THE
DUMBPHILOSOPHER,OR,GREATBRITAIN’SWONDER;
CONTAINING:
I。AfaithfulandverysurprisingAccounthowDickoryCronke,aTinner’sson,intheCountyofCornwall,wasbornDumb,andcontinuedsoforFifty—eightyears;andhow,somedaysbeforehedied,hecametohisSpeech;withMemoirsofhisLife,andtheMannerofhisDeath。
II。ADeclarationofhisFaithandPrinciplesinReligion;withaCollectionofSelectMeditations,composedinhisRetirement。
III。HisPropheticalObservationsupontheAffairsofEurope,moreparticularlyofGreatBritain,from1720to1729。ThewholeextractedfromhisOriginalPapers,andconfirmedbyunquestionableAuthority。
TOWHICHISANNEXEDHISELEGY,WRITTENBYAYOUNGCORNISHGENTLEMAN,OF
EXETERCOLLEGEINOXFORD。
WITH
ANEPITAPHBYANOTHERHAND。
\"Nonquis,sedquid。\"
LONDON:
PrintedforandSoldbyTHOMASBICKERTON,attheCrown,inPaternosterRow。1719。
PREFACE
Theformalityofaprefacetothislittlebookmighthavebeenverywellomitted,ifitwerenottogratifythecuriosityofsomeinquisitivepeople,who,Iforesee,willbeapttomakeobjectionsagainsttherealityofthenarrative。
Indeedthepublichastoooftenbeenimposeduponbyfictitiousstories,andsomeofaverylatedate,sothatIthinkmyselfobligedbytheusualrespectwhichispaidtocandidandimpartialreaders,toacquaintthem,bywayofintroduction,withwhattheyaretoexpect,andwhattheymaydependupon,andyetwiththiscautiontoo,thatitisanindicationofillnatureorillmanners,ifnotboth,topryintoasecretthatisindustriouslyconcealed。
However,thattheremaybenothingwantingonmypart,Idoherebyassurethereader,thatthepapersfromwhencethefollowingsheetswereextracted,arenowintown,inthecustodyofapersonofunquestionablereputation,who,Iwillbeboldtosay,willnotonlybeready,butproud,toproducethemuponagoodoccasion,andthatIthinkisasmuchsatisfactionasthenatureofthiscaserequires。
Astotheperformance,itcansignifylittlenowtomakeanapologyuponthataccount,anyfartherthanthis,thatifthereaderpleaseshemaytakenoticethatwhathehasnowbeforehimwascollectedfromalargebundleofpapers,mostofwhichwerewritinshorthand,andveryill—digested。However,thismaybereliedupon,thatthoughthelanguageissomethingaltered,andnowandthenawordthrownintohelptheexpression,yetstrictcarehasbeentakentospeaktheauthor’smind,andkeepascloseaspossibletothemeaningoftheoriginal。Forthedesign,Ithinkthereisnothingneedbesaidinvindicationofthat。Hereisadumbphilosopherintroducedtoawickedanddegenerategeneration,asaproperemblemofvirtueandmorality;andiftheworldcouldbepersuadedtolookuponhimwithcandourandimpartiality,andthentocopyafterhim,theeditorhasgainedhisend,andwouldthinkhimselfsufficientlyrecompensedforhispresenttrouble。
PARTI
Amongthemanystrangeandsurprisingeventsthathelptofilltheaccountsofthislastcentury,Iknownonethatmeritmoreanentirecredit,oraremorefittobepreservedandhandedtoposteritythanthoseIamnowgoingtolaybeforethepublic。
DickoryCronke,thesubjectofthefollowingnarrative,wasbornatalittlehamlet,nearSt。Columb,inCornwall,onthe29thofMay,1660,beingthedayandyearinwhichKingCharlestheSecondwasrestored。Hisparentswereofmeanextraction,buthonest,industriouspeople,andwellbelovedintheirneighbourhood。Hisfather’schiefbusinesswastoworkatthetinmines;hismotherstayedathometolookafterthechildren,ofwhichtheyhadseverallivingatthesametime。OurDickorywastheyoungest,andbeingbutasicklychild,hadalwaysadoubleportionofhercareandtenderness。
