if ^ & Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from The Library of Congress http://www.archive.org/details/leonardgertrudepOOpest LEONARD AND GERTRUDE, POPULAR STORY, Written originally in German; TRANSLATED INTO FRENCH, AND NOW ATTEMPTED IN ENGLISH*, WITH THE HOPE OF ITS BEING USEFUL TO ALL CLASSES OF SOCIETY. PHILADELPHIA: PRINTED FOR AND SOLD BY JOSEPH GR.OFF, NO. 75, SOUTH SECOND-STREET, ROBERT CARR, PRINTER. 1801. i TO WILLIAM WILBERFORCE, Esq, Dear Sir,' IF I knew any Person whom I more respected, to him I would have in- scribed this little Volume. I was much struck by its original merit, and have spared no pains to render it acceptable to the English Reader, Of that merit, it may have lost a considerable portion in my hands; and I confess it is not without some latent hopes of supplying my own deficiencies, that I have ven- tured to affix a name to my Book, which is, I think, never coupled but with what is good and virtuous. Tour faithful Friend and Servant, THE TRANSLATOR. LEONARD AND GERTRUDE. CHAP. I. A Man whose natural disposition is good, but who nevertheless involves his Wife and Children iu distress. 1 HERE lived in the village of Finefliade, an honeft mafon, by name Leonard, his wife's name Gertrude. They had five children, whom he could very well have fupported by his labour \ but, unfortunately, he allowed himfeif to be decoyed to the alehoufe, and when once there, he behaved like a madman. In every village there are afet of cun- ning rafcals, who have wit enough to take advan- tage of trfe good-humoured and unwary, and to drink at their expence : Leonard was a man of this cha- racter ; and when once they had inveigled him to drink, they eafily cheated him of his wages at play. The poor fellow was miferable the next day when he reflected that he had fquandered in gambling the money which mould have provided bread for his wife and family ; he trembled at the idea, and unable to fupport their prefence, he would wander from his houfe to hide his tears. B 2 Gertrude was one of the honcfteft and moft in- duftrious women in the parifh, and yet die, and her fine roiy children, ran the rifque of being flarved ; Leonard might be arrefted for debt, they might be deprived of their cottage, fcparated from one ano- ther, driven from place to place, and lofe the very meansof fubfiftence and every comfort; for no other reafon but becaufe the father got drunk. The tender mother and wife was grieved to the heart, at a mis- fortune which appeared to her fo near and fo inevi- table. If flie went to cut grafs for their cow, to fetch hay, or to fcour her dairy which was always as clean as hands could make it; every obj eel; brought to her remembrance the cruel reflection, that Garth, cottage, dairy, every thing upon which they depend- ed for fupport, might be foon loft ; and when her little ones flocked round her, it redoubled her afflic- tion, and (he could not refrain from tears. She had hitherto filed them in fecret, determined to hide them from her little ones : but the laft Wednefday before E after, her hufband having flayed out later at night than ufual, (lie could no longer reftrain her- felf, and they faw the tears running down her cheeks. Ah ! mother ! they exclaimed all together, you are crying, and at the fame moment they all clung round her* Diftrefs and anguifh were painted in every face. The fighs, the lamentations, and the floods of tears that bathed the faces of the children*, as they crowded round their mother, combed even into the mind of the infant at the breaft, the firft fenti- ment of grief it had ever experienced. So lively an expreflion of fear and affliction which it had never before witneffed, caufed it to fix its little eyes im- moveably upon its mother for the firft time without fmiling, and that quite overpowered her. She fob- bed aloud, her children, even the babe fhe held at her breaft, were drowned in tears; it w T as one general burft of lamentation, when Leonard half opened the door. y/ Gertrude had hid her face in the covering of the b:d, which prevented her noticing the opening of the door. The children did not fee their father was coming in, their attention being confined to their weeping mother. One was fmothering her hand with kiffes, another had its arms clafped round her, a third laying hold of her petticoat, and in this fitu- ation Leonard furprifed them. The Almighty be- held the affliction of the wretched, and put an end to their diftrefs ; a glance of compaflion lighted upon Gertrude, drowned in her tears, and He himfelf wil- led that Leonard mould witnefs a fcene which rent his heart, and made him tremble from head t® foot. Pale as death, he could fcarce articulate — Heaven and Earth! what is the matter? This exclamation brought the mother and children to their recollec- tion ; they perceived their father (landing before them, and immediately dried their tears. They exclaimed, Here's father 1 and even the infant ac- knowledged his return. Thus when a boundlefs torrent, or a devouring flame ceafes its ravages, confternation anddifmay give,place to calm and fober diitrefs. Gertrude tenderly loved her hufband, and his pre- fence was at any time fufficient to foften her mod violent forrows. On the other hand Leonard began to recover from his firit fui prife. Tell me, my Ger- trude, what occafioned the fhocking feene I have juft witnefTed. — Oh 1 my friend, faid (he, dark care has taken poffeflion of my heart, and when you are away it has double hold on me. — I know too well anfweredhe, the true caufe of your tears! unhappy wretch that I am. Gertrude had lent away the chil- dren, and then Leonard hid his face in her bofom, and was unable to utter a word. She was as little e to ipeak, but recline d upon her hulband, who wept and fobbed, with every mark of the moll vio- lent agitation. At laft, exerting all her courage, fhe began to conjure him not to expofe their children any more to lb terrible a deftiny. Gertrude was a religious woman, and Die placed her truft in God. Before me began to fpeak, (he had filently offered up more than one prayer, for her hufband and her chil- dren, She found her heart fenfibly relieved, and Md, Leonard, put your truft in God, and in his ten- der mercies, and determine to conduct yourfelf Ah ! Gertrude, Gertrude, interrupted her hufband, who could only fjgh and weep.