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seemly, nor suiting the dignity of the cloth." Here Trulliber made a long oration on the dignity of the cloth (or rather gown), not much worth relating, till his wife had spread the table, and set a mess of porridge on it for his breakfast. He then said to Adams, " I don't know, friend, how you came to caale on me; however, as you are here, if you think proper to eat a morsel, you may." Adams accepted the invitation, and the two parsons sat down together, Mrs Trulliber waiting behind her husband's chair, as was, it seems, her custom. Trulliber eat heartily, but scarce put any thing in his mouth without finding fault with his wife's cookery. All which the poor woman bore patiently. Indeed she was so absolute an admirer of her husband's greatness and importance, of which she had frequent hints from his own mouth, that she almost carried her adoration to an opinion of his infallibility. To say the truth, the parson had exercised her more ways than one: and the pious woman had so well edified by her husband's sermons, that she had resolved to receive the bad things of this world together with the good. She had indeed been at first a little contentious; but he had long since got the better, partly by her love for this, partly by her fear for that, partly by her religion, partly by the respect he paid himself, and partly by that which he received from the parish: she had, in short, absolutely submitted, and now worshipped her husband as Sarah did Abraham, calling him (not lord, but) master. Whilst they were at table, her husband gave her a fresh example of his greatness; for as she had just delivered a cup of ale to Adams, he snatched it out of his hand, and, crying out, "I caal'd vurst," swallowed down the ale. Adams denied it; it was referred to the wife, who, though her conscience was on the side of Adams, durst not give it against her husband. Upon which he said, "No, sir, no, I should not have been so rude to have taken it from you, if you had caal'd vurst; but I'd have you know, I'm a better man than to suffer the best he in the kingdom to drink before me in my own house, when I caale vurst."

As soon as their breakfast was ended, Adams began in the following manner: "I think, sir, it is high time to inform you of the business of my embassy. I am a traveller, and am passing this way in company with two young people, a lad and a damsel, my parishioners, towards my own cure: we stopt at a house of hospitality in the parish, where they directed me to you, as having the cure."- "Though I am but a curate," says Trulliber, "I believe I am as warm as the vicar himself, or perhaps the rector of the next parish too; I believe I could buy them both." "Sir," cries Adams, "I rejoice thereat. Now, sir, my business is, that we are by various accidents stript of our money, and are not

able to pay our reckoning, being seven shillings. I therefore request you to assist me with the loan of those seven shillings, and also seven shillings more, which peradventure I shall return to you; but if not, I am convinced you will joyfully embrace such an opportunity of laying up a treasure in a better place than any this world affords."

Suppose a stranger, who entered the chambers of a lawyer, being imagined a client, when the lawyer was preparing his palm for the fee, should pull out a writ against him. Suppose an apothecary, at the door of a chariot containing some great doctor of eminent skill, should, instead of directions to a patient, present him with a potion for himself. Suppose a minister should, instead of a good round sum, treat my Lord or Sir or Esq. ———with a good broomstick. Suppose a civil companion, or a led captain, should, instead of virtue, and honour, and beauty, and parts, and admiration, thunder vice, and infamy, and ugliness, and folly, and contempt in his patron's ears. Suppose, when a tradesman first carries in his bill, the man of fashion should pay it; or suppose, if he did so, the tradesman should abate what he had overcharged on the supposition of waiting. In short,

suppose what you will, you never can nor will suppose any thing equal to the astonishment which seized on Trulliber, as soon as Adams had ended his speech. A while he rolled his eyes in silence, sometimes surveying Adams, then his wife, then casting them on the ground, then lifting them up to heaven. At last, he burst forth in the following accents. "Sir, I believe I know where to lay up my little treasure as well as another: I thank God if I am not so warm as some, I am content; that is a blessing greater than riches; and he to whom that is given, need ask no more. To be content with a little is greater than to possess the world, which man may possess without being so. Lay up my treasure! what matters where a man's treasure is, whose heart is in the Scriptures? there is the treasure of a Christian." At these words the water ran from Adams's eyes; and catching Trulliber by the hand in a rapture, "Brother," says he, "Heavens bless the accident by which I came to see you! I would have walked many a mile to have communed with you, and believe me, I will shortly pay you a second visit: but my friends, I fancy, by this time, wonder at my stay; so let me have the money immediately." Trulliber then put on a stern look, and cried out, “Thou dost not intend to rob me?" At which the wife, bursting into tears, fell on her knees, and roared out, "O dear sir, for heaven's sake don't rob my master; we are but poor people." "Get up for a fool as thou art, and go about thy business," said Trulliber, "dost think the man will venture his life? he is a beggar and no robber." " Very true indeed," answered Adams.

