CHAPTERXX
FarewelltotheRomans—TheLandlordandHisNiece—SetOutasaTraveller。
ONreachingtheplainabove,IfoundmyRomanyfriendsbreakfasting,andonbeingaskedbyMr。Petulengrotojointhem,Iacceptedtheinvitation。NosoonerwasbreakfastoverthanIinformedUrsulaandherhusbandthattheywouldfindtheproperty,whichIhadpromisedthem,inthedingle,commandingthelittleponyAmbroltotheirbestcare。Itookleaveofthewholecompany,whichwasitselfabouttobreakupcampandtodepartinthedirectionofLondon,andmadethebestofmywaytothepublic—house。Ihadasmallbundleinmyhand,andwasdressedinthesamemanneraswhenI
departedfromLondon,havingleftmywaggoner’sslopwiththeothereffectsinthedingle。Onarrivingatthepublic—
house,IinformedthelandlordthatIwascomeformyhorse,inquiring,atthesametime,whetherhecouldnotaccommodatemewithabridleandsaddle。Hetoldmethatthebridleandsaddle,withwhichIhadriddenthehorseontheprecedingday,wereatmyserviceforatrifle;thathehadreceivedthemsometimesinceinpaymentforadebt,andthathehadhimselfnouseforthem。Theleathersofthebridlewererathershabby,andthebitrusty,andthesaddlewasoldfashioned;butIwashappytopurchasethemforsevenshillings,moreespeciallyasthelandlordaddedasmallvalise,whichhesaidcouldbestrappedtothesaddle,andwhichIshouldfindveryconvenientforcarryingmythingsin。Ithenproceededtothestable,toldthehorsewewereboundonanexpedition,andgivinghimafeedofcorn,lefthimtodiscussit,andreturnedtothebar—roomtohavealittlefarewellchatwiththelandlord,andatthesametimetodrinkwithhimafarewellglassofale。Whilstweweretalkinganddrinking,theniececameandjoinedus:shewasadecent,sensibleyoungwoman,whoappearedtotakeagreatinterestinheruncle,whomsheregardedwithasingularmixtureofprideand,disapprobation—pridefortherenownwhichhehadacquiredbyhisfeatsofold,anddisapprobationforhislateimprudences。ShesaidthatshehopedthathismisfortuneswouldbeawarningtohimtoturnmoretohisGodthanhehadhithertodone,andtogiveupcock—fightingandotherlow—lifepractices。Towhichthelandlordreplied,thatwithrespecttocock—fightingheintendedtogiveitupentirely,beingdeterminednolongertoriskhiscapitaluponbirds,andwithrespecttohisreligiousduties,heshouldattendthechurchofwhichhewaschurchwardenatleastonceaquarter,adding,however,thathedidnotintendtobecomeeithercanterordriveller,neitherofwhichcharacterswouldbefitapublicansurroundedbysuchcustomersashewas,andthattothelastdayofhislifehehopedtobeabletomakeuseofhisfists。AfterastayofabouttwohoursIsettledaccounts,andhavingbridledandsaddledmyhorse,andstrappedonmyvalise,Imounted,shookhandswiththelandlordandhisniece,anddeparted,notwithstandingthattheybothentreatedmetotarryuntiltheevening,itbeingthentheheatoftheday。
CHAPTERXXI
AnAdventureontheRoad—TheSixFlintStone—ARuralScene—Mead—TheOldManandHisBees。
IBENTmycourseinthedirectionofthenorth,moreinducedbychancethananyparticularmotive;allquartersoftheworldhavingaboutequalattractionsforme。Iwasinhighspiritsatfindingmyselfoncemoreonhorse—back,andtrottedgailyon,untiltheheatoftheweatherinducedmetoslackenmypace,moreoutofpityformyhorsethanbecauseI
