natural brother, and not his brother in divinity; and had so informed the hostess, on her inquiry after him. Now Mr. Trulliber had, by his professions of piety, by his gravity, austerity, reserve, and the opinion of his great wealth, so great an authority in his parish, that they all lived in the utmost fear and apprehension of him. It was therefore no wonder that the hostess, who knew it was in his option whether she should ever sell another mug of drink, did not dare to affront his supposed brother, by denying him credit. เ They were now just on their departure, when Adams recollected he had left his great coat and hat at Mr. Trulliber's. As he was not desirous of renewing his visit, the hostess herself, having no servant at home, offered to fetch them. This was an unfortunate expedient; for the hostess was soon undeceived in the opinion she had entertained of Adams, whom Trulliber abused in the grossest terms, especially when he heard he had had the assurance to pretend to be his near relation. At her return, therefore, she entirely changed her note. She said Folks might be ashamed of travelling about, ' and pretending to be what they were not. That taxes were high, and for her part she was obliged to pay for 'what she had; she could not therefore possibly, nor 'would she, trust any body; no, not her own father. เ That money was never scarcer, and she wanted to make up a sum. That she expected, therefore, they should pay their reckoning before they left the house.' Adams was now greatly perplexed; but as he knew that he could easily have borrowed such a sum in his own parish, and as he knew he would have lent it himself to any mortal in distress, so he took fresh courage, and sallied out all round the parish, but to no purpose; he returned as penny less as he went, groaning and lamenting that it was possible, in a country professing Christianity, for a wretch to starve in the midst of his fellow-creatures who abounded. Whilst he was gone, the hostess, who staid as a sort of guard with Joseph and Fanny, entertained them with the goodness of parson Trulliber. And, indeed, he had not only a very good character as to other qualities in the neighbourhood, but was reputed a man of great charity; for though he never gave a farthing, he had always that word in his mouth. Adams was no sooner returned the second time, than the storm grew exceeding high, the hostess declaring, among other things, that if they offered to stir without paying her, she would soon overtake them with a warrant. Plato and Aristotle, or somebody else, hath said, that when the most exquisite cunning fails, chance often hits the mark, and that by means the least expected. Virgil expresses this very boldly. Turne, quod optanti divum promittere nemo I would quote more great men if I could: but my memory not permitting me, I will proceed to exemplify these observations by the following instance. There chanced (for Adams had not cunning enough to contrive it) to be at that time in the ale-house a fellow, who had been formerly a drummer in an Irish regiment, and now travelled the country as a pedlar. This man having attentively listened to the discourse of the hostess, at last took Adams aside, and asked him what the sum was for which they were detained. As soon as he was informed, he sighed, and said 'He was sorry it was so much; for that he had no more than six shillings and sixpence in his pocket, which he would lend them with all his heart.' Adams gave a caper, and cried out, It would do; for that he had sixpence himself. And thus these poor people, who could not engage the compassion of riches and piety, were at length delivered out of their distress by the charity of a poor pedlar. I shall refer it to my reader to make what observations he pleases on this incident: it is sufficient for me to inform him, that, after Adams and his companions had returned him a thousand thanks, and told him where he might call to be repaid, they all sallied out of the house without any compliments from their hostess, or indeed without paying her any; Adams declaring he would take particular care never to call there again; and she, on her side, assuring them she wanted no such guests. CHAPTER XVI. A very curious adventure, in which Mr. Adams gave a much greater instance of the honest simplicity of his heart, than of his experience in the ways of this world. OUR travellers had walked about two miles from that inn; which they had more reason to have mistaken for a castle, than Don Quixote ever had any of those in which he sojourned, seeing they had met with such difficulty in escaping out of its walls; when they came to a parish, and beheld a sign of invitation hanging out. A gentleman sat smoking a pipe at the door; of whom Adams inquired the road, and received so courteous and obliging an answer, accompanied with so smiling a countenance, that the good parson, whose heart was naturally disposed to love and affection, began to ask several other questions; particularly the name of the เ parish, and who was the owner of a large house whose front they then had in prospect. The gentleman answered as obligingly as before; and as to the house, acquainted him it was his own. He then proceeded in the following manner: Sir, I presume by your habit you are a clergyman; and as you are travelling on foot, I suppose a glass of good beer will not be dis'agreeable to you; and I can recommend my landlord's within, as some of the best in all this country. What say you, will you halt a little and let us take a pipe 'together? there is no better tobacco in the kingdom.' This proposal was not displeasing to Adams, who had allayed his thirst that day with no better liquor than what Mrs. Trulliber's cellar had produced: and which was indeed little superior, either in richness or flavour, to that which distilled from those grains her generous husband bestowed on his hogs. Having therefore abundantly thanked the gentleman for his kind invitation, and bid Joseph and Fanny follow him, he entered the alehouse, where a large loaf and cheese, and a pitcher of beer, which truly answered the character given of it, being set before them, the three travellers fell to eating, with appetites infinitely more voracious than are to be found at the most exquisite eating-houses in the parish of St. James's. The gentleman expressed great delight in the hearty and cheerful behaviour of Adams; and particularly in the familiarity with which he conversed with Joseph and Fanny, whom he often called his children; a term he explained to mean no more than his parishioners; saying, 'He looked on all those, whom God had ' entrusted to his cure, to stand to him in that relation.' The gentleman, shaking him by the hand, highly applauded these sentiments. They are, indeed,' says he, 'the true principles of a Christian divine; and I heartily L เ เ เ 'wish they were universal; but, on the contrary, I am เ sorry to say the parson of our parish, instead of esteeming his poor parishioners as a part of his family, seems ' rather to consider them as not of the same species with 'himself. He seldom speaks to any, unless some few of the richest of us; nay, indeed, he will not move his hat to the others. I often laugh, when I behold him on Sundays strutting along the church-yard, like 'a turkey-cock, through rows of his parishioners; who bow to him with as much submission, and are as unregarded as a set of servile courtiers by the proudest 'prince in Christendom. But if such temporal pride 'is ridiculous, surely the spiritual is odious and detest'able; if such a puffed-up empty human bladder, strutting in princely robes, justly moves one's derision; surely in the habit of a priest it must raise our scorn.' 'Doubtless,' answered Adams, 'your opinion is right; 'but I hope such examples are rare. The clergy, whom 'I have the honour to know, maintain a different behaเ viour; and you will allow me, Sir, that the readiness 'which too many of the laity show to contemn the order may be one reason of their avoiding too much humility.' -Very true, indeed,' says the gentleman; 'I find, เ Sir, you are a man of excellent sense, and am happy in this opportunity of knowing you; perhaps our "accidental meeting may not be disadvantageous to you neither. At present, I shall only say to you, that 'the incumbent of this living is old and infirm; and that it is in my gift. Doctor, give me your hand; and assure yourself of it at his decease.' Adams told him, 'He was never more confounded in his life, than at his utter incapacity to make any return to such 'noble and unmerited generosity.'-'A mere trifle, Sir,' cries the gentleman, 'scarce worth your acceptance; a little more than three hundred a year. I wish it was เ |