"I wish, with all my heart, the tithing-man was here," cries Trulliber, "I would have thee punished as a vagabond for thy impudence. Fourteen shillings indeed! I wont give thee a farthing. I believe thou art no more a clergyman than the woman there (pointing to his wife); but if thou art, dost deserve to have thy gown stript over thy shoulders, for running about the country in such a manner." "I forgive your suspicions," says Adams; " but suppose I'm not a clergyman, I am nevertheless thy brother; and thou, as a Christian, much more as a clergyman, art obliged to relieve my distress." "Dost preach to me?" replied Trulliber, "dost pretend to instruct me in my duty ?" "Ifacks, a good story," cries Mrs Trulliber, "to preach to my master!" "Silence, woman," cries Trul liber; "I would have thee know, friend," addressing himself to Adams, "I shall not learn my duty from such as thee; I know what charity is, better than to give it to vagabonds." "Besides, if we were inclined, the poor's rate obliges us to give so much charity," cries the wife."Pugh! thou art a fool. Poor's reate! hold thy nonsense," answered Trulliber: and then, turning to Adams, he told him, he would give him nothing. "I am sorry," answered Adams, "that you do know what charity is, since you practise it no better; I must tell you, if you trust to your knowledge for your justification, you will find yourself deceived, though you should add faith to it without good works." "Fellow," cries Trulliber, "dost thou speak against faith in my house? Get out of my doors, I will no longer remain under the same roof with a wretch who speaks wantonly of faith and the Scriptures." "Namenot the Scriptures," says Adams." How, not name the Scriptures! Do you disbelieve the Scriptures?" cries Trul liber. "No, but you do," answered Adams, "if I may reason from your practice: for their commands are so explicit, and their rewards and punishments so immense, that it is impossible a man should stedfastly believe without obeying. Now, there is no command more express, no duty more frequently enjoined, than charity. Whoever, therefore, is void of charity, I make no scruple of pronouncing that he is no Christian." "I would not advise thee," says Trulliber, "to say that I am no Christian; I won't take it of you: for I believe I am as good a man as thyself" (and indeed, though he was now rather corpulent for athletic exercises, he had in his youth been one of the best boxers and cudgel-players in the county). His wife, seeing him clench his fist, interposed, and begged him not to fight, but shew himself a true Christian, and take the law of him. As nothing could provoke Adams to strike but an absolute assault on himself or his friend, he smiled at the angry look and gestures of Trulliber; and, telling him he was sorry to see such men in orders, depart ed without further ceremony.

CHAPTER XV.

An adventure, the consequence of a new instance which Parson Adams gave of his forgetfulness.

WHEN he came back to the inn, he found Joseph and Fanny sitting together. They were so far from thinking his absence long, as he had feared they would, that they had never once missed or thought of him. Indeed I have been often assured by both, that they spent these hours in a most delightful conversation: but as I never could prevail on either to relate it, so I cannot communicate it to the reader.

Adams acquainted the lovers with the ill success of his enterprize. They were all greatly confounded, none being able to propose any method of departing, till Joseph at last advised calling in the hostess, and desiring her to trust them; which Fanny said she despaired of her doing, as she was one of the sourest-faced women she had ever beheld.

But she was agreeably disappointed; for the hostess was no sooner asked the question, than she readily agreed; and, with a curtsey and smile, wished them a good journey. However, lest Fanny's skill in physiognomy should be called in question, we will venture to assign one reason which might probably incline her to this confidence and good-humour. When Adams said he was going to visit his brother, he had unwit tingly imposed on Joseph and Fanny; who both believed he had meant his natural brother, and not his brother in divinity; and had so informed the hostess on her inquiry after him. Now Mr Trulliber had, by his professions of piety, by his gravity, austerity, reserve, and opinion of his great wealth, so great an authority in his parish, that they all lived in the utmost fear and apprehension of him. It was therefore no wonder that the hostess, who knew it was in his option whether she should ever sell another mug of drink, did not dare to affront his supposed brother by denying him credit.

They were now just on their departure, when Adams recollected he had left his great coat and hat at Mr Trulliber's. As he was not desirous of renewing his visit, the hostess herself, having no servant at home, offered to fetch it.

This was an unfortunate expedient: for the hostess was soon undeceived in the opinion she had entertained of Adams, whom Trufliber abused in the grossest terms, especially when he heard he had had the assurance to pretend to be his near relation.