Itwasupwardsofthreeyearsbeforeitwasdiscoveredthathewasborndumb,theknowledgeofwhichatfirstgavehismothergreatuneasiness,butfindingsoonafterthathehadhishearing,andallhisothersensestothegreatestperfection,hergriefbegantoabate,andsheresolvedtohavehimbroughtupaswellastheircircumstancesandhiscapacitywouldpermit。
Ashegrew,notwithstandinghiswantofspeech,heeverydaygavesomeinstanceofareadygenius,andageniusmuchsuperiortothecountrychildren,insomuchthatseveralgentlemenintheneighbourhoodtookparticularnoticeofhim,andwouldoftencallhimRestorationDick,andgivehimmoney,&c。
Whenhecametobeeightyearsofage,hismotheragreedwithapersoninthenextvillage,toteachhimtoreadandwrite,bothwhich,inaveryshorttime,heacquiredtosuchperfection,especiallythelatter,thathenotonlytaughthisownbrothersandsisters,butlikewiseseveralyoungmenandwomenintheneighbourhood,whichoftenbroughthiminsmallsums,whichhealwayslaidoutinsuchnecessariesashestoodmostinneedof。
Inthisstatehecontinuedtillhewasabouttwenty,andthenhebegantoreflecthowscandalousitwasforayoungmanofhisageandcircumstancestoliveidleathome,andsoresolvestogowithhisfathertothemines,totryifhecouldgetsomethingtowardsthesupportofhimselfandthefamily;butbeingofatenderconstitution,andoftensick,hesoonperceivedthatsortofbusinesswastoohardforhim,sowasforcedtoreturnhomeandcontinueinhisformerstation;uponwhichhegrewexceedingmelancholy,whichhismotherobserving,shecomfortedhiminthebestmannershecould,tellinghimthatifitshouldpleaseGodtotakeheraway,shehadsomethingleftinstoreforhim,whichwouldpreservehimagainstpublicwant。
Thiskindassurancefromamotherwhomhesodearlylovedgavehimsome,thoughnotanentiresatisfaction;however,heresolvestoacquiesceunderittillProvidenceshouldordersomethingforhimmoretohiscontentandadvantage,which,inashorttimehappenedaccordingtohiswish。Themannerwasthus:—
OneMr。OwenParry,aWelshgentlemanofgoodrepute,comingfromBristoltoPadstow,alittleseaportinthecountyofCornwall,neartheplacewhereDickorydwelt,andhearingmuchofthisdumbman’sperfections,wouldneedshavehimsentfor;andfinding,byhissignificantgesturesandalloutwardappearancesthathemuchexceededthecharacterthatthecountrygaveofhim,tookamightylikingtohim,insomuchthathetoldhim,ifhewouldgowithhimintoPembrokeshire,hewouldbekindtohim,andtakecareofhimaslongashelived。
ThiskindandunexpectedofferwassowelcometopoorDickory,thatwithoutanyfartherconsideration,hegotapenandinkandwritanote,andinaveryhandsomeandsubmissivemannerreturnedhimthanksforhisfavour,assuringhimhewoulddohisbesttocontinueandimproveit;andthathewouldbereadytowaituponhimwheneverheshouldbepleasedtocommand。
Toshortentheaccountasmuchaspossible,allthingswereconcludedtotheirmutualsatisfaction,andinaboutafortnight’stimetheysetforwardforWales,whereDickory,notwithstandinghisdumbness,behavedhimselfwithsomuchdiligenceandaffability,thathenotonlygainedtheloveofthefamilywherehelived,butofeverybodyroundhim。
Inthisstationhecontinuedtillthedeathofhismaster,whichhappenedabouttwentyyearsafterwards;inallwhichtime,ashasbeenconfirmedbyseveralofthefamily,hewasneverobservedtobeanywaysdisguisedbydrinking,ortobeguiltyofanyofthefolliesandirregularitiesincidenttoservantsingentlemen’shouses。Onthecontrary,whenhehadanysparetime,hisconstantcustomwastoretirewithsomegoodbookintoaprivateplacewithincall,andthereemployhimselfinreading,andthenwritingdownhisobservationsuponwhatheread。
Afterthedeathofhismaster,whoselossafflictedhimtothelastdegree,oneMrs。MaryMordant,agentlewomanofgreatvirtueandpiety,andaverygoodfortune,tookhimintoherservice,andcarriedhimwithher,firsttoBath,andthentoBristol,where,afteralingeringdistemper,whichcontinuedforaboutfouryears,shediedlikewise。
