out,Idrovestraighttothepublic—house,whereIbaitedmyhorses,andwhereIfoundsomeofthechaisesanddriverswhohaddriventhefolkstothelunatic—lookingmansion,andwerenowwaitingtotakethemupagain。Whilstmyhorseswereeatingtheirbait,Isatmedown,astheweatherwaswarm,atatableoutside,andsmokedapipe,anddranksomeale,incompanywiththecoachmanoftheoldgentlemanwhohadgonetothehousewithhisson,andthecoachmanthentoldmethatthehousewasaPapisthouse,andthatthepresentwasagrandmeetingofallthefoolsandrascalsinthecountry,whocametobowdowntoimages,andtoconcertschemes—
prettyschemesnodoubt—foroverturningthereligionofthecountry,andthatforhisparthedidnotapproveofbeingconcernedwithsuchdoings,andthathewasgoingtogivehismasterwarningnextday。So,asweweredrinkinganddiscoursing,updrovethechariotoftheScotchman,anddowngothisvaletandthedriver,andwhilstthedriverwasseeingafterthehorses,thevaletcameandsatdownatthetablewherethegentleman’scoachmanandIweredrinking。I
knewthefellowwell,aScotchmanlikehismaster,andjustofthesamekidney,withwhitekidgloves,redhairfrizzled,apatchofpaintonhisface,andhishandscoveredwithrings。Thisveryfellow,Imusttellyou,wasoneofthosemostbusyinendeavouringtogetmeturnedoutoftheservants’clubinParkLane,becauseIhappenedtoservealiteraryman;sohesatdown,andinakindofaffectedtonecriedout,’Landlord,bringmeaglassofcoldnegus。’Thelandlord,however,toldhimthattherewasnonegus,butthatifhepleased,hecouldhaveajugofasgoodbeerasanyinthecountry。’Confoundthebeer,’saidthevalet,’doyouthinkthatIamaccustomedtosuchvulgarbeverage?’
However,ashefoundtherewasnothingbettertobehad,heletthemanbringhimsomebeer,andwhenhehadgotit,soonshowedthathecoulddrinkiteasilyenough;so,whenhehaddrunktwoorthreedraughts,heturnedhiseyesinacontemptuousmanner,first,onthecoachman,andthenonme:
Isawthescamprecollectedme,forafterstaringatmeandmydressforabouthalfaminute,heputonabroadgrin,andflinginghisheadback,heutteredaloudlaugh。Well,Ididnotlikethis,asyoumaywellbelieve,andtakingthepipeoutofmymouth,Iaskedhimifhemeantanythingpersonal,towhichheanswered,thathehadsaidnothingtome,andthathehadarighttolookwherehepleased,andlaughwhenhepleased。Well,astoacertainextenthewasright,astolookingandlaughing;andasIhaveoccasionallylookedatafoolandlaughed,thoughIwasnotthefoolinthisinstance,Iputmypipeintomymouthandsaidnomore。Thisquietandwell—regulatedbehaviourofmine,however,thefellowinterpretedintofear;so,afterdrinkingalittlemore,hesuddenlystartedup,andstridingonceortwicebeforethetable,heaskedmewhatImeantbythatimpertinentquestionofmine,sayingthathehadagoodmindtowringmynoseformypresumption。’Youhave?’saidI,gettingup,andlayingdownmypipe。’Well,I’llnowgiveyouanopportunity。’SoIputmyselfinanattitude,andwentuptohim,saying’I