At her return, therefore, she entirely changed her note. She said, folks might be ashamed of travelling about, and pretending to be what they were not: that taxes were high, and, for her part, she was obliged to pay for what she had; she could not therefore possibly, nor would she, trust any body, no, not her own father: that

money was never scarcer, and she wanted to make up a sum; that she expected, therefore, they should pay the reckoning, before they left the house.

Adams was now greatly perplexed: but as he knew that he could easily have borrowed such a sum in his own parish, and as he knew he would have lent it himself to any mortal in distress: so he took fresh courage, and sallied out all around the parish, but to no purpose; he returned as pennyless as he went, groaning and lamenting, that it was possible, in a country professing Christianity, for a wretch to starve in the midst of his fellow-creatures who abounded.

Whilst he was gone, the hostess, who stayed as a sort of guard with Joseph and Fanny, entertained them with the goodness of Parson Trulliber. And indeed he had not only a very good character, as to other qualities, in the neighbourhood, but was reputed a man of great charity: for though he never gave a farthing, he had always that word in his mouth.

Adams was no sooner returned the second time, than the storm grew exceeding high, the hostess declaring, among other things, that if they offered to stir without paying her, she would soon overtake them with a warrant.

Plato and Aristotle, or somebody else hath said, "That when the most exquisite cunning fails, Chance often hits the mark, and that by means the least expected." Virgil expresses this very boldly:

Turne, quod optanti divum promittere nemo
Auderet, volvenda dies, en! attulit ultra.

I would quote more great men if I could, but my memory not permitting me, I will proceed to exemplify these observations by the following

instance.

There chanced (for Adams had not cunning enough to contrive it) to be at that time in the ale-house a fellow who had been formerly a drummer in an Irish regiment, and now travel led the country as a pedlar. This man having attentively listened to the discourse of the host ess, at last took Adams aside, and asked him what the sum was for which they were detained. As soon as he was informed, he sighed, and said, he was sorry it was so much; for that he had no more than six shillings and sixpence in his pocket, which he would lend them with all his heart. Adams gave a caper, and cried out, it would do; for that he had sixpence himself. And thus these poor people, who could not engage the compassion of riches and piety, were at length delivered out of their distress by the charity of a poor pedlar.

I shall refer it to my reader to make what observations he pleases on this incident: it is sufficient for me to inform him, that after Adams and his companions had returned him a thousand thanks, and told him where he might call to be repaid, they all sallied out of the house without any compliments from their hostess, or

indeed without paying her any; Adams declaring, he would take particular care never to call there again, and she on her side assuring them she wanted no such guests.

CHAP. XVI.

A very curious adventure, in which Mr Adams gave a much greater instance of the honest : simplicity of his heart, than of his experience in the ways of this world.

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OUR travellers had walked about two miles from that inn, which they had more reason to have mistaken for a castle than Don Quixote ever had any of those in which he sojourned, seeing they had met with such difficulty in escaping out of its walls, when they came to a parish and beheld a sign of invitation hanging out. A gentleman sat smoking a pipe at the door; of whom Adams inquired the road, and received so courteous and obliging an answer, accompanied with so smiling a countenance, that the good parson, whose heart was naturally disposed to love and affection, began to ask several other questions; particularly the name of the parish, and who was the owner of a large house whose front they then had in prospect. The gentleman answered as obligingly as before; and as to the house, acquainted him it was his own. He then proceeded in the following manner; "Sir, I presume by your habit you are a clergyman; and as you are travelling on foot, I suppose a glass of good beer will not be disagreeable to you; and I can recommend my landlord's within, as some of the best in all this country. What say you, will you halt a little, and let us take a pipe together? there is no better tobacco in the kingdom." This proposal was not displeasing to Adams, who had allayed his thirst that day with no better liquor than what Mrs Trulliber's cellar had produced; and which was indeed little superior, either in richness or flavour, to that which distilled from those grains her generous husband bestowed on his hogs. Having therefore abundantly thanked the gentleman for his kind invitation, and bid Joseph and Fanny follow him, he entered the ale-house, where a large loaf and cheese, and a pitcher of beer, which truly answered the character given of it, being set before them, the three travellers fell to eating with appetites infinitely more voracious than are to be found at the most exquisite eating-houses in the parish of St

James's.