- — Yes, my friend, continued me, take courage, truil in the kind father of ?,ll mercies, and all will end well yet. It makes my heart bleed to give you uneafmefs, and I would willingly have kept you ignorant of my forrows. You know I could live with you upon bread and water, and often have I laboured till midnight, while the reft of the world flept, to earn bread for you and our children. But, G my Leonard, if I could even have fmothered my grief, till our affairs had become defperate ; till we ihould have been torn from one another, and have been obliged to aban- don our children, Ihould I have acled like a good wife and an affectionate mother? Till now, thefe dear innocents are full of gratitude and love towards us ; but, when we behave to them no longer like fa- ther and mother, alas ! their affection, that honefl goodnefs of heart upon which I found all my hopes, will be irrecoverably loft. And, only think, my dear hufband, think one moment how wretched it would make you, to fee your poor Nicholas without any place to melter hirofelf in, obliged to have recourfe to fervice; — that poor boy who already talks with Mich ardour of liberty, and is fo proud of thofe ewes he calls his own. What ! Vf that dear child, and our other darlings fhould be reduced through our fault to want the neceffaries of life, and forgetting what we have already done for them, Ihould only retain a painful recollection of their parents ; could you fupport it ? Tell me, could you bear to fee your Nicholas, your James, your Louifa, your Jenny de- folate ? Juft Heaven i driven from their native home, and obliged to leek their bread amongft ilrangers 1 For my part I could not furvive it. An oppreffion at her heart prevented her from faying more, me could only fhed tears. Leonard was not lefs afflicted. What mail I do, wretch that I am ! how mall I extricate myfelf ? my fituation is even more deplorable than you fufpedl. Gertrude i my dear Gertrude ! Fie could utter no more, but wrung his hands, and fobbed, and groaned with defpair. "Beware, faid Gertrude, how you doubt the pro- vidence of the Almighty. Whatever you have upon your mind, let me know it, conceal nothing, and perhaps our joint efforts may find fome remedy for our misfortunes. CHAP. II. An example of a Woman with courage enough to exe- cute a good resolution, and in so doing, finds her .Landlord a benefactor and reed father. I .T grieves me to the heart, my dear Gertrude, to reveal the full extent of my wretchednefs, which mud increafe your affliction, but there is a necefli- ty fcr it, I ftill owe to Collins the fleward 31. 15s. B2 6 md foe is more a brute than -a man towards hrs^nc- ditors, What a wretch I am that I ever became en- tangled with him ! if I flay away from his alehoufe, he threatens to arrefl me; and when I am there, he never leaves me a farthing in my pocket. You mult attribute our misfortune folely to his voracity. But, my friend, faid Gertrude, why don't you go directly to our landlord ? You know he has always fhewn himfelf a father to his tenants, and that the widow, the orphan, and the oppreiled, are fure of finding in him a proteclor. .Depend upon it, you will obtain from him the advice and afiiftance you want. 1 neither can nor dare go, anfwered he. What could I do againfl the lleward ? he has affu- rance enough to invent and maintain the mofi auda- cious falfities, and is fo very plaufible, and fo very cunning, when he wants to vilify his enemy that I mould not even be heard. For my part, faid Ger- trude, 1 never was before ajuAice, but I think if ne- eeflity and misfortune obliged me, I mould not be at all afraid to fpeak the truth, be it to whom it would ; my dear Leonard, don't be afraid, think of your wife and children, and go. — I tell you again I cannot, I dare not; moreover I am not quite blame- lefs. Collins will very deliberately call the neigh- bours to witnefs that 1 am but a raffling fellow. I am too confeious of it myfelf, Gertrude, and how dare I alledge any thing againfl him ? Not a man in the parifh would dare to fay what he really thinks for fear of him, although they know he has artfully drawn me into the extravagances I have committed. It is true, were he in my power, and I thought I could fucceed, I would complain with all my heart; but, confider a moment, fuppofe 1 fhould mifcarry as it is too probable, what would be the confequence? what have we not to expect 'from a man of his-mali- cious temper? — 'But, .my good friend, repliecK : trude, what will be the confequence if you are qui- et ? we mull be. inevitably ruined ! Leonard, think of 3 our family, make hafte to put an end to a ft ate of torment which we can no longer endure. Go, I tell you, or I muft be obliged to go myfelf.— No, Ger- trude, I abfolutely cannot find courage. If you think you can, in the name of God lofe not a mo« >ment ; go to Sir James, and tell him every thing. Yes, aniwered (he, I am determined to go. But her anxiety kept her waking all night ; fhe paffed it in tears, and iupplications to Heaven which helped to confirm her refolution to have recourfe to her land- lord. The fun was hardly rifen when fhe began her journey, carrying with her the infant fhe nurfed ; and having walked fix long miles (he arrived at the Hall. Sir James was already rifen, and feated un- der a fhady lime which grew near the houfe, from whence he difcovered Gertrude and her child, and could trace in the countenance of the former the impreffion of her grief and her tears.