Jg CHILDREN'S BOOK g
<ft COLLECTION
^T LIBRARY OF THE
S UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
V LOS ANGELES
BIOGRAPHY
A SPANIEL.
TO WHICH IS ANNEXED
THE IDIOT,
3 Wale*
LONDON:
PRINTED AT THE
FOR LANR AND NEWMAN',
LEADENH ALL-STREET.
1803.
BIOGRAPHY
OF
A SPANIEL.
JLN the midft of one of the large Teas our
aftronomers have lately difcovered in the
moon, lies a large ifland, that, for ages
innumerable, perhaps from the beginning
of time, has been the appointed Elyfium
of dogs thofe conflant and faithful com-
panions of man. There the ferious
B 2 New-
4 BIOGRAPHY OF
Newfoundland dog, playful greyhound,
choleric Pomeranian, and fawning fpaniel
are united in the moft fraternal affection;
nor is the ftupid Bolognefe and indolent
lapdog excluded from the fociety of their
brethren ; for they, as well as the alder-
man and fop, are deprived of the aflumed
dignity of their ftations at the moment
they lay afide their fublunary clothing.
Once, as a party of them were aflem-
bled on the flowery banks of their ocean,
they perceived the fhadeofa new comer,
gently wafted by a filver wave to a coral
beach at no great diftance from them.
They ran to receive and to introduce him
to the motley circle of his new friends, who
congratulated him on his fafe arrival to
their
A SPANIEL. 5
their blifsful abode, and (hewed the fatis-
fa&ion they felt by every demonftration
of joy in the power of dogs to give.
When they found he was entirely reco-
vered from the fatigues of his paffage, an
old dog, who feemed to be. the prefident
of the fociety, addrefled him in the fol-
lowing terms : " Brother ! the laws of
our republic oblige you to give an ac-
count of your terreftrial pilgrimage.-
Speak ! we are impatient to hear the hif-
tory of your life."
* c My life," replied the ftranger, wag-
ging his tail, " is marked by feveral
occurrences which prevent its being quite
a common -place one ; and had I, whilft
in the lower regions, poflelTed the power
S3 of
6 BIOGRAPHY OF
of fpeech as I do now, without doubt I
fhould have found a biographer ; nay,
perhaps I deferve one better than many
whofe lives are publifhed by fubfcription
on writing-paper, adorned with an ele-
gant frontifpiece and tide-page. Who
can tell but Fame might have immor-
talized my name, and that painters and
poets might have vied with each other
to prevent its finking into oblivion.^
My refemblance might have been the ad-
mired ornament on ladies' fans, and my
praife, fet to mufic, have been fung at
their harpfichords. However, not to be
my own panegyrift, I rnuft add that my
heroic deeds were often of fuch a nature
as to teflecl; but little honour on myfelf;
but
A SPANIEL. 7
but if my hiftory is entertaining enough
to amufe my new friends for half an hour,
I mall not regret appearing in the cha-
ra&er of the hero of a romance."
All the company ftretched themfelves
round the ftranger, impatient to hear a
narration that promifed them fo much
pleafure ; and he, placing himfelf by the
fide of his friend, the prcfident, related
what I mail repeat after him.
w I was born in Germany, in the refi-
dence of a crowned philofopher, whofe
paffion for tall foldiers and fmall dogs was
univerfally known : my mother was the
favourite of an honeft fhoemaker, whofe
houfe (he guarded. She belonged to the
race of fpaniels, whofe blood was pure
and
ft BIOGRAPHY OF
and uncontaminated ; and as I was like-*
wife a thorough-bred fpaniel, I fuppofe
my father to have been of the fame fpecies.
More is not in my power to fay about
him, for this part of my genealogy re-
mains wrapped in eternal darknefs ; but
I comfort myfelf with the reflection that
many of Adam's defendants' fate is fimi-
lar to mine in this refpeft, and that the
fpace which contains their names in the
parifh-regifter would have been a blank,
had it not been the falhion to fill it up
with a name at random.
** My beautiful jetty coat attracted
the attention of a grenadier, who was
quartered in the houfe where I firft drew
fcreath j he taking a fancy to me, offered
to
A SPANIEL. 9
to take me in exchange for a brafs to-
bacco-box ; which propofal faved my life,
for otherwife I fhouid have fliared the fate
of my three brothers or fifters, who were
drowned immediately after their birth.
The flrft object that prefented itfelf to me
when I opened my eyes, was my mother :
fhe was licking my face, and looking at
me with the affectionate tendernefs of a
parent to her only child. Hitherto my
exiftence had appeared to me like a con-
fufed dream, from which I was roufed by
the fight and carefTes of my mother ; and
I may with truth fay, that the firft fen-
fations I felt were thofe of gratitude
and pleafure. As I was the only nurfling
my mother had, it is not furpriiing that I
foon
10 BIOGRAPHY OF
foon increafed in fize and ftrength, and
that my fagacity, and gratitude to my
kind parent, augmented daily. When I
was a month old I was weaned, and ex-
changed in a formal manner for the to-
bacco-box. My new matter's name was
Lafleur ; he was a Frenchman, who,
about twenty years before my birth, had
quitted his regiment and native country,
without either afking for a furlough or
paflport. He called me Jolli, a name
that, without vanity, I became every day
more deferving of: he was kind and good
to me, and his attentions, brown bread,
and potatoes, foon made me forget, or at
leaft ceafe to regret the fondnefs of my
mother, and the nutriment I received
from
A SPANIEL. 11
from her; nor did my friend, the {hoe-
maker, withdraw his hand entirely from
me, for he would frequently throw me a
griftle or fmall bone to exercife my teeth.
Thus pafled my infancy; but my youth
was doomed to more ferious occupations.
I was difagreeably furprifed one morn-
ing by Monfieur Lafleur feizing me by
the nape of my neck, and placing me ere6t
againft the wall : this pofture, ftrange as
well as troublefome, did not pleafe me,
and I endeavoured to remove from it, and
regain my equilibrium j but my mentor
knew how to pervert the laws of nature,
for, with a ftick he held ready for thaC
purpofe, he gave me a fmart rap on my
fore-paws on each attempt I made to fet
them
12 BIOGRAPHY OF
them on the ground. But his correc-
tions, inftru&ions, and my abilities fuc-
ceeded fo well, that, when I had taken
leflbns about a week, I was able to fit up
againft the wall as ftraight as an arrow.
A paper grenadier's cap was next placed
on my head, and I was taught to hold a
flick on my fhoulder, in imitation of a
gun. Difficult as I found thefe ma-
noeuvres, they were but the beginning of
my academic ftudies ; for, no fooner had
I acquired one art, than I was forced to
begin another : fo that, in about a year,
I was able to fit up in a graceful manner,
feek for any thing that was dropped, dive,
and jump over a ftick for King Frederic.
But, at the end of my novitiate, I found
the
A SPANIEL. 13
the folid advantages that learning gives;
for at every cook-fhop and public-houfe
I followed Monfieur Lafleur to, my ta-
lents (which I never failed exhibiting)
were rewarded with fuch delicate morfels,
as made me entirely forget the pain
acquiring them had coft me ; nay, often
when my matter was in company with
his comrades, would they good-naturedly
divide their fcanty portion of bread and
cheefe with me. In fhort, Jolli was ca-
refled by every one; the whole neigh-
bourhood knew him, and was loud in his
praife.
" I retained my celebrity almoft a year:
then indeed I began to fink into oblivion,
being no longer able to excite the cu-
c riofity
14 BIOGRAPHY OF
riofity of the multitude. To remedy
this evil, my artful mafter had formed the
dreadful project of learning me fome new
tricks, when a lucky chance prevented
him the trouble of teaching, and me the
pain of learning them. There happened
to be a fair kept in a village near our
town, which was too favourable an op-
portunity of exhibiting my feats to let
my mafter pafs it unnoticed : thither we
therefore went ; and the gaping country
people gathered in crowds around us,
delighted with my performance. But a
more honourable conqueft than mere ad-
miration was referved for me there ; for
my talents attracted the attention of a
puppet-fhow mail) who had ere&ed his
booth
A SPANIEL. 15
booth in the Market-place : he perceiv- v
ing what a treafure I was, determined to
add me to his marionettes, if he could
prevail on my pofTeiTor to difpofe of me,
Monfieur Lafleur at firft objected to do
fo ; but the two ducats that were at laft
offered him were too great a temptation :
they conquered his reluctancej and I was
refigned to my new mafter. That very
afternoon I ferved for the Bucephalus of
a wooden Alexander, and, preceded by a
drum and fife, was led in triumph through
the village ; every now and then my
patron flopped, and informed the noble
company In the evening he mould have
the honour of exhibiting an entire new
C 2 tragi-
16 BIOGRAPHY OF
tragi- comical and historical entertainment,
which he did not doubt would meet with
the approbation of all lovers of dramatic
amufements, as it would far exceed every
thing of the kind before attempted ; and
that, between the acts, the wonderful dog,
juft arrived, would perform fome fur-
prifing tricks of agility. After this
pompous harangue, I was ordered to give
a fample of what was to follow ; which I
did with fo much dexterity, that the ap-
' plaufe I met with was nearly as great as
my rival rider's, in his fcarlet jacket and
high -crowned hat.
" After flaying a few days in this vil-
lage, our apparatus was packed up, and
we
A SPANIEL 17
we proceeded with flow marches to a
fmall town on the frontiers of Bohemia,
where our pantheon was again erected.
" There a difgraceful cataftrophe await-
ed me; for, on the evening of our arrival,
I was introduced on the ftage, and my
mafter, determined to let none of my
talents remain concealed, holding up a
flick, faid c Hey, Jolli ! now jump for
the Emperor !' I, who had only been
taught to jump for King Frederic and
Monfieur Lafleur, and not knowing what
fort of a creature an Emperor was, did
not think it neceffary to move at his
name. My mafter repeated his command
three different times: I remained un-
moved, which feeming obftinacy put him
C 3 in
18 BIO6RAPHY OS
in a paffion, and the audience into a com-
motion, which increafed to an uproar,
on a patriotic cobbler declaring my maf-
ter an enemy to the State, and the whole
affair meant as an infult to the Emperor.
