་

་ not

but the Giant was foon up with them, and had they fled, would certainly have killed them every one. They were all very joyful for this victory, and the damfel who was relieved fell in love with the Giant, ⚫ and married him. They now travelled far, and farther than I can tell, till they met with a company of robbers. The Giant, for the first time, was fore⚫ moft now; but the Dwarf was not far behind. The battle was ftout and long. Wherever the Giant came all fell before him; but the Dwarf had like to have been killed more than once. At laft the victory declared for the two adventurers; but the Dwarf loft his leg. The Dwarf had now loft an arm, a leg, and an eye, while the Giant was without a fingle wound. Upon which he cried out to his little companion, My little hero, this is glorious fport; let us get one victory more, and then we fhall have honour for ever. No, cries the Dwarf, who was by this time grown wifer, no, I declare off; I'll fight no more; for I find in every battle that you get all the honour and rewards, but all the ⚫ blows fall upon me.'

4

I was going to moralize this fable, when our attention was called off to a warm difpute between my wife and Mr. Burchell, upon my daughters intended expedition to town. My wife very ftrenuously infifted upon the advantages that would refult from it. Mr. Burchell, on the contrary, diffuaded her with great ardour, and I ftood neuter, His prefent diffuafions feemed but the fecond part of those which were received with so ill a grace in the morning. The difpute grew high, while poor Deborah, instead of reafoning ftronger, talked louder, and at last was obliged to take shelter from a defeat in clamour. The conclufion of her harangue, however, was highly difpleafing to us all fhe knew, fhe faid, of fome who had their own fecret reafons for what they advised; but, for her part, fhe wifhed fuch to ftay away from her houfe for the future.- Madam,' cried Burchell, with looks of great compofure, which tended to in

:

flame

flame her the more, as for fecret reasons, you are right: I have fecret reafons, which I forbear to ⚫ mention, because you are not able to answer those ⚫ of which I make no fecret: but I find my visits here ⚫ are become troublesome; I'll take my leave there'fore now, and perhaps come once more to take a

final farewel when I am quitting the country.' Thus faying, he took up his hat, nor could the attempts of Sophia, whofe looks feemed to upbraid his precipitancy, prevent his going.

When gone, we all regarded each other for fome minutes with confufion. My wife, who knew herself to be the cause, ftrove to hide her concern with a forced fmile, and an air of assurance, which I was willing to reprove: How, woman,' cried I to her, is it thus we treat ftrangers? Is it thus we return their ⚫ kindness? Be affured, my dear, that these were the • harfheft words, and to me the most unpleafing, that ⚫ ever escaped your lips!' Why would he provoke me then?' replied the; but I know the motives of his advice perfectly well. He would prevent my girls from going to town, that he may have the pleasure of my youngest daughter's company here at home. But, whatever happens, fhe fhall choose better company than fuch low-lived fellows as he.' Low-lived, my dear, do you call him?' cried I; it is very poffible we may mistake this man's character: for he feems upon fome occafions the most finished gentleman I ever knew.-Tell me, Sophia, my girl, has he ever given you any fecret inftances of his attachment?' His conversation

with me, Sir,' replied my daughter, has ever been • fenfible, modeft, and pleafing. As to aught elfe, no, never. Once, indeed, I remember to have heard him fay he never knew a woman who could find merit in a man that feemed poor.'- Such, my dear,' cried I, is the common cant of all the un⚫ fortunate or idle. But I hope you have been taught to judge properly of fuch men, and that it would ⚫ be even madness to expect happiness from one who

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has been fo very bad an economift of his own. Your mother and I have now better profpects for ་ you. The next winter, which you will probably fpend in town, will give you opportunities of making a more prudent choice.'

:

What Sophia's reflections were upon this occafion, I cannot pretend to determine; but I was not difpleafed at the bottom that we were rid of a guest from whom I had much to fear. Our breach of hofpitality went to my confcience a little but I quickly filenced that monitor by two or three fpecious reasons, which ferved to fatisfy and reconcile me to myself. The pain which confcience gives the man who has already done wrong, is foon got over. Confcience is a coward, and thofe faults it has not ftrength enough to prevent, it feldom has juftice enough to accufe.

CHAP. XIV.