— What is your pleafure, good woman ? who are you ? faid he, in a voice fo gentle and fo encouraging, thai it gave her confidence.—- My name is Geatrude, pleafe your honour ; pleafe you, Sir, Leonard the mafon's wife of Finelhade. — I know you to be a good induftri- ous woman, and I have" remarked your children amongft all the others in the village ; they appear civiler, and better taught than the reft ; they feem to be better taken care of, and yet they tell me you are very poor. Bat what fervice can 1 render you, my good woman? — My gracious matter, replied fhe, my hufband has long owed near four pounds to Mr. Collins, and he is a man without mercy. He, it is, who feduces my hufband to play, and leads him in- to every ruinous excefs; beiides, he has him fo much in awe, that he is afraid to leave the alehoufe, although he fquanders away almoft all his wage?. every day, and leaves his children to fcarve ; five children who fometimes want a morfel of bread. Unlefs your honour will condefcend to advife us, and to take us under your 'protection, we mud be ruined, we {hall be inevitably reduced to beggary. I know the extent of your goodnefs to the widow- ed and the fatherlefs, and that has given me the boldnefs to appear before you, and to lay open the mifery of our iituation. I have brought with me the fmall fum I have been able to fave for my little ones, which 1 freely offer you; if your honour will but fhelter my huiband from the refentment of the fleward, till fuch time as he has paid him every thing. Sir James had for fome time fufpe&ed Collins, which made him more readily believe the complaint well founded, and the requeft reafonable. A cup of tea happened to be poured out before him: he told her to help herfelf. You have been fading long, faid he ; take this, and give fome of the milk to that fine child. — She was all confufion, but made an effort to obey : his affability and kindnefs brought tears into her eyes. After a fhort filence, Sir James defired to be in- formed of all the particulars of his Reward's con- duct, and of her wretchednefs for fome years in con- fequence of it. He liftened with the greateft atten- tion, and at laft interrupted her by faying how much he was aftonifhed at her being able to fave the little pittance which belonged to her children. Sir, faid (he, it was often very difficult ; but I thought it my duty to confider the money not my own, but as a depoiit left by a dying man for the fupport of my fa- mily in emergencies. I always thought it fo, and if 1 was fometimes obliged to encroach upon that fund to keep my family from ftarving, I never could be eafy till by labouring later at night, I had earn- ed fufficient to replace it. — But did you find that i'o eafy, Gertrude? Oh! your honour, when the mind is firmly fixed upon an object, it is capable of greater efforts than were at firft fuppofed. And beiides, I fancy God Almighty affifts the honeft endeavours of the poor. A rich gentleman, like you, enjoying every thing in abundance can hardly believe hbw far with God's aid we can make a virtue of necemty. Sir James was more and more pleafed with her fimplicitv and honefty, and having aiked her many other queftions, concluded by deliring to fee the children's favings. She directly took out of her pock- et five little packets neatly folded in paper, and laid them on the table. The name of the owner was written on each, with a memorandum of what had been at any time borrowed, and the manner and time of the repayment. Sir James read over the fuperfcriptions with great attention. Gertrude blush- ed and exculed herfelf faying, they were there by miftake: but he fmiled, and continued reading, while the poor woman Hood before himfo confufed, that her heart vifibiy palpitated. She was really mo- del! and humble, and was dili,refiTed at any thing that might be fuppofed to look like vanity. Sir James remarking her confufion upon the difcovery of the memorandums which (lie had forgotten to feparate, was {truck with the dignity of a pure mind, which {brinks from obfervation, and is amamed when its virtues meet the glare of day. He immediately de- termined to exceed the requefl, and go beyond the expectations of a woman, upon whofe merit he could fet a juft value., and who appeared to him not to have her equal amongft a thoufand. In folding up each of the little parcels, he added fome thing to it of his own. My good woman, faid he, cany to your children their little treafure: I *riU 10 take care to fet apart 3l. 15s. to fatisfy the Reward's demands. Return to Fineihade ; I have feme bufi- nefs there to-morrow, and upon my arrival, 1 will ib order matters as to put it out of Colin s's power to give you further uneafinefs. Gertrude was fo overjoyed it took from her the power of utterance: fhe could fcarce fay, fobbing and Hammering, God Almighty blefs your honour : and dropping a low courtefy, fet off upon her return home, her child in her arms, impatient to throw her- felf into thofe of her hulband, and to make him a partner in her happinefs. She hurried as fall as Hie could, and till Hie reached the cottage never eeafed returning thanks to God, mingled with tears of gratitude and hope. Leonard faw her coming, and could read in her eyes, the contentment of her heart. You are foon back, faid he immediately; you have been well received at the Hall. — Who could have told you fo already, my love? — I fee it in your eyes, my good friend; you cannot