feltanyparticularinconveniencefromit—heatandcoldbeingthen,andstill,mattersofgreatindifferencetome。
WhatIthoughtofIscarcelyknow,saveandexceptthatI
haveaglimmeringrecollectionthatIfeltsomedesiretomeetwithoneofthoseadventureswhichupontheroadsofEnglandaregenerallyasplentifulasblackberriesinautumn;
andFortune,whohasgenerallybeenreadytogratifymyinclinations,provideditcostherverylittlebysodoing,wasnotslowinfurnishingmewithanadventure,perhapsascharacteristicoftheEnglishroadsasanythingwhichcouldhavehappened。
Imighthavetravelledaboutsixmilesamongstcrossroadsandlanes,whensuddenlyIfoundmyselfuponabroadandverydustyroadwhichseemedtoleadduenorth。AsIwendedalongthisIsawamanuponadonkeyridingtowardsme。Themanwascommonlydressed,withabroadfelthatonhishead,andakindofsatchelonhisback;heseemedtobeinamightyhurry,andwaseverynowandthenbelabouringthedonkeywithacudgel。Thedonkey,however,whichwasafinelargecreatureofthesilver—greyspecies,didnotappeartosympathizeatallwithitsriderinhisdesiretogeton,butkeptitsheadturnedbackasmuchaspossible,movingfromonesideoftheroadtotheother,andnotmakingmuchforwardway。AsIpassed,beingnaturallyofaverypolitedisposition,Igavethemantheseleoftheday,askinghim,atthesametime,whyhebeatthedonkey;whereuponthefelloweyeingmeaskance,toldmetomindmyownbusiness,withtheadditionofsomethingwhichIneednotrepeat。I
hadnotproceededafurlongbeforeIsawseatedonthedustbythewayside,closebyaheapofstones,andwithseveralflintsbeforehim,arespectable—lookingoldman,withastrawhatandawhitesmock,whowasweepingbitterly。
\"Whatareyoucryingfor,father?\"saidI。\"Haveyoucometoanyhurt?\"\"Hurtenough,\"sobbedtheoldman,\"IhavejustbeentrickedoutofthebestassinEnglandbyavillain,whogavemenothingbutthesetrashinreturn,\"pointingtothestonesbeforehim。\"Ireallyscarcelyunderstandyou,\"saidI,\"Iwishyouwouldexplainyourselfmoreclearly。\"\"Iwasridingonmyassfrommarket,\"saidtheoldman,\"whenImethereafellowwithasackonhisback,who,afterstaringattheassandmeamomentortwo,askedmeifIwouldsellher。
ItoldhimthatIcouldnotthinkofsellingher,asshewasveryusefultome,andthoughananimal,mytruecompanion,whomIlovedasmuchasifsheweremywifeanddaughter。I
thenattemptedtopasson,butthefellowstoodbeforeme,beggingmetosellher,sayingthathewouldgivemeanythingforher;well,seeingthathepersisted,IsaidatlastthatifIsoldher,Imusthavesixpoundsforher,andIsaidsotogetridofhim,forIsawthathewasashabbyfellow,whohadprobablynotsixshillingsintheworld;butIhadbetterhaveheldmytongue,\"saidtheoldman,cryingmorebitterlythanbefore,\"forthewordswerescarcelyoutofmymouth,whenhesaidhewouldgivemewhatIasked,andtakingthesackfromhisback,hepulledoutasteelyard,andgoingtotheheapofstonesthere,hetookupseveralofthemandweighedthem,thenflingingthemdownbeforeme,hesaid,’Therearesixpounds,neighbour;now,getofftheass,andhandherovertome。’Well,Isatlikeonedumbfounderedforatime,tillatlastIaskedhimwhathemeant?’WhatdoI
