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suit, for thirty-five pounds; a sum for which I could not procure bail; and was therefore conveyed to his house, where I was locked up in an upper chamber. I had now neither health, (for I was scarce recovered from my indisposition,) liberty, money, or friends; and had abandoned all hopes and even the desire of life. But this could not last long,' said Adams; 'for doubtless the tailor released you the moment he was truly acquainted with your affairs, and knew that your circumstances would not permit you to pay him.'

laughed at my undertaking, and told me, 'He was afraid I should turn his deeds into plays, and he should expect to see them on the stage. Not to tire you with instances of this kind from others, I found that Plato himself did not hold poets in greater abhorrence than these men of business do. Whenever I durst venture to a coffee-house, which was on Sundays only, a whisper ran round the room, which was constantly attended with a sneer, That's poet Wilson; for I know not whether you have observed it, but there is a malignity in the nature of man, which, when not weeded out, or at least covered Oh, sir, answered the gentleman, he by a good education and politeness, delights knew that before he arrested me; nay, he in making another uneasy or dissatisfied knew that nothing but incapacity could prewith himself. This abundantly appears in vent me from paying my debts; for I had all assemblies, except those which are filled been his customer many years, had spent by people of fashion, and especially among vast sums of money with him, and had althe younger people of both sexes, whose ways paid most punctually in my prosperbirth and fortunes place them just without ous days: but when I reminded him of this, the polite circles; I mean the lower class of with assurances, that if he would not mothe gentry, and the higher of the mercan-lest my endeavours, I would pay him all the tile world, who are, in reality, the worst money I could by my utmost labour and inbred of mankind. Well, sir, whilst I con-dustry procure, reserving only what was tinued in this miserable state, with scarce sufficient to preserve me alive: he answered, sufficient business to keep me from starving, his patience was worn out; that I had put the reputation of a poet being my bane, I him off from time to time; that he wanted accidentally became acquainted with a book- the money; that he had put it into a lawseller, who told me, 'It was a pity a man of yer's hands; and if I did not pay him immy learning and genius should be obliged mediately, or find security, I must lay in to such a method of getting his livelihood; jail, and expect no mercy. He may exthat he had a compassion for me, and if I pect mercy,' cries Adams, starting from his would engage with him, he would under-chair, where he will find none! How can take to provide handsomely for me.' A man such a wretch repeat the Lord's prayer; in my circumstances, as he very well knew, where the word, which is translated, Í had no choice. I accordingly accepted his know not for what reason, trespasses, is in proposal, with his conditions, which were the original debts! And as surely as we do none of the most favourable, and fell to not forgive others their debts, when they translating with all my might. I had no are unable to pay them, so surely shall we longer reason to lament the want of busi- ourselves be unforgiven, when we are in no ness; for he furnished me with so much, condition of paying.' He ceased, and the that in half a year I almost writ myself blind. gentleman proceeded. While I was in this I likewise contracted a distemper, by my deplorable situation, a former acquaintance, sedentary life, in which no part of my body to whom I had communicated my lotterywas exercised but my right arm, which ren- ticket, found me out, and making me a dered me incapable of writing for a long visit, with great delight in his countenance, time. This, unluckily, happening to delay shook me heartily by the hand, and wished the publication of a work, and my last per- me joy of my good fortune: for, says he, formance not having sold well, the bookseller your ticket is come up a prize of 3000l. declined any further engagement, and as-Adams snapt his fingers at these words in persed me to his brethren, as a careless, idle an ecstacy of joy; which, however, did not fellow. I had, however, by having half-continue long, for the gentleman thus proworked and half-starved myself to death, ceeded: Alas! sir, this was only a trick of during the time I was in his service, saved Fortune to sink me the deeper; for I had a few guineas, with which I bought a lottery-disposed of this lottery-ticket two days beticket, resolving to throw myself into For-fore, to a relation who refused lending me tune's lap, and try if she would make amends a shilling without it, in order to procure myfor the injuries she had done me at the gaming-table. This purchase being made, left me almost pennyless; when, as if I had not been sufficiently miserable, a bailiff, in woman's clothes, got admittance to my chamber, whither he was directed by the bookseller. He arrested me, at my tailor's

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self bread. As soon as my friend was acquainted with my unfortunate sale, he began to revile me, and remind me of all the ill conduct and miscarriages of my life. He said I was one whom Fortune could not save, if she would; that I was now ruined without any hopes of retrieval, nor must