haveanoldscoretosettlewithyou,youscamp;youwantedtogetmeturnedoutoftheclub,didn’tyou?’Andthereupon,rememberingthathehadthreatenedtowringmynose,Igavehimasnorteruponhisown。Iwishyoucouldhaveseenthefellowwhenhefeltthesmart;sofarfromtryingtodefendhimself,heturnedround,andwithhishandtohisface,attemptedtorunaway;butIwasnowinaregularpassion,andfollowinghimup,gotbeforehim,andwasgoingtopummelawayathim,whenheburstintotears,andbeggedmenottohurthim,sayingthathewassorryifhehadoffendedme,andthat,ifIpleased,hewouldgodownonhisknees,ordoanythingelseIwanted。Well,whenIheardhimtalkinthismanner,I,ofcourse,lethimbe;Icouldhardlyhelplaughingatthefigurehecut;hisfaceallblubberedwithtears,andbloodandpaint;butIdidnotlaughatthepoorcreatureeither,butwenttothetableandtookupmypipe,andsmokedanddrankasifnothinghadhappened;andthefellow,afterhavingbeentothepump,cameandsatdown,crying,andtryingtocurryfavourwithmeandthecoachman;presently,however,puttingonaconfidentiallook,hebegantotalkofthePopishhouse,andofthedoingsthere,andsaidhesupposedashowwewereoftheparty,andthatitwasallright;andthenhebegantotalkofthePopeofRome,andwhatanicemanhewas,andwhatafinethingitwastobeofhisreligion,especiallyiffolkswentovertohim;andhowitadvancedthemintheworld,andgavethemconsideration;andhowhismaster,whohadbeenabroadandseenthePope,andkissedhistoe,wasgoingovertothePopishreligion,andhadpersuadedhimtoconsenttodoso,andtoforsakehisown,whichIthinkthescoundrelcalledthe’PiscopalChurchofScotland,andhowmanyothersofthatchurchweregoingover,thinkingtobettertheirconditioninlifebysodoing,andtobemorethoughton;andhowmanyoftheEnglishChurchwerethinkingofgoingovertoo—andthathehadnodoubtthatitwouldallendrightandcomfortably。
Well,ashewasgoingoninthisway,theoldcoachmanbegantospit,andgettingup,flungallthebeerthatwasinhisjugupontheground,andgoingaway,orderedanotherjugofbeer,andsatdownatanothertable,sayingthathewouldnotdrinkinsuchcompany;andItoogotup,andflungwhatbeerremainedinmyjug,therewasn’tmorethanadrop,inthefellow’sface,saying,Iwouldscorntodrinkanymoreinsuchcompany;andthenIwenttomyhorses,putthemto,paidmyreckoning,anddrovehome。\"
Thepostillionhavingrelatedhisstory,towhichIlistenedwithalldueattention,musedforamoment,andthensaid,\"I
daresayyourememberhow,sometimesince,whenoldBillhadbeentellingushowtheGovernmentalongtimeago,haddoneawaywithrobbingonthehighway,byputtingdownthepublic—
housesandplaceswhichthehighwaymenfrequented,andbysendingagoodmountedpolicetohuntthemdown,IsaidthatitwasashamethatthepresentGovernmentdidnotemploysomewhatthesamemeansinordertostoptheproceedingsofMumboJumboandhisgangnow—a—daysinEngland。Howsomever,sinceIhavedrivenafaretoaPopishrendezvous,andseensomethingofwhatisgoingonthere,IshouldconceivethattheGovernmentarejustifiedinallowingthegangthefreeexerciseoftheircalling。Anybodyiswelcometostoopandpickupnothing,orworsethannothing,andifMumboJumbo’speople,aftertheirexpeditions,returntotheirhauntswithnobetterplunderintheshapeofconvertsthanwhatIsawgoingintoyonderplaceofcall,Ishouldsaytheyarewelcometowhattheyget;forifthat’sthekindofrubbishtheystealoutoftheChurchofEngland,oranyotherchurch,whoinhissensesbutwouldsayagoodriddance,andmanythanksforyourtrouble:atanyrate,thatismyopinionofthematter。\"
CHAPTERXXIX
DeliberationswithSelf—Resolution—InvitationtoDinner—
TheCommercialTraveller—TheLandlord’sOffer—TheCometWine。
ITwasnowthatIhadfrequentdeliberationswithmyself。
