CHAPTER VIII.

"Can't to-day, not convenient, call again."

Ir is an ancient and a true saying, that wealth makes wit waver. From the time of the fire, as the sagacious reader must have discerned in what has been related, I grew overly well pleased with myself. It was, therefore, needful I should receive a chastisement, but I never thought I had deserved it till it was inflicted.

Falling into the folly of thinking every thing was ordained to go prosperously with me, I thought, when I had withdrawn myself from accidental speculating, that every thing in my own business must thrive. To sell seeds, and to raise seeds to be sold, I thought two parts of

one thing; and accordingly, about the time the non-intercourse acts took place, I began to consider of this seriously, and that I might make myself independent of importations from England. The design, however, was not carried into effect without all seeming due consideration. No one could be more circumspect than I fancied myself to be. I was long before I could find a lot of land convenient to my purpose; and when I did at last warily make a purchase, I read and considered the title-deeds as if I had the eyes of three lawyers, and certainly, as it was said, no deeds could be made better. This land was to be cultivated under my own directions, the directions of one who did not know clay from gravel: of course, it soon came to a bearing; I do not mean the ground, for that never bore any thing to the purpose, but the speculation. The soil, naturally poor, was exhausted; it produced not enough to pay the labour, while it greedily swallowed, as with a hungry appetite, all the profits and savings of my business; yea, even the capital likewise-stock, lock, and barrel, all

went.

I yet often marvel how I was so hoodwinked about that farm which I bought in Jersey; every thing concerning it was delusion. My wife, having learnt the craft and mystery of the farm-yard at her uncle's in Vermont, was, if possible, more lifted out of the body about it than even I was, and gave such flattering accounts of what she would do with cows, pigs, and poultry, that I was almost persuaded the seed business would become but a secondary affair. My eyes, however, were soon opened; it was surprising how quickly I laid out money,

-none came back; we saw the spec was to be ruinous; that a blight had fallen upon us; that our hopes had all failed. I was out of my element; the elder children having been brought up in a town, had no right notion of rural matters: we lived in the midst of scolding and confusion; never did an unfortunate man find himself, when too late, farther astray. At last, all my money being drained off, I began to think of giving up the ghost in the way of trade; but it was necessary to make some previous preparation: accordingly, sapless and leafless, heartless and pennyless, I went one

day over to New York to borrow two or three hundred dollars to meet a need, and to arrange for parting with my farming stock and the farm.

First I went to one acquaintance, and then to another; but the war and the stagnation of trade had sealed up every heart, and all were either poor or fearful. Some had nothing to spare, others gave a plain refusal, and a third party recounted their manifold losses. My heart was breaking; when suddenly recollecting that Mr. Hoskins was again in the city on some privateering job,--I wonder what the douce Scotch farmers would think of cargoes of codfish and privateers!-however that may be, the recollection of Mr. Hoskins being then in the city, brought hope with it, and I resolved to call on him right away.

There had been, as I have already related, divers causes and controversies which had led to a non-intercourse between us, but we had not actually quarrelled; and therefore, as I knew that, with a cold look, he had a warm heart, I made sure of being accommodated; so I proceeded to the house where he usually lodged.

I found the old gentleman in his own bed

chamber, and he received me in his odd cool and collected manner, as if no difference had ever been between us. He inquired first for my wife, and then for my children, one by one, adding, " But I reckon Mr. Lawrie Todd ha'n't o' late been progressing so top-gallant-sail proud."

I acknowledged it was true; and then told him how my circumstances were altered, and that I had come to consult him as to what should be done in such extremity.

"Well, I guess," said he, "the gentleman can't be particular: you must cut and run.” "Cut and run, Mr. Hoskins !"

"Yes; clear out!"

"How could you think I would do that? I have been always an honest man!"

"Well, that's noteable: but is Mr. Lawrie Todd agoing to pay a hundred cents to the dollar ?"

What could I answer to this? I shook my head, and heaved a sorrowful sigh.

"I was a 'specting this," said he," and ha' been a making my calculations 'bout it; for, I guess, the Squire has been erronous consi