counterfeit. No, I cannot; nor would I, if I could, conceal from you one moment the good news I bring. And me be- gan to relate to him, word for word, the fatherly kindnefs of Sir James, with what confidence he had believed every thing (lie had faid, and the kind terms in which he had promifed them his protec- tion. She then diftributed amongft her children Sir James's prefent to each, and clafping them in her arms by turns, with more heartfelt joy than fhe had done for weeks before, commanded them to in- clude their honoured patron, whenever they offered up their prayers for their father and mother. The noble gentleman interefts himfelf in the well-being of all the neighbourhood; he interefts himfelf for you; and if you are honeft and induftrious, you may be as fure he will love you, as you are now lure your father and I love you. 11 Since that time Leonard's children have never failed, morning and evening, in praying for their parents", to include Sir James Grant, the Father of the country. This was a day of fmcere rejoicing and thankfgiv- ing to the mafon and his wife, wherein they made new determinations, and took frefh meafures to ef- tablifh order in their houfehold, to watch with greater anxiety the education of their children, and to guide them by their example, in the paths of virtue and religion. Leonard felt his courage revive, and towards evening Gertrude prepared for him his favourite fupper : they fat down cheer- fully together, impatient for the morrow which was to make them rejoice in the fubflantial effects of Sir James Grant's fatherly protection. On the other hand the Baronet was not lefs impatient to iignalize the day by an acl of benevolence; op- portunities for which he was forever feeking, as the means of affording himfelf the moft fubflantial pleafure and happinefs. CHAP. III. A Monster in the human shape. T HE fame evening Collins the ftewardhap- peningto go to the Hall for orders, Sir James told him he fhould go to Finefhade the next day, and give final orders for the rebuilding of the church. Your Honour then, has no more work for your own ma- fon. — I am not thinking of him, replied Sir James; but you have Leonard in the village, aj^ood work- 12 man, and I fhall be very glad to give him this job: why have you never recommended him? — I never dared, anfwered the (leward, making a low bow, re- commend fo very poor a man to be employed in your honour's buildings. — Is he an honeft man? tell me, may I truft him? — Ohi yes, your honour you may; he is only too honeft. — They tell me his wife is an indufirious woman; but is lhe not a little talkative, hey? — Indeed, Sir, I know no harm of her; file is a very hard-working woman, and no gof- fip that I ever heard. Very well; remember to be in the church-yard to-morrow about nine o'clock, and we will fettle this matter. The fteward took his leave and went away, re- joiced at what he had juft heard. He began alrea- dy to think how he could bed pluck the poor mafon, and calculated aforehand the mare he fhould have in the gains from the new employment. He ftrutted along, and the moment he arrived at the mafon's door he knocked. It was juft dark: Leonard and Gertrude were at table, talking over the remains of their fupper. Upon hearing the fteward's voice, Leonard im- mediately concluded he was come with fome evil intention: he was afraid he would remark their fupper which he pufhed away, and trembling open- ed the door, while Gertrude encouraged him, and bid him recollecl that Sir James had promifed to ftand his friend. Collins entered, and had his noftrils immediately faluted by the favoury fmell of the dimes they had hid: no hound could mew a finer no'fe. However he affumed a good humoured look, and faid, though a little fneeringly, Oh, ho ! my friends, you have been feafting charmingly 1 At this rate it is no wonder if you forget the alehoufe, hey, Leonard? — He, poor fellow, quite pale, and his eyes caft down, knew not what to fay. Gertrude 15 wifbecl he might be damned, if he knew what pof- feffed thefe people. Leonard was not a little agi- tated by this fcene, but the Reward was ready to choke. CHAP. IV. " Birds of a feather, flock together." Ton may know a man by the company he keeps. XT was near midnight; but no fooner had Collins reached home, than late as it was, he fent for two of Leonard's neighbours, deliring them to come to him immediately. They got up, drefled themfelves, and hurried through a very dark night to the fleward's houfe. After all the queflions he could think of, relating to what had paft within the few iaft days at Leonard's, he did not get the inform- ation he wifhed. This put him out of all pa- tience, and miftaking the .object of his fury, dis- charged it upon them. Ah! fcoundrels! faicl he, if one expecls to find one's end in employ ingfuch rafcallions, it is certain difappointment : but I warrant I'll be a match for you. Is it for this that I have connived at your thefts and depredations ? When I have feen you come home loaded with wood itolen from Sir James's hedges, and have feen your cows fcores of times in his honour's meadow without faying a word ; is this the return you make me ? As 'to you, Penrofe, you know I was privy to your penury, and kept your fecret ; and did you think I irVoiild be fa- tisfied with a couple of loads of bad hay? I have 16 not forgotten it. And, as for you, Carlton, you old fmner, you who cheated your brother's children of the garth you now poffefs ; it is to much purpofe I fayed you from the gallows, if this is the return you make. This addrefs ftaggered the two fellows Why? Mr. Collins, what would you have us do ? There is no fuch thing as contenting you, though we flave night and day — . Oh ! poor innocent rafcals, you> can do nothing, you