Uponthelossofhismistress,Dickorygrewagainexceedingmelancholyanddisconsolate;atlength,reflectingthatdeathisbutacommondebtwhichallmortalsowetonature,andmustbepaidsoonerorlater,hebecamealittlebettersatisfied,andsodeterminestogettogetherwhathehadsavedinhisservice,andthentoreturntohisnativecountry,andtherefinishhislifeinprivacyandretirement。
Havingbeen,ashasbeenmentioned,abouttwenty—fouryearsaservant,andhaving,intheinterim,receivedtwolegacies,viz。,oneofthirtypounds,lefthimbyhismaster,andanotheroffifteenpoundsbyhismistress,andbeingalwaysveryfrugal,hehadgotbyhiminthewholeupwardsofsixtypounds。This,thinkshe,withprudentmanagement,willbeenoughtosupportmeaslongasIlive,andsoI’lle’enlayasideallthoughtsoffuturebusiness,andmakethebestofmywaytoCornwall,andtherefindoutsomesafeandsolitaryretreat,whereImayhavelibertytomeditateandmakemymelancholyobservationsupontheseveraloccurrencesofhumanlife。
Thisresolutionprevailedsofar,thatnotimewasletsliptogeteverythinginreadinesstogowiththefirstship。Astohismoney,healwayskeptthatlockedupbyhim,unlesshesometimeslentittoafriendwithoutinterest,forhehadamortalhatredtoallsortsofusuryorextortion。Hisbooks,ofwhichhehadaconsiderablequantity,andsomeofthemverygoodones,togetherwithhisotherequipage,hegotpackedup,thatnothingmightbewantingagainstthefirstopportunity。
InafewdaysheheardofavesselboundtoPadstow,theveryporthewishedtogoto,beingwithinfourorfivemilesoftheplacewherehewasborn。Whenhecamethither,whichwasinlessthanaweek,hisfirstbusinesswastoinquireafterthestateofhisfamily。Itwassometimebeforehecouldgetanyinformationofthem,untilanoldmanthatknewhisfatherandmother,andrememberedtheyhadasonwasborndumb,recollectedhim,andafteragreatdealofdifficulty,madehimunderstandthatallhisfamilyexcepthisyoungestsisterweredead,andthatshewasawidow,andlivedatalittletowncalledSt。Helen’s,abouttenmilesfartherinthecountry。
Thisdolefulnews,wemustimagine,mustbeextremelyshocking,andaddanewstingtohisformeraffliction;andhereitwasthathebegantoexercisethephilosopher,andtodemonstratehimselfbothawiseandagoodman。Allthesethings,thinkshe,arethewillofProvidence,andmustnotbedisputed;andsoheboreupunderthemwithanentireresignation,resolvingthat,assoonashecouldfindaplacewherehemightdeposithistrunkandboxeswithsafety,hewouldgotoSt。Helen’sinquestofhissister。
Howhissisterandhemet,andhowtransportedtheyweretoseeeachotheraftersolonganinterval,Ithinkisnotverymaterial。
ItisenoughforthepresentpurposethatDickorysoonrecollectedhissister,andshehim;andafteragreatmanyendearingtokensofloveandtenderness,hewrotetoher,tellingherthathebelievedProvidencehadbestowedonhimasmuchaswouldsupporthimaslongashelived,andthatifshethoughtproperhewouldcomeandspendtheremainderofhisdayswithher。
Thegoodwomannosoonerreadhisproposalthansheacceptedit,adding,withal,thatshecouldwishherentertainmentwasbetter;
butifhewouldacceptofitasitwas,shewoulddoherbesttomakeeverythingeasy,andthatheshouldbewelcomeuponhisownterms,tostaywithheraslongashepleased。
Thisaffairbeingsohappilysettledtohisfullsatisfaction,hereturnstoPadstowtofetchthethingshehadleftbehindhim,andthenextdaycamebacktoSt。Helen’s,where,accordingtohisownproposal,hecontinuedtothedayofhisdeath,whichhappeneduponthe29thofMay,1718,aboutthesamehourinwhichhewasborn。