mean?’saidhe,’youoldrascal,why,Imeantoclaimmypurchase,’andthenhesworesoawfully,thatscarcelyknowingwhatIdidIgotdown,andhejumpedontheanimalandrodeoffasfastashecould。\"\"Isupposehewasthefellow,\"saidI,\"whomIjustnowmetuponafinegrayass,whichhewasbeatingwithacudgel。\"\"Idaresayhewas,\"
saidtheoldman,\"Isawhimbeatingherasherodeaway,andIthoughtIshouldhavedied。\"\"Ineverheardsuchastory,\"
saidI;\"well,doyoumeantosubmittosuchapieceofrogueryquietly?\"\"Oh,dear,\"saidtheoldman,\"whatcanI
do?Iamseventy—nineyearsofage;Iambadonmyfeet,anddar’n’tgoafterhim。\"—\"ShallIgo?\"saidI;\"thefellowisathief,andanyonehasarighttostophim。\"\"Oh,ifyoucouldbutbringheragaintome,\"saidtheoldman,\"Iwouldblessyoutillmydyingday;buthaveacare;Idon’tknowbutafterallthelawmaysaythatsheishislawfulpurchase。Iaskedsixpoundsforher,andhegavemesixpounds。\"\"Sixflints,youmean,\"saidI,\"no,no,thelawisnotquitesobadasthateither;Iknowsomethingabouther,andamsurethatshewillneversanctionsuchaquibble。Atallevents,I’llrideafterthefellow。\"Thereuponturningmyhorseround,Iputhimtohisverybesttrot;Irodenearlyamilewithoutobtainingaglimpseofthefellow,andwasbecomingapprehensivethathehadescapedmebyturningdownsomeby—path,twoorthreeofwhichIhadpassed。
Suddenly,however,ontheroadmakingaslightturning,I
perceivedhimrightbeforeme,movingatatolerablyswiftpace,havingbythistimeprobablyovercometheresistanceoftheanimal。Puttingmyhorsetoafullgallop,Ishoutedatthetopofmyvoice,\"Getoffthatdonkey,yourascal,andgiveheruptome,orI’llrideyoudown。\"Thefellowhearingthethunderofthehorse’shoofsbehindhim,drewupononesideoftheroad。\"Whatdoyouwant?\"saidhe,asI
stoppedmycharger,nowalmostcoveredwithsweatandfoamclosebesidehim。\"Doyouwanttorobme?\"\"Torobyou?\"
saidI。\"No!buttotakefromyouthatass,ofwhichyouhavejustrobbeditsowner。\"\"Ihaverobbednoman,\"saidthefellow;\"Ijustnowpurchaseditfairlyofitsmaster,andthelawwillgiveittome;heaskedsixpoundsforit,andIgavehimsixpounds。\"\"Sixstones,youmean,yourascal,\"saidI;\"getdown,ormyhorseshallbeuponyouinamoment;\"thenwithamotionofmyreins,Icausedthehorsetorear,pressinghissideswithmyheelsasifIintendedtomakehimleap。\"Stop,\"saidtheman,\"I’llgetdown,andthentryifIcan’tserveyouout。\"Hethengotdown,andconfrontedmewithhiscudgel;hewasahorrible—lookingfellow,andseemedpreparedforanything。Scarcely,however,hadhedismounted,whenthedonkeyjerkedthebridleoutofhishand,andprobablyinrevengefortheusageshehadreceived,gavehimapairoftremendouskicksonthehipwithherhinderlegs,whichoverturnedhim,andthenscampereddowntheroadthewayshehadcome。\"Prettytreatmentthis,\"
saidthefellow,gettingupwithouthiscudgel,andholdinghishandtohisside,\"IwishImaynotbelamedforlife。\"
\"Andifyoube,\"saidI,\"itwillmerelyserveyouright,yourascal,fortryingtocheatapooroldmanoutofhispropertybyquibblingatwords。\"\"Rascal!\"saidthefellow,\"youlie,Iamnorascal;andasforquibblingwithwords—
supposeIdid!Whatthen?Allthefirstpeopledoesit!