know nothing to be fure. I can- not fpeak for vexation ; but coft me what it will, I am determined to find out what has been going on this laft week at that beggarly mafon's : there is fome deep fecret I am fure. And fo faying he flamped about like a madman. Penrofe began now to recollec~l himfelf ; Harkye, Collins, harkye ; I verily think I can quiet you, it is juft come into my head. Yes, Gertrude was out all day on Thurfday, and towards night, their little Louifa chattering by the well, was full of Sir James Grant, and how good a gentleman he was ; my life for it, Gertrude has been at the Caftle. The even- ing before we heard nothing but fobs and roaring in the houfe, and now they feem quite happy and cheerful. The {leward immediately adopted this idea; but it made him ftorm more than ever. He uttered the moil horrible imprecations ; he abufed his Ho- nour for liftening to the tale of every idle vagabond, and vowed vengeance againft Leonard and Ger- trude. But, harkye, comrades, faid lie, to his two rogues, mum's the word; I muft fmiie uponthefe wretches, till I fee the time to bite. Watch carefully, and bring me w r ord of every thing that paffes at their houfe, and depend upon it I'll make you amends ; yoi 1 .. know I am never ungrateful. Then taking 17 Penrofe a little on one fide; he faid, have you any guefs who ftole thofe flower-pots that were miffing t'other day? You were feen going towards the next town with almoft an afs's burthen on your back : what had you got? Who? 1 1 1 had, I -! No matter, no matter, faid Collins ; only ferve me truly, and it fhall be the better for you. It was almoft morning when our two neighbours went home. Collins threw himfeif upon his bed, and tumbled about reftlefs for an hour: he rumi- nated projects of revenge ; fometimes he dozed, and in the agitations of his mind, he grated his teeth, beat the devil's tattoo, and the moment the day dawned he darted up. After mature confideration, Collins refolved to call again upon Leonard, and to fubmit to the irk- fome neceflity of telling him, that he had recom- mended him to Sir James to rebuild the church. He accordingly went in fearch of him, putting the belt face upon the matter he was able. Leonard and Gertrude had paffed this night more comfortably than many.of the preceding ones ; their firft care was to implore the benediction of Heaven upon the day that promifed the protection of their good landlord. This act of devotion ierved to calm their minds, and fpread an air of ferenity and content over their countenances, when the ftew- ard arrived. Their fatisfaction was too vifible for his peace : he was Rung to the quick ; and the wicked wretch felt his choler boil within him. He contrived however to fmother it ; with an appear- ance of kindnefs he bid them, Good day, and ad- dreffing himfeif to Leonard, he faid, We looked a little my at each other yefterday, but I hope that is at an end. I have fome good news foryou : I had C2 18 been at the Caflle, where amongfl other things the rebuilding of the church was talked of. Sir J ames enquired a good deal about you ; and I did not fail to tell him that I thought you equal to the job : and I don't doubt but you will have the preference. So you fee, we can aflift each other; and it maybe as well in future, not to give fuch eafy way to paffion. — But Sir James has already agreed with his own mafon ; you faid fo at the veftry meeting long ago. I thought fo then, but I was miftaken ; he only gave the plan, and I have no doubt he made that a good job. If they fhould give you the fame latitude, you may make money by handfuls. Now, friend Leonard, you can no longer dotibt of my good- will. The poor fellow, delighted with fo good a pro- fpec\ thanked the He ward with all his heart. But Gertrude, whofe fufpicion was roufed, was lefs re- joiced: fhe thought fhe difcovered in Collins's ill— difguifed rancour, and under his affected fmiles, nothing but ill-will. As he went away, he told them, Sir James Grant would be in the village in about an hour — We have known that ever fince yefterday, faid the little Louifa, who flood by her father — This little circumftance vexed the fteward ; but he pretended to take no notice : while Gertrude, v/ho imagined he was already calculating upon the plunder of her bufband, felt uneaiy. 19 CHAP. V. The Steward finds a Talking-mate. XLxACTLY at nine o'clock, Sir James arri- ved. He was foon furrounded by a crowd, anxious to fee their good landlord, and they followed him to the church-yard. Have you nothing to do, you fellows, or is it holiday to-day, that you fwarm in this manner? faid the fteward, in a rough voice to thofe who had got the neareft. He was in hopes of difperfmg them, as he was always jealous leaft they mould overhear the orders he received. Sir James, aware of what he aimed at, faid aloud, No, no, let them alone : I like to fee thefe good folks about me: and befides, I have a mind that they mould know what are my intentions refpecling the church : why do you drive them away ? Upon this Collins bowed to the ground, and haft - ened to call them back — Here, neighbours, return ; his honour will fuffer you to approach him.... Have you feen the eftimate for the building? faid Sir James, Yes, your honour, faid the fteward — Do you think Leonard is equal to the execution of it, at that price? — Certainly, your honour — Then low- ering his voice, he faid; confidering he lives upon tire fpot, he might afford to do it fomething cheap- er — But Sir James took no notice of it. I muft have given this price to my own mafon ; and if there is any thing to be gainea by the job, I mall be very glad that Leonard mould have the benefit 20 of it. Let him be called ; and pray remember, that whatever afliftance the other