Havingthusgivenashortdetailoftheseveralperiodsofhislife,extractedchieflyfromthepaperswhichheleftbehindhim,I
comeinthenextplacetomakeafewobservationshowhemanagedhimselfandspenthistimetowardthelatterpartofit。
Hisconstantpractice,bothwinterandsummer,wastoriseandsetwiththesun;andiftheweatherwouldpermit,heneverfailedtowalkinsomeunfrequentedplace,forthreehours,bothmorningandevening,andthereitissupposedhecomposedthefollowingmeditations。Thechiefpartofhissustenancewasmilk,withalittlebreadboiledinit,ofwhichinthemorning,afterhiswalk,hewouldeatthequantityofapint,andsometimesmore。Dinnershenevereatany;andatnighthewouldonlyhaveaprettylargepieceofbread,anddrinkadraughtofgoodspringwater;andafterthismethodhelivedduringthewholetimehewasatSt。Helen’s。
Itisobservedofhimthatheneversleptoutofabed,norneverlayawakeinone;whichItaketobeanargument,notonlyofastrongandhealthfulconstitution,butofamindcomposedandcalm,andentirelyfreefromtheordinarydisturbancesofhumanlife。Henevergavetheleastsignsofcomplaintordissatisfactionatanything,unlessitwaswhenheheardthetinnersswear,orsawthemdrunk;andthen,too,hewouldgetoutofthewayassoonashehadletthemsee,bysomesignificantsigns,howscandalousandridiculoustheymadethemselves;andagainstthenexttimehemetthem,wouldbesuretohaveapaperreadywritten,whereinhewouldrepresentthefollyofdrunkenness,andthedangerousconsequencesthatgenerallyattendedit。
Idlenesswashisutteraversion,andifatanytimehehadfinishedthebusinessoftheday,andwasgrownwearyofreadingandwriting,inwhichhedailyspentsixhoursatleast,hewouldcertainlyfindsomethingeitherwithindoorsorwithout,toemployhimself。
Muchmightbesaidbothwithregardtothewiseandregularmanagement,andtheprudentmethodshetooktospendhistimewelltowardsthedeclensionofhislife;but,ashishistorymayperhapsbeshortlypublishedatlargebyabetterhand,Ishallonlyobserveinthegeneral,thathewasapersonofgreatwisdomandsagacity。Heunderstoodnaturebeyondtheordinarycapacity,and,ifhehadhadacompetencyoflearningsuitabletohisgenius,neitherthisnortheformerageswouldhaveproducedabetterphilosopheroragreaterman。
Icomenexttospeakofthemannerofhisdeathandtheconsequencesthereof,whichare,indeed,verysurprising,and,perhaps,notaltogetherunworthyageneralobservation。IshallrelatethemasbrieflyasIcan,andleaveeveryonetobelieveordisbelieveashethinksproper。
Uponthe26thofMay,1718,accordingtohisusualmethod,aboutfourintheafternoon,hewentouttotakehiseveningwalk;butbeforehecouldreachtheplaceheintended,hewassiezedwithanapoplecticfit,whichonlygavehimlibertytositdownunderatree,where,inaninstant,hewasdeprivedofallmannerofsenseandmotion,andsohecontinued,asappearsbyhisownconfessionafterwards,formorethanfourteenhours。
Hissister,whoknewhowexacthewasinallhismethods,findinghimstayaconsiderabletimebeyondtheusualhour,concludesthatsomemisfortunemustneedshavehappenedtohim,orhewouldcertainlyhavebeenathomebefore。Inshort,shewentimmediatelytoalltheplaceshewaswonttofrequent,butnothingcouldbeheardorseenofhimtillthenextmorning,whenayoungman,ashewasgoingtowork,discoveredhim,andwenthomeandtoldhissisterthatherbrotherlayinsuchaplace,underatree,and,ashebelievedhadbeenrobbedandmurdered。
Thepoorwoman,whohadallnightbeenunderthemostdreadfulapprehensions,wasnowfrightenedandconfoundedtothelastdegree。However,recollectingherself,andfindingtherewasnoremedy,shegottwoorthreeofherneighbourstobearhercompany,andsohastenedwiththeyoungmantothetree,whereshefoundherbrotherlyinginthesameposturethathehaddescribed。