In confequence of this declaration he was
dragged from the ftage, kicked, and other-
wife ill treated ; and I, in all probability,
fliould have been the victim of this poli-
tical miftake, if I had not wifely embraced
the opportunity of flipping through the
back-door during the confufion that
reigned in the houfe. Had I liked my
fituation, I fhould have returned to the
inn where my new mafter lodged ; but,
^s I was not attached to him, I rejoiced
rt the favourable opportunity of regain-
ing
A SPANIEL, 1
ing my freedom. I therefore ran out of
the town as faft as I could, and concealed
myfelf in a field of wheat ; where I knew
I was in no danger of being difcovered,
had my mafter thought it worth while to
purfue me,
" I remained fafe in this afylum the
whole night, but hunger forced me to
leave it early the next morning. I ran
zigzag^ not knowing which way to take,
till the fight of a village, which lay at
fome diftance from the road, fixed my
wavering refolution. Without the leaft
ceremony I entered the firft houfe I came
to, which happened to be a public one ;
and you may judge how great my fur-
prife and joy were, when I tell you that
the
20 BIOGRAPHY OF
the firft obje& I difcovered in the room
was my old preceptor Lafleur : he was
fitting at the table, with a glafs of beer
in his hand, relating to the landlord how
he had contrived to defert from the Pruf-
fians. As foon as he faw me, the
glafs fell from his hand, and I jumped
into his arms, which were opened to re-
ceive me; indeed our joy was recipro-
cal ; for, whilft I licked his funburnt
face, he fondly prefled me to his bofom,
and called me his dear Jolli. The land-
lord and his wife, not knowing what to
make of the fcene, looked at us with
amazement; which Lafleur explained to
them, whilft I was devouring a hard
cruft of bread that lay on the table ;---
they
A SPANIEL. 21
they perceiving, by the voracity with
which I did it, that I had kept faft for
fome time, gave me an excellent break -
faft, which I ftill thank them for.
" When we had finifhed our meal,
Lafleur and I purfued our journey, and
in two days arrived at Prague, where he
again inlifted, His old inftructions to
me were repeated 5 and as he now wore
a white coat, one of his firft leflbns was
to make me jump over his flick for the
Emperor. The name was too deeply
imprinted on my memory to give me
much trouble to retain it ; and I learned
this manoeuvre with lefs difficulty than
any of my former ones. My talents pro-
cured me plenty of food, and were a
tund
2 BIOGRAPHY OF
fund of profit to my matter; and, as I
was really attached to him, I fhould have
been the happieft animal of my kind, if
it had not been for the malice of his com-
rades, who envied him the poffeflion of
me, whom they, without reafon, hated and
ill-treated. Lafleur, moved by my un-
merited fufferings, was determined, pain-
ful as the privation was to himfelf, to
remove me to a diftance from them, as
foon as he could find an opportunity of
placing me comfortably. He foon found
one ; for a nobleman, that lived in the
country, came to Prague to feek a gover-
nor for his children; and, not being able to
find one that would undertake the charge
for the fixty florins a year he offered,
determined
A SPANIEL. 13
determined at leaft not to return without
a companion for them : his choice fell on
me, whom he bought of my friend and
matter for fix florins.
" We arrived fafely at his feat ; and
his right honourable confort and family
were not a little furprifed to fee a dog
jump out of the carriage, inftead of the
grave profeflbr they expected 5 but I be-
lieve I may with truth aflert, that at
leaft the children were not difpleafed at
the exchange, particularly when their
right honourable papa had given them
inconteftable proofs of my (kill and learn-
ing.
" Notwithftanding my plebeian ex-
traction, I foon gained the affe&ion of all
the
4< BIOGRAPHY OF
the family, and they treated me in the
fame manner as if I, had been the youngeft
child of it. I was crammed with the moft
coftly food from the young gentlemen's
plates, and flept on a filk mattrefs in their
room. The only thing that difpleafed
me was, being fettered with a brafs col-
lar, on which were engraven the following
words ' I am Jolli, and have the honour
of belonging to the Right Honourable
Baron Rehbock.'
" But, alas I I foon experienced the
truth of the old proverb c that idlenefs
is the root of all evil ;' -for the eafe and
affluence I lived in, created in my mind
certain ideas improper and dangerous in
my fituation, and which for ever alienated
3 nay
A SPANIEL. 25
rny mailer's affe&ion from me; for I
afpired to no lefs than to form an acquaint-
ance with his female tarriers. He was
immoderately fond of that fpecies of dogs,
and prided himfelf not a little on the im-
maculate purity of his breed.
" One unfortunate day, when, at the
hazard of being fqueezed to death, I had
forced my way through the pales into the
kennel, he likewife took it into his head to
pay it a vifit ; but, to defcribe his rage on
finding me there is impoffible. c Ha !
carrion !' faid he, kicking me in themoft
furious manner, e do you want to pollute
my Diana ? Halloo ! Nimrod,' calling
to his huntfman, c fee what would have
happened if I had not come as I did.
& Shoot
6 BIOGRAPHY OF
Shoot him, or ' After a paufe,
c Chain him up, and give him nothing but
bread and water till he learns better
manners.'
" This laft command was obeyed, and
Nimrod executed his mailer's orders fo
literally, that, after a week's confinement,
I was but the fkeleton of my former felf.
The two young gentlemen, moved to
pity on feeing the lamentable condition I
was in, on their knees begged their hard-
hearted father to releafe me. He at laft
reluctantly granted their requeft; but
every endeavour to reinftate myfelf in his
favour was vain ; his affecYion was irre-
coverably alienated, and I but too plainly
perceived he hated me, and that the next
fault
A SPANIEL. 27
fault I committed, the fentence of death
or difmiffion would be pronounced on
me : I was therefore extremely cautious,
being unwilling to leave a fituation I
liked fo well.
" The children's careffes compenfated,
in fome meafure, for the irafcibility of
their unforgiving father, and I began to.
accuftom myfelf to his caprices, and bore
his ill treatment with the moft ftoical
apathy ; this prudent behaviour would,
in all probability, in time have fubdued
his ftubborn heart, if I had not committed
another blunder, which ended in my
ruin.
" One fine autumn morning, as I was
running about a neighbouring wood with
0.3 BIOGRAPHY OF
the two boys, a fecret inftincl: drew me
towards the thickefl part of it, where I
difcovered a living creature concealed in
the underwood : the fight affe&ed me,
and I barked for afliflance as loud as I
could. In vain did the boys whiflle and
call to me : I flood unmoved, determined
not to leave my poft till 1 made them
underftand me. With angry impatience
they at lafl came running towards the
place where I flood, threatening to punifh
my difobedience flill I did not move :
their curiofity was at length excited, and
they fcrambled amongft the bufhes, to
difcover, if they could, the reafon of my
unufual perverfenefs : there they found
9- new-born infant lying on fome hay,
whofe
A SPANIEL. 29
whofe piteous moans feemed fo lament
its unfortunate exiftence. The boys,
although rude and uncultivated, poflefTed
the feelings of humanity ; the eldeft there-
fore took the infant into his arms as gently
as he could, and hurried, in a triumphant
manner, towards the houfe, followed by
his brother, and preceded by me, barking
and wagging my tail in the moft exult-
ing manner; for I was confcious of
having done a good deed.
" Their right honourable parents were
fitting at breakfaft when we arrived; the
boys related their adventure with an en-
thufiafm that made their words almoft
unintelligible, beflowing the greateft
praife on me for being the caufe of faving
D 3 the
SO BIOGRAPHY OF
the child's life. But, before they had
finifhed their panegyric, their father dafti-
ed the pipe he was fmoking on the floor,
and roared, with a tremendous voice -
< What have you done, you curfed imps ?
What bufmefs had you to meddle with
it ? Do you think I am to maintain all
the baftards that are found on my eftate ?
I have enough to do to keep you ; you
fhould haye left it where it was, to have
rotted. And as for you, infernal cur !'
continued he, foaming with rage, and
Drawing his fword, c I'll reward your
Samaritan fervice in a manner that will
prevent your repeating it.' His arm
was lifted to ftrike the deadly blow, and
I tremblingly awaited my fate. At that
inftant
A SPANIEL. SI
inflant Nimrocl entered the room to fhew
hi$ honour a hare he had juft {hot; the
inflant the door was open, I feized the
opportunity of darting through it as fwift
as an arrow out of a bow. I ran as faft
as I could, without looking back, till I
was at a coniiderable diftance from that
barbarous man's dwelling : when I fup-
pofed myfelf out of danger of being over-
taken, I flackened my pace, and continued
my peregrination leifurely, undetermined
which way to take, till I came to a little
rivulet; there, after refrefhing rnyfelf
with a cooling draught, J lay down, and,
fatigued as I was, foon fell faft afleep.
" I was awoke, about noon, by a trar
yeller, who feated himfelf near me ; and
feeing
33 BIOGRAPHY OF
feeing him take a roll and a piece of
cheefe out of his pocket, I approached
him 5 and fitting up in a very humble
manner, invited myfeif to dine with him.
He underftood my meaning, and beftow-
ed part of his frugal repaft on me.
" Although I had never learned geo-
graphy, I eafily difcovered the road my
benefactor took was not that which led
to the detefted tyrant's houfe I had juft
quitted. I therefore determined to ac-
company him ; and during our journey, I
took every opportunity of being fervice-
able to the good-natured, humane man,
and of difplaying my talents, which I
knew might be profitable to him. If the
wind blew his hat off, I ran to fetch it,
and
A SPANIEL. 33
and prefented it to him with fo much
grace, that he concluded I muft belong
to the fuperior order of my kind, and
that perhaps he might be able to difpofe
of me with fome advantage to himfelf.
His firft bufmefs, after he had formed
this project, was to releafe me from the
ariftocratical ornament that had fo long
been a plague to me; the collar was with
difficulty twifted off, and thrown into a
deep pit we pafled, that it might never
rife up in judgment againft him. As
foon as I had recovered my long wiflied-
for freedom^ I endeavoured to exprefs my
gratitude by a tumble, which fucceeded
fo well, that, had Monfieur Lafleur been
prefent, I am fure even he would have
applauded
34 BIOGRAPHY. \OF
applauded it. After having paid this
tribute of gratitude, I {hook myfelf for a
confiderable time, and fuppofe I felt ex-
actly as a crimiaal does, whofe neck is
juft releafed from the pillory,
" We purfued our pilgrimage about
fix days without meeting with any ad-
venture worth relating, when we arrived
at Drefden. It was about noon when
we made our entree into that famous
town ; and, as we pafled a large inn, fuch
a favoury fmell iffued through the kitchen
windows, that we both felt an irrer
fiftible deiire to regale more fenfes than
one with the good things it contained.
" We went immediately into the
kitchen, where, it being about dinner-time,
all
A SPANIEL. 35
all hands were bufily employed; but a
young man, about eighteen, who we af-
terwards found was the landlord's elded
fon, attracted my attention moft, as he
was taking a prodigious fine turkey off
the fpit. Without much previous cere-
mony, I was offered for fale ; and, to en-
hance my value, my companion m?ide me
exhibit as many of my tricks as he had
difcovered. Before the bargain was con-
cluded, the landlord entered the kitchen,
which my poiTeffor not immediately ob-
ferving, kept his hat on ; but as I had
been taught, if any one did fo when a
ftranger came into the room, to pull it
off, I jumped on the tafele with the velo-
city of a bird, and fnatched the covering
from
36 BIOGRAPHY OF
from his head. This trait of good-
breeding decided my fate : the landlord
gave a crown for me, and regaled my
feller with a flice of cold roaft meat, and
a pint of wine into the bargain, and to
me he threw the delicious remains of a
leg of mutton.