Thenewspapersdoesit!thegentlefolksthatcallsthemselvestheguidesofthepopularminddoesit!I’mnoignoramus。I
readthenewspapers,andknowswhat’swhat。\"\"Youreadthemtosomepurpose,\"saidI。\"Well,ifyouarelamedforlife,andunfittedforanyactiveline—turnnewspapereditor;I
shouldsayyouareperfectlyqualified,andthisday’sadventuremaybethefoundationofyourfortune,\"thereuponI
turnedroundandrodeoff。Thefellowfollowedmewithatorrentofabuse。\"Confoundyou,\"saidhe—yetthatwasnottheexpressioneither—\"Iknowyou;youareoneofthehorse—patrolcomedownintothecountryonleavetoseeyourrelations。Confoundyou,youandthelikeofyouhaveknockedmybusinessontheheadnearLunnon,andIsupposeweshallhaveyoushortlyinthecountry。\"\"Tothenewspaperoffice,\"saidI,\"andfabricatefalsehoodsoutofflintstones;\"thentouchingthehorsewithmyheels,Itrottedoff,andcomingtotheplacewhereIhadseentheoldman,I
foundhimthere,risenfromtheground,andembracinghisass。
ItoldhimthatIwastravellingdowntheroad,andsaid,thatifhiswaylayinthesamedirectionasminehecoulddonobetterthanaccompanymeforsomedistance,lestthefellowwho,foraughtIknew,mightbehoveringnigh,mightcatchhimalone,andagaingethisassfromhim。Afterthankingmeformyoffer,whichhesaidhewouldaccept,hegotuponhisass,andweproceededtogetherdowntheroad。
Mynewacquaintancesaidverylittleofhisownaccord;andwhenIaskedhimaquestion,answeredratherincoherently。I
heardhimeverynowandthensay,\"Villain!\"tohimself,afterwhichhewouldpatthedonkey’sneck,fromwhichcircumstanceIconcludedthathismindwasoccupiedwithhislateadventure。Aftertravellingabouttwomiles,wereachedaplacewhereadrift—wayontherightledfromthegreatroad;heremycompanionstopped,andonmyaskinghimwhetherhewasgoinganyfarther,hetoldmethatthepathtotherightwasthewaytohishome。
Iwasbiddinghimfarewell,whenhehemmedonceortwice,andsaid,thatashedidnotlivefaroff,hehopedthatIwouldgowithhimandtastesomeofhismead。AsIhadnevertastedmead,ofwhichIhadfrequentlyreadinthecompositionsoftheWelshbards,and,moreover,feltratherthirstyfromtheheatoftheday,ItoldhimthatIshouldhavegreatpleasureinattendinghim。Whereupon,turningofftogether,weproceededabouthalfamile,sometimesbetweenstonewalls,andatothertimeshedges,tillwereachedasmallhamlet,throughwhichwepassed,andpresentlycametoaveryprettycottage,delightfullysituatedwithinagarden,surroundedbyahedgeofwoodbines。Openingagateatonecornerofthegardenheledthewaytoalargeshed,whichstoodpartlybehindthecottage,whichhesaidwashisstable;thereuponhedismountedandledhisdonkeyintotheshed,whichwaswithoutstalls,buthadalongrackandmanger。Ononesidehetiedhisdonkey,aftertakingoffhercaparisons,andIfollowedhisexample,tyingmyhorseattheothersidewitharopehalterwhichhegaveme;hethenaskedmetocomeinandtastehismead,butItoldhimthatImustattendtothecomfortofmyhorsefirst,andforthwith,takingawispofstraw,rubbedhimcarefullydown。Thentakingapailfulofclearwaterwhichstoodintheshed,I
allowedthehorsetodrinkabouthalfapint;andthenturningtotheoldman,whoallthetimehadstoodbylookingatmyproceedings,Iaskedhimwhetherhehadanyoats?\"I
