He had some loss at sea, bad debts at land,

His clerk absconded with some bills in hand,

And plans so often fail'd that he no longer plann'd. To a small house (his brother's) he withdrew,

At

easy rent-the man was not a Jew;

And there his losses and his cares he bore,

Nor found that want of wealth could make him poor.

No, he in fact was rich; nor could he move,
But he was follow'd by the looks of love;
All he had suffer'd, every former grief,
Made those around more studious in relief;
He saw a cheerful smile in every face,
And lost all thoughts of error and disgrace.

Pleasant it was to see them in their walk
Round their small garden, and to hear them talk;
Free are their children, but their love refrains
From all offence-none murmurs, none complains;
Whether a book amused them, speech or play,
Their looks were lively, and their hearts were gay ;
There no forced efforts for delight were made,
Joy came with prudence, and without parade;
Their common comforts they had all in view,
Light were their troubles, and their wishes few:
Thrift made them easy for the coming day,
Religion took the dread of death away;

K 2

A cheerful spirit still insured content,

And love smiled round them wheresoe'er they went.

Walter, meantime, with all his wealth's increase,
Gain'd many points, but could not purchase peace;
When he withdrew from business for an hour,
Some fled his presence, all confess'd his power;
He sought affection, but received instead
Fear undisguised, and love-repelling dread;

He look'd around him-" Harriet, dost thou love?"
“I do my duty," said the timid dove;
“Good Heav`n, your duty! prithee, tell me now—
“To love and honour—was not that your vow?
“Come, my good Harriet, I would gladly seek
“Your inmost thought—Why can't the woman speak?
"Have you not all things ?"—" Sir, do I complain?”—
"No, that's my part, which I perform in vain;
"I want a simple answer, and direct-

"But you evade; yes! 'tis as I suspect.

"Come then, my children! Watt! upon your knees

"Vow that you love me."-" Yes, sir, if you please."

66

Again! by Heav'n, it mads me; I require

“ Love, and they'll do whatever I desire:

“ Thus too my people shun me; I would spend
“A thousand pounds to get a single friend ;
“I would be happy—I have means to pay
“ For love and friendship, and you run away;

66

Ungrateful creatures! why, you seem to dread

My very looks; I know you wish me dead. "Come hither, Nancy! you must hold me dear; "Hither, I say; why! what have you to fear? “You see I'm gentle-Come, you trifler, come; My God! she trembles! Idiot, leave the room! "Madam! your children hate me; I suppose

66

66

They know their cue: you make them all my "I've not a friend in all the world-not one: "I'd be a bankrupt sooner; nay, 'tis done; "In every better hope of life I fail, “You're all tormentors, and my house a jail; "Out of my sight! I'll sit and make my will"What, glad to go? stay, devils, and be still; ""Tis to your uncle's cot you wish to run,

foes;

hate;

"To learn to live at ease and be undone ; "Him you can love, who lost his whole estate, “And I, who gain you fortunes, have your ""Tis in my absence, you yourselves enjoy: “Tom! are you glad to lose me? tell me, boy : "Yes! does he answer?"-"Yes! upon my soul;"

"No awe, no fear, no duty, no control!

66

Away! away! ten thousand devils seize

"All I possess, and plunder where they please!

"What's wealth to me?—yes, yes! it gives me sway,

"And you shall feel it-Go! begone, I say."

NOTES TO LETTER VIII.

Note 1, page 125, line 8.

Is "Harmony in Uproar" all day long. The title of a short piece of humour by Arbuthnot.

Note 2, page 128, line 24.

Nor less the place of curious plant he knows. In botanical language "the habitat," the favourite soil or situation of the more scarce species.

Note 3, page 129, line 11.

This is no shaded, run-off, pin-eyed thing.

This, it must be acknowledged, is contrary to the opinion of Thomson, and I believe of some other poets, who, in describing the varying hues of our most beautiful flowers, have considered them as lost and blended with each other; whereas their beauty, in the eye of a florist (and I conceive in that of the uninitiated also), depends upon the distinctness of their colours: the stronger the bounding line, and the less they break into the neighbouring tint, so much the richer and more valuable is the flower esteemed.