" The aiHuence I lived in foon made
me forget my former fufferings, and my
curled coat, which, during my journey,
was become too wide for me, was fpeedily
Huffed out again ; and I fucceeded fo well
in my endeavours to gain the favour of
my new mafter, that in a few days I be-
came cock of the walk.
" My every wifh and want was now
gratified, and moft probably I fhould
have
A SPANIEL. 37
have remained in pofleffion of my good
fortune to the end of my life, if I had not
again been blinded by my paflions ; for,
not content with the emoluments of the
kitchen, and the dainty morfels the guefts
at the table d'hote left on their plates^ I
was tempted one unfortunate day, when the
cook's back was turned, to caft my wifhfui
eyes on a beautiful capon that was juft
going to be feat to table. For a moment
I combated my criminal appetite; but,
finding it too powerful, I greedily feized
the forbidden fruit, and was feafting on
my prey, when my matter came into the
kitchen, and detected me in the fa&. In
the firft tranfport of his rage, he drub-
bed me fo unmercifully with a fpit, that,
in
38 BIOGRAPHY OF
in all probability, my death alone would
.have appeafed his anger if his fon, on
hearing my lamentations, had not come
to my aCiftance : he faved my life ; but
I was ignominioufly driven out of the
houfe, to the great joy of a fox-dog that
was chained up in the yard ; and, as I ran
acrofs it, I heard the landlord give par-
.ticuhr orders to his fervants on no ac-
count to admit me into the houfe again.
" With a heavy heart, downcaft looks
(fuch as denote a repentant or detected
fmner), and my tail betwixt my legs, I
left a town where, for fome time, I had
been an object of envy to my brother
dogs. I now felt the folly, as well as
the criminality of my proceedings, and
deter-
A SPANIEL. 39
determined to hide myfelf and my fhame
in fome folitary corner of the world ;
where, through abftinence and repent-
ance, I would endeavour to make fome
atonement for my former gluttony.
"Chance, or rather the invifible hand
of Juftice, facilitated my defign, for it
conducted my erring feet to a miferable
cottage at the end of a fmall village, or
rather hamlet. The owner of it, a black-
fmith, was fitting on a bench with his
wife, eating his fupper ; which I no
fooner faw, than I approached, and beg-
ged he would beftow fome part of it on
me. e Look, Hannah/ faid the footy
Cyclop, e fee what a handfome fpaniel
that is 5 I have a good mind to take him
E 2 to
40 BIOGRAPHY OP
to replace our poor Spitz.' - c Do fo/
replied fhe j ' but this dog is fo well fed,
that I dare fay he is not without a mafter.'
< Who cares for him ?*' was his an-
fwer : ' I tell you we will keep him ;'
and he reached me^ a piece of barley-
bread as he fpoke, by way of earneft,
Whilft he was feeding me, his wife fetch-
ed a rope -, and, before I was aware, I
was tied up in the flied that ferved for
his workshop.
u As foon as it was light the next
morning, I was placed in a wheel, in
which I was always forced to run for-
wards. This wheel was conftru&ed in
fuch a manner as to blow the bellows of
his forge* At flrft I objected to this new
employ-
A SPANIEL, 4l.
employment, and made feveral violent
efforts to regain my liberty ; but Matter .
Cafper knew how to teach me obedience
to his will, by the frequent application
of the handle of his hammer to my back.
I was therefore, although forely againft
my inclination, forced to acquiefce ; and,
thanks to my natural abilities, I, foon
comprehended my new employment,
which, although hard and tirefome, was
not very complicated j and the only com-
fort I now enjoyed, was the pleafure of
hearing myfelf praifed; for my, mafter
frequently declared to his wife, that Moor
(my new name), was more ufeful to him
than Spitz had ever been.
E 3 "I nowj
42 BIOGRAPHY OF
" I now, in the mod literal fenfe of
the word, led the life of a galley- flave;
for I was forced to run in the wheel from
morning to night : my food confifted of
nothing but the coarfeft barley-bread
foaked in flop, that was mifcalled foup ;
and, inftead of being allowed the repofe I
wanted to recruit my ftrength, on Sundays
and holiday?, I was then forced to let my
matter's fon ride on my back. When
my patience was quite exhaufted, I ufed
to exprefs my difcontent by growling and
mapping, but was foon taught fubordi-
nation by kicks and blows.
<c Six tedious weeks did I remain in
this Tartarus ; and with each day did the
hope of freeing myfelf remove to a greater
diflance :
A SPANIEL. 43
diftance: when, one Sunday afternoon,
my matter and his wife went to Church
together, and I was left in the room with
my little tormentor, who teazed me for
fome time in a manner I was unable to
bear ; till at laft, overcome by rage and
defpair, I determined to make a violent
effort to regain my liberty. In confe-
quence of this refolution, I jumped on
the table, and, pufhing my head through
a pane of glafs, I did not reft till I had
forced enough of the cafcment to give
w^y to admit of my efcape from my de-
tefted jail.
" I fucceeded in my wifh ; but, had
the blackfmith puriued me as foon a;- 1 he
returned from Church, he might 3 wuh-
out
44 BIOGRAPHY OF
out much difficulty, have overtaken me;
for I was almoft crippled by continually
running in the curfed wheel, and it was
near an hour before I recovered the ufe
of my legs. 1 therefore avoided the
high-road, and crawled, as well as I was
able, along the moft unfrequented paths,
till I came to a neat farmhoufe. The
humane owner was in the yard when I
entered it; and, feeing the emaciated
ftate I was in, gave me fome food, and
allowed me to reft my weary limbs on
fome new mown hay.
" With recruited ftrength I left this
hofpitable dwelling early the next morn-
ing ; for. I by no means thought myfelf
fafe from the purfuit of my enemies. I
continued
A SPANIEL. 45
continued to avoid the road, and ran
acrofs a- field that led to a pleafant little
village, through which a river flowed.
At the entrance of it, a pretty young
woman was waftiing fome children's
clothes : a lovely girl, about four years
old, was fitting on, the grals^ aX fome ;
diftance from her j fhe had two boiled
potatoes lying on her lap, and one in her
hand, which fhe was juft conveying to
her mouth.
" I approached the child with the
cringing fervility of an unbidden gueft ;
but the furprife my unexpected appear-
ance occafiened, and the fear. of lofmg
her breakfaft, made her give a loud
fcream : her mother turned round, and
feeing,
46 BIOGRAPHY OF
feeing, by my humble pofture, that my
intentions were pacific, faid c He will
not hurt you, Betfey ; give him one of
your potatoes I fuppofe the poor beaft
is hungry j I'll give you another when
we go home.' The child obeyed her
mother ; fhe reached me a potatoe, which
I took from her hand in the gentleft
manner, and ate by her fide.
" Her mother foon finimed warning,
and went to a little diftance to hang up
the linen on a line fhe had fattened be-
tween two apple-trees. Whilft fhe was
thus employed, Betfey, wifhing to imi-
tate her mother, got up, and running
clofe to the edge of the river, amufed
herfelf with dabbling her pocket-hand-
kerchief
A SPANIEL. 47
kerchief in the water. The poor child's
head foon grew giddy, her feet flipped,
and fhe fell into the ftream without ut-
tering a word. I faw her fall, and,
darting after her, caught hold of her pet-
ticoat, which I held till her mother, hear-
ing the ftrange noife I made, turned to
fee what was the matter. As foon as fhe
did, fhe haftened to relieve me of the
precious burden, which fhe folded with
inimitable tendernefs to her maternal bo-
fom, where her darling foon recovered.
After wrapping her apron round the child,
{he was going to return home, when, fud-
denly recollecting me, fhe turnedback, and
fnapping her fingers at me, faid with a gen-
tle voice 4 Come along, poor dog ; as
long
43 BIOGRAPHY' OF
long as I live, thou'ftialt never want a bit
of bread.* -The language of humanity is
'adapted to the comprehenfion of other
animals, as well as to that of human
"beings, and fuch was the language Mary
fpoke. I underftood it, and joyfully fol-
lowed her to the abode of peace and con-
tent. Whilft jfhe was undreffing the
child, fhe related to her hufband what
had happened, and. how meritorious a
part I had a&ed, with a warmth that
penetrated his heart. c Poor fellow !'
faid he, patting my Tiead;, and my adop-
tion into his family was willingly con-
fented to.
" I lived a whole year with thefe wor-
fhy people if not in affluence, yet in a
4 com-
A SPANIEti 4-'l
comfortable mediocrity ; and, if I fome r
times regretted the flefh-pots of Drefdejr,
the recolle&ion of my fufferings at
Vulcan's forge made me thankfully ac-
knowledge the happ'nefs of my prefent
fituation. The grateful Mary often de-
prived herfelf of a piece of meat or bat-
con to give it me privately ; and, as
for Betfey, I was her idol. I thought I
was now fettled for life, but my way-
ward -deftiny had ordained itotherwife;
for poor Mary died in child-bed, and her
hufband, who wars left with three fmall
children, was forced to look out for an-
other helpmate. His choice fell Qfi a tall,
hollow-eyed figure, whofe manners were
ft> repugnant, that they feerned. to declare
F war
00 BIOGRAPHY '-OF
'
war againft the whole world ; and the
love of money was the only fenfation her
cankered heart was capable of feeling.
1 had fagacity enough to forefee, the mo-
ment fhe entered the houfe, my reign in
it would be over. I judged right; for,
before fhe had been miftrefs of it a week,
{he began to grumble at fuch an idle,
ufelefs beaft (as fhe was pleafed to term
me) being kept. She declared it to be
a fin and a fhame ; and that, for her part^
fhe regarded every morfel of bread that
was given me as a theft, as it would be
infinitely better beftowed on the chickens,
pigeons, or more ufeful cats. With
fuch fentiments it will not be doubted
that my allowance was kfTened every
day.
A SPANIEL, 51
day*. I lamented my hard fate, and no-
thing but my affc&ion for dear Betfey,
induced me to remain the inmate of &
fem-ily I now detefted. Many were the
tears that amiable child flied at the *un-
Hierited fufferings (he and I were forced
to endure -, and often^ to relieve her ach-
ing heart, would fhe run to the church-
yard, and moiften with her tears the
grave of the beft of mothers, which fhe
firewed aluiofl every morning with frefb
gathered flowers. I always attended her
ill thefe melancholy vifits, which were
even pleafmg to me, for I fmcerely re-
gretted my departed friend.
u One day, the diabolical ftcpmother
took it into her head to follow u?, and
F 2 to
52 BIOGRAPHY OF
to difturb the offering 6f duty and affec-
tion* With the malicious griit of a
fond, fhe tore the trembling child from
the tufted hillock that contained her pa-
rent's duft. I Hew at her, determined,
at the hazard of my life, to refcue Betfey
from her clutches; but, with a large
rod fhe had concealed under her apron,
file gave me two fuch fmart ftrokes
acrofs my eyes, that they almofl blinded
me. I was therefore obliged to loofe my
hold, and conceal myfelf behind a tomb-
ftone. Her blows now fell on the poor
child, whom fhe dragged along with her ;
and I heard the abominable woman fay,
as fhe pafled the fpot where I lay c If
it had not been for that curfed hound, I
fliould
A SPANIEL. 53
Should not have been plagued with you ;
J wifh he had let you remain in the wa-
ter.' It was long before I could deter-
mine to return to a houfe I abhorred ;
but my affe&ion for the innocent and
much-injured Betfey conquered my re-
pugnance, and 1 determined to fhare her
fate. As fbon, therefore, as my pain was
a little abated, and I was able to open
my eyes, I followed her ; but immediate-
ly I entered the gate, the harpy, who
flood at a window watching my arrival,
gav^e a fignal, which, as foon as her huf-
l the ploughman faw, they came
towards me, armed with flails
and dung-forks. Betfey, with ftream-
ing eyes and o$]ifted hands, ran after her
father,
54 BIOGRAPHY OF
father, but he was deaf to her prayers.