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expect any pity from my friends; that it would be extreme weakness to compassionate the misfortunes of a man who ran headlong to his own destruction. He then painted to me, in as lively colours as he was able, the happiness I should have now enjoyed, had I not foolishly disposed of my ticket. I urged the plea of necessity; but he made no answer to that, and began again to revile me, till I could bear it no longer, and desired him to finish his visit. I soon exchanged the bailiff's house for a prison; where, as I had not money sufficient to procure a separate apartment, I was crowded in with a great number of miserable wretches, in common with whom I was destitute of every convenience of life, even that which all the brutes enjoy, wholesome air. In these dreadful circumstances I applied by letter to several of my old acqaintance, and such to whom I had formerly lent money without any great prospect of its being re-to this profusion of goodness, though perturned, for their assistance; but in vain. An excuse, instead of a denial, was the gentlest answer I received.-Whilst I languished in a condition too horrible to be described, and which, in a land of humanity, and what is much more, christianity, seems a strange punishment for a little inadvertency and indiscretion; whist I was in this condition, a fellow came into the prison, and in-violent passion of friendship to one of the quiring me out, delivered me the following letter:

liverer. She happened to be then out of town, a circumstance, which, upon reflection, pleased me; for by that means I had an opportunity to appear before her in a more decent dress. At her return to town, within a day or two, I threw myself at her feet with the most ardent acknowledgments; which she rejected with an unfeigned greatness of mind, and told me, I could not oblige her more than by never mentioning, or if possible, thinking on a circumstance which must bring to my mind an accident that might be grievous to me to think on. She proceeded thus: What I have done, is in my own eyes a trifle, and perhaps infinitely less than would have become me to do. And if you think of engaging in any business, where a larger sum may be serviceable to you, I shall not be over-rigid, either as to the security or interest.' I endeavoured to express all the gratitude in my power

"Sir,

"My father, to whom you sold your ticket in the last lottery, died the same day in which it came up a prize, as you have possibly heard, and left me sole heiress of all his fortune. I am so much touched with your present circumstances, and the uneasiness you must feel at having been driven to dispose of what might have made you happy, that I must desire your acceptance of the enclosed, and am

"Your humble servant,

"HARRIET HEARTY."

haps it was my enemy, and began to afflict my mind with more agonies than all the miseries I had underwent; it affected me with severer reflections than poverty, distress, and prisons united, had been able to make me feel; for, sir, these acts and professions of kindness, which were sufficient to have raised in a good heart the most

same, or to age and ugliness in a different sex, came to me from a woman, a young and beautiful woman; one whose perfeclong conceived a violent passion, though tions I had long known, and for whom I had with a despair which made me endeavour rather to curb and conceal, than to nourish or acquaint her with it. In short, they came upon me united with beauty, softness, and tenderness: such bewitching smiles!-O Mr. Adams, in that moment I lost myself, and forgetting our different situations, nor considering what return I was making to her goodness, by desiring her, who had given me so much, to bestow her all, I laid gently hold on her hand, and conveying it And what do you think was inclosed? to my lips, I pressed it with inconceivable 'I don't know,' cried Adams; not less than ardour; then, lifting up my swimming eyes, a guinea, I hope.'-Sir, it was a bank-note I saw her face and neck overspread with for 2001.-200l.' says Adams, in rapture. one blush; she offered to withdraw her -No less, I assure you, answered the gen-hand, yet not so as to deliver it from mine, tleman: a sum I was not half so delighted though I held it with the gentlest force. with, as with the dear name of the gene- We both stood trembling; her eyes cast on rous girl that sent it me; and who was not the ground, and mine steadfastly fixed on only the best, but the handsomest creature her. Good G-d, what was then the conin the universe; and for whom I had long dition of my soul! burning with love, dehad a passion, which I never durst disclose sire, admiration, gratitude, and every tento her. I kissed her name a thousand times, my eyes overflowing with tenderness and gratitude; I repeated-But not to detain you with these raptures, I immediately acquired my liberty; and, having paid all my debts, departed, with upwards of fifty pounds in my pocket, to thank my kind de

der passion, all bent on one charming object. Passion at last got the better of both reason and respect, and softly letting go her hand, I offered madly to clasp her in my arms; when, a little recovering herself, she started from me, asking me, with some show of anger, 'If she had any reason to expect

this treatme it from me.' I then fell prostrate before her, and told her, if I had of fended, my life was absolutely in her power, which I would in any manner lose for her sake.

