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would be an easy matter to overtake it, if not the next day, at farthest the day after the next. This piece of news gave us some satisfaction, and after having made a hearty supper on hashed mutton, we were shown to our room, which contained two beds, the one allotted for us, and the other for a very honest gentleman, who, we were told, was then drinking below. Though we could have very well dispensed with his company, we were glad to submit to this disposition, as there was not another bed empty in the house; and accordingly went to rest, after having secured our baggage under the bolster. About two or three o'clock in the morning, I was awaked out of a very profound sleep, by a dreadful noise in the chamber, which did not fail to throw me into an agony of consternation, when I heard these words pronounced with a terrible voice: 'Blood and wounds! run the halbert into the guts of him that's next you, and I'll blow the other's brains out presently.'-This dreadful salutation had no sooner reached the ears of Strap, than, starting out of bed, he ran against somebody in the dark and overturned him in an instant, at the same time bawling out: 'Fire! murder! fire!' a cry which in a moment alarmed the whole house, and filled our chamber with a crowd of naked people. When lights were brought, the occasion of all this disturbance soon appeared, which was no other than our fellow-lodger, whom we found lying on the floor scratching his head, with a look testifying the utmost astonishment at the concourse of apparitions that surrounded him.

This honest gentleman was, it seems, a recruiting serjeant; who having enlisted two country-fellows over night, dreamed they had mutinied, and threatened to murder him and the drummer who was along with him. This made such an impression on his imagination that he got up in his sleep and expressed himself as above. When our apprehension of danger vanished, the company beheld one another with great surprise and mirth.

When this affair was discussed, every body retired to his own apartment, the serjeant slipped into bed, and my companion and I slept without any further disturbance till morning, when we got up, went to breakfast, paid our reckoning, and set forward in expectation of overtaking the waggon; in which hope, however, we were disappointed for that day. As we exerted ourselves more than usual, I found myself quite spent with fatigue, when we entered a small village in the twilight. We inquired for a public house, and were directed to one of a very sorry appearance. At our entrance, the landlord, who seemed to be a venerable old man, with long gray hair, rose from a table, placed by a large fire, in a very neat paved kitchen, and with a cheerful countenance, accosted us in these words: Salvete, pueri, ingredimini.'-I was not a little pleased to hear our host speak Latin, because I was in hopes of recommending myself to him by my knowledge in that language; I therefore answered, without hesitation: 'Dissolve frigus, ligna super foco large reponens.'-I had no sooner pronounced these words, than the old gentleman, running towards me, shook me by the hand, crying: Fili mi dilectissime, unde venis?-a superis, ni fallor?'-In short, finding we were both read in the classics, he did not know how to testify his regard enough, but ordered his daughter, who was his sole domestic, to bring us a bottle of his quadrimum, repeating from Horace, at the same time: Deprome quadrimum Sabina, o Thaliarche, merum diota.' This quadrimum was excellent ale of his own brewing, of which he told us he had always an amphora, four years old, for the use of himself and friends. In the course of our conversation, which was interlarded with scraps of Latin, we understood that this facetious person was a school-master, whose income being small, he was fain to keep a good glass of liquor for the entertainment of passengers, by which he made a shift to make the two ends of the year meet. 'I am this day,' said he, the happiest old fellow in his majesty's

dominions. My wife, rest her soul, is in heaven. My daughter is to be married next week; but the two chief pleasures of my life are these (pointing to the bottle and a large edition of Horace that lay on the table). I am old, 'tis true-what then? the more reason, I should enjoy the small share of life that remains, as my friend Flaccus advises: Tu ne quæsieris (scire nefas) quem mihi, quem tibi finem dii dederint. Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero.'-As he was very inquisitive about our affairs, we made no scruple of acquainting him with our situation; which when he had learned, he enriched us with advices how to behave in the world, telling us that he was no stranger to the deceits of mankind. In the mean time he ordered his daughter to lay a fowl to the fire for supper, for he was resolved this night to regale his friends -permittens divis cætera. While our entertainment was preparing, our host recounted the adventures of his own life; which, as they contain nothing remarkable, I forbear to rehearse. When we had fared sumptuously, and drunk several bottles of his quadrimum, I expressed a desire of going to rest, which was with some difficulty complied with, after he had informed us, that we should overtake the waggon by noon next day, and that there was room enough in it for half a dozen;- for there were only four passengers as yet in that convenience.