I wagged my tail at the little angel, and
my looks were meant to exprefs a for-
rowful and eternal farewel. I then ran
as faft as I could, and faved my life by
fwimming through that river from which
I had once refcued her.
" I ran into a wood that lay on the
other fide of it, and hid myfelf in a hol-
low oak ; not from fear of being over-
taken, for I knew I fhould not be pur-
fued; but I wasdifgufted with the world,
and determined to renounce it, and to
fpend the remainder of my life in this
wood, unconnected and unobfcrved in
dort, to turn hermit. But, when I
formed the plan, I entirely forgot the
article
A SPANIEL. 55
article of food, which, however, the
croaking of my bowels foon reminded
me of, and obliged me, before it was
quite dark, to leave my cell, and go in
queft of. I penetrated deeper into the
wood, and at laft, with infinite pleafure,
faw a glimmering of light peep through
tjie trees. I ran as faft as my legs
would carry me towards the fpot fioni
whence it proceeded, and found myfelf
in an open place, where a very extraor-
dinary fpectacle- prefented itfelf to my
view ; for between thirty and forty per-
ibns, men, women, and children, with
fun-burnt faces, and tattered garments,
of various forms and colours, were af-
&mb]cd round a large fire: feme were.
' eating,
66 BIOGRAPHY OF
eating, others playing, and others roaft-
ing and frying. I looked at them fome
time in filent aftonifhment, undeter-
mined to which of the company I fhould
firft pay my compliments ; but at laft I
fixed on an old Hecuba, who was turn x
ing the meagre carcafe of a goofe on a
wooden fpit ; her, therefore, I approach-
ed with all due humility and refpech
c Why, what the devil !' faid a hollow
voice at fome diftance from me, c is that
my dog ? Yes, on my foul, it is !
Hey, Jolli ! Jolli ! how happens it that
we meet here?' I immediately knew
(although four years had elapfed fince I
had feen him) the orator to be rny for-
mer owner, the puppet-fhow man j and,
not
A SPANIEL, 57
Hot being fafhionable enough to afte&
ibrgttting an old acquaintance, I laid
aiide the incognito, and paid my refpets
to him in the beft manner I was able,
feoping thereby to procure his prefent
prote&ion, and to induce him to forgive
the vexatious affair I had formerly in-
** . * - ,
ia.
"But my precautions were fuperfluous,
for he returned my carefTes with intereft,
and afTured the company I fhould prove
an acquifition fuperior to any gold could
purchafe, Look !' faid he, throwing a
bat that lay near him to a confiderable
diiLince. With the velocity of a falcon
I darted after it, and laid it at my com-
mander's feet, A fhout of univerfal
applaufe
58 BIOGRAPHY OF
apphufe exprefTed their approbation of
this heroic deed ; and the company vied
with each other to give me fubitantial
proofs of their welcome and hofpitality.
" During our flipper, an expedition
was planned for the next day, in wh ch I
Was to at a capital part 5 and I deter-
mined to exert myfclfas much as p, fHble;
when I found Baron R^hbcck ( vho
ft 1 continued to be an object of hatred
to me) was ro b- laid under contribu-
tir:: : ai.u i ;. jd ij )f.-if with thiakmgl
f:^aid enj^y ^e (till now to me un-
known) luxury of revenge.
u Our intention was fortunately ex-
ecuted ; for, whilft our old Medufa was
telling the boy's fortune who had the care
of
A SPANIEL. 591
of the poultry, and promifmg him a rich
wife, I ran away with three geefe: my
ipafter, who flood waiting for me be-
hind a. tree, gave them a twift of the
., 2i:J put them into his wallet.
tt A few days after, a rich farmer's
yard was robbed, and our fociety had
reafon to thank me for two capons and a
fat turkey : in (hort, not a week patted
that I did not return to our head-quar-
ters crowned with frefh laurels ; and the
praife continually beftowed on me, was
fuch as would make you think me vain,
were I to repeat it. The name of Car-
touch was given me ; and I was become
a perfon of fuch confequence, as not to be
fed with remains 5 no> the moft dainty
morfels
60 BIOGRAPHY OF
morfels were fele&ed f jr me, and my me-
rits even reflected and conferred honour
on my mafler ; for the Captain c/
band died whilft I was in th:
and my protector was unanitfiou
Commander in his Head. In fhort, never
did fpaniel attain higher honours, or feafi:
better than I did, during the time I was
aid-de-camp to the General of an army
of Gipfies. In my profperity I forgot
both friends a'nd foes. 'Betfey was the onlj
one I recollected ; for often, in my dreams,
did I fancy myfelf near the dear child,
attempting to lick her hand but was al-
ways prevented by her withdrawing her-
felf, and cafting a forrowful but affec-
tionate look at me.
"Our
A SPANIEL. . 6l
" Our frequent depredations at laft
armed juftice againft us, and all the
neighbouring nobility and farmers united
privately to deftroy our whole commu-
nity. The wood we inhabited was
furrounded, and fuch were the precautions
taken, that it was fupftofed none of us
could efcape. How great therefore was
our furprife, one morning, to fee the
rigid minifters of juftice, accompanied
with numbers of armed peafants, pour-
ing into our citadel from all fides. The
ftouteft and moft courageous of our band
armed themfelves, determined to offer the
moft vigorous refiftance ; the reft fought
fafety in flight : thofe who did fo, as well
as the women and children, were almoft,
c all
62 BIOGRAPHY OF
all taken prifoners. Thus much I fa\v
with a tranlient glance; for I muft own
that, at the beginning of the fray, I
thought it beft to abfent myfelf till the
battle was over. I had nearly gained the
wood, and began to think myfelf out of
danger, when a fellow, who I fuppofe
knew me to be our General's right-hand,
levelled his piece at me, loaded with fmall
ihot, which left feveral bloody marks in
my hide. Fortunately my legs were not
injured, and they did me a very mate-
rial piece of fervice ; for they conducted
me, in a few minutes, far from the hof-
tile field, into a fmall cavern by the fide
of a rock, which, molt probably, had been
the hiding-place of fome beaft of prey,
and
A SPANIEL. C)S
and now feemed deftined to be my cell of
repentance perhaps -my grave.
" I had now plenty of leifure to rumi-
nate on the horrors of my fituation ; for
I was confined in this difmal recefs a
whole week my wounds not permitting
me to leave it fooner; and the only food
I had during that. time, was fome mufh-
rooms that fprung up in my grot, and
the fnails that crawled near the entrance
of it.
" However, at laft I recovered my
flrength ; my wounds healed, and I was
able to leave this bed of ficktufs, and
again feek my fortune in the wide world j
but misfortune ftill purfued me, and my
infamy feemed branded on my forehead.
G 2 Six
64 BIOGRAPHY OP
Six weeks did I range about forlorn, and
in the moft vagrant ftate. In vain did I
endeavour to bind myfelf to an itinerant
fiddler, tinker, and knife-grinder they
refufed my offers of fervice ; and all I
could procure from them, and others to
whom I applied, was the momentary
means of fubfiftence : nay, fo low was I
fallen, and fo great was my prefent mi-
fery, that I frequently wifhed myfelf in
the blackfmith's wheel again, and fhould
certainly have returned to it,, if my per-
ambulations had rtot led me from the
Banks of the Danube to thofe of the
Rhine : to do fo, was therefore impof-
fible; and I was forced to continue buf-
fetting on againft my wayward fate,
when
A SPANIEL. 6$
when chance conduced my weary feet to
the gates of a cloifter, where a lay-
brother was diftributing food to a num-
ber of beggars. A fwarm of ragged
guefts prefented themfelves, nor was I
the laft to do fo ; for I forced my way
through the crowd, and placed myfelf
clofe^to the hofpitable brother ; and judge
how Agreeably I was furprifed at feeing,
foremoft in the throng, my former pro-
te&refs and friend, the old gentlewoman
with the Med ufa's head. She, from the
beginning of our acquaintance, had ever
been particularly partial tj me, and I had
really regretted her lofs ; for flie left our
fociety privately a few days before our
unfortunate defeat. It was (he \^Ko
G 3
66 BIOGRAPHY OF
introduced my dear Leda (a female of
tny own kind fhe met on the road, and
enticed to follow her) to me, that I might
have a companion to amufe my leifure
hours j and it was fhe that had the gal-
Jant thought to teach me to jump over a
a flick at the mention of Leda's name.
I perceived, by her large rofary and pe-
jiitential looks, that (he had exchanged
the character of a Sybil for that of a
Devotee a part (he was very capable
of acting, having, in her youth, been
cook to a Pricft. As fooji as I faw her,
I wagged my tail, and fawningly im-
plored her protection. c Good lack)'
faid fhe, * is it you, my dear Jolli ? J
She patted my head as fhe fpoke, and
reached
A SPANIEL. 67
reached me a morfel of the bread fhe had
juft received.
" The company that furrounded us,
murmured at the profanation fhe had
been guilty of, and clamoroufly com-
plained to the diftributor of her criminal
conduct, in wafting the gifts of the
cloifter on a dog. * But you cannot
think, Holy Father,' faid (he, in a whin-
ing voice, c what a fenfible animal this
is; for my part, I believe he is infpired,
and I defire you will introduce me to
your Superior depend on it, you will
have no caufe to repent doing fo.' She
pronounced the laft words in fuch a pofi-
tive manner, that he, without making
an/
6S BIOGRAPHY OF
any obje&ions, went in, and informed
the Abbot of her defire.
" He foon returned -^b^an anfwer
favourable to her wifhes ;?jjnd.we were
introduced to this moft reverend 'Prieft,
who was a fat old Bronze, rather hard of
hearing. The old witch kiflfed the hem
of his garment, and prefented me tohim>
as an offering of her refpe6t, and a tri-
bute due to his worth.
" I was then ordered to difplay my
talents, and give a fample of my abilities,
which often made the Holy Father's
heavy fides wag. To conclude the farce,
{he held up her ilafF, and ordered me to
jump for the Emperor, and afterwards (I
A SPANIEL. 69
am uncertain if it was a joke, or if {he
did it from.cuftom) for Leda.
