and labourers engaged to restore the fences； and begin the work
of hedging and ditching； under the direction of farmer Bland； at
whose recommendation I hired a careful hind to lie in the house；
and keep constant fires in the apartments。
'Having taken these measures； I returned to London； where I
forthwith sold off my household…furniture； and； in three weeks
from my first visit； brought my wife hither to keep her
Christmas。 Considering the gloomy season of the year； the
dreariness of the place； and the decayed aspect of our
habitation； I was afraid that her resolution would sink under the
sudden transition from a town life to such a melancholy state of
rustication； but I was agreeably disappointed。 She found the
reality less uncomfortable than the picture I had drawn。 By this
time indeed； things were mended in appearance The out…houses had
risen out of their ruins； the pigeon…house was rebuilt； and
replenished by Wilson； who also put my garden in decent order；
and provided a good stock of poultry； which made an agreeable
figure in my yard； and the house； on the whole； looked like the
habitation of human creatures。 Farmer Bland spared me a milch
cow for my family； and an ordinary saddle…horse for my servant to
go to market at the next town。 I hired a country lad for a
footman； the hind's daughter was my house…maid； and my wife had
brought a cook…maid from London。
'Such was my family when I began house…keeping in this place；
with three hundred pounds in my pocket； raised from the sale of
my superfluous furniture。 I knew we should find occupation
enough through the day to employ our time； but I dreaded the long
winter evenings； yet； for those too we found a remedy： The
curate； who was a single man； soon became so naturalized to the
family； that he generally lay in the house； and his company was
equally agreeable and useful。 He was a modest man； a good
scholar； and perfectly well qualified to instruct me in such
country matters as I wanted to know。 Mr Wilson brought his wife
to see us； and she became so fond of Mrs Dennison； that she said
she was never so happy as when she enjoyed the benefit of her
conversation。 She was then a fine buxom country lass；
exceedingly docile； and as good…natured as her husband Jack
Wilson； so that a friendship ensued among the women； which hath
continued to this day。
'As for Jack； he hath been my constant companion； counsellor； and
commissary。 I would not for a hundred pounds you should leave my
house without seeing him。 Jack is an universal genius his
talents are really astonishing： He is an excellent carpenter；
joiner； and turner； and a cunning artist in iron and brass。 He
not only superintended my oeconomy； but also presided over my
pastimes He taught me to brew beer； to make cyder； perry； mead；
usquebaugh； and plague…water； to cook several outlandish
delicacies； such as ollas； pepper…pots； pillaws； corys； chabobs；
and stufatas。 He understands all manner of games from chess down
to chuck…farthing； sings a good song； plays upon the violin； and
dances a hornpipe with surprising agility。 He and I walked； and
rode； and hunted； and fished together； without minding the
vicissitudes of the weather； and I am persuaded； that in a raw；
moist climate； like this of England； continual exercise is as
necessary as food to the preservation of the individual。 In the
course of two and twenty years； there has not been one hour's
interruption or abatement in the friendship subsisting between
Wilson's family and mine； and； what is a rare instance of good
fortune； that friendship is continued to our children。 His son
and mine are nearly of the same age and the same disposition；
they have been bred up together at the same school and college；
and love each other with the warmest affection。
'By Wilson's means； I likewise formed an acquaintance with a
sensible physician； who lives in the next market…town； and his
sister； an agreeable old maiden； passed the Christmas holidays at
our house。 Mean while I began my farming with great eagerness；
and that very winter planted these groves that please you so
much。 As for the neighbouring gentry； I had no trouble from that
quarter during my first campaign； they were all gone to town
before I settled in the country； and by the summer I had taken
measures to defend myself from their attacks。 When a gay
equipage came to my gates； I was never at home； those who visited
me in a modest way； I received； and according to the remarks I
made on their characters and conversation； either rejected their
advances； or returned their civility I was in general despised
among the fashionable company； as a low fellow； both in breeding
and circumstances； nevertheless； I found a few individuals of
moderate fortune； who gladly adopted my stile of living； and many
others would have acceded to our society； had they not been
prevented by the pride； envy； and ambition of their wives and
daughters。 Those； in times of luxury and dissipation； are the
rocks upon which all the small estates in the country are
wrecked。
'I reserved in my own hands； some acres of ground adjacent to the