licking his lips, that. I could willingly hear
it over again.' Well, sir, continued the
gentleman, to be as concise as possible,
within a week she consented to make me
the happiest of mankind. We were mar-
ried shortly after; and when I came to ex-
amine the circumstances of my wife's for-
tune, (which, I do assure you, I was not
presently at leisure enough to do,) I found
it amounted to about six thousand pounds,
most part of which lay in effects; for her
father had been a wine merchant: and she
seemed willing, if I liked it, that I should
carry on the same trade. I readily, and
too inconsiderately, undertook it; for, not
having been bred to the secrets of the busi-
ness, and endeavouring to deal with the
utmost honesty and uprightness, I soon
found our fortune in a declining way, and
my trade decreasing by little and little; for
my wines, which I never adulterated after
their importation, and were sold as neat as
they came over, were universally decried
by the vintners, to whom I could not allow
them quite as cheap as those who gained
double the profit by a less price.
began to despair of improving our fortune
by these means; nor was I at all easy at
the visits and familiarity of many who had
been my acquaintance in my prosperity, but
denied and shunned me in my adversity,
and now very forwardly renewed their ac-
quaintance with me. In short, I had suffi-
ciently seen, that the pleasures of the world
are chiefly folly, and the business of it
mostly knavery; and both, nothing better
than vanity: the men of pleasure tearing
one another to pieces, from the emulation
of spending money, and the men of busi-
ness, from envy in getting it.

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Nay, madam, said I, you shall not be so ready to punish me, as I to suffer. I own my guilt. I detest the reflection that I would have sacrificed your happiness to mine. Believe me, I sincerely repent my ingratitude; yet believe me too, it was my passion, my unbounded passion for you, which hurried me so far: I have loved you long and tenderly; and the goodness you have shown me, hath innocently weighed down a wretch undone before. Acquit me of all mean, mercenary views, and before I take my leave of you for ever, which I am resolved instantly to do, believe me, that Fortune could have raised me to no height to which I could not have lifted you. O, cursed be Fortune! Do not,' says she, interrupting me with the sweetest voice, Do not curse Fortune, since she hath made me happy; and, if she hath put your happiness in my power, I have told you you shall ask nothing in reason which I will refuse.' Madam, said I, you mistake me, if you imagine, as you seem, my happiness is in the power of Fortune now. You have obliged me too much already; if I have any wish, it is for some blessed accident, by which I may contribute with my life to the least augmentation of your felicity. As for myself, the only happiness I can ever have, will be hearing of yours; and if Fortune will make that complete, I will forgive her all her wrongs to me. You may, indeed,' answered she, smiling, for your own happiness must be included in mine. I have long known your worth; nay, I must con- My happiness consisted entirely in my fess,' said she, blushing, I have long dis- wife, whom I loved with an inexpressible covered that passion for me you profess, fondness, which was perfectly returned; and notwithstanding those endeavours, which I my prospects were no other than to provide am convinced were unaffected, to conceal for our growing family; for she was now it; and if all I can give with reason will big of her second child: I therefore took an not suffice, take reason away, and now opportunity to ask her opinion of entering I believe you cannot ask me what I will into a retired life, which, after hearing my deny.'-She uttered these words with a reasons, and perceiving my affection for it, sweetness not to be imagined. I immedi- she readily embraced. We soon put our ately started; my blood, which lay freezing small fortune, now reduced under three at my heart, rushed tumultuously through thousand pounds, into money, with part of every vein. I stood for a moment silent; which we purchased this little place, whither then, flying to her, I caught her in my arms, we retired soon after her delivery, from a no longer resisting, and softly told her, she world full of bustle, noise, hatred,envy, and, must give me then herself. O, sir! can I ingratitude, to ease, quiet, and love. We describe her look? She remained silent, have here lived almost twenty years, with and almost motionless, several minutes. At little other conversation than our own, most last, recovering herself a little, she insisted of the neighbourhood taking us for very on my leaving her, and in such a manner, strange people; the squire of the parish rethat I instantly obeyed: you may imagine, presenting me as a madman, and the parhowever, I soon saw her again.-But I ask son as a presbyterian, because I will not pardon: I fear I have detained you too long hunt with the one, nor drink with the other. in relating the particulars of the former in-Sir,' says Adams, Fortune hath, I think, terview. So far otherwise,' says Adams, paid you all her debts, in this sweet retire