Before my comrade and I fell asleep, we had some conversation about the good-humour of our landlord, which gave Strap such an idea of his benevolence, that he positively believed we should pay nothing for our lodging and entertainment. 'Don't you observe,' said he, that he has conceived a particular affection for us-nay, even treated us at supper with extraordinary fare, which, to be sure, we should not of ourselves have called for?'-I was partly of Strap's opinion; but the experience I had of the world made me suspend my belief till the morning, when, getting up betimes, we breakfasted with our host and his daughter on hasty

pudding (1) and ale, and desired to know what we had to pay.-Biddy will let you know, gentlemen,' said he, for I never mind these matters. Money matters are beneath the concern of one who lives upon the Horatian plan.— Crescentem sequitur cura pecuniam.' Meanwhile Biddy, having consulted a slate, that hung in the corner, told us our reckoning came to 8s. 7d.-'Eight shillings and sevenpence,' cried Strap, "tis impossible!-you must be mistaken, young woman.'-'Reckon again, child,' said her father very deliberately, 'perhaps you have miscounted.'—'No, indeed, father,' she replied, 'I know my business better.' I could contain my indignation no longer, but said it was an unconscionable bill, and demanded to know the particulars; upon which the old man got up, muttering: 'Aye, aye, let us see the particulars; that's but reasonable.' And taking pen, ink and paper, wrote the following items.

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As he had not the appearance of a common publican, and had raised a sort of veneration in me by his demeanour the preceding night, it was not in my power to upbraid him as he deserved; therefore I contented myself with saying, I was sure he did not learn to be an extortioner from Horace. He answered, I was but a young man and did not know the world, or I would not tax him with extortion, whose only aim was to live contentus parvo and keep off importuna pauperies. My fellow-traveller could not so easily put up with this imposition, but swore he should either take one third of the money or go without.--While we were engaged in this dispute, I perceived the daughter go out, and conjecturing the occasion, immediately paid the ex

(1) Flour stirred into boiling water or milk.

orbitant demand, which was no sooner done than Biddy returned with two stout fellows, who came in on pretence of taking their morning draught, but in reality to frighten us into compliance. Just as we departed, Strap, who was half distracted on account of this piece of expense, went up to the schoolmaster, and, grinning in his face, pronounced with great emphasis: Semper avarus eget.-To which the pedant replied, with a malicious smile: Animum rege, qui, nisi paret, imperat.

THE SOLDIER'S RETURN.

We set out from Glasgow, by the way of Lanark, the county town of Clydesdale, in the neighbourhood of which the whole river Clyde, rushing down a steep rock, forms a very noble and stupendous cascade. Next day we were obliged to halt in a small borough, until the carriage, which had received some damage, should be repaired; and here we met with an incident which warmly interested the benevolent spirit of Mr. Bramble. As we stood at the window of an inn that fronted the public prison, a person arrived on horseback, genteelly though plainly dressed in a blue frock, with his own hair cut short, and a gold-laced hat upon his head. Alighting, and giving his horse to the landlord, he advanced to an old man who was at work in paving the street, and accosted him in these words: 'This is hard work for such an old man as you.' So saying, he took the instrument out of his hand, and began to thump the pavement. After a few strokes, Had you never a son,' said he, 'to ease you of this labour?' 'Yes, an' please your honour,' replied the senior, I have three hopeful lads, but at present they are out of the way.' 'Honour not me,' cried the stranger; 'it more becomes me to honour your gray hairs. Where are those sons you talk of?' The ancient paviour said, his eldest son was a captain in the East-Indies, and the youngest had lately enlisted as a soldier, in hopes of prospering like

his brother. The gentleman desiring to know what was become of the second, he wiped his eyes, and owned he had taken upon him his old father's debts, for which he was now in the prison hard by.