Thedismalobjectatfirstviewstartledandsurprisedeverybodypresent,andfilledthemfullofdifferentnotionsandconjectures。
Butsomeofthecompanygoingnearertohim,andfindingthathehadlostnothing,andthattherewerenomarksofanyviolencetobediscoveredabouthim,theyconcludethatitmustbeanapoplecticorsomeothersuddenfitthathadsurprisedhiminhiswalk,uponwhichhissisterandtherestbegantofeelhishandsandface,andobservingthathewasstillwarm,andthatthereweresomesymptomsoflifeyetremaining,theyconcludethatthebestwaywastocarryhimhometobed,whichwasaccordinglydonewiththeutmostexpedition。
Whentheyhadgothimintothebed,nothingwasomittedthattheycouldthinkoftobringhimtohimself,butstillhecontinuedutterlyinsensibleforaboutsixhours。Atthesixthhour’sendhebegantomovealittle,andinaveryshorttimewassofarrecovered,tothegreatastonishmentofeverybodyabouthim,thathewasabletolookup,andtomakeasigntohissistertobringhimacupofwater。
Afterhehaddrunkthewaterhesoonperceivedthatallhisfacultieswerereturnedtotheirformerstations,andthoughhisstrengthwasverymuchabatedbythelengthandrigourofthefit,yethisintellectswereasstrongandvigorousasever。
Hissisterobservinghimtolookearnestlyuponthecompany,asifhehadsomethingextraordinarytocommunicatetothem,fetchedhimapenandinkandasheetofpaper,which,afterashortpause,hetook,andwroteasfollows:—
\"Dearsister,\"Ihavenownoneedofpen,ink,andpaper,totellyoumymeaning。
Ifindthestringsthatboundupmytongue,andhinderedmefromspeaking,areunloosed,andIhavewordstoexpressmyselfasfreelyanddistinctlyasanyotherperson。Fromwhencethisstrangeandunexpectedeventshouldproceed,Imustnotpretendtosay,anyfartherthanthis,thatitisdoubtlessthehandofProvidencethathasdoneit,andinthatIoughttoacquiesce。
Prayletmebealonefortwoorthreehours,thatImaybeatlibertytocomposemyself,andputmythoughtsinthebestorderI
canbeforeIleavethembehindme。\"
Thepoorwoman,thoughextremelystartledatwhatherbrotherhadwritten,yettookcaretoconcealitfromtheneighbours,who,sheknew,aswellasshe,mustbemightilysurprisedatathingsoutterlyunexpected。Saysshe,mybrotherdesirestobealone;I
believehemayhavesomethinginhismindthatdisturbshim。Uponwhichtheneighbourstooktheirleaveandreturnedhome,andhissistershutthedoor,andlefthimalonetohisprivatecontemplations。
Afterthecompanywerewithdrawnhefellintoasoundsleep,whichlastedfromtwotillsix,andhissister,beingapprehensiveofthereturnofhisfit,cametothebedside,and,askingsoftlyifhewantedanything,heturnedabouttoherandspoketothiseffect:
Dearsister,youseemenotonlyrecoveredoutofaterriblefit,butlikewisethatIhavethelibertyofspeech,ablessingthatI
havebeendeprivedofalmostsixtyyears,andIamsatisfiedyouaresincerelyjoyfultofindmeinthestateInowamin;but,alas!itisbutamistakenkindness。Thesearethingsbutofshortduration,andiftheyweretocontinueforahundredyearslonger,Ican’tseehowIshouldbeanywaysthebetter。
Iknowtheworldtoowelltobefondofit,andamfullysatisfiedthatthedifferencebetweenalongandashortlifeisinsignificant,especiallywhenIconsidertheaccidentsandcompanyIamtoencounter。Dobutlookseriouslyandimpartiallyupontheastonishingnotionoftimeandeternity,whatanimmensedealhasrunoutalready,andhowinfiniteitisstillinthefuture;dobutseriouslyanddeliberatelyconsiderthis,andyouwillfind,uponthewhole,thatthreedaysandthreeagesoflifecomemuchtothesamemeasureandreckoning。