haveallkindsofgrain,\"hereplied;and,goingout,hepresentlyreturnedwithtwomeasures,onealargeandtheotherasmallone,bothfilledwithoats,mixedwithafewbeans,andhandingthelargeonetomeforthehorse,heemptiedtheotherbeforethedonkey,who,beforeshebegantodespatchit,turnedhernosetohermaster’sface,andfairlykissedhim。Havinggivenmyhorsehisportion,ItoldtheoldmanthatIwasreadytotastehismeadassoonashepleased,whereuponheusheredmeintohiscottage,where,makingmesitdownbyadealtableinaneatlysandedkitchen,heproducedfromanold—fashionedclosetabottle,holdingaboutaquart,andacoupleofcups,whichmighteachcontainabouthalfapint,thenopeningthebottleandfillingthecupswithabrown—colouredliquor,hehandedonetome,andtakingaseatoppositetome,heliftedtheother,nodded,andsayingtome—\"Healthandwelcome,\"placedittohislipsanddrank。
\"Healthandthanks,\"Ireplied;andbeingverythirsty,emptiedmycupatadraught;Ihadscarcelydoneso,however,whenIhalfrepented。Themeadwasdeliciouslysweetandmellow,butappearedstrongasbrandy;myeyesreeledinmyhead,andmybrainbecameslightlydizzy。\"Meadisastrongdrink,\"saidtheoldman,ashelookedatme,withahalfsmileonhiscountenance。\"Thisisatanyrate,\"saidI,\"sostrong,indeed,thatIwouldnotdrinkanothercupforanyconsideration。\"\"AndIwouldnotaskyou,\"saidtheoldman;
\"for,ifyoudid,youwouldmostprobablybestupidallday,andwakethenextmorningwithaheadache。Meadisagooddrink,butwoundilystrong,especiallytothosewhobenotusedtoit,asIsupposeyouarenot。\"\"Wheredoyougetit?\"saidI。\"Imakeitmyself,\"saidtheoldman,\"fromthehoneywhichmybeesmake。\"\"Haveyoumanybees?\"Iinquired。
\"Agreatmany,\"saidtheoldman。\"Anddoyoukeepthem,\"
saidI,\"forthesakeofmakingmeadwiththeirhoney?\"\"I
keepthem,\"hereplied,\"partlybecauseIamfondofthem,andpartlyforwhattheybringmein;theymakemeagreatdealofhoney,someofwhichIsell,andwithalittleImakesomemeadtowarmmypoorheartwith,oroccasionallytotreatafriendwithlikeyourself。\"\"Anddoyousupportyourselfentirelybymeansofyourbees?\"\"No,\"saidtheoldman;\"Ihavealittlebitofgroundbehindmyhouse,whichismyprincipalmeansofsupport。\"\"Anddoyoulivealone?\"
\"Yes,\"saidhe;\"withtheexceptionofthebeesandthedonkey,Ilivequitealone。\"\"Andhaveyoualwayslivedalone?\"Theoldmanemptiedhiscup,andhisheartbeingwarmedwiththemead,hetoldhishistory,whichwassimplicityitself。Hisfatherwasasmallyeoman,who,athisdeath,hadlefthim,hisonlychild,thecottage,withasmallpieceofgroundbehindit,andonthislittlepropertyhehadlivedeversince。Abouttheageoftwenty—fivehehadmarriedanindustriousyoungwoman,bywhomhehadonedaughter,whodiedbeforereachingyearsofwomanhood。Hiswife,however,hadsurvivedherdaughtermanyyears,andhadbeenagreatcomforttohim,assistinghiminhisruraloccupations;but,aboutfouryearsbeforethepresentperiod,hehadlosther,sincewhichtimehehadlivedalone,makinghimselfascomfortableashecould;cultivatinghisground,withthehelpofaladfromtheneighbouringvillage,attendingtohisbees,andoccasionallyridinghisdonkeytomarket,andhearingthewordofGod,whichhesaidhewassorryhecouldnotread,twiceaweekregularlyattheparishchurch。Suchwastheoldman’stale。
Whenhehadfinishedspeaking,heledmebehindhishouse,andshowedmehislittledomain。Itconsistedofabouttwoacresinadmirablecultivation;asmallportionofitformedakitchengarden,whiletherestwassownwithfourkindsofgrain,wheat,barley,peas,andbeans。Theairwasfullofambrosialsweets,resemblingthoseproceedingfromanorangegrove;aplacewhichthoughIhadneverseenatthattime,I