would have derived from my woods or magazines, is intended to be allowed to him. When they went in fearch of the mafon, he was juft gone to the other end of the village : fa Ger- trude refolved to go herfelf to Sir James, and tell him at once her uneafy fufpicions. Upon light of the wife inftead of the hufband, returning with the meffenger, Collins turned as pale as death — What's the matter? faid his mailer: ar'n't you well?.... O, nothing, your honour, nothing at all ; only I got no fleep laft night — I mould have thought as much from your looks: and fo faying, he fixed his eyes upon him fo ftedfaftly that the confcious fteward turned as red as fire — Then turning to Gertrude,, and bidding her good day, in a gentle voice, Sir James afked what was become of her hufband ? but no matter, tell him to come to me at the Caftie ; I mall let him the rebuilding of the church. Gertrude was for a moment fiient ; almofl amam- ed to fpeak before fo many people — You fay no- thing, Gertrude : I mean to let him the work, at the fame price my own mafon would have taken it; and you make no anfwer : I thought it would have given you pleafure, my good woman. O yes, your honour, to be fure it would ; only the church is fo very near the public-houfe. At thefe words the whole afTembly fell a laugh- ing; but wifhing to conceal it from the fteward they turned away from him, and directly towards Sir James. Collins, perceiving that this did hot efcape his mafter, turned fiercely to Gertrude^ and afked her what me had to fay againfl his houfe ? — How does it concern you, Collins ? faid Sir Jame< ; her difcourfe was not addreffed to you. Explain yburfelf, my good Gertrude ; what's yoitr cbjecticn 21 to the church being fo near the alehoufe ? — Dear! your honour, becaufe my hulband is too eafily per- suaded to take a cup, and I am afraid when lie comes to work every day fo near temptation, O dear me I he never will be able to rcfift. — But why can't he keep out of the houfe, if he is fo eafily tempted 1 — Ah, Sir, hard work, is dry work ; and when he will be conftantly within hearing of the perfuafion, or the mockings of tiplers, fome offer- ing him liquor, and others challenging him to drink ; I am afraid my poor hufband wiU.be drawn in: and then if he mould contract new debts, we ihould be utterly undone. If your honour did but know how. a poor man may involve himfelf in a An- gle night, in fuch places as thefe, fo as perhaps never to be his own man again. I know it but too well, anfwered Sir James ; and I am fo afFe&ed by what you told me yefterday, that I am determined in the prefence of all thefe good people, to put a flop this very day to thefe jhameiul impofitions.— - Then • turning fuddenlv to the fteward, he {aid fternly, and with a lookthuc almoft went through him; How comes it, Collins, that poor men are firft inveigled into your houfe, and then impofed upon, and pillaged ? Pale, and confounded, the fteward anfwered, Never, your honour, never in my life did I hear the like, and ever fmce I became fteward. — Here he was obliged to wipe his forehead, which ran down in ftreams : he coughed, he was almoft choak- ed. Then continued, It is very aftonifhing— - — You feera fadly, confufed by a very fnnple o^ief- tion, faid Sir James ; but tell me, is it true that you extort money from thefe poor people, and that when once they get within your clutches, they never can extricate themfelves, Ihort of ruin to themfelves and families? 22 No, certainly, your honour; but this is what one always gets by {hewing kindnefs to fuch beggarly varlets. I might have forefeen it: this is always the return they make, this is their payment. Never mind talking of payment now, Collins ; all I want to know is, whether what this woman has told me, is true or falfe — Nothing can be more falfe, your honour; I can bring a thoufand wit- neffes One will be enough; but confider a mo- ment, Collins : you remember you told me yefter- day, that this Gertrude was a good honeft woman, induftrious, and nothing of a goffip. I don't know 1 1 -I recollecl. — You afked me .1 did I did, think her fo, He could hardly breathe. — You are too much agitated, to give me the information I want : I muft apply to thefe two honeft men before me ; and fo faying, he called to two elderly countrymen, dif- tinguilhed by their honeft and attentive countenan- ces, and faid, Pray tell me, my good friends^ is it true that unfair means are taken in the alehoufe, to decoy men firft, and then to cheat them ? At this queftion the two men looked at each other, without making any anfwer. But Sir James encouraged them, faying, Don't be afraid, fpeak the honeft truth openly. — It is certainly too true. Sir, faid the eldeft of the men, but (continuing in a low voice only heard by Sir James) what end can it anfwer to poor men like us to complain of the fteward? — That's enough, my good old man, faid Sir James, and turning to Collins he faid, It was no part of my intention to inquire into this matter to- day; but I am determined to refcue my poor tenants from every fpecies of oppreffion, and I have long thought it improper that the public-houfe mould be kept by my fteward. I'll fettle this mat- ter on monday. As for you, Gertrude, you u ?3 tell your hufband to come to me at the Caftle ; and you may make yourfelf eafy, I'll (land between him and all danger from the aieho.ufe. Sir James then fettled fome other bufmefs, and returned home by way of the neighbouring foreft.