Assoonashehadendedhisdiscourseuponthevanityanduncertaintyofhumanlife,helookedsteadfastlyuponher。Sister,sayshe,IconjureyounottobedisturbedatwhatIamgoingtotellyou,whichyouwillundoubtedlyfindtobetrueineveryparticular。Iperceivemyglassisrun,andIhavenownomoretodointhisworldbuttotakemyleaveofit;forto—morrowaboutthistimemyspeechwillbeagaintakenfromme,and,inashorttime,myfitwillreturn;andthenextday,whichIunderstandisthedayonwhichIcameintothistroublesomeworld,Ishallexchangeitforanother,where,forthefuture,Ishallforeverbefreefromallmannerofsinandsufferings。
Thegoodwomanwouldhavemadehimareply,buthepreventedherbytellingherhehadnotimetohearkentounnecessarycomplaintsoranimadversions。Ihaveagreatmanythingsinmymind,sayshe,thatrequireaspeedyandseriousconsideration。ThetimeIhavetostayisbutshort,andIhaveagreatdealofimportantbusinesstodoinit。Timeanddeatharebothinmyview,andseembothtocallaloudtometomakenodelay。Ibegofyou,therefore,nottodisquietyourselforme。Whatmustbe,mustbe。ThedecreesofProvidenceareeternalandunalterable;why,then,shouldwetormentourselvesaboutthatwhichwecannotremedy?
Imustconfess,mydearsister,Ioweyoumanyobligationsforyourexemplaryfondnesstome,anddosolemnlyassureyouIshallretainthesenseofthemtothelastmoment。AllthatIhavetorequestofyouis,thatImaybealoneforthisnight。Ihaveitinmythoughtstoleavesomeshortobservationsbehindme,andlikewisetodiscoversomethingsofgreatweightwhichhavebeenrevealedtome,whichmayperhapsbeofsomeusehereaftertoyouandyourfriends。WhatcredittheymaymeetwithIcannotsay,butdependtheconsequence,accordingtotheirrespectiveperiods,willaccountforthem,andvindicatethemagainstthesuppositionoffalsityandmeresuggestion。
Uponthis,hissisterlefthimtillaboutfourinthemorning,whencomingtohisbedsidetoknowifhewantedanything,andhowhehadrested,hemadeherthisanswer;Ihavebeentakingacursoryviewofmylife,andthoughIfindmyselfexceedinglydeficientinseveralparticulars,yetIblessGodIcannotfindIhaveanyjustgroundstosuspectmypardon。Inshort,sayshe,IhavespentthisnightwithmoreinwardpleasureandtruesatisfactionthaneverI
spentanightthroughthewholecourseofmylife。
Afterhehadconcludedwhathehadtosayuponthesatisfactionthatattendedaninnocentandwell—spentlife,andobservedwhatamightyconsolationitwastopersons,notonlyundertheapprehension,butevenintheveryagoniesofdeathitself,hedesiredhertobringhimhisusualcupofwater,andthentohelphimonwithhisclothes,thathemightsitup,andsobeinabetterposturetotakehisleaveofherandherfriends。
Whenshehadtakenhimup,andplacedhimatatablewhereheusuallysat,hedesiredhertobringhimhisboxofpapers,andafterhehadcollectedthoseheintendedshouldbepreserved,heorderedhertobringacandle,thathemightseetherestburnt。
Thegoodwomanseemedatfirsttoopposetheburningofhispapers,tillhetoldhertheywereonlyuselesstrifles,someunfinishedobservationswhichhehadmadeinhisyouthfuldays,andwerenotfittobeseenbyher,oranybodythatshouldcomeafterhim。
Afterhehadseenhispapersburnt,andplacedtherestintheirproperorder,andhadlikewisesettledallhisotheraffairs,whichwasonlyfittobedonebetweenhimselfandhissister,hedesiredhertocalltwoorthreeofthemostreputableneighbours,notonlytobewitnessesofhiswill,butlikewisetohearwhathehadfarthertocommunicatebeforethereturnofhisfit,whichheexpectedveryspeedily。
Hissister,whohadbeforehandacquaintedtwoorthreeofherconfidantswithallthathadhappened,wasverymuchrejoicedtohearherbrothermakesounexpectedaconcession;andaccordingly,withoutanydelayorhesitation,wentdirectlyintotheneighbourhood,andbroughthomehertwoselectfriends,uponwhosesecrecyandsinceritysheknewshemightdependuponallaccounts。
