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CHA P. II.

A GOOD-NATURED PAGE OR TWO, WHICH MAY PERHAPS MEND THE READER'S TEMPER.

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BOUT fix years ago I had retired into one of the moft romantick parts of Cumberland, and was one day so tenderly inclinedmen have their fits of benevolencethat every thing within contact was the better for me. It happened to be a day too, wherein many opportunities of being gracious presented themfelves. Destiny feemed to take advantage of it by a care to fupply me with objects. It is worth your while to mark how my feelings were exercifed. The old cat brought into the world nine young; and I faw eight

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eight of them basketted for death. Savage, cried I, to the fervant, carry back the poor things to their mother! and instead of straw let them be wrapped up in cotton. Scarce was this reprieve given to the offspring, of one party, before that of another rofe to view. I was one of his majesty's juftices, and, it seems, the peace, which it was my office to guard, had been broken by a wench who had been fo improvident to follow the impulfes of nature before they were fanctified by law. Wretch, (said the constable who was dragging her before me) how dare you bring your burthens on this parish? Wretch, (faid I to the conftable) what is that to thee? So I gently chid the mother, and kiffed the child, for she had concealed her

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felf till that time, and was taken in the wicked act of giving it fuck. This fired the feelings of the conftable and foftened mine. Let a chamber and a cradle be provided for this child, and give fomething comfortable to the mother, and pray carry fome new milk to the cat with nine kittens: Shall I fave a cat, and have no charity for a fellowcreature? Thefe ftrokes fo fmoothed me, and prepared for future events, that I was almost afraid to breathe out my joy, left with that breath I fhould destroy the animalcula which naturalifts fay are thereby murthered. I fet my foot on the ground with caution, left I fhould crush fome honeft infect that might be as well difpofed as myfelf. My very legs ached when I perceived I was within an hair's breadth

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breadth of extirminating an ant who was laden with food, which I could not but fancy was defigned to a fick friend in the neighbouring hillock. As I purfued my walk along my garden, wishing the universe a thousand good lucks, I caft my eye aflant a quick-fet, and faw a Linnet extending the maternal wing over her neft. Looking behind me, I beheld the gardener whetting his fheers. Hark ye friend, faid I, in that hedge there is a family which I take upon me to protect, and therefore fo far from your clipping off a twig- But, fir, it spoils the look

of the whole garden, interrupted the gardener. I was fo fhocked at the fellow's inhumanity, that my hand had, infenfibly, got into my pocket to feel for the price of his discharge. Not

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choofing to be whimsical, I thought it best to go another way to work. I put half a crown into his hand, and told him I preferred the luxuriant branches of the natural hedge to the fmuggeft alteration he and his fheers could poffibly make. This did not quite fatisfy him. The man had got a habit of spoiling Nature, and loved lopping away a beauty in his foul. My Linnet feemed to fufpect him. She had fhifted about in her neft fo as to command his whole perfon. I trembled for her. How is thy wife to-day, John? faid I. As well as can be expected, fir, replied he, for a woman who looks to be brought to bed every hour; fhe has the head-ach too, and I am obliged to take off my fhoes to go into her chamber. John, faid I, you

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