The I^ela&i^Q was called Father
Beda, mifimderftQod the old woman, and
thought my caper was for him. This
made my fortune : he honoured me with
a nod of his head, as a token of appro-
bation ; and giving the old lady a florin
and fome amulets, difmifled her with
many thanks. I was immediately re-
commended to the .particular care of the
brother-cook, who gave, me fo large a
portion of food, that I, who was the day
before i*. danger of being ftarved to
death, narrowly efcaped falling a victim
to my voracioufnefs,*and dying of an in~
digeftion.
"The
70 BIOGRAPHY OF
<c The fortunate turn of my affairs
likewife proved beneficial to my old
duenna j for the reverend Abbot, as a
token of his efteem, ordered her to be
placed on the lift of his private penfloners,
and a few peas and a loaf of barley-bread
to be given her weekly. Nor did I
omit taking every opportunity of fhew-
ing my gratitude j for, as often as fhe
came to the cloifter, I beftowed the moft
fervile and fawning carefTes on her. I
hardly ever left the Abbot's fide. French
rolls and roaft beef was my mod ordinary
food, and the good-natured old man often
lamented that I could not partake of his
Champagne and Burgundy. Whenever
We had company to dinner, and that was
alrnoft
A SPANIEL. 71
almoft every day, it was my bufinefs to
amufe them during the deflert ; and the
conclufion of the pantomime was always
a vault for Father Beda.
<c Thus, in eafe and affluence, pafled
another year of my life ; and as I always
attended his Reverence to the choir, I
acquired the reputation of holinefs, which
feemed to promife my good fortune would
only end with my life : but, alas ! I was
doomed to be the. ball of Fate.
"The pious Abbot's birthday was
celebrated with a magnificent banquet,
to which a number of the fuperior orders
of the neighbouring clergy was invited ;
amongft the reft, an old Abbefs honour-
ed it with her prefence, and accompanied
her
72 BIOGRAPHY OF
her congratulations with the prefent of a
beautiful little greyhound, which the
Great Frederick himfelf would thank-
fully have accepted of. It was impofli-
ble that fuch a piece of gallantry, from
fo refpe&able a perfon, fhould be' other-
wife than pleafing to the Prelate -, but,
as Prince Zephyr, my rival, had learned
nothing but to cringe and fawn, 1, for
fome time, remained the favourite; and
the only mortification I endured, was
being forced to divide with him the dainty
morfels that, till then, had entirely fallen
to my fhare.
<c But, through various fervile arts,
did the menn parafite feek to undermine
me in my matter's affection $ and, when
he
A SPANIEL. 73
he found he had fucceeded, the liberties
he took were infupportable; for often
would he have the audacity to approach
my plate, and endeavour to defraud me of
my allowance. This occafloned conti-
nual fkirmifties between us, in which I
was always conqueror, and always
blamed.
" One .day our litigations about the
remains of a pheafant produced a formal
battle, in which I aflerted my fuperiority
in fo energetic a manner, as to tear one
of my antagonift's ears almoft off; who,
with dreadful howls, crept for fafety un-
der his protector's hairy garment. This
proved my deftrulion ; for Beda, trem-
bling with rage, and forgetting his gouty
H twinges 3
74 BIOGRAPHY OK
twinges, gave me two or three violent
kicks, and ordered me to be hanged that
minute ; which fentence would have been
executed, if ahalf-ftarved poet, who had
afked alms of the Abbot in hexameter,
and becaufe he had entitled him His
Holinefs, had been invited to dine with
him, had not defired to have me.
" The revengeful Prelate thought he
could not inflict a feverer puniftiment on
me, than by giving me to this minftrel,
whofe hollow cheeks and voracious appe-
tite allured him ftarving would be my fate.
He therefore confented to the fuppliant's
wifli; and, as foon as the meal had end-
ed with a glafs of Tokay, which he called
nedar, I was for ever banilhed from an
afylum
A SPANIEL. 75
afylum where I had fpent the moft indo-
lent and peaceful days of my life.
" The moft difmal prefentiment filled
my mind ; and I crept by the fide of my
new matter, as if the fentence, fo lately
pronounced, was going to be put into ex-
ecution ; and vain were his endeavours,
by whittling and fnapping his fingers at
me, to put me into better fpirits.
<c Towards evening we arrived at a
large town in the Palatinate, where my
prefeat patron occupied a garret at a
bookfeller's.
" Thedulf, the name of my bard, was
an enemy to French names : mine was
therefore exchanged for that of Hector ;
and I was, with all due formality, ap-
H 2 pointed
75 BIOGRAPHY OF
pointed the guard of his caftle, and pro-
te&or of his property. He threw down
a couple of old wigs, which were to be
my bed; and as his fupper confifted of
nothing but a pipe of tobacco and a glafs
of water, I began to fear I (hould be
forced to go fupperlefs to bed'; but at laft,
feeling in his coat-pocket, he found a
hard cruft of bread, ftrongly infufed with
the plant he was fo fond of, which he
threw to me. This fcanty meal formed
a dreadful contrafl to the luxury I had
lately been accuftomed to, and gave me a
fad fample of the want I fhould expe-
rience in this prieft of Apollo's fervice,
which I foon found to be much worfe
than my Cyclop's ; for, if he had not
taken
A SPANIEL. 77
taken me with him two or three times a
week to a public-houfe, where he was
the president of the club of fome journey-
men printers, who ufed to beftow a bone
or a piece of cheefe on me now and then,
the Abbot's prediction would certainly
have been verified.
" Once, as he had written a pompous
epithalamium on the occafion, he was in-
vited to a wedding in the country ; and
the fear of being thought troublefome,
induced him to leave me at home.
Twelve tedious hours did I impatiently
wait for his return, without taftmg a
mprfel of food ; but at laft hunger
prompted me to an afc of dcfperation
that I afterwards feverely repented ; for I
H 3 jumped
78 BIOGRAPHY OF
jumped on the table, and feizing the firft
manufcript I found, tore and eagerly de-
voured it. I had deftroyed feveral fheets
when Thedulf entered the room : his
blood was heated by the frequent libations
of the Hymeneal cup, and the fight of the
mifchief I had done, fet it in a blaze.
He flew at me with the fury of a lionefs
that is robbed of her young ; and, feizing
me by the neck, whirled me to fome dif-
tance from the table, and, in a tone of
voice that I believe no human organ ca-
pable of imitating, exclaimed 4 Ah !
d d hound! what haft thou done,
curfed beaft ! My Tragedy !' wringing
his hands, c the mafter-piece that would
have immortalized my name ! Die,
monfter !*
A SPANIEL. 79
monflerP {hatching up a penknife, and
directing a ftab at me as he fpoke. c But
no,' continued he, after a paufe, c your
impious blood fhall not pollute my hand ;
thine's a public crime, and the public
hand of juftice fhall rid the world of thee.'
He then turned over the leaves, that he
might be able to afcertain the full extent
of his lofs ; which, as foon as he had
done, he broke out in the following heart-
moving ejaculation : ' Oh Melpomene !
Melpomene I how couldft thou fufftrr the
darling of my heart, the offspring of thy
worfhipper, to fall a victim to the infa-
tiate jaws of that fenfelefs beafl ? But
why do I blame thee ? The fault of ad-
mitting dogs into thy temple, which ought
to
80 BIOGRAPHY OF
to have been facred, was mine.'- After
he had ended thrs apoftrophe, he undreff-
ed himfelf, and went to bed; and I crept
into my corner, determined patiently to
await my impending fate :-,-- indeed I was
very indifferent aboat it j-for, fince I had
been confined in this poetical prifon, my
lifj was become a burden to me, and I
cared not how foon I was releafed from
it. It was late the next morning before
my Sophocles awoke : his firft glance
was directed towards the melancholy re-
mains of his immortality. The frght re-
newed his grief: he fighed as if his heart
would bre<:k, and could hardly reftrain
his tears ; but the fight of me, the author
of all his woe, foon chafed every tender
feeling
A SPANIEL. 81
feeling from his heart. Pie arofe in the
agony of defpair 5 and, after hurrying on
his clothes, tied a rope round my neck,
and dragged me down the flairs after
him. He enquired of the firft perfon he
met in the ftreet,,_where the hangman
lived ', and, as his abode was at no great
diftance, we foon arrived at it; and I
muft own that, notwithstanding my re-
fignation the night before, I, fancying
this would be the laft walk I ihould ever
take, lamented the fhortnefs of it. -
< Here's a mad dog, Maiter Martin,' faid
Thedulf to him ; < be fo good as to dif-
patch him for me.' ' It is not my bufi-
nefs to do fo,' replied he; 'however, if
it will oblige you, I have no objection.'
The
82 BIOGRAPHY OF
The man looked earneftly at me: the
manner of his doing fo, infpired me with
hope ; I therefore laid myfelf at his feet,
and wagged my tail at him c But,' con-
tinued he, < you are miftaken, Sir; this
dog is not mad.' c Not mad !' faid
Thsdulf, foaming with rage; c if he had
not been mad, do you think he would
have devoured my invaluable manu-
fcript?' <I warrant he would have let
your paper alone,' was Martin's reply,
c if you had given him other food enough
to fatisfy his hunger; but there's nothing
fo eafy as to convince you of your mif-
take.' He then offered me a piece of
bread, vftiich I took from his hand in a
very gentle mannerj and immediately ate ;
he
A SPANTEL. 83
he fet a bafon of water on the ground,
and, when he faw that I lapped it, he ex-
claimed c Do you fee that I am in the
right ? A mad dog neither eats nor
drinks.' ' But he is mad for all that,'
replied Thedulf, trembling with paffion
as he fpoke, c and I fay he fhall die !'
The man, provoked at his obftinacy, faid,
with a fneer c You appear to be by far
the maddeft of the two ; it is a jfhame
to kill a poor beaft for fuch a trifling
fault. However,' continued he, fmiling,
* if you are determined on his death, you
muft give me half-a-florin for my trou-
ble.'- Thedulf, who at that time was
not worth fo much money, grumblingly
replied* Not I , you may keep him, and
die
84 BIOGRAPHY OF
die of th6 hydrophobia, if you like it ; -
he has coft me enough already.' So fay-
ing, he fnatched open the door, and left
the room.
" I was far from feeling any defire to
accompany him ; but endeavoured to ex-
prefs my gratitude to my deliverer by
fitting up, and licking his hand. He in
return freed me from the rope, and gave
me the remains of his breakfaft, which
was very welcome to me, having tafted
nothing fince my paper meal.
" Before I had finifhed eating, a grey-
headed old invalid entered the room.-' I
have been told, Sir,' faid he, l that you
are a charitable man, and that you are
pofleffed of an excellent eye- water ; if
4 you
A SPANIEL* 85
you are, pray beftow <a little 6f it on a
poor old cripple, who was deprived of the
ufe of his right-arm, and one of his eyes,
in the laft war, and now the fight of the
other begins to fail me.'