sincehave。Inthegardenwasthehabitationofthebees,alongbox,supporteduponthreeoakenstumps。Itwasfullofsmallroundglasswindows,andappearedtobedividedintoagreatmanycompartments,muchresemblingdrawersplacedsideways。Hetoldmethat,asonecompartmentwasfilled,thebeesleftitforanother;sothat,wheneverhewantedhoney,hecouldprocuresomewithoutinjurytotheinsects。
ThroughthelittleroundwindowsIcouldseeseveralofthebeesatwork;hundredsweregoinginandoutofthedoors;
hundredswerebuzzingaboutontheflowers,thewoodbines,andbeans。AsIlookedaroundonthewell—cultivatedfield,thegarden,andthebees,IthoughtIhadneverbeforeseensoruralandpeacefulascene。
Whenwereturnedtothecottageweagainsatdown,andI
askedtheoldmanwhetherhewasnotafraidtolivealone。
Hetoldmethathewasnot,forthat,uponthewhole,hisneighbourswereverykindtohim。Imentionedthefellowwhohadswindledhimofhisdonkeyupontheroad。\"Thatwasnoneighbourofmine,\"saidtheoldman,\"and,perhaps,Ishallneverseehimagain,orhislike。\"\"It’sadreadfulthing,\"
saidI,\"tohavenootherresource,wheninjured,thantoshedtearsontheroad。\"\"Itisso,\"saidtheoldman;\"butGodsawthetearsoftheold,andsentahelper。\"\"Whydidyounothelpyourself?\"saidI。\"Insteadofgettingoffyourass,whydidyounotpunchatthefellow,oratanyrateusedreadfullanguage,callhimvillain,andshoutrobbery?\"
\"Punch!\"saidtheoldman,\"shout!what,withthesehands,andthisvoice—Lord,howyourunon!Iamold,youngchap,Iamold!\"\"Well,\"saidI,\"itisashamefulthingtocryevenwhenold。\"\"Youthinksonow,\"saidtheoldman,\"becauseyouareyoungandstrong;perhapswhenyouareasoldasI,youwillnotbeashamedtocry。\"
UponthewholeIwasratherpleasedwiththeoldman,andmuchwithallabouthim。Aseveningdrewnigh,ItoldhimthatImustproceedonmyjourney;whereuponheinvitedmetotarrywithhimduringthenight,tellingmethathehadaniceroomandbedaboveatmyservice。I,however,declined;
andbiddinghimfarewell,mountedmyhorse,anddeparted。
Regainingtheroad,Iproceededoncemoreinthedirectionofthenorth;and,afterafewhours,comingtoacomfortablepublic—house,Istopped,andputupforthenight。
CHAPTERXXII
TheSingularNoise—SleepinginaMeadow—TheBook—CureforWakefulness—LiteraryTeaParty—PoorByron。
IDIDnotawaketillratherlatethenextmorning;andwhenI
did,Ifeltconsiderabledrowsiness,withaslightheadache,whichIwasuncharitableenoughtoattributetothemeadwhichIhaddrunkontheprecedingday。Afterfeedingmyhorse,andbreakfasting,Iproceededonmywanderings。
Nothingoccurredworthyofrelatingtillmid—daywasconsiderablypast,whenIcametoapleasantvalley,betweentwogentlehills。Ihaddismounted,inordertoeasemyhorse,andwasleadinghimalongbythebridle,when,onmyright,behindabankinwhichsomeumbrageousashesweregrowing,heardasingularnoise。Istoppedshortandlistened,andpresentlysaidtomyself,\"Surelythisissnoring,perhapsthatofahedgehog。\"Onfurtherconsideration,however,IwasconvincedthatthenoisewhichIheard,andwhichcertainlyseemedtobesnoring,couldnotpossiblyproceedfromthenostrilsofsosmallananimal,butmustrathercomefromthoseofagiant,soloudandsonorouswasit。Abouttwoorthreeyardsfartherwasagate,partlyopen,towhichIwent,andpeepingintothefield,sawamanlyingonsomerichgrass,undertheshadeofoneoftheashes;hewassnoringawayatagreatrate。Impelledbycuriosity,Ifastenedthebridleofmyhorsetothegate,andwentuptotheman。Hewasagenteelly—dressedindividual;