The gentleman expressed great delight in the hearty and chearful behaviour of Adams; and particularly in the familiarity with which he conversed with Joseph and Fanny, whom he often called his children, a term he explained to mean no more than his parishioners; saying, he looked on all those whom God had entrust

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ed to his cure, to stand to him in that relation. The gentleman, shaking him by the hand, highly applauded those sentiments. "They are indeed," says he," the true principles of a Christian divine; and I heartily wish they were universal: but, on the contrary, I am sorry to say the parson of our parish, instead of esteeming his poor parishioners as a part of his family, seems rather to consider them as not of the same species with himself. He seldom speaks to any, unless some few of the richest of us; nay, indeed he will not move his hat to the others. I often laugh, when I behold him on Sundays strutting along the church-yard like a turkeycock, through rows of his parishioners, who bow to him with as much submission, and are as unregarded, as a set of servile courtiers by the proudest prince in Christendom. But if such temporal pride is ridiculous, surely the spiritual is odious and detestable; if such a puffed-up empty human bladder, strutting in princely robes, justly moves one's derision, surely in the habit of a priest it must raise our scorn."

"Doubtless," answered Adams, "your opinion is right; but I hope such examples are rare. The clergy whom I have the honour to know, maintain a different behaviour; and you will allow me, sir, that the readiness which too many of the laity show to contemn the order, may be one reason of their avoiding too much humility."-"Very true indeed," says the gentleman; "I find, sir, you are a man of excellent sense, and am happy in this opportunity of knowing you: perhaps our accidental meeting may not be disadvantageous to you neither. At present, I shall only say to you, that the incumbent of this living is old and infirm; and that it is in my gift. Doctor, give me your hand; and assure yourself of it at his decease." Adams told him, he was never more confounded in his life, than at his utter incapacity to make any return to such noble and unmerited generosity. "A mere trifle, sir," cries the gentleman, "scarce worth your acceptance; a little more than three hundred a year. I wish it was double the value for your sake."-Adams bowed, and cried from the emotions of his gratitude. When the other asked him, if he was married, or had any children be sides those in the spiritual sense he had mentioned, "Sir," replied the parson, "I have a wife and six at your service."-"That is unlucky," says the gentleman; "for I would other wise have taken you into my own house as my chaplain; however I have another in the parish, (for the parsonage-house is not good enough) which I will furnish for you. Pray, does your wife understand a dairy?"-" I can't profess she does," says Adams." I am sorry for it," quoth the gentleman; "I would have given you half a dozen cows, and very good grounds to have maintained them."-" Sir," said Adams in an ecstasy, "you are too liberal; indeed you are.”—“ Not at all," cries the gentleman; "I

VOL. I.

esteem riches only as they give me an opportunity of doing good; and I never saw one whom I had a greater inclination to serve."-At which words he shook him heartily by the hand, and told him he had sufficient room in his house to entertain him and his friends. Adams begged he might give him no such trouble; that they could be very well accommodated in the house where they were: forgetting they had not a sixpenny piece among them. The gentleman would not be denied; and informing himself how far they were travelling, he said it was too long a journey to take on foot, and begged that they would favour him, by suffering him to lend them a servant and horses; adding withal, that if they would do him the pleasure of their company only two days, he would furnish them with his coach and six. Adams turning to Joseph, said, "How lucky is this gentleman's goodness to you; who, I am afraid, would be scarce able to hold out on your lame leg!" and then addressing the person who made him these liberal promises, after much bowing, he cried out, "Blessed be the hour which first introduced me to a man of your charity! you are indeed a Christian of the true primitive kind, and an honour to the country wherein you live. I would willingly have taken a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to have beheld you: for the advantages which we draw from your goodness give me little pleasure in comparison of what I enjoy for your own sake, when I consider the treasures you are by these means laying up for yourself in a country that passeth not away. We will therefore, most generous sir, accept your goodness, as well the entertainment you have so kindly offered us at your house this evening, as the accommodation of your horses to-morrow morning." He then began to search for his hat, as did Joseph for his, and both they and Fanny were in order of departure, when the gentleman stopping short, and seeming to meditate by himself for the space of about a minute, exclaimed thus: "Sure never any thing was so unlucky! I had forgot that my house-keeper was gone abroad, and hath locked up all my rooms: indeed I would break them open for you, but shall not be able to furnish you with a bed; for she hath likewise put away all my linen. I am glad it entered into my head before I had given you the trouble of walking there: besides, I believe you will find better accommodations here than you expected.-Landlord, you can provide good beds for these people, can't you?" "Yes, and please your worship," cries the host," and such as no lord or justice of peace in the kingdom need be ashamed to lie in."-" I am heartily sorry," says the gentleman, "for this disappointment. I am resolved I will never suffer her to carry away the keys again."-" Pray, sir, let it not make you uneasy," cries Adams, "we shall do very well here; and the loan of your horses is a favour we shall be incapable of making any return to.”