" I was too much taken up with my
feaft to pay much attention to the fup-
pliant ; but, as foon as I had finifhed, I
liftened attentively to the voice, which
feemed familiar to me, and yet I could
not recoil eel: the perfon it proceeded
from. I approached, and attentively fur-
veyed him for fome time ; and at laft, to
my irie^preflible joy, difcovered him to
be no other than my old Mentor, Mon-
fieur Lafleur. Age, infirmity, and dif-
trefs had fo altered him, that none but
I + the
86 BIOGRAPHY OF
the penetrating eye of gratitude and
friendfhip could have difcovered his fea-
tures ; but no fooner had I done Co, than
I jumped, barked, and fprawled on the
floor, and did not ceafe ray acclamations
of joy till, with his half eye, he recoi-
led his faithful Jolli.
u Martin, who had been a filent fpec-
tator of this fcene, was really affe&ed :
he gave the old warrior an alms and a
phial of eye- water, for which he thanked
him, but did not leave the room ; and I,
not knowing how to make myfelf under-
ftood, encircled his emaciated legs with
my fore-paws. c I underftand you,' faid
the humane man ; c you wifh to have your
old friend again j take him he will be
more
A SPANIEL. 87
more ufeful to you than to me, for I fear
you will foon be in need of a leader.'
" With a joy that even my prefent
power of utterance can but faintly ex-
prefs, I followed the infirm protector of my
helplefs youth through the ftreets, where
his piteous moans could barely procure him
the fcanty means of fubfiftence ; yet every
morfel of bread or bone of meat the hand
of charity put into the wooden bowl he
carried under his arm, he flwed with me.
It was more for his fake than my own that
I lamented the penury we lived in, and
grieved at the hardnefs of heart the af-
fluent {hewed when they drove him
from the door without relieving his
wants.
I 2 " Lafleur's
88 BIOGRAPHY OF
" Lafleur's attachment to me increafed
every day ; misfortunes had worn off the
rough edges of his character, and opened
his heart to the finer feelings of huma-
nity. Although his fate was hard, he
bore it without repining ; he feemed re-
conciled to it, and, without murmuring,
patiently waited for death the cure of
all his woes.
" A few months after our meeting,
Martin's prediction was verified ; for he
was entirely deprived of his fight, and I,
fattened to a; flight ,cord (a ftrong one
was unnecessary), was his guide and
leader. I picked out the way with the
utmoft care, that his feet might not be
bruifed by the ftones, or his body wounded
by
A SPAN f IEL.
by the wanton or carelefs cruelty of flill
harder man.
a A diilrift of about three miles was
the route we daily took ; and, fmce La-
fleur's blindnefs, I think our alms were
not quite fo fparingly beftowed as be-
fore ; but, when I found that want and
mifery had not the power of moving the
heart, I ufed to exhibit fome of my tricks,
and am forry to fay they often produced
more than the fight of a fellow-creature
in diftrefs.
"In one of our peregrinations we wan-
dered to a neighbouring town ; it being
fair-day, promifed amply to reward us,
and I exerted myfelf, as well as I was
able, in the different evolutions I dif-
I 3 played ;
90 BIOGRAPHY OF
played : nor did my efforts to pleafe re-
main unrewarded ; for the tribute of a
copper coin was thrown into my matter's
hat by almoft every fpe&ator. During
the time he was employed in putting the
money into his pocket, a well-drefTed
boy, who had forced his way through the
crowd whilft I was performing my ex-
ercife, and had feemed particularly de-
lighted with me, endeavoured to entice
me to come to him, by offering me a
piece of cake. I turned and looked fted-
faftly at my helplefs matter, thinking
thereby to prevail on him to beftow his
charity where it was fo much wanted ;
but the boy either did not, or would not,
underftand my meaning, and had either
taken
A SPANIEL. 91
taken a fancy to me, or wanted to teaze
a blind old beggar : he therefore came
nearer, and ftooping, as if he meant to
play with me, fuddenly cut the cord
afunder with a knife he held concealed
for that purpofe, and taking hold of the
end that fattened me, endeavoured to
drag me away by force. To fupprefs
my rage any longer was impoffible: I
flew at the little villain, and tore a piece
of flefli out of the calf of his leg. The
boy roared as if he was pofiefled, and
was carried away, and I again placed
myfelf quietly by Lafleur's fide; for,
either owing to fear or approbation, none
of the furrounding multitude offered to
chaftife me.
But
92 BIOGRAPHY OP
" But a few minutes after I faw two
men approach us, with guns in their
hands, who,' by tKeir drefs, "1 fuppofed to
be the minifters of juftice : they were
fo, and employed by the Town- Major,
whofe fon I had bit, to punifti my
crime. I had time enough to efcape ;
but, inftcad of doing fo, I crept clofer to
my mafter who, when he was told the
danger I was in, bent over me think-
ing, by fo doing, he fhould be able to
protect me. But his effort was vain
for the mercenary flaves fired ; and the
fame ball that palled through my head,
penetrated his heart. c Bury us toge-
ther !' was the laft found I heard with
rry mortal faculties, and likewife the firft
my
A SPANIEL. 93
my aerial fubftance comprehended. Our
fhades met we tried to embrace, but
an invifible power tore us afunder ; yet
as the fpirit of my friend afcended, it
called to me, and faid c We fhall meet
again!'
CONCLUSION.
,;
a Yes, fo you will," re-echoed the
united voices of the whole -fociety, who,
with filent admiration, had littened to the
Granger's relation. They repeated their
congratulations with the moft fraternal
affection ; and the prefident, who was no
other
94 BIOGRAPHY OJ A SPANIEL.
other than Argus, Ulyfles's dog, with
fympathctic feelings, and a hearty (hake
of the paw, faid " Bravo, brother ! let
us be friends/'
I
THE
-
STale*
THE IDIOT.
AT was in the afternoon of a fine fum~
mer's day that a fele& and cheerful
fociety were aflembled in the pleafant
and cool woodbine arbour in Mr. Miller's
garden ; the mild breeze gently waved
the red bloflbms of the clover ; the fcarlet
poppy, pale cowflip, and fpeckled daify
were fpread over the verdant carpet, and
K afforded
98 THE IDIOT.
afforded to the eye a fweet variety ; the
Catherine pear gliftened on the tree, and
every now and then, when fliaken by the
wind, fell ruftling in the grafs, which
was high enough to conceal them from
the fight ; the high currant and goofe-
berry bufties were almoft ftripped of their
refrefhing fruit their bent and leaflefs
boughs, and the mark of recent footfteps
in the mould, (hewed how lately they
had been plundered; but the cherry
trees were in their full beauty, and bent
their loaded branches feemingly to invite
the company to partake of their offered
gifts, in which innumerable fwarms of
^arrows and finches were rioting to
excefs.
The
THE IDIOT. 99
The minds of the company were as
ferene as the day : they were all neigh-
bours and intimate acquaintance, except
Mr. Walton, a young Barrifter, who had
lately taken a houfe in the town, whofe
focial difpofition and agreeable manners
made him a welcome addition to every
company he chofe to honour with his
prefence. He was admired for his fenfe,
eafy politenefs, and reputed integrity,
and, perhaps moft of all, for his large
fortune ; but had the company been bet-
ter acquainted with him, they would
have known that the external advantages
he poftefTed, were trifling when compared
with the more valuable ones of his head
and heart.
K<2 The
100 THE IDIOT,
The married ladies, with a fcruti-
nizing eye, obferved his every look, to
difcover, if poffible, which was the happy
female that fixed his attention moft ; if
the unmarried fair ones, their prudent
fathers', and jealous lovers' eyes were
equally attentive, I cannot fay ; but the
matron's glances were too direct to efcape
obfervation. Curiofity, particularly in
matters of this kind, is juftly attributed
to the female fex ; although, for my own
part, I am far from thinking it a faulty
fenfation ; for I naturally conclude that
{he who fo attentively watches the mo-
tions of others, to difcover by them the
firft fpark of that flame which fhe fup-
pofes will end in a blaze on Hymen's
altar,
THE IDIOT. 101
altar, feels the happinefs of that ftate {he
is fo anxious for others to enter into ; and
if fhe is content with her fituation, there
is no doubt of her communicating the
felicity fhe feels to the partner of her
heart : for that thofe who are happy
themfjlves, .will always endeavour to
make others -fo, is a rule without an ex-
ception.
None of Walton's attentions, nor
hardly a 'look of his, efcaped thefe curious
obfervers* notice. Sometimes they
thought his eyes were fixed with peculiar
tendernefs asd expreffion'on one perfon,
till he directed his difcourfe to another,
and then fhe was certainly the object of
his purfuitj but they were all, one
K 3 excepted,
102 THE IDTOT.
excepted, miftaken ; for what they fup-
pofed love, was only politenefs, and that
attention every well-bred man would
ihew to the lady he was difcourfing with.
But the miftrefs of the houfe was a bet-
ter judge; for (he knew, by experience,
that timidity and refpeft are always the
certain figns of a beginning pailion.
The others only attended on whom his
eyes were fixed longeft, and with the
mod expreffion ; but (he knew that the
perfon to whom the timid glance is fo
obliquely dire&ed, and withdrawn as fooii
as obferved, is (he who has made the
dcepeft impreflion on the heart.
Except Mrs. Miller, no one had re-
marked the impreiTion Charlotte Wilfon
had
THE IDIOT. 103
had made on Walton's heart; not that
fhe was the leaft calculated to infpire
him with love for a judge of beauty
would have declared her the handfomeft
in the circle; but, alas ! fhe was the one
who could leaft boaft of the gifts of
Fortune. Charlotte Wilfon was poor,
at leaft comparatively fo to the others ;
and how feldom has modeft merit, unat-
tended by the adventitious advantages of
rank and fortune, the power to fetter a
heart. Walton's glances to her were
therefore entirely difregarded, and placed
to the account of the two ladies that fat
on each fide of her ; but, although un-
noticed, he had attentively watched her
every motion, and had feen, what had
moft
104 THE IDIOT.
mofl likely efcaped the notice of the reft ef
the company, that {he, when fhe thought
herfelf unobferved, had flipped a piece of
cake into her work-bag : her eyes met
his as fhe drew the ribbons of the bag
a crimfon blufh overfpread her cheeks
her confufion communicated itfelf to him
-he coloured, and was vested with him-
felf for looking at her at that moment, as
it was evident to him his doing fo had
put her out of countenance; and long
did the thought" Happy child that
the prefent is intended for !" occupy
his mind.
A few minutes after the clock ftruck
five, Charlotte arofe, and endeavoured to
away from the company; but, on
her
THE IDIOT. 105
her being obferved, and afted where ihe
was going, fhe faid fhe was obliged to
go home to give the maid fome orders,
but that ihe would foon return } and (he
blufhed as fhe fpoke, as as' if ihe had
been caught at prayers.
" It's five o'clock," (aid Mrs. Miller,
as foon as ihe was out of fight; " and
you know that's the time ihe always at-
tends her brother."