- H'is fleward accompanied him, and as it was late when they fet forward, the night was far advanced when he got back to the village. As he approach- ed his own houfe, and faw no lights burning, his heart mifgave him, more especially as all was qui- et. In fa6l, his alehoufe was feldom free from to- pers in an evening, and every window was ufed to fhine from the numerous candles upon every table, and the riot was heard from one end of the ftreet to the other. He was alarmed at fo unufual a filence, and throwing open the door in a rage, he bawled out, What's all this about? what has hap- pened that nobody is here ? — His wife was fobbing m a corner. What you're come at laft ? faid fhe. You little know what has happened 1 All your ene- mies in the village are upon their high horfes, and there is not a foul has dared to come and drink a pint of beer. Every one is convinced you were feized in the foreft, and have been carried prifoner to Caftle Grant. Like a mad bull fecured by cords, wbofe eves flam fire, and who exhaufts himfelf in vain efforts to regain his liberty : fo Collins, almoft mad with rage, (lamped and ftared about, vowing vengeance againft his mafter, and abufing all the nobility and gentry in a bod}'. So then, faid he, as foon as his fury would allow him, fo we are ail to be cheated of our rights : he will only grant a licence according to his own non- fenfical whims, and he will put down my poor houfe, which time out of mind has been attached to the ftewardihip. There was a time when I ruled 24 the roaft in the village ; but now this monkey of a landlord chufes to poke his nofe every where, and gives himfelf the airs of a pariih fchoolmafter amongft his fcholars. By this means every rafcal- lion thinks himfelf at liberty to infijlt a man in of- fice; becaufe Sir James Grant, forfooth thinks proper to liften to every idle complaint. We offi- cers lofe all our authority, and mult fit mum chance, like the meaneft vaffal amongft them, while he alters old-eftablifhed laws, according to his fancy, and reduces us to mere cyphers. Thus did this wretch run on in invectives again ft the good and wife Sir James Grant, conftruing all his actions into faults, and meditating fchemes of vengeance, till, quite weary and worn out, he fell alleep. CHAP. V. Genuine Village Tittle-tattle. ^OLLlNS was ftirring with the lark, and in order to appear unconcerned at what had patted the preceding evening, he placed himfelf at the window, and began to whiftle and fmg. His neighbour Williams called to him acrofs the ftreet ; What are your cuftomers come fo early, that you feem fo gay ? fmiling inwardly as he afked the queftion. All in good time, friend Williams, faid the fteward ; and continued to fmg : So I tipp'd him the grog, and he fwigg'd it, Which fet the old coger agog. 25 And he fwigg'd, and Dick fwigg'd, and Ben fwigg'd, and we all fwigg'd, And fwore there was nothing like grog. Then taking a match to light his pipe ; — Won't you come in, and take a mug this morning ? Williams. It's too early; befides I'll wait till you have more company. Collins. You're always cracking your jokes; but believe me the fun of yefterday won't be fo much amifs. Let a bird fly ever fo high, it muft come down at laft. Williams. All that may very well be ; my bird has been a long time upon wing: but perhaps our birds are not of the fame feather. Will you be of the party, fteward? they are calling me to breakfaft. So faying, Williams fhut his window. This rogue is rather crafty, muttered Collins ; and fhook his head with vexation, till his very hair was ruffled, and his cheeks trembled. I fhaU have the devil to do, to wipe away this infernal adven- ture of yefterday : but, courage, let us fee what a mug of ale will do. For new work, new meafures. To-day's faturday, snd woolly knaves get fhorn to- day ; I'll away to the barber's, and fee what a pot of beer will do amongft them. They'll take my word ten times, for once they believe the parfon. Encouraged by this reafoning, he bid his wife fill his pouch with tobacco — not fuch as I ufe, but fome mundungas, good enough for fuch rif-raff, And harkye, when the barber's boy comes for fome beer, fend fome of that heady fluff, with half a glafs of brandy in every pint. He went out, but recol- lecting himfelf, he came back; d'ye hear, wife! there may be fome knaves in our company ; I may as well be upon my guard : when 1 fend for fome old amber, fend me a mug of water, coloured with li« D 26 quorice, or rather, bring it yourfelf. — So laying, away he went. He had not reached the barber's, when he met Nichols and Raikes, chatting under the elm before the fchool-houfe. — Where's Mr. Steward going in his faturday jirkin? laid Nichols. Steward. I am going to get lhaved. Nichols, Indeed ! what on a faturday morning? Steward, It's true, that does not often happen. Nichols, No, and for the moft part, your time for ihaving, is during morning fervice on a funday. Steward. Once or twice, perhaps. Nichols. Once or twice ? You're talking of the two laft funday s, furely ? For fmce our minifter had your dog turned out of church, you have never ap- peared there. Steward. Are you mad, Nichols, with your nonfcnfe ? We mult all live, eat our daily bread, and forgive our enemies. It is very long fmce I thought no more about that filly bufmefs of my dog. Nichols. I mould be forry to truft you, were I the parfon. Steward, I tell you again, you are mad, Nichols. Why wouldn't you truft me pray? But come let us to the barber's : perhaps there will be fome beer go- ing on, or fome other fun. Nichols. Truely, he would be in a pretty fcrape with you, if he allowed beer to be drunk at his houfe ! Steward. I am not fo very interefted a man as you take me for; and befides, you know they're going to take away my licence ! But, my cocky, we're not come to that yet ; and he who ventures to interfere with my rights may chance to bring an old houfe about his ears. Nichols. Very likely : but I think matters have not gone quite fo fmooth with you fmce the young 27 Squire profefled