ShouldIcontinueattheinninmypresentposition?Iwasnotverymuchcaptivatedwithit;therewaslittlepoetryinkeepinganaccountofthecorn,hay,andstrawwhichcamein,andwasgivenout,andIwasfondofpoetry;moreover,therewasnogloryatalltobeexpectedindoingso,andIwasfondofglory。ShouldIgiveupthatsituation,andremainingattheinn,becomeostlerunderoldBill?Therewasmorepoetryinrubbingdownhorsesthaninkeepinganaccountofstraw,hay,andcorn;therewasalsosomeprospectofgloryattachedtothesituationofostler,forthegroomsandstable—boysoccasionallytalkedofanostler,agreatwaydowntheroad,whohadbeenpresentedbysomesportingpeople,notwithasilvervase,asourgovernorhadbeen,butwithasilvercurrycomb,intestimonyoftheiradmirationforhisskill;butIconfessthatthepoetryofrubbingdownhadbecome,asallotherpoetrybecomes,ratherprosybyfrequentrepetition,andwithrespecttothechanceofderivinggloryfromtheemployment,Ientertained,intheeventofmydeterminingtostay,veryslighthopeofeverattainingskillintheostlerartsufficienttoinducesportingpeopletobestowuponmeasilvercurrycomb。IwasnothalfsogoodanostlerasoldBill,whohadneverbeenpresentedwithasilvercurrycomb,andIneverexpectedtobecomeso,thereforewhatchancehadI?Itwastrue,therewasaprospectofsomepecuniaryemolumenttobederivedbyremainingineithersituation。Itwasveryprobablethat,providedIcontinuedtokeepanaccountofthehayandcorncominginandexpended,thelandlordwouldconsenttoallowmeapoundaweek,whichattheendofadozenyears,providedIkeptmyselfsober,wouldamounttoaconsiderablesum。Imight,ontheretirementofoldBill,bytakinghisplace,saveupadecentsumofmoney,provided,unlikehim,I
keptmyselfsober,andlaidbyalltheshillingsandsixpencesIgot;buttheprospectoflayingupadecentsumofmoneywasnotofsufficientimportancetoinducemetocontinueeitheratmywoodendesk,orintheinn—yard。ThereaderwillrememberwhatdifficultyIhadtomakeupmymindtobecomeamerchantundertheArmenian’sauspices,evenwiththeprospectofmakingtwoorthreehundredthousandpoundsbyfollowingtheArmenianwayofdoingbusiness,soitwasnotprobablethatIshouldfeeldisposedtobeabook—keeperorostlerallmylifewithnootherprospectthanbeingabletomakeatidysumofmoney。Ifindeed,besidestheprospectofmakingatidysumattheendofperhapsfortyyears’
ostlering,Ihadbeencertainofbeingpresentedwithasilvercurrycombwithmynameengraveduponit,whichImighthavelefttomydescendants,or,indefaultthereof,totheparishchurchdestinedtocontainmybones,withdirectionsthatitmightbesolderedintothewallabovethearchleadingfromthebodyofthechurchintothechancel—Iwillnotsaywithsuchacertaintyofimmortality,combinedwithsuchaprospectofmoderatepecuniaryadvantage,—Imightnothavethoughtitworthmywhiletostay,butIentertainednosuchcertainty,and,takingeverythingintoconsideration,Ideterminedtomountmyhorseandleavetheinn。
Thishorsehadcausedmeforsometimepastnolittleperplexity;Ihadfrequentlyrepentedofhavingpurchasedhim,moreespeciallyasthepurchasehadbeenmadewithanotherperson’smoney,andhadmorethanonceshownhimtopeoplewho,Iimagined,werelikelytopurchasehim;but,thoughtheywereprofuseinhispraise,aspeoplegenerallyareinthepraiseofwhattheydon’tintendtopurchase,theynevermademeanoffer,andnowthatIhaddeterminedtomountonhisbackandrideaway,whatwasItodowithhiminthesequel?Icouldnotmaintainhimlong。SuddenlyI
bethoughtmeofHorncastle,whichFrancisArdryhadmentionedasaplacewherethehorsewaslikelytofindapurchaser,andnothavingdetermineduponanyparticularplacetowhichtorepair,IthoughtthatIcoulddonobetterthanbetakemyselftoHorncastleinthefirstinstance,andthereendeavourtodisposeofmyhorse。