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"Ay," said the squire, "the horses shall attend you here, at what hour in the morning you please." And now after many civilities too tedious to enumerate, many squeezes by the hand, with most affectionate looks and smiles at each other, and after appointing the horses at seven the next morning, the gentleman took his leave of them, and departed to his own house. Adams and his companions returned to the table, where the parson smoked another pipe, and then they all retired to rest.

Mr Adams rose very early, and called Joseph out of his bed, between whom a very fierce dispute ensued, whether Fanny should ride behind Joseph or behind the gentleman's servant; Joseph insisting on it, that he was perfectly recovered, and was as capable of taking care of Fanny as any other person could be. But Adams would not agree to it, and declared he would not trust her behind him; for that he was weaker than he imagined himself to be.

This dispute continued a long time, and had begun to be very hot, when a servant arrived from their good friend to acquaint them, that he was unfortunately prevented from lending them any horses; for that his groom had, unknown to him, put his whole stable under a course of physic.

This advice presently struck the two disputants dumb. Adams cried out, "Was ever any thing so unlucky as this poor gentleman? I protest I am more sorry on his account than my own. You see, Joseph, how this good-natured man is treated by his servants; one locks up his linen, another physics his horses; and I suppose, by his being in this house last night, the butler had locked up his cellar. Bless us! how goodnature is used in this world! I protest I am more concerned on his account than my own." "So am not I," cries Joseph; "not that I am much troubled about walking on foot; all my concern is, how we shall get out of the house, unless God sends another pedlar to redeem us. But certainly this gentleman hath such an affection for you, that he would lend you a larger sum than we owe here, which is not above four or five shillings."—"Very true, child," answered Adams; "I will write a letter to him, and will even venture to solicit him for three halfcrowns; there will be no harm in having two or three shillings in our pockets; as we have full forty miles to travel, we may possibly have occasion for them."

Fanny being now risen, Joseph paid her a visit, and left Adams to write a letter, which having finished, he dispatched a boy with it to the gentleman, and then seated himself by the door, lighted his pipe, and betook himself to meditation.

The boy staying longer than seemed to be necessary, Joseph, who with Fanny was now returned to the parson, expressed some apprehensions, that the gentleman's steward had locked

up his purse too. To which Adams answered, "It might very possibly be; and he should wonder at no liberties which the devil might put into the head of a wicked servant to take with so worthy a master:" but added, "that as the sum was so small, so noble a gentleman would be easily able to procure it in the parish, though he had it not in his own pocket. Indeed," says he, "if it were four or five guineas, or any such large quantity of money, it might be a different matter."

They were now sat down to breakfast over some toast and ale, when the boy returned, and informed them, that the gentleman was not at home. "Very well!" cries Adams; " but why, child, did you not stay till his return? Go back again, my good boy, and wait for his coming home: he cannot be gone far, as his horses are all sick; and, besides, he had no intention to go abroad, for he invited us to spend this day and to-morrow at his house. Therefore go back, child, and tarry till his return home." The messenger departed, and was back again with great expedition, bringing an account, that the gentleman was gone a long journey, and would not be at home again this month. At these words Adams seemed greatly confounded, saying, "This must be a sudden accident, as the sickness or death of a relation, or some such unforeseen misfortune;" and then turning to Joseph, cried, "I wish you had reminded me to have borrowed this money last night." Joseph smiling, answered, he was very much deceived if the gentleman would not have found some excuse to avoid lending of it. "I own," says he, "I was never much pleased with his professing so much kindness for you at first sight; for I have heard the gentlemen of our cloth in London tell many such stories of their masters. But when the boy brought the message back of his not being at home, I presently knew what would follow; for whenever a man of fashion doth not care to fulfil his promises, the custom is, to order the servants that he will never be at home to the person so promised. In London they call it denying him. I have myself denied Sir Thomas Booby above an hundred times; and when the man hath danced attendance for about a month, or sometimes longer, he is acquainted in the end, that the gentleman is gone out of town, and could do nothing in the business." "Good Lord!" says Adams, "what wickedness is there in the Christian world! I profess almost equal to what I have read of the Heathens. But surely, Joseph, your suspicions of this gentleman must be unjust; for, what a silly fellow must he be who would do the devil's work for nothing? and canst thou tell me any interest he could possibly propose to himself by deceiving us in his professions?"-" It is not for me," answered Joseph, "to give reasons for what men do, to a gentleman of your learning."-" You say right," quoth Adams; "knowledge of men

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