that they spent these hours in a most delightful conversation; but as I never could prevail on either to relate it, so I cannot communicate it to the reader.

Adams acquainted the lovers with the ill success of his enterprise. They were all greatly confounded, none being able to propose any method of departing, till Joseph at last advised calling in the hostess, and desiring her to trust them; which Fanny said she despaired of her doing, as she was one of the sourest-faced women she had ever beheld.

But she was agreeably disappointed; for the hostess was no sooner asked the question, than she readily agreed; and with a courtesy and smile, wished them a good journey. However, lest Fanny's skill in physiognomy should be called in question, we will venture to assign one reason which might probably incline her to this confidence and good-humour. When Adams said he was going to visit his brother, he had unwittingly imposed on Joseph and Fanny; who both believed he meant his