OnmakinginquirieswithrespecttothesituationofHorncastle,andthetimewhenthefairwouldbeheld,I
learnedthatthetownwassituatedinLincolnshire,aboutahundredandfiftymilesfromtheinnatwhichIwasatpresentsojourning,andthatthefairwouldbeheldnominallywithinaboutamonth,butthatitwasalwaysrequisitetobeonthespotsomedaysbeforethenominaldayofthefair,asallthebesthorsesweregenerallysoldbeforethattime,andthepeoplewhocametopurchasegoneawaywithwhattheyhadbought。
Thepeopleoftheinnwereverysorryonbeinginformedofmydeterminationtodepart。OldBilltoldmethathehadhopedashowIhadintendedtosettledownthere,andtotakehisplaceasostlerwhenhewasfitfornomorework,adding,thatthoughIdidnotknowmuchofthebusiness,yethehadnodoubtbutthatImightimprove。Myfriendthepostillionwasparticularlysorry,andtakingmewithhimtothetap—
roomcalledfortwopintsofbeer,tooneofwhichhetreatedme;andwhilstweweredrinkingtoldmehowparticularlysorryhewasatthethoughtofmygoing,butthathehopedI
shouldthinkbetterofthematter。OnmytellinghimthatI
mustgo,hesaidthathetrustedIshouldputoffmydepartureforthreeweeks,inorderthatImightbepresentathismarriage,thebannsofwhichwerejustabouttobepublished。Hesaidthatnothingwouldgivehimgreaterpleasurethantoseemedanceaminuetwithhiswifeafterthemarriagedinner;butItoldhimitwasimpossiblethatI
shouldstay,myaffairsimperativelycallingmeelsewhere;
andthatwithrespecttomydancingaminuet,suchathingwasoutofthequestion,asIhadneverlearnedtodance。Atwhichhesaidthathewasexceedinglysorry,andfindingmedeterminedtogo,wishedmesuccessinallmyundertakings。
Themasterofthehouse,towhom,asindutybound,I
communicatedmyintentionbeforeIspokeofittotheservants,was,Imakenodoubt,verysorry,thoughhedidnotexactlytellmeso。Whathesaidwas,thathehadneverexpectedthatIshouldremainlongthere,assuchasituationneverappearedtohimquitesuitabletome,thoughIhadbeenverydiligent,andhadgivenhimperfectsatisfaction。OnhisinquiringwhenIintendedtodepart,Iinformedhimnextday,whereuponhebeggedthatIwoulddefermydeparturetillthenextdaybutone,anddohimthefavourofdiningwithhimonthemorrow。IinformedhimthatIshouldbeonlytoohappy。
Onthefollowingdayatfouro’clockIdinedwiththelandlord,incompanywithacommercialtraveller。Thedinnerwasgood,thoughplain,consistingofboiledmackerel—
ratherararityinthosepartsatthattime—withfennelsauce,aprimebaronofroastbeefafterthemackerel,thenatartandnobleCheshirecheese;wehadprimesherryatdinner,andwhilsteatingthecheeseprimeporter,thatofBarclay,theonlygoodporterintheworld。Aftertheclothwasremovedwehadabottleofverygoodport;andwhilstpartakingoftheportIhadanargumentwiththecommercialtravelleronthesubjectofthecorn—laws。
Thecommercialtraveller,havingworstedmeintheargumentonthesubjectofthecorn—laws,gotupingreatglee,sayingthathemustorderhisgig,asbusinessmustbeattendedto。
Beforeleavingtheroom,however,heshookmepatronizinglybythehand,andsaidsomethingtothemasterofthehouse,butinsolowatonethatitescapedmyear。