Inherabsencehefeltseveralsymptomsoftheapproachofhisfit,whichmadehimalittleuneasy,lestitshouldentirelyseizehimbeforehehadperfectedhiswill,butthatapprehensionwasquicklyremovedbyherspeedyreturn。Aftershehadintroducedherfriendsintohischamber,heproceededtoexpresshimselfinthefollowingmanner;Dearsister,younowseeyourbrotheruponthebrinkofeternity;andasthewordsofdyingpersonsarecommonlythemostregarded,andmakedeepestimpressions,IcannotsuspectbutyouwillsufferthefewIamabouttosaytohavealwayssomeplaceinyourthoughts,thattheymaybereadyforyoutomakeuseofuponanyoccasion。
Donotbefondofanythingonthissideofeternity,orsufferyourinteresttoinclineyoutobreakyourword,quityourmodesty,ortodoanythingthatwillnotbearthelight,andlooktheworldintheface。Forbeassuredofthis;thepersonthatvaluesthevirtueofhismindandthedignityofhisreason,isalwayseasyandwellfortifiedbothagainstdeathandmisfortune,andisperfectlyindifferentaboutthelengthorshortnessofhislife。
Suchaoneissolicitousaboutnothingbuthisownconduct,andforfearheshouldbedeficientinthedutiesofreligion,andtherespectivefunctionsofreasonandprudence。
Alwaysgothenearestwaytowork。Now,thenearestwaythroughallthebusinessofhumanlife,arethepathsofreligionandhonesty,andkeepingthoseasdirectlyasyoucan,youavoidallthedangerousprecipicesthatoftenlieintheroad,andsometimesblockupthepassageentirely。
Rememberthatlifewasbutlentatfirst,andthattheremainderismorethanyouhavereasontoexpect,andconsequentlyoughttobemanagedwithmorethanordinarydiligence。Awisemanspendseverydayasifitwerehislast;hishourglassisalwaysinhishand,andheisneverguiltyofsluggishnessorinsincerity。
Hewasabouttoproceed,whenasuddensymptomofthereturnofhisfitputhiminmindthatitwastimetogethiswillwitnessed,whichwasnosoonerdonebuthetookitupandgaveittohissister,tellingherthatthoughallhehadwashersofright,yethethoughtitproper,topreventevenapossibilityofadispute,towritedownhismindinthenatureofawill,whereinIhavegivenyou,sayshe,thelittlethatIhaveleft,exceptmybooksandpapers,which,assoonasIamdead,IdesiremaybedeliveredtoMr。AnthonyBarlow,anearrelationofmyworthymaster,Mr。
OwenParry。
ThisMr。AnthonyBarlowwasanoldcontemplativeWelshgentleman,who,beingundersomedifficultiesinhisowncountry,wasforcedtocomeintoCornwallandtakesanctuaryamongthetinners。
Dickory,thoughhekepthimselfasretiredaspossible,happenedtomeethimonedayuponhiswalks,andpresentlyrememberedthathewastheverypersonthatusedfrequentlytocometovisithismasterwhilehelivedinPembrokeshire,andsowenttohim,andbysignsmadehimunderstandwhohewas。
Theoldgentleman,thoughatfirstsurprisedatthisunexpectedinterview,soonrecollectedthathehadformerlyseenatMr。
Parry’sadumbman,whomtheyusedtocallthedumbphilosopher,soconcludesimmediatelythatconsequentlythismustbehe。Inshort,theysoonmadethemselvesknowntoeachother;andfromthattimecontractedastrictfriendshipandacorrespondencebyletters,whichforthefuturetheymutuallymanagedwiththegreatestexactnessandfamiliarity。
Buttoleavethisasamatternotmuchmaterial,andtoreturntoournarrative。BythistimeDickory’sspeechbegantofalter,whichhissisterobserving,puthiminmindthathewoulddowelltomakesomedeclarationofhisfaithandprinciplesofreligion,becausesomereflectionshadbeenmadeuponhimupontheaccountofhisneglect,orratherhisrefusal,toappearatanyplaceofpublicworship。