ment.' Sir, replied the gentleman, I am
thankful to the great Author of all things,
for the blessings I here enjoy. I have the
best of wives, and three pretty children, for
whom I have the true tenderness of a pa-
rent. But no blessings are pure in this
world within three years of my arrival
here, I lost my eldest son. (Here he sighed
bitterly.) Šir,' said Adams, we must
submit to providence, and consider death as
common to all.' We must submit, indeed,
answered the gentleman; and if he had
died, I could have borne the loss with pa-
tience; but, alas! sir, he was stolen away
from my door, by some wicked travelling
peop
people, whom they call Gipsies; nor could
ever, with the most diligent search, re-
cover him. Poor child! he had the sweetest
look-the exact picture of his mother; at
which, some tears unwittingly dropt from
his eyes, as did likewise from those of
Adams, who always sympathised with his
friends on those occasions. Thus, sir, said
the gentleman, I have finished my story, in
which, if I have been too particular, I ask
your pardon; and now, if you please, I will
fetch you another bottle; which proposal
the parson thankfully accepted.

his little garden; which he readily agreed to; and Joseph, at the same time, awaking from a sleep, in which he had been two hours buried, went with them.

No parterres, no fountains, no statues, embellished this little garden. Its only ornament was a short walk shaded on each side by a filbert-hedge, with a small alcove at one end, whither in hot weather the gentleman and his wife used to retire and divert themselves with their children, who played in the walk before them. But though vanity had no votary in this little spot, here was variety of fruit, and every thing useful for the kitchen; which was abundantly sufficient to catch the admiration of Adams, who told the gentleman he had certainly a good gardener. Sir, answered he, that gardener is now before you: whatever you see here is the work solely of my own hands. Whilst I am providing necessaries for my table, I likewise procure myself an appetite for them. In fair seasons, I seldom pass less than six hours of the twenty-four in this place, where I am not idle; and by these means I have been able to preserve my health ever since my arrival here without assistance from physic. Hither I generally repair at the dawn, and exercise myself whilst my wife dresses her children and prepares our breakfast; after which we are seldom asunder during the residue of the day; for when the weather will not permit them to accompany me here, I am usually within with them; for I am neither THE gentleman returned with the bot- ashamed of conversing with my wife nor of tle; and Adams and he sat some time silent, playing with my children: to say the truth, when the former started up and cried, 'No, I do not perceive that inferiority of underthat won't do.' The gentleman inquired standing which the levity of rakes, the dulinto his meaning; he answered, 'He had ness of men of business, or the austerity of been considering that it was possible the the learned, would persuade us of in women. late famous king Theodore might have been As for my woman, I declare I have found the very son whom he had lost;' but added, none of my own sex capable of making 'that his age could not answer that imagi-juster observations on life, or of delivering nation. However,' says he 'G- disposes them more agreeably; nor do I believe any all things for the best; and very probably one possessed of a faithfuller or braver he may be some great man, or duke; and may, one day or other, revisit you in that capacity. The gentleman answered, he should know him amongst ten thousand, for he had a mark, on his left breast, of a strawberry, which his mother had given him, by longing for that fruit.

CHAPTER IV.

A description of Mr. Wilson's way of living. The tragical adventure of the dog, and other grave

matters.

friend. And sure, as this friendship is sweetened with more delicacy and tenderness, so is it confirmed by dearer pledges than can attend the closest male alliance; for what union can be so fast as our common interest in the fruits of our embraces? Perhaps, sir, you are not yourself a father; if you That beautiful young lady, the Morning, are not, be assured you cannot conceive the now rose from her bed, and with a counte- delight I have in my little ones. Would you nance blooming with fresh youth and spright- not despise me, if you saw me stretched liness, like Miss-*, with soft dews hanging on the ground, and my children playing on her pouting lips, began to take her early walk over the eastern hills; and presently after, that gallant person, the Sun, stole softly from his wife's chamber, to pay his addresses to her; when the gentleman asked his guest if he would walk forth and survey

* Whoever the reader pleases.

round me? I should reverence the sight," quoth Adams; 'I myself am now the father of six, and have been of eleven, and I can say I never scourged a child of my own, unless as his schoolmaster, and then have felt every stroke on my own posteriors. And as to what you can say concerning women, I have often lamented my own wife