Fresh mortifications, or a demonftration that feeming calamities may be real bleffings.

THE

HE journey of my daughters to town was now refolved upon, Mr. Thornhill having kindly promised to infpect their conduct himself, and inform us by letter of their behaviour. But it was thought indifpenfably neceffary that their appearance fhould equal the greatness of their expectations, which could not be done without expence. We debated there

fore in full council what were the eafieft methods of raising money, or, more properly speaking, what we could moft conveniently fell. The deliberation was foon finished; it was found that our remaining horse was utterly useless for the plough, without his companion, and equally unfit for the road, as wanting an eye; it was therefore determined that we should difpofe of him for the purposes above mentioned, at the neighbouring fair, and, to prevent impofition, that I fhould go with him myself. Though this was one of the firft mercantile transactions of my life, yet

I had

I had no doubt about acquitting myself with reputation. The opinion a man forms of his own prudence is measured by that of the company he keeps ; and as mine was moftly in the family way, I had conceived no unfavourable fentiments of my worldly wifdom. My wife, however, next morning, at parting, after I had got fome paces from the door, called me back, to advise me, in a whisper, to have all my eyes about me.

I had, in the usual forms, when I came to the fair, put my horfe through all his paces; but for fome time had no bidders. At laft a chapman approached, and after he had for a good while examined the horse round, finding him blind of one eye, he would have nothing to fay to him: a fecond came up; but obferving he had a fpavin, declared he would not take him for the driving home: a third perceived he had a windgall, and would bid no money: a fourth knew by his eye that he had the botts: a fifth wondered what a plague I could do at the fair with the blind, fpavined, galled hack, that was only fit to be cut up for a dog-kennel. By this time I began to have a moft hearty contempt for the poor animal myself, and was almoft afhamed at the approach of every customer for though I did not entirely believe all the fellows told me ; yet I reflected that the number of witnesses was a strong prefumption they were right, and St. Gregory upon good works, profeffes himself to be of the fame opinion.

I was in this mortifying fituation, when a brother clergyman, an old acquaintance, who had alfo bufinefs to the fair, came up, and fkaking me by the hand, propofed adjourning to a public-house and taking a glass of whatever we could get. I readily closed with the offer, and entering an ale-houfe, we were fhewn into a little back room, where there was only a venerable old man, who fat wholly intent over a large book, which he was reading. I never in my life faw a figure that prepoffeffed me more favourably. His locks of filver grey venerably fhaded his temples,

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and his great old age feemed to be the result of health and benevolence. However, his prefence did not interrupt our converfation; my friend and I difcourfed on the various turns of fortune we had met : the Whistonian controverfy, my last pamphlet, the archdeacon's reply, and the hard measure that was dealt me. But our attention was in a short time taken off by the appearance of a youth, who entering the room, refpectfully faid fomething foftly to the old ftranger. Make no apologies, my child,' faid the old man; to do good is a duty we owe to all our fellowcreatures take this, I wish it were more; but five pounds will relieve your distress, and you are wel• come.' The modeft youth fhed tears of gratitude, and yet his gratitude was fcarce equal to mine. I could have hugged the good old man in my arms, his benevolence pleafed me fo. He continued to read, and we refumed our converfation, until my companion, after fome time, recollecting that he had bufinefs to tranfact in the fair, promised to be foon back; adding, that he always defired to have as much of Dr. Primrofe's company as poffible. The old gentleman, hearing my name mentioned, feemed to look at me with attention for fome time, and when my friend was gone, moft refpectfully demanded if I was any way related to the great Primrofe, that courageous monogamift, who had been the bulwark of the church. Never did my heart feel fincerer rapture than at that moment. Sir,' cried I, the applause of so good a man, as I am fure you are, adds to that happiness in my breaft which your benevolence has already excited. You behold before you, Sir, that Doctor • Primrose, the monogamift, whom you have been pleased to call great. You here fee that unfortunate Divine, who has fo long, and it would ill become me to fay fuccefsfully, fought against the deuterogamy of the age. Sir,' cried the stranger, ftruck with awe, I fear I have been too familiar; but you'll forgive my curiofity, Sir: I beg pardon.'

Sir,' cried I, grafping his hand, you are so far

⚫ from