Yes!" and Oh! is that all?"
was repeated by feveral voices at the
fame time.
Walton enquired what was the matter
with her brother; and added that he had
twice before been in company with her,
and
106 THE IDIOT.
and now recollected that (he always went
away at the fame hour.
Mrs. Miller, who was a diftant rela-
tion of Charlotte, and her fmcere friend,
was glad of the opportunity of publifh-
ing her merit, and faid
" Her brother is an idiot ; and it is
impoifible," continued (he, with a warmth
that did honour to her heart, " to de-
fcribe the gentlenefs and care with which
(he attends him, or the kind folicitude
with which {he anticipates his wants and
wifhes ; indeed her kindnefs to him has
often moved me to tears, and fuggefted
the queftion how few in her place
would aft as fhe does ? Fourteen years
has
THE IDIOT. 107
has the unhappy youth been in this de-
plorable ftate ; for, when he was about
fix years old, foon after the death of his
mother, he was deprived of his fenfes by
that malignant diforder, the fmall-pox ;
and fince that time Charlotte (who is a
year younger) has been to him mother,
fifter, friend, and teacher : his whole
earthly happinefs is centered in her fhe
is all he poflefles and loves. Buftnefs
often obliges her father, who is a very
worthy man, to be abfent for weeks to-
gether ; and when he is at home, his va-
rious occupations afford him but little
leifure to attend to his unfortunate fon.
The whole trouble therefore refts on her;
but never did I fee the Jeaft fhadow of
harfhnefs
108 THE IDIOT.
harfhnefs or unkind nefs in her behaviour
to him, or a word or gefture that could
be conftrued into peevifhnefs or difcon-
tent. She feeds and drefles him with the
greateft regularity and care ; and fre-
quently, when he has been a little indif-
pofed, have I known her put off engage-
ments that I am certain were agreeable
to her, to nurfe him, which (he at fuch
times does with an afliduity, as if the wel-
fare of her family depended on his pre-
fervation."
<c God reward her for it !" exclaimed
Walton, who could no longer conceal
the fenfations he felt ; " God reward her
for it, and make her happy as (he deferves
to be !"
And
THE IDIOT. 109
And fuddenly the thought darted acrofs
his mind " How blefled will the man be
who calls her his ! Oh that I were he !
what a daughter, friend, and companion
fliould I then be able to prefent to my
amiable, ailing mother ! how would her
attentions to that worthy parent contra-
di the common aflertion, fo difgraceful
to human nature, that mothers and
daughters-in-law feldom agree under the
fame roof!"
" The gentlenefs and humanity with
which he has ever been treated," con-
tinued the lady, u has had the moft falu*
tary effect on his mind and manners it
has made him mild and docile; for I
L really
110 THE IDIOT.
really believe the ufual method of treat-
ing thofe unhappy perfons with violence,
feverity, and contempt, often increafes
their malady, and makes them more ob-
ftinate and malicious than they would
otherwife be; but her example proves
how far meeknefs and humanity can
operate on the vacant mind ; and really
her attentions to him are fo unremitting,
that it feems to be her conftant ftudy to
make up to him the lofs of underftanding
by kindnefs and love. How often have I
looked at her with admiration, when, to
make her inftru&ions comprehenfible to
his weak mind, (he has been forced to
defcend almoft to a level with it j and
many
THE IDIOT; 111
many a time have I wifhed a fliare of her
patience and humility to thofe who have
the care of educating youth. The trou-
ble Ihe has had with him is not to be
exprefTed ; but (he is in fome degree re-
warded, by finding his mind, , which,
without her foftering care, would have
been quite a blank, now not entirely
fo; for when he takes time to recollect
himfelf, he often combines his ideas, and
anfwers a queftion that is afked him; be-
fides, he is fo gentle and good-tempered,
that it is impoffible to fee him without
feeling the fmcereft pity and commifera-
tion for his unhappy ftate,"
L 2 Walton,
113 THE IDIOT*
Walton. " Virtue often rewards it-
felf ; in this cafe it certainly does ; for his
being fo docile as you defcribe him to be,
muft leflen the trouble he occafions;
but, good God ! what an affliction muft
fuch a perfon be to his family 1"
Mrs. Miller. " A dreadful one in-
deed. I have often wondered (I hope
my doing fo is not criminal) why there are
fuch perfons in the world, and why others,
through them, are fo feverely puniflied ?
You look furprifed, Sir ; I hope I have
not faid any thing improper ; do favour
me with your opinion on the fubjeft."
Walton. ^ You certainly have not
4aid any thing improper. Madam ; for the
THE IDIOT, 115
wifh to enlarge our ideas, or acquire
knowledge, can never be wrong; but,
with our utmoft endeavours to do fo, the
degree of wifdom we are able to attain
here, will be limitted and trifling com-
pared to our wifties. You honour me by
afking my opinion, which I will give you
as well as I am able ; although I am fully
perfuaded your heart has already fuggeft>
ed every thing in my power to fay on the
fubjecl:, more forcibly than my words
can do. Our chief bufinefs in this life,
without doubt, ought to be to per-
fe&ionate ourfelves for a future frate;
and this we are certainly able to do,
without comprehending the dark and
L 3 hidden
JT14 frHE IDIOT,"
hidden ways of Providence; therefore,,
when any inevitable evil befals us, that
either ruffles our temper, difturbs our
peace of mind, or reftrains us in the ar-
dent purfuit of that perfection we are fq
anxious to attain, I think we fhould do
well were we to endeavour to difcover if
the very ill that prefles us, may not be
ufeful to fome if mankind in general
may not be benefited by it or if its
confequences may not be attended with
falutary effects, either as precept or ex-
ample to ourfelves or others. Were we
to accuftom ourfelves to regard misfor-
tunes in this point of view, moft of thofe
that befal us, and I may include idiotifin
THE IDIOT* 115
hi the number, would afford us an ufeful
leftbn, from which we fhould be able to
extraft comfort and confolation."
Mrs. Miller. " Comfort and confo-
lation from idiotifm ! I don't underftand
you, Sir."
Walton. The idiot himfelf will, I
fear, be leaft benefited by them ; and yet,
Madam, as we know this life to be but
the beginning of our being, and the
knowledge we acquire here, if I may be
allowed the expreffion, but the rudiments
of that we fhall hereafter attain, the lofs
the idiot fuftains is not fo great as if ap-
pears on a tranfient glancea moment
compared to eternity 5 for his being the
*;* laft
lift THE IDIOT.
laft here, will not prevent his being, per-
haps> the firft in a future ftate j for to
me it appears probable that his mind will
be invigorated by its prefent ina&ion ;
and who knows what peculiar happinefs
he may then receive, by comparing his
pad to his prefent condition ; then,
when every myftery will be explained,
be will, doubtlefsj be convinced that his
former fituation was necefTary to prevent
his commiflion of crimes, that nothing
but the alienation of reafon could have
hindered, which would have ended in his
temporal and eternal ruin: how glo-
jious muft the morn be to fuch a perfon,
after a night of utter darknefs ! But
the
THE IDIOT. 117
the advantage fuch perfons are to others,
is obvious."
Mrs. Miller. " Perhaps you mean
by their having an opportunity of exer-
ci/ing their patience."
Walton. u That is certainly one;
but I can enumerate many others. Rea-
fon, and the uncontrolled ufe of our men-
tal faculties, are certainly what exalt the
man above the brute moft ; and to feel
and know we are poflefied of this valua-
ble prerogative, is the fureft method of
making us a& in a manner deferving of
it, and of exerting thofe duties compatible
with reafon and humanity. We are too
apt to think flightly, or rather not to think
113 THE IDIOT**
at all, of thofe external advantages we
poflefs in common with all mankind ;
the circulation of our blood, or the elaf-
ticity that fets our limbs in motion, is
feldom thought of or regarded by us, for
every one feels the fame ; and fhould we
not fall into the fame apathy with regard
to our mental faculties, fhould we value
them as they deferve, if a fool or idiot did
not fometimes prefent themfelves to us as
a memento to remind us of what we are,
and what we might have been ? Never
do I fee fuch an unfortunate object with-
out pity and commiferation ; and I fup-
pofe my fenfations at fuch times are not
Unlike thofe a farmer feels, who is inter-
rupted
THE IDIOT; . 11$
rupted at the moment he is offering a
thankfgiving to Heaven for a plentiful
harveft, by a neighbour's coming to afk
his affiftance, whofe hopes were blighted
by lightning and hail-ftnnes. The fight
of an idiot always fills my foul with awe
and wonder ; I admire with humility the
decrees of Heaven, whofe ways I am per-
fuaded are always intended for our real
good, although often clad in myftery, and
involved in darknefs. But with thefe.
fenfations are blended thofe of gratitude
and philanthropy; for how is it poffible
to behold fuch a being without feeling the
wifti of contributing, as much as lies in
our power, towards making his dream of
3 life
l0 THE IDIOT.
life as comfortable as poflible ? And the
beft way of doing fo, is that your friend
has taken, of treating him with gentle-
nefs and delicacy, and not allowing him
to become an objeft of contempt, fporr,
or ridicule. Thank God thefe fentiments
are almoft univerfal, at leaft I am inclined
to think fo, from the idiot's exciting pity
fooner than any other unfortunate perfon ;
perhaps their doing fo may, in fome mea-
fure, be owing to the fuperftition of the
vulgar, who, you know, fancy an idiot
brings a bleffing into their houfe ; but,
to whatever caufe it may be owing, the
effects are good and praifeworthy ; and
I really believe that even thofe who feem
to
THE IDIOT. 121
to find a pleafure in thwarting and teazing
them, do it more through inconfiderate-
nefs than malice. And, to conclude,
Madam, for I fear I have already tired
your patience, can any thing afford us a
better opportunity of exerting the mild
duties of humanity and benevolence ?
The attentions we beftow on the idiot are
certainly dilinterefted : we know he can
only receive without giving accept fa-
vours without the poffibility of returning
them ; but he is a fellow-creature, and,
as fuch, has a right to claim our pity and
afliftance for Charity never enquires
who may I want ? but, who wants me ?
nor, who will be ufeful to me ? bu,t ; who
M can
12 THE 1DIOTC
Can I be ufeful to ? And it is impoffibte
to fay, but that fome part of your lovely
friend's merit may be owing to her bro-
ther's fituation ; perhaps, without fuch
a trial, (he would have been lefs amiable
than flic is."
To fuch of my readers, whofe hearts
are open to the gentle feelings of huma-
nity (and I am willing tohope the greateft
part of them are fuch), I am certain I
need not apologize for the length of this
difcourfe ; for to them every thing that
tends to the alleviation of human mifery,
is welcome. Perhaps I rather ought to
make an excufe for the obfervations I
have made, and for omitting a number of
queftions
THE -IDIOT; 1:23
queftions that were alked and unanfwered
by the reft of the company ; but I am un-
willing to lofe fight of the heroine of this
tale too long.