NosoonerhadhedepartedthanthemasterofthehousetoldmethathisfriendthetravellerhadjustsaidthatIwasaconfoundedsensibleyoungfellow,andnotatallopinionated,asentimentinwhichhehimselfperfectlyagreed—thenhemmingonceortwice,hesaidthatasIwasgoingonajourneyhehopedIwastolerablywellprovidedwithmoney,addingthattravellingwasratherexpensive,especiallyonhorseback,themannerinwhichhesupposed,asIhadahorseinthestable,Iintendedtotravel。ItoldhimthatthoughIwasnotparticularlywellsuppliedwithmoney,Ihadsufficientfortheexpensesofmyjourney,attheendofwhichIhopedtoprocuremore。Hethenhemmedagain,andsaidthatsinceIhadbeenattheinnIhadrenderedhimagreatdealofserviceinmorewaysthanone,andthatheshouldnotthinkofpermittingmetodepartwithoutmakingmesomeremuneration;thenputtinghishandintohiswaistcoatpocket,hehandedmeachequefortenpounds,whichhehadpreparedbeforehand,thevalueofwhichhesaidIcouldreceiveatthenexttown,orthat,ifIwishedit,anywaiterinthehousewouldcashitforme。IthankedhimforhisgenerosityinthebesttermsIcouldselect,but,handinghimbackthecheque,ItoldhimthatIcouldnotacceptit,saying,that,sofarfromhisbeingmydebtor,Ibelievedmyselftobeindebtedtohim,asnotonlymyselfbutmyhorsehadbeenlivingathishouseforseveralweeks。Hereplied,thatasformyboardatahouselikehisitamountedtonothing,andasforthelittlecornandhaywhichthehorsehadconsumeditwasofnoconsequence,andthathemustinsistuponmytakingthecheque。ButIagaindeclined,tellinghimthatdoingsowouldbeaviolationofarulewhichIhaddeterminedtofollow,andwhichnothingbutthegreatestnecessitywouldevercompelmetobreakthrough—
nevertoincurobligations。\"But,\"saidhe,\"receivingthismoneywillnotbeincurringanobligation,itisyourdue。\"
\"Idonotthinkso,\"saidI;\"Ididnotengagetoserveyouformoney,norwillItakeanyfromyou。\"\"Perhapsyouwilltakeitasaloan?\"saidhe。\"No,\"Ireplied,\"Ineverborrow。\"\"Well,\"saidthelandlord,smiling,\"youaredifferentfromallothersthatIamacquaintedwith。Ineveryetknewanyoneelsewhoscrupledtoborrowandreceiveobligations;why,therearetwobaronetsintheneighbourhoodwhohaveborrowedmoneyofme,ay,andwhohaveneverrepaidwhattheyborrowed;andthereareadozensquireswhoareunderconsiderableobligationstome,whoIdaresaywillneverreturnthem。Come,youneednotbemorescrupulousthanyoursuperiors—Imeaninstation。\"\"Everyvesselmuststandonitsownbottom,\"saidI;\"theytakepleasureinreceivingobligations,Itakepleasureinbeingindependent。
Perhapstheyarewise,andIamafool,Iknownot,butonethingIamcertainof,whichis,thatwereInotindependentIshouldbeveryunhappy:Ishouldhavenovisionsthen。\"
\"Haveyouanyrelations?\"saidthelandlord,lookingatmecompassionately;\"excuseme,butIdon’tthinkyouareexactlyfittotakecareofyourself。\"\"Thereyouaremistaken,\"saidI,\"Icantakepreciousgoodcareofmyself;
ay,andcandriveaprecioushardbargainwhenIhaveoccasion,butdrivingbargainsisawidelydifferentthingfromreceivinggifts。IamgoingtotakemyhorsetoHorncastle,andwhenthereIshallendeavourtoobtainhisfullvalue—aytothelastpenny。\"
\"Horncastle!\"saidthelandlord,\"Ihaveheardofthatplace;