a new creed from his grandfather. Steward, ? Tis true, he has not quite fo eaiy a fw allow as the old man. Nichols. I could almofl think they were of quite a different faith. Steward. Aye marry, the old man was a better ehriftian than this. Nichols. No doubt his firft article of faith was, " I believe in thee my fleward 1" Steward. Very well ; and the fecond ? Nichols. I can hardly tell you off hand ; but fomethingin this way : < c I believe every thing thou telleft me, Collins : and not a word from any body elfe." Steward. You ought to be our curate, Nichols ; for you not only explain the belief, but you can make a new one for us. Nichols. No not I; they would not let me: or if they would, I mould make it fo very plain, children might underftand it, and ehen there would be no need of a parfon. Steward. We had better remain as we are, Nichols : the old belief is good enough: in trying to mend, we often fpoil. Nichols. A good maxim enough, but not always true ; and I think there will be an exception in our young Squire, if we may form any judgment from the way he has begun with you. Steward. You had better draw your conclufions from others, or mind your own bufmeis. For my part, I care little about this new fprig of a Squire ; fomebody will be uppermoft. Nichols. Right, right. But ftill it was a blac-k day for you, when the old gentleman was put under ground laftfummer. Steward. I have had my harveft, Nichols ; that's enough for me. Let others take their turn* 28 Nichols. True enough, you have profited won- derfully. But if matters fhould go a little crofs ; the attorney, the bailiff, and the vicar, were all your debtors you know. Stezvard. Mere fcandal : there was not a word of truth in it. Nichols. Aye, fo you pretend at prefent ; and (till you fued out a writ againfl two of them, be- caufe they would not pay you. Stezvard. How came you to know that, you rafcal ? Nichols. Oh I I know more than that ; I know your tricks in Roughwater's affair, when you lay hid amongfl the draw upon your belly, under his window till two o'clock in the morning; that you might over-hear all that paffed between him and his lawyer. You know I was the watch that night, and you let me drink at free coll; for a week, to make me hold my tongue. Steward. Tltou art a rogue for faying fo ; it's all a lie, and I'll make thee prove thy words. Nichols. Oh, as to proof, that matters little now ; but you know well enough I fpeak truth. Stezvard. Aye, aye, you do well to flubber over the bufinefs ; you can bring no proof. Nichols. Why the devil himfelf muft have fuggeft- ed the thought of hiding yourfelf amongft the 11 raw ; and then when you had got at all they had to fay, it was an eaiy matter with the attorney's aid, ^to alter your deposition. Stetvard. Why you talk like a madman. Nichols. Like a madman? If when it came to be tried, the attorney had not new modelled your depoiition, Roughwater would have )iad his clofe ftill ; and neither Doughty, nor Jerom would have beea foriworn. 29 Stexvard. You underftand juft as much of juftice, as our fchoolmafter does of Hebrew. Nichols. Why if this matter were Hebrew, you could explain it to me. Have you not more than twenty times joked about " your very humble fervant" the attorney ? . - Steward. Very well ; but for all that, he never did what you pretend : though I agree, he was as cunning as the devil himfelf. God be with him ; come Michaelmas, it will be juft ten years fmce he went to heaven. Nichols. To the devil, you mean. Steward. For fhame, for fhame ; you mould never fpeak ill of the dead. Nichols. That's true enough ; or elfe I would juft mention that pretty writing he drew up, to cheat Thomas's children. Stexvard. You feem fo knowing he muft have made a confeffion to you on his- death-bed. Nichols. Whether he did or not, you fee I know a thing or two. Steward. Well, well, I gained the caufe ; if you could know that I had loft it, I mould have had fome reafon to be forry. Nichols. No, I know you gained it ; and I know by what means too. Steward. Perhaps you do, perhaps you don't. Nichols. Heaven protect us poor fellows from attorneys' pens ; that's all. Stexvard. You're right; pens fhould only be in the hands of honeft men, who have made their fortunes : that would be much better. But as there are many other abufes which want a remedy, friend Nichols, we muft e'en content ourfelves as we are. Nichols. Mr. Steward, that puts me in mind of a fable, I once heard a pedlar tell. The man came from Cornwall, and there were above twenty of us D2 30 at dinner : when he faid fome hermit had compofed a book of fables, where the whole world was defcrib- ed; and that he knew them by heart from the beginningto the end. We begged he would relate ; and he told ns this, that your obfervation -makes me remember. " A Ewe was complaining one day how hard it ' * was that the wolf, the dog, and the butcher, mould ** be fuch inveterate enemies of all her race. A " Fox, who was prowling about the fheepfold, " overhearing her, faid .• We fliould be perfectly " fatisfied with the admirable order fo perceptible " in every thing here below ; if things were other- " wife, all would go from bad to worfe. — 1 can " eafily believe that, faid the Ewe, fo long as the " fold is well guarded ; but if once you could get " your nofe into it, that maxim would no longer " have any truth for me." " Nobody dare pretend to fay that there mould " be no wolves, nor foxes, nor other voracious " animals : but ftill nobody will difpute that it *' is a great happinefs for poor fheep, that there are " iirong folds, into which they cannot penetrate ; 14 and moreover vigilant fhepherds, and hardy " dogs to protect them." — " May a merciful God " protecl my cottage," added the Pedlar ; " it is fur-