第1章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"Dickory Cronke",免费读到尾

  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。

点击下载App,搜索"Dickory Cronke",免费读到尾