rathercorpulent,withdarkfeatures,andseeminglyaboutforty—five。Helayonhisback,hishatslightlyoverhisbrow,andathisrighthandlayanopenbook。Sostrenuouslydidhesnorethatthewindfromhisnostrilsagitated,perceptibly,afinecambricfrillwhichheworeathisbosom。
Igazeduponhimforsometime,expectingthathemightawake;buthedidnot,butkeptonsnoring,hisbreastheavingconvulsively。Atlast,thenoisehemadebecamesoterrible,thatIfeltalarmedforhissafety,imaginingthatafitmightseizehim,andhelosehislifewhilefastasleep。Ithereforeexclaimed,\"Sir,sir,awake!yousleepover—much。\"Butmyvoicefailedtorousehim,andhecontinuedsnoringasbefore;whereuponItouchedhimslightlywithmyridingwand,butfailingtowakehim,Itouchedhimagainmorevigorously;whereuponheopenedhiseyes,and,probablyimagininghimselfinadream,closedthemagain。
ButIwasdeterminedtoarousehim,andcriedasloudasI
could,\"Sir,sir,praysleepnomore!\"HeheardwhatIsaid,openedhiseyesagain,staredatmewithalookofsomeconsciousness,and,halfraisinghimselfuponhiselbows,askedmewhatwasthematter。\"Ibegyourpardon,\"saidI,\"butItookthelibertyofawakingyou,becauseyouappearedtobemuchdisturbedinyoursleep—Iwasfearful,too,thatyoumightcatchafeverfromsleepingunderatree。\"\"Irunnorisk,\"saidtheman,\"Ioftencomeandsleephere;andasforbeingdisturbedinmysleep,Ifeltverycomfortable;I
wishyouhadnotawokeme。\"\"Well,\"saidI,\"Ibegyourpardononcemore。IassureyouthatwhatIdidwaswiththebestintention。\"\"Oh!praymakenofurtherapology,\"saidtheindividual,\"Imakenodoubtthatwhatyoudidwasdonekindly;butthere’sanoldproverb,totheeffect,’thatyoushouldletsleepingdogslie,’\"headdedwithasmile。Then,gettingup,andstretchinghimselfwithayawn,hetookuphisbookandsaid,\"Ihavesleptquitelongenough,andit’squitetimeformetobegoinghome。\"\"Excusemycuriosity,\"
saidI,\"ifIinquirewhatmayinduceyoutocomeandsleepinthismeadow?\"\"Totellyouthetruth,\"answeredhe,\"Iamabadsleeper。\"\"Praypardonme,\"saidI,\"ifItellyouthatIneversawonesleepmoreheartily。\"\"IfIdidso,\"
saidtheindividual,\"Iambeholdentothismeadowandthisbook;butIamtalkingriddles,andwillexplainmyself。I
amtheownerofaveryprettyproperty,ofwhichthisvalleyformspart。Someyearsago,however,upstartedapersonwhosaidthepropertywashis;alawsuitensued,andIwasonthebrinkoflosingmyall,when,mostunexpectedly,thesuitwasdeterminedinmyfavour。Owing,however,totheanxietytowhichmymindhadbeensubjectedforseveralyears,mynerveshadbecometerriblyshaken;andnosoonerwasthetrialterminatedthansleepforsookmypillow。Isometimespassednightswithoutclosinganeye;Itookopiates,buttheyratherincreasedthanalleviatedmymalady。Aboutthreeweeksagoafriendofmineputthisbookintomyhand,andadvisedmetotakeiteverydaytosomepleasantpartofmyestate,andtryandreadapageortwo,assuringme,ifI
did,thatIshouldinfalliblyfallasleep。Itookhisadvice,andselectingthisplace,whichIconsideredthepleasantestpartofmyproperty,Icame,andlyingdown,commencedreadingthebook,andbeforefinishingapagewasinadeadslumber。EverydaysincethenIhaverepeatedtheexperiment,andeverytimewithequalsuccess。Iamasingleman,withoutanychildren;andyesterdayImademywill,inwhich,intheeventofmyfriend’ssurvivingme,Ihavelefthimallmyfortune,ingratitudeforhishavingprocuredformethemostinvaluableofallblessings—sleep。\"