house； for making experiments in agriculture； according to the
directions of Lyle； Tull； Hart； Duhamel； and others who have
written on this subject； and qualified their theory with the
practical observations of farmer Bland； who was my great master
in the art of husbandry。 In short； I became enamoured of a
country life； and my success greatly exceeded my expectation I
drained bogs； burned heath； grubbed up furze and fern； I planted
copse and willows where nothing else would grow； I gradually
inclosed all my farms； and made such improvements that my estate
now yields me clear twelve hundred pounds a year All this time
my wife and I have enjoyed uninterrupted health； and a regular
flow of spirits； except on a very few occasions； when our
cheerfulness was invaded by such accidents as are inseparable
from the condition of life。 I lost two children in their infancy；
by the small…pox； so that I have one son only； in whom all our
hopes are centered。 He went yesterday to visit a friend； with
whom he has stayed all night； but he will be here to dinner。 I
shall this day have the pleasure of presenting him to you and
your family； and I flatter myself you will find him not
altogether unworthy of our affection。
'The truth is； either I am blinded by the partiality of a parent；
or he is a boy of very amiable character； and yet his conduct has
given us unspeakable disquiet。 You must know； we had projected a
match between him and a gentleman's daughter in the next county；
who will in all probability be heiress of a considerable fortune；
but； it seems； he had a personal disgust to the alliance。
He was then at Cambridge； and tried to gain time on various
pretences； but being pressed in letters by his mother and me to
give a definitive answer； he fairly gave his tutor the slip； and
disappeared about eight months ago。 Before he took this rash
step； he wrote me a letter； explaining his objections to the
match； and declaring； that he would keep himself concealed until
he should understand that his parents would dispense with his
contracting an engagement that must make him miserable for life；
and he prescribed the form of advertising in a certain newspaper；
by which he might be apprized of our sentiments on this subject。
'You may easily conceive how much we were alarmed and afflicted
by this elopement； which he had made without dropping the least
hint to his companion Charles Wilson； who belonged to the same
college。 We resolved to punish him with the appearance of
neglect； in hopes that he would return of his own accord； but he
maintained his purpose till the young lady chose a partner for
herself； then he produced himself； and made his peace by the
mediation of Wilson。 Suppose we should unite our families by
joining him with your niece； who is one of the most lovely
creatures I ever beheld。 My wife is already as fond of her as if
she were her own child； and I have a presentiment that my son
will be captivated by her at first sight。' 'Nothing could be more
agreeable to all our family （said I） than such an alliance； but；
my dear friend； candour obliges me to tell you； that I am afraid
Liddy's heart is not wholly disengaged there is a cursed
obstacle' 'You mean the young stroller at Gloucester （said he）
You are surprised that I should know this circumstance； but you
will be more surprised when I tell you that stroller is no other
than my son George Dennison That was the character he assumed in
his eclipse。' 'I am； indeed； astonished and overjoyed （cried I）；
and shall be happy beyond expression to see your proposal take
effect。'
He then gave me to understand that the young gentleman； at his
emerging from concealment； had disclosed his passion for Miss
Melford； the niece of Mr Bramble； of Monmouthshire。 Though Mr
Dennison little dreamed that this was his old friend Matthew
Loyd； he nevertheless furnished his son with proper credentials；
and he had been at Bath； London； and many other places in quest
of us； to make himself and his pretensions known。
The bad success of his enquiry had such an effect upon his
spirits； that immediately at his return he was seized with a
dangerous fever； which overwhelmed his parents with terror and
affliction； but he was now happily recovered； though still weak
and disconsolate。 My nephew joining us in our walk； I informed
him of these circumstances； with which he was wonderfully
pleased。 He declared he would promote the match to the utmost of
his power； and that he longed to embrace young Mr Dennison as his
friend and brother。 Mean while； the father went to desire his
wife to communicate this discovery gradually to Liddy； that her
delicate nerves might not suffer too sudden a shock； and I
imparted the particulars to my sister Tabby； who expressed some
surprize； not altogether unmixed； I believe； with an emotion of
envy； for； though she could have no objection to an alliance at
once so honourable and advantageous； she hesitated in giving her
consent on pretence of the youth and inexperience of the parties：
at length； however； she a