youmustn’tbedreamingvisionswhenyougetthere,orthey’llstealthehorsefromunderyou。Well,\"saidhe,rising,\"Ishallnotpressyoufurtheronthesubjectofthecheque。Iintend,however,toputyouunderanobligationtome。\"Hethenrangthebell,andhavingorderedtwofreshglassestobebrought,hewentoutandpresentlyreturnedwithasmallpintbottle,whichheuncorkedwithhisownhand;thensittingdown,hesaid,\"ThewinethatIbringhere,isportofeighteenhundredandeleven,theyearofthecomet,thebestvintageonrecord;thewinewhichwehavebeendrinking,\"headded,\"isgood,butnottobecomparedwiththis,whichIneversell,andwhichIamcharyof。Whenyouhavedrunksomeofit,IthinkyouwillownthatIhaveconferredanobligationuponyou;\"hethenfilledtheglasses,thewinewhichhepouredoutdiffusinganaromathroughtheroom;thenmotioningmetodrink,heraisedhisownglasstohislips,saying,\"Come,friend,IdrinktoyoursuccessatHorncastle。\"
CHAPTERXXX
TriumphalDeparture—NoSeasonlikeYouth—ExtremeOldAge—BeautifulEngland—TheRatcatcher—AMisadventure。
IDEPARTEDfromtheinnmuchinthesamefashionasIhadcometoit,mountedonasplendidhorseindifferentlywellcaparisoned,withthesmallvaliseattachedtomycrupper,inwhich,besidesthefewthingsIhadbroughtwithme,wasasmallbookofroadswithamapwhichhadbeenpresentedtomebythelandlord。ImustnotforgettostatethatIdidnotrideoutoftheyard,butthatmyhorsewasbroughttomeatthefrontdoorbyoldBill,whoinsistedupondoingso,andwhorefusedafive—shillingpiecewhichIofferedhim;anditwillbeaswelltoletthereaderknowthatthelandlordshookmebythehandasImounted,andthatthepeopleattachedtotheinn,maleandfemale—myfriendthepostillionatthehead—assembledbeforethehousetoseemeoff,andgavemethreecheersasIrodeaway。Perhapsnopersoneverdepartedfromaninnwithmoreeclatorbetterwishes;nobodylookedatmeaskance,excepttwostage—
coachmenwhowereloiteringabout,oneofwhomsaidtohiscompanion,\"Isay,Jim!twighisportmanteau!aregularNewmarketturn—out,by—!\"
Itwasinthecooloftheeveningofabrightday—allthedaysofthatsummerwerebright—thatIdeparted。Ifeltatfirstrathermelancholyatfindingmyselfagainlaunchedintothewideworld,andleavingthefriendswhomIhadlatelymadebehindme;butbyoccasionallytrottingthehorse,andoccasionallysingingasongofRomanvile,IhaddispelledthefeelingofmelancholybythetimeIhadproceededthreemilesdownthemainroad。Itwasattheendofthesethreemiles,justoppositeamilestone,thatIstruckintoacrossroad。
Afterridingaboutsevenmiles,threadingwhatarecalled,inpostillionparlance,cross—countryroads,Ireachedanotherhighroad,tendingtotheeast,alongwhichIproceededforamileortwo,whencomingtoasmallinn,aboutnineo’clock,Ihaltedandputupforthenight。
EarlyonthefollowingmorningIproceededonmyjourney,butfearingtogallthehorse,Inolongerrodehim,butledhimbythebridle,untilIcametoatownatthedistanceofabouttenmilesfromtheplacewhereIhadpassedthenight。
HereIstayedduringtheheatoftheday,moreonthehorse’saccountthanmyown,andtowardseveningresumedmyjourney,leadingtheanimalbythebridleasbefore;andinthismannerIproceededforseveraldays,travellingonanaveragefromtwentytotwenty—fivemilesaday,alwaysleadingtheanimal,exceptperhapsnowandthenofanevening,when,ifI
sawagoodpieceofroadbeforeme,Iwouldmountandputthehorseintoatrot,whichthecreatureseemedtoenjoyasmuchasmyself,showinghissatisfactionbysnortingandneighing,whilstIgaveutterancetomyownexhilarationbyshouts,orby\"thechisheiskauloshesovesprelakiedumo,\"orbysomethingelseofthesamekindinRomanvile。
Onthewhole,Ijourneyedalongverypleasantly,certainlyquiteaspleasantlyasIdoatpresent,nowthatIambecomeagentlemanandweighsixteenstone,thoughsomepeoplewouldsaythatmypresentmanneroftravellingismuchthemostpreferable,ridingasInowdo,insteadofleadingmyhorse;
