fung to the guitar; and while they thus formed a little concert, my wife and I would ftroll down the floping field, that was embellished with blue bells and centaury, talk of our children with rapture, and enjoy the breeze that wafted both health and harmony.

In this manner we began to find that every fituation in life might bring its own peculiar pleasures: every morning waked us to a repetition of toil; but the evening repaid it with vacant hilarity.

It was about the beginning of autumn, on a holiday, for I kept fuch as intervals of relaxation from labour, that I had drawn out my family to our ufual place of amusement, and our young musicians began their ufual concert. As we were thus engaged, we saw a ftag bound nimbly by, within about twenty paces of where we were fitting, and by its panting, it seemed preft by the hunters. We had not much time to reflect upon the poor animal's distress,

when

when we perceived the dogs and horsemen come sweeping along at some distance behind, and making the very path it had taken. I was instantly for returning in with my family; but either curiofity or surprize, or fome more hidden motive, held my wife and daughters to their feats. The huntfman, who rode foremost, paft us with great fwiftnefs, followed by four or five perfons more, who seemed in equal hafte. At last, a young gentleman of a more genteel appearance than the reft, came forward, and for a while regarding us, instead of pursuing the chace, stopt short, and giving his horse to a fervant who attended, approached us with a careless fuperior air. He seemed to want no introduction, but was going to falute my daughters as one certain of a kind reception; but they had early learnt the leffon of looking prefumption out of countenance. Upon which

he let us know that his name was Thornhill, and that he was owner of the estate that lay for fome extent round us. He again, therefore, offered to falute the fe

male

male part of the family, and fuch was the power of fortune and fine cloaths, that he found no fecond repulfe. As his address, though confident, was eafy, we foon became more familiar; and perceiving mufical inftruments lying near, he begged to be favoured with a fong. As I did not approve of fuch difproportioned acquaintances, I winked upon my daughters in order to prevent their compliance; but my hint was counteracted by one from their mother; fo that with a chearful air they gave us a favourite fong of Dryden's. Mr. Thornhill feemed highly delighted with their performance and choice, and then took up the guitar himself. He played but very indifferently; however, my eldest daughter repaid his former applause with interest, and affured him that his tones were louder than even those of her master. At this compliment he bowed, which she returned with a curtesy. He praised her taste, and she commended his understanding: an age could not have made them better acquainted. While the fond mother too, equally

happy,

happy, infifted upon her landlord's stepping in, and tasting a glass of her gooseberry. The whole family feemed earnest to please him: my girls attempted to entertain him with topics they thought moft modern, while Mofes, on the contrary, gave him a queftion or two from the ancients, for which he had the fatisfaction of being laughed at; for he always afcribed to his wit that laughter which was lavished at his fimplicity my little ones were no less bufy, and fondly stuck close to the stranger. All my endeavours could fearce keep their dirty fingers from handling and tarnishing the lace on his cloaths, and lifting up the flaps of his pocket holes, to fee what was there. At the approach of evening he took leave; but not till he had requested permiffion to renew his vifit, which, as he was our landlord, we most readily agreed

to.

As foon as he was gone, my wife called a council on the conduct of the day. She was of opinion, that it was a most fortu

nate

nate hit; for that fhe had known even ftranger things at laft brought to bear. She hoped again to fee the day in which we might hold up our heads with the best of them; and concluded, fhe protested she could fee no reason why the two Mifs Wrinklers should marry great fortunes, and her children get none. As this laft argument was directed to me, I protested I could fee no reason for it neither, nor why one got the ten thousand pound prize in the lottery. and another fate down with a blank. "But thofe," added I, "who either aim at

husbands greater than themselves, or at "the ten thousand pound prize, have been "fools for their ridiculous claims, whether "fuccessful or not." "I proteft, Charles," cried my wife, "this is the way you always damp my girls and me when we are in Spirits. Tell me, Sophy, my dear, what think of our new vifitor? Don't

"do you

you think he feemed to be good"natured?"—"Immenfely fo, indeed, Mamma," replied fhe. "I think he "has a great deal to fay

upon every