The traveller made three quick steps towards the jail; then turning short, "Tell me,' said he, has that unnatural captain sent you nothing to relieve your distresses?' 'Call him not unnatural,' replied the other, 'God's blessing be upon him! he sent me a great deal of money, but I made a bad use of it; I lost it by being security for a gentleman that was my landlord, and was stripped of all I had in the world besides.' At that instant a young man, thrusting out his head and neck between two iron bars in the prisonwindow, exclaimed, 'Father! father! if my brother William is in life, that's he.' 'I am! I am!' cried the stranger, clasping the old man in his arms, and shedding a flood of tears; 'I am your son Willy, sure enough! Before the father, who was quite confounded, could make any return to this tenderness, a decent old woman, bolting out from the door of a poor habitation, cried, 'Where is my bairn? where is my dear Willy?' The captain no sooner beheld her than he quitted his father, and ran into her embrace.

I can assure you, my uncle, who saw and heard everything that passed, was as much moved as any one of the parties concerned in this pathetic recognition. He sobbed, and wept, and clapped his hands, and hallowed, and finally ran down into the street. By this time the captain had retired with his parents, and all the inhabitants of the place were assembled at the door. Mr. Bramble, nevertheless, pressed through the crowd, and entering the house, 'Captain,' said he, 'I beg the favour of your acquaintance. I would have travelled a hundred miles to see this affecting scene; and I shall think myself happy if you and your parents will dine with me at the public house.' The captain thanked him for his kind invitation, which, he said, he would accept with pleasure;

but in the meantime he could not think | so that it still remained to be accounted

of eating or drinking, while his poor brother was in trouble. He forthwith deposited a sum equal to the debt in the hands of the magistrate, who ventured to set his brother at liberty without further process; and then the whole family repaired to the inn with my uncle, attended by the crowd, the individuals of which shook their townsman by the hand, while he returned their caresses without the least sign of pride or affectation.

This honest favourite of fortune, whose name was Brown, told my uncle that he had been bred a weaver, and about eighteen years ago had, from a spirit of idleness and dissipation, enlisted as a soldier in the service of the East India Company; that in the course of duty he had the good fortune to attract the notice and approbation of Lord Clive, who preferred him from one step to another till he had attained the rank of captain and paymaster to the regiment, in which capacities he had honestly amassed twelve thousand pounds, and at the peace resigned his commission. He had sent several remittances to his father, who received the first only, consisting of one hundred pounds; the second had fallen into the hands of a bankrupt; and the third had been consigned to a gentleman in Scotland, who died before it arrived,

for by his executors. He now presented the old man with fifty pounds for his present occasions, over and above bank notes for one hundred, which he had deposited for his brother's release. He brought along with him a deed, ready executed, by which he settled a perpetuity of fourscore pounds upon his parents, to be inherited by the other two sons after their decease. He promised to purchase a commission for his youngest brother; to take the other as his own partner in a manufacture which he intends to set up; to give employment and bread to the industrious; and to give five hundred pounds to the poor of the town where he was born, and feasted all the inhabitants without exception.

My uncle was so charmed with the character of Captain Brown, that he drank his health three times successively at dinner. He said he was proud of his acquaintance; that he was an honour to his country, and had in some measure redeemed human nature from the reproach of pride, selfishness, and ingratitude. For my part I was as much pleased with the modesty as with the filial virtue of this honest soldier, who assumed no merit from his success, and said very little of his own transactions, though the answers he made to our inquiries were equally sensible and laconic.

OLIVER GOLDSMITH.

THIS popular prose-writer and poet, born in 1728 at Pallas in the county of Longford, Ireland, was the son of a poor curate. After a good country-education he was sent to Trinity College, Dublin, where, however, he did not distinguish himself. He took his degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1749, two years later than is usual. He then studied medicine, but without any success. The next period of his life is full of adventures; he made a tour over almost all Europe on foot, in which time he had excellent opportunities of observing human character, which proved at a later period of great service to him. He returned to London in 1756, after a most eventful journey, without a penny in his pocket, and served for some time behind the counter in a small apothecary's shop, and afterwards as an usher in a school. A friend then supplied him with funds to set up as a surgeon: but he was not fortunate in this undertaking, and in order to procure a subsistence he wrote articles for the Monthly Review.' tle also contributed to 'The British Magazine,' 'Critical