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did not understand Greek.'-The gentleman smiled, and answered, he would not be apprehended to insinuate that his own had understanding above the care of her family; on the contrary, says he, my Harriet, I assure you, is a notable housewife, and few gentlemen's housekeepers understand cookery or confectionary better; but these are arts which she hath no great occasion for now: however, the wine you commended so much last night at supper was of her own making, as is indeed all the liquor in my house, except my beer, which falls to my province. And I assure you it is as excellent,' quoth Adams, as ever I tasted.' We formerly kept a maid-servant, but since my girls have been growing up, she is unwilling to indulge them in idleness; for as the fortunes I shall give them will be very small, we intend not to breed them above the rank they are likely to fill hereafter, nor to teach them to despise or ruin a plain husband. Indeed, I could wish a man of my own temper, and retired life, might fall to their lot; for I have experienced, that calm serene happiness, which is seated in content, is inconsistent with the hurry and bustle of the world. He was proceeding thus, when the little things, being just risen, ran eagerly towards him and asked his blessing. They were shy to the strangers; but the eldest acquainted her father, that her mother and the young gentlewoman were up, and that breakfast was ready.

ing in all bloody, and laid himself at his mistress's feet; the poor girl, who was about eleven years old, burst into tears at the sight; and presently one of the neighbours came in and informed them, that the young squire, the son of the lord of the manor, had shot him as he passed by, swearing at the same time he would prosecute the master of him for keeping a spaniel, for that he had given notice he would not suffer one in the parish. The dog, whom his mistress had taken into her lap, died in a few minutes, licking her hand. She expressed great agony at his loss; and the other children began to cry for their sister's misfortune; nor could Fanny herself refrain. Whilst the father and mother attempted to comfort her, Adams grasped his crabstick, and would have sallied out after the squire, had not Joseph withheld him. He could not, however, bridle his tonguehe pronounced the word rascal with great emphasis; said, he deserved to be hanged more than a highwayman, and wished he had the scourging him. The mother took her child, lamenting and carrying the dead favourite in her arms out of the room; when the gentleman said, this was the second time this squire had endeavoured to kill the little wretch, and had wounded him smartly once before; adding, he could have no motive but ill nature, for the little thing, which was not near as big as one's fist, had never been twenty yards from the house in the six years his daughter had had it. He said he had done nothing to deserve this usage; but his father had too great a fortune to contend with: that he was as absolute as any tyrant in the universe, and had killed all the dogs and taken away all the guns in the neighbourhood; and not only that, but he trampled down hedges, and rode over corn and gardens, with no more regard than if they were the highway. I wish I could catch him in my garden,' said Adams; though I would rather forgive him riding through my house, than such an ill-natured act as this."

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They all went in, where the gentleman was surprised at the beauty of Fanny, who had now recovered herself from her fatigue, and was entirely clean dressed; for the rogues who had taken away her purse had left her her bundle. But if he was so much amazed at the beauty of this young creature, his guests were no less charmed at the tenderness which appeared in the behaviour of the husband and wife to each other and to their children; and at the dutiful and affectionate behaviour of these to their parents. These instances pleased the well-disposed mind of Adams, equally with the readiness which they expressed to oblige The cheerfulness of the conversation be-their guests, and their forwardness to offer ing interrupted by this accident, in which them the best of every thing in their house; the guests could be of no service to their and what delighted him still more, was an kind entertainer; and as the mother was instance or two of their charity; for whilst taken up in administering consolation to the they were at breakfast, the good woman poor girl, whose disposition was too good was called forth to assist her sick neighbour, hastily to forget the sudden loss of her little which she did with some cordials made for favourite, which had been fondling with her the public use; and the good man went a few minutes before; and as Joseph and into his garden at the same time, to supply Fanny were impatient to get home, and another with something which he wanted begin those previous ceremonies to their thence; for they had nothing which those happiness, which Adams had insisted on, who wanted it were not welcome to. These they now offered to take their leave. The good people were in the utmost cheerful- gentleman importuned them much to stay ness, when they heard the report of a gun, to dinner; but when he found their eagerand immediately afterwards a little dog, the ness to depart, he summoned his wife; and favourite of the eldest daughter, came Timp-accordingly, having performed all the usual

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