The finenefs of the evening induced
the company to propofe walking before
fupper.
u I wifh Charlotte was returned to go
.with us>" faid Mrs, Miller, whofe pene-
trating eyes feemed to have difcovered
every movement that pafled in Walton's
mind. " Suppofe," continued fhe, " one
of you gentlemen was to go and hurry hei
. will you take the trouble. Sir ? 1? turn-
ing to him ; " we fhall walk towards the
grove you will foon be able to overtake
j*"cTOl<foaii:
M 2 Walton,
124 THE IDIOT.
Walton, eager to obey her commands,
hurried away as faft as poflible ; and the
joy he at that moment felt, was equal to
that a needy perfon's would be, who un-
expectedly finds a purfe of gold. The
hafte he made, although not equal to his
impatience, was too vifibie to conceal his
fcntiments. As Mr. Wilfon's houfe was
at no great diftance, he foon arrived at it*
The flreet-door was open: he looked
about fome time, expecting to fee fome
perfon who could announce him; but,
after waiting in vain fome moments, he
went in ; for the maid, who was ftanding
in the ftreet, at a little diftance from the
houfe, was too earneftly engaged in conver-
(ation with a female friend, to obferve him.
The
TH IDIOT- 125
The parlour-door was a-jar : he knocked
at it twice ; but, on his receiving no an-
fwer, he went in. There was nobody in
it; but, in a fmall room on the other fide
of it, he heard the voice of her he was
in fearch of. He went towards it, with
the intention of preferring himielf ; but,
before he reached the door, he fuddenly
flopped, unable to refift the temptation of
obferving and liftening to her a little.
The pale youth was fitting at a table :
his drefs was plain, but neat, and per-
fectly clean : the fight was really affect-
ing > for it was the combination of folly
and reafon, infirmity and love but the
laft was the predominant figure in the
M3 group;
V2(5 THE IDIOT.
group ; for, to aflift and amufe the weak
mind, it condefcended to ftoop almoft to
an equality with it.
" Now you have eat your (upper, my
dear William," faid fhe, I'll give you
fpmething I have brought home with me
for you."
" Brought home !" repeated he after
her, with a vacant fmile.
" Yes, here it is ;" and fhe took the
piece of cake out of her work-bag as fhe
fpoke, " and now you fhall have fome
more nice things," taking a plate of fruit
out of a clofet. " See, here's a fine yel-
low pear and fome rafpberries ; and only
: what red cheeks thefe cherries have."
" Yes,
THE IDtQTr J2J
d cheeks," ftammered the un-
fortunate youth, " almoft as red as
your's."
"And here are fome black-heart
cherries ; look how large they are, and
how they fhine ! And I'll fhew you how,
you muft eat thefe currants," continued
fhe : " look you muft firft dip them in
this glafs of water fo; and then you muft
roll them in this pounded fugar fo.
How good they are ; eat them whilft I
go and fetch your playthings."
She went to the other end of the
room, and William ate, as one who
knows no other gratification. She foor\
returned with fome cards, and feveral
pieces
128 THE IDIOT.
pieces of cane, which fhe laid on the
table.
Look, William," faid (he, what
pretty things thefe are you ufed to be
very fond of them ; play with them when
I am gone, will you ? I'll (hew you
how."
And fhe placed the flicks in various
manners : fome perpendicularly, others (he
rolled acrofs the table; with fome (he
formed crofles, and with the reft, by
forcing the ends one in the other, fhe
compofed a long ftick.
" Now only think how prettily you
can play with them when you are alone I"
faid ihe.
William's
THE IDIOT. 1<2$
William's eyes were fixed on her the
whole time with an unmeaning ftare, as
if furprifed at her wonderful operations.
Charlotte fighed, and a tear ftarted into
her eye, which was raifed to heaven.
Walton, unable to contain himfelf any
longer, entered the room they were in,
bowing, and, in a very confufed manner,
he delivered the mefTage he was charged
with. The idiot ftared > but he arofe,
and, in a friendly good-natured manner,
made a number of obfequious bows, as if
he felt the fuperiority of the man of fenfe
who ftood before him. Admiration and
compaiHon had alternately taken poflef-
fion of Walton's mini during the fcene
he
130 THE IDIOT.
he had juft witneflcd; thofe fenfations,
and the manners of the unhappy youth,"
affe&ed him fo much, that the tears in-
voluntarily darted into his eyes. " My
God !" thought he, " were I in his fitua-
tion!"
And furely o light is better calcu-
lated to move 'our feelings than the won-
der a weak mind exprefles at the advan-
tages we poflfefs, and modeftly (brinks
back on feeling his weaknefs and our fu-
periority - adventitious fuperiority !
Walton's attention was xed on Wil-
liam; he looked at him with inexprefli-
fcle forrow. Charlotte did the fame;
their eyes met, and a deeper crimfon
tinged
THE IDIOT. 101
tinged her cheeks ; for at that moment
{he doubly felt the unhappinefs of her bro-
ther's fituation.
Sympathetic minds underftand each
other without words ; no wonder, there-
fore, that Charlotte's and Walton's did ;
for their fentiments at that moment were
fo entirely harmonized, as to unite their
hearts for ever.
He begged Charlotte would allow him
the honour of conducing her to the compa-
ny : they went ; but Walton's thoughts
were too much engaged with what he had
fo lately feen, to allow him to talk of any
thing elfe. He allured her of the admi-
ration and refpeft her conduct had infpired
him
IS2 THE IDIOT.
bim with : {he thanked him for his po-
litenefs, but wondered he found any thing
extraordinary in it.
w How is it poffiblc to act otherwife
than I do ?" faid fhe ; " he is rny brother,
and," with a figh, few are the comforts
he is able to enjoy, and fewer are thofe he
delires; for he is indeed very eafily fatis-
fied. Befides, I mult really be ungrate-
ful if I did not love him 5 for his attach-
ment to me is greater than you can fup-
pofe his unfortunate fituation would al-
low hirn to feel : for you cannot think
how he rejoices when I return after a
fhort abfence, nor the pleafure the verieft
trifle prefented by me, gives him 5 and I
4 allure
THE IDIOT. 133
allure you the fctisfa&ion he at fuch
times exprefles, always communicates
itfelf to me."
The delicacy of your fentiments,
Madam," replied Walton, looking at
her with admiration, does infinite ho-
nour to your heart ; and has likewife the
advantage of enabling you to fupport,
without repining or impatience, the
trouble he muft undoubtedly occaiiou
you."
" It is true," replied fhe, that my
brother's infirm ftate often makes the
afliftance of others neceflary; but God
forbid I fhould be impatient ! I have
ever made it a rule to aft in a manner
N towards
134 THE IDIOT.
towards him, not to fear his calling
me to account, (hould he ever recover
his fenfes."
<{ Have you any hope of his recover-
ing them?" faid Walton.
. " Not in this world," replied (be,
" but certainly in the next; for I have
no doubt of the faculties a cruel diforder
deprived him .of here, being reftored to
him in heaven. I often comfort myfelf
. with the thought."
Walton's anfwer was fhort and un-
connected : he prefied her hand to his
heart that heart was now entirely rilled
with the wifh of calling her his, whofe
way of thinking fo entirely correfponded
with
THE IDIOT. 135
with his own. He defignedly led her a
longer way than was neceflary to join
the company, that he might have the
fatisfa&ion of difcovering more of her
fentiments ; and the more her mind un-
folded itfelf to his view, the more his
paiHon increafed; and the effe&s of it
were too vifible not to be remarked by
he company as foon as they returned to
them,; and they, without pofleffing the
fpirit of divination, foon gueffcd the
meaning of the young man's looks and
attentions.
Indeed they were fo plain, that one
muft have been blind not to have per-
ceived them. Mrs, Miller fat oppofite
N 2 her
IS6 THE IDIOT.
her friend at table, and more than once
gave her a private and approving nod.
After fupper, before the company
went away, they took a few turns in the
garden. Mrs. Miller drew Charlotte
afide, and faid
<c I wifh you joy of your conqueftj,
child. Walton is in love with you."
Charlotte fllently and confufedly re-
turned the preflure of her friend's hand ;
birt the tell-tale moon fhone too bright to
conceal the glow on her cheeks.
" How agitated you are, and how you
blufh !" continued Mrs. Miller. Well,
I'll go and fend Walton to compofe you,"
and away (he tripped,
At
THE IDIOT. 137
At that moment the company fepa-
rated ; and Walton, who had been ftudy-
ing fome time how he fhould, feemingly
by chance, contrive to condu& Charlotte
home, thought this a good opportunity of
offering his fervice. His arm was ac-
cepted, and they went away together;
but if their doing fo had entirety the ap-
pearance he wifhed, I cannot fay, for a
fmile was vifible on many counte-
nances.
" What purpofe can delay anfwer ?'*
thought he, as foon as they were alone j
" her heart is ftill difengaged." He had,
with affe&ed indifference, or at lead
what he intended to feem fo, afked her
N 3 friend
138 THE IDIOT.
friend if it was; but Walton's heart was
too honeft to act an hypocritical part :
<c but who can afTure me that another
may not, before to-morrow, difcover what
a treafure (he is, and rob me of her r- I
had better fpeak to her now."
He endeavoured to do fo; but, at a
Jofs in what manner tp begin, he remain-
ed filent till they were within fight of her
houfe. No time was therefore to be
loft. He hemmed feveral times, but was
always at a lofs how he fhould properly
introduce the fubject. Charlotte ha4
afked him feveral queftlons without
having received any anfwer to them;
and perceiving the agitation he was in,
for
THE IDIOT; 139
for he trembled exceffively, was juft
going to afk him if he was ill, when he
feized her hand, kifTed, and prefled it to
his heart.
f Ah, Madam!" faid he, "could I
but properly explain the fentiments 1
feel for you, and flatter myfelf with the
hope of not being quite indifferent to
you !"
Charlotte was filent, but her heart pal-
pitated violently.
^ Say, moft amiable of your fex," con-
tinued he, " tell me if I dare afpire to
your love?"
Charlotte, in a trembling^ inarticulate
voice, afTured him, of her efteem an4
friendlhip.
? Efteem
140 THE IDIOT*
Efteem and friendfhip," replied he,
" are, in my opinion, but other names
for love ; for the prefent, therefore, I
will be content to call you my beft, my
deareft friend; but which appellation I
hope you will foon allow me to exchange
for the dearer one of wife."
Charlotte v/ifhed to anfwer him , but
her agitation was fo great, that file could
net articulate a word.
" I will not diftrefs you now," conti-
nued he ; <c only permit me to dream of
my happinefs. When do you expert Mr.
Wilfon home ? As foon as he returns,
have I your permiflion to vifit him ?
And only tell me what I muft do to de-
ferve and gain your heart ?"
Charlotte
THE IDIOT. 141
Charlotte withdrew her hand from his;
and as fhe ran into the houfe, faid, in a
low voice
w Speak to my father, Sir !"
FINIS.
X.ANK, MINERVA-PRESS, IT ADENHA LL-STSZ1T.
