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CHAP. XIV.

Fresh mortifications, or a demonstration that feeming calamities may be real bleffings.

HE journey of my daughters to

TH

town was now resolved upon, Mr. Thornhill having kindly promised to inspect their conduct himself, and inform us by letter of their behaviour. But it was thought indifpenfably neceffary that their appearance fhould equal the greatnefs of their expectations, which could not be done without expence. We debated therefore in full council what were the easiest methods of raifing money, or, more properly speaking, what we could most conveniently fell. The deliberation was foon finished; it was found that our remaining horse was utterly useless for the plow, without his companion, and equally

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unfit for the road, as wanting an eye; it was therefore determined that we fhould difpofe of him for the purpofes above. mentioned, at the neighbouring fair, and, to prevent impofition, that I should go with him myfelf. Though this was one of the firft mercantile tranfactions of my life, yet I had no doubt about acquitting myfelf with reputation. The opinion a man forms of his own prudence is meafured by that of the company he keeps ; and as mine was mostly in the family way, I had conceived no unfavourable fentiments of my worldly wisdom. My wife, however, next morning, at parting, after

I had got fome paces from the door, called

me back, to advise me, in a whisper, to have all my eyes about me.

I had, in the ufual forms, when I came to the fair, put my horfe through all his paces; but for fome time had no bidders.. At last a chapman approached, and, after he had for a good while examined the horse round, finding him blind of one eye, he

would

would have nothing to fay to him: a fecond came up; but obferving he had a fpavin, declared he would not take him for the driving home: a third perceived he had a windgall, and would bid no money: a fourth knew by his eye that he had the botts: a fifth wondered what a plague I could do at the fair with the blind, fpavined, galled hack, that was only fit to be cut up for a dog kennel. By this time I began to have a moft hearty contempt for the poor animal myself, and was almoft afhamed at the approach of every customer; for though I did not entirely believe all the fellows told me; yet I reflected that the number of witneffes was a ftrong prefumption they were right, and St. Gregory upon good works, profeffes himself to be of the fame opinion.

I was in this mortifying fituation, when a brother clergyman, an old acquaintance, who had alfo bufiness to the fair, came up, and shaking me by the hand, proposed adjourning to a public-house and taking

a glafs

a glafs of whatever we could get. I readily closed with the offer, and entering an ale-house, we were fhewn into a little back room, where there was only a venerable old man, who fat wholly intent over a large book, which he was reading. I never in my life faw a figure that prepoffeffed me more favourably. His locks of filver grey venerably shaded his temples, and his green old age feemed to be the refult of health and benevolence. However his prefence did not interrupt our conversation; my friend and I difcourfed on the various turns of fortune we had met: the Whistonian controversy, my last pamphlet, the archdeacon's reply, and the hard measure that was dealt me. But our attention was in a fhort time taken off by the appearance of a youth, who, entering the room, refpectfully faid fomething foftly to the old ftranger. • Make

no apologies, my child,' faid the old man; to do good is a duty we owe to

all our fellow creatures: take this, I wish it were more; but five ❘ounds will

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• relieve your distress, and you are welcome.' The modeft youth shed tears of gratitude, and yet his gratitude was scarce equal to mine. I could have hugged the good old man in my arms, his benevolence pleased me fo. He continued to read, and we refumed our conversation, until my companion, after fome time, recollecting that he had bufinefs to tranf act in the fair, promised to be foon back; adding, that he always defired to have as much of Dr. Primrofe's company as poffible. The old gentleman, hearing my name mentioned, feemed to look at me with attention, for fome time, and when my friend was gone, most respectfully demanded if I was any way related to the great Primrose, that courageous monoga-. mift, who had been the bulwark of the church. Never did my heart feel fincerer rapture than at that moment. Sir,'

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cried I, the applause of so good a man,

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as I am fure you are, adds to that happiness in my breast which your benevolence has already excited You behold before

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