Review, Public Ledger,' &c. In 1759 he published his 'Inquiry into the Present State of Polite Literature in Europe,' soon after which he penned "The Citizen of the World,' and in 1761 The Vicar of Wakefield,' which was not published until 1764 when it appeared with the 'Traveller,' and the ballad called "The Hermit." The Vicar of Wakefield' is considered one of the best English novels. In 1768 he issued his comedy of the Good-Natured Man.' His next productions were 'Letters on the History of England' and a 'History of Rome." He also wrote three biographies and his poem "The Deserted village,' in which he has admirably described his father, the schoolmaster, and one or two other real characters of his native place. In 1773 he wrote a comedy entitled 'She Stoops to Conquer,' the plan of which was founded on incidents: in the experience of the author; it was received with enthusiasm, and still retains a prominent place among English comedies. One of his last works is called 'History of the Earth and Animated Nature. It was not published till two years after his

death, which took place in 1774. The writings of Goldsmith show a close observation of human nature, a good amount of sarcasm, and a vivacity and truth scarcely

equalled by any other author. One of the most prominent traits of his character was an inability to see his fellowcreatures suffer when it was in his power to help them.

THE HISTORY OF A PHILOSOPHIC | lives have only mended shoes, but never made them.'

VAGABOND.

Upon my arrival in town, my first care was to deliver my letter of recommendation to our cousin, who was himself in little better circumstances than I. My first scheme was to be usher at an academy, and I asked his advice on the affair. Our cousin received the proposal with a true Sardonic grin. Ay,' cried he, 'this is indeed a very pretty career, that has been chalked out for you. I have been an usher at a boarding-school myself; and may I die by an anodyne necklace, (1) but I had rather be an under-turnkey in Newgate. I was up early and late; I was brow-beat by the master, hated for my ugly face by the mistress, worried by the boys within, and never permitted to stir out to meet civility abroad. But are you sure you are fit for a school? Let me examine you a little. Have you been bred apprentice to the business?' No. Then you won't do for a school. Can you dress the boys' hair?' No. Then you won't do for a school. Have you had the small-pox?' No. Then you won't do for a school. Can you lie three in a bed?' No. "Then you will never do for a school. Have you got a good stomach? Yes. Then you will by no means do for a school. No, Sir, if you are for a genteel easy profession, bind yourself seven years as an apprentice to turn a cutler's wheel; but avoid a school by any means. Yet come,' continued he, 'I see you are a lad of spirit and some learning; what do you think of commencing author, like me? You have read in books, no doubt, of men of genius starving at the trade; at present I'll shew you forty very dull fellows about town that live by it in opulence; all honest jog-trot men, who go on smoothly and dully, and write history and politics, and are praised: men, Sir, who, had they been bred cobblers, would all their

(1) A halter.

Finding that there was no great degree of gentility affixed to the character of an usher, I resolved to accept his proposal; and having the highest respect for literature, hailed the antiqua mater of Grub-street with reverence. I thought it my glory to pursue a track which Dryden and Otway trod before me. I considered the goddess of this region as the parent of excellence; and however an intercourse with the world might give us good sense, the poverty she entailed I supposed to be the nurse of genius! Big with these reflections, I sat down, and finding that the best things remained to be said on the wrong side, I resolved to write a book that should be wholly new. I therefore dressed up three paradoxes with some ingenuity. They were false, indeed, but they were new. The jewels of truth have been so often imported by others, that nothing was left for me to import but some splendid things that at a distance looked every bit as well. The whole learned world, I made no doubt, would rise to oppose my system, but then I was prepared to oppose the whole learned world. Like the porcupine I sat self-collected, with a quill pointed against every opposer.

But the learned world said nothing to my paradoxes; nothing at all. Every man of them was employed in praising his friends and himself, or condemning his enemies; and unfortunately, as I had neither, I suffered the cruellest mortification, neglect.

As I was meditating one day in a coffee-house on the fate of my paradoxes, a little man happening to enter the room, placed himself in the box before me; and after some preliminary discourse, finding me to be a scholar, drew out a bundle of proposals, begging me to subscribe to a new edition he was going to give the world of Propertius, with notes. This demand necessarily produced a reply that I had no money;

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