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—