receivingthehomageofostlersinsteadoftheirfamiliarnods;sittingdowntodinnerintheparlourofthebestinnI
canfind,insteadofpassingthebrightestpartofthedayinthekitchenofavillagealehouse;carryingonmyargumentafterdinneronthesubjectofthecorn—laws,withthebestcommercialgentlemenontheroad,insteadofbeingglad,whilstsippingapintofbeer,togetintoconversationwithblindtrampers,ormaimedAbrahamsailors,regalingthemselvesonhalf—pintsatthesaidvillagehostelries。
Manypeoplewilldoubtlesssaythatthingshavealteredwonderfullywithmeforthebetter,andtheywouldsayright,providedIpossessednowwhatIthencarriedaboutwithmeinmyjourneys—thespiritofyouth。Youthistheonlyseasonforenjoyment,andthefirsttwenty—fiveyearsofone’slifeareworthalltherestofthelongestlifeofman,eventhoughthosefive—and—twentybespentinpenuryandcontempt,andtherestinthepossessionofwealth,honours,respectability,ay,andmanyoftheminstrengthandhealth,suchaswillenableonetoridefortymilesbeforedinner,andoverone’spintofport—forthebestgentlemaninthelandshouldnotdrinkabottle—carryonone’sargument,withgravityanddecorum,withanycommercialgentlemanwho,responsivetoone’schallenge,takesthepartofhumanityandcommonsenseagainst\"protection\"andthelordoftheland。
Ah!thereisnothinglikeyouth—notthatafter—lifeisvalueless。Eveninextremeoldageonemaygetonverywell,providedwewillbutacceptofthebountiesofGod。Imettheotherdayanoldman,whoaskedmetodrink。\"Iamnotthirsty,\"saidI,\"andwillnotdrinkwithyou。\"\"Yes,youwill,\"saidtheoldman,\"forIamthisdayonehundredyearsold;andyouwillneveragainhaveanopportunityofdrinkingthehealthofamanonhishundredthbirthday。\"SoIbrokemyword,anddrank。\"Yoursisawonderfulage,\"saidI。\"Itisalongtimetolookbacktothebeginningofit,\"saidtheoldman;\"yet,uponthewhole,Iamnotsorrytohaveliveditall。\"\"Howhaveyoupassedyourtime?\"saidI。\"AswellasIcould,\"saidtheoldman;\"alwaysenjoyingagoodthingwhenitcamehonestlywithinmyreach;notforgettingtopraiseGodforputtingitthere。\"\"Isupposeyouwerefondofaglassofgoodalewhenyouwereyoung?\"\"Yes,\"saidtheoldman,\"Iwas;andso,thankGod,Iamstill。\"Andhedrankoffaglassofale。
OnIwentinmyjourney,traversingEnglandfromwesttoeast—ascendinganddescendinghills—crossingriversbybridgeandferry—andpassingoverextensiveplains。WhatabeautifulcountryisEngland!Peoplerunabroadtoseebeautifulcountries,andleavetheirownbehindunknown,unnoticed—theirownthemostbeautiful!Andthen,again,whatacountryforadventures!especiallytothosewhotravelonfoot,oronhorseback。Peoplerunabroadinquestofadventures,andtraverseSpainorPortugalonmuleoronhorseback;whereastherearetentimesmoreadventurestobemetwithinEnglandthaninSpain,Portugal,orstupidGermanytoboot。Witnessthenumberofadventuresnarratedinthepresentbook—abookentirelydevotedtoEngland。
Why,thereisnotachapterinthepresentbookwhichisnotfullofadventures,withtheexceptionofthepresentone,andthisisnotyetterminated。
Aftertraversingtwoorthreecounties,IreachedtheconfinesofLincolnshire。DuringoneparticularlyhotdayI
putupatapublic—house,towhich,intheevening,cameapartyofharvesterstomakemerry,who,findingmewanderingaboutthehouseastranger,invitedmetopartakeoftheirale;soIdrankwiththeharvesters,whosangmesongsaboutrurallife,suchas—