a hill a sweetly fituated cottage, that was half covered with trees, and ftood by the fide of a large falling stream: a vale extended to the fouth from the door, that was terminated with rocks, and precipices on precipices, in an amazing point of view, and through the flowery ground the water was beautifully seen, as it winded to a deeper flood at the bottom of the vale. Half a dozen cows were grazing in view: and a few flocks of feeding fheep added to the beauties of the fcene.

To this houfe I fent my boy, to enquire who lived there, and to know, if for the night I could be entertained, as I knew not where else to go. O'Fin very quickly returned, and informed me that one Farmer Price was the owner of the place, but had gone in the morning to the next town, and that his wife faid, I was welcome to what her house afforded. In then I went, and was most civilly received by an exceeding pretty woman, who told me her husband would foon be at home, and be glad fhe was fure to see me at their lone place; for he was no ftranger to gentlemen and the world, tho' at present he rarely converfed with any

one.

She told me, their own fupper would be ready an hour hence, and in the mean time would have me take a can of fine ale and a bit of bread. She brought me a cup

A furprif

ing.

of extraordinary malt-drink, and a crust, and while I was eating my bread, in came Mr. Price.

22. The man feemed very greatly aftoing meet nifhed at entering the room, and after he had looked with great earneftness at me for a little while, he cry'd out, Good Heaven! What do I fee! Falstaff, my clafs-fellow, and my fecond felf. My dear friend, you are welcome, thrice welcome to this part of the world. All this furprifed me not a little, for I could not recollect at once a face that had been greatly altered by the fmall-pox And it was not till I reflected on the name Price that I knew I was then in the houfe of one of my fchool-fellows, with whom I had been moft intimate, and had played the part of Plump Jack in Henry the Fourth, when he did Prince Henry. This was an unexpected meeting indeed and confidering the place, and all the circumstances belonging to the fcene, a thing more strange and affecting never came in my way. Our pleasure at this meeting was very great, and when the most affectionate falutations were over, my friend Price proceeded in the following manner.

Often have I remembered you fince we parted, and exclufive of the Greek and English plays we have acted together at Sheridan's fchool, in which you acquired no fmall

small applause, I have frequently thought of our frolickfome rambles in vacation time, and the merry dancings we had at Mother RedCap's in Back-Lane; the hurling matches we have played at Dolphin's Barn, and the cakes and ale we used to have at the Organ-koufe on Arbor-bill. These things have often occurred to my mind: but little did I think we thould ever meet again on Stainmore-bills. What ftrange things does time produce! It has taken me from a town-life, to live on the moft folitary part of the globe:-And it has brought you to journey where never man I believe ever thought of travelling before. So it is, (I replied), and ftranger things, dear Jack, may happen yet before our eyes are closed: why I journey this untravelled way, I will inform you by-and-by; when you have told me by what ftrange means you came to dwell in this remote and filent vale. That you fhall know, (Mr. Price faid) very foon, as foon as we have eaten a morfel of fome thing or other which my dear Martha has prepared against my return. Here it comes, a fowl, bacon, and greens, and as fine, I will answer, as London market could yield. Let us fit down, my friend, and God blefs us and our meat.

Down then we fat immediately to our dish, and most excellent every thing was.

H 4

The

The story of Jack Price.

The focial goodness of this fond couple added greatly to the pleasure of the meal, and with mirth and friendship we eat up our capon, our bacon, and our greens. When we had done, Price brought in pipes and tobacco, and a fresh tankard of his admirable ale. Liften now (he faid) to my ftory, and then I will hearken to yours.

23. When I left you at Sheridan's school, my remove was from Ireland to Barbadoes, to become a rich uncle's heir, and I got by my Indian airing a hundred thousand pounds. There I left the bones of my mother's brother, after I had lived two years in that burning place, and from thence proceeded to London, to spend what an honeft laborious man had long toiled to fave. But I had not been above three months in the capital of England, when it came into my head to pass some time in France, and with a girl I kept made hafte to the French metropolis. There I lived at a grand rate, and took from the French operahoufe another whore. The Gaul and the Briton were both extreme fine girls, and agreed fo well together, that I kept them both in one house. I thought myself fuperlatively happy in having fuch a brace of females, and spared no coft in procuring them all the finery and pleasures that Paris and London could yield. I had a furnished house in both these cities, and

and with an expenfive equipage went backwards and forwards. In four years time I spent a great deal of money; and as I had loft large fums at play, and these two whores agreed in the end to rob me, and retire with the money, where I fhould never discover them, I found myself in very middling circumstances, and had not fix hundred pounds left in the fourth year from my uncle's death. How to difpofe of this and myself was now the question. What fhall I do (was my deliberation) to fecure bread and quiet? Many a thoughtful hour this gave me, and at length I determined to purchase a little annuity. But before this could be effected, I went down to Westmoreland, on an information I had received, that my two ladies were at Appleby with other names, and on my money appeared as women of fortune. But this journey was to no purpofe, and I was preparing to return to London, when my wife you faw at the head of the table a while ago, came by chance in my way, and pleased me fo well with her good understanding, face, and perfon, that I refolved to marry her, if fhe would have me,

and give her the management of my five hundred pounds on a farm, as he was a farmer's daughter, and could manage one to good advantage. Her father was

5

lately