ence that first taught us to bless our enemies！ Blest be his holy name for all the good he hath given； and for all that he hath taken away。 But it is not； it is not； a small distress that can wring tears from these old eyes； that have not wept for so many years。 My Child！To undo my darling！ May confusion seize！ Heaven forgive me； what am I about to say！ You may remember； my love； how good she was； and how charming； till this vile moment all her care was to make us happy。 Had she but died！ But she is gone； the honour of our family contaminated； and I must look out for happiness in other worlds than here。 But my child； you saw them go off： perhaps he forced her away？ If he forced her； she may 'yet be innocent。''Ah no； Sir！' cried the child； 'he only kissed her； and called her his angel； and she wept very much； and leaned upon his arm； and they drove off very fast。' 'She's an ungrateful creature；' cried my wife； who could scarce speak for weeping； 'to use us thus。 She never had the least constraint put upon her affections。 The vile strumpet has basely deserted her parents without any provocation； thus to bring your grey hairs to the grave； and I must shortly follow。'
In this manner that night； the first of our real misfortunes； was spent in the bitterness of complaint； and ill supported sallies of enthusiasm。 I determined； however； to find out our betrayer； wherever he was； and reproach his baseness。 The next morning we missed our wretched child at breakfast； where she used to give life and cheerfulness to us all。 My wife； as before； attempted to ease her heart by reproaches。 'Never；' cried she； 'shall that vilest stain of our family again darken those harmless doors。 I will never call her daughter more。 No； let the strumpet live with her vile seducer： she may bring us to shame but she shall never more deceive us。'
'Wife；' said I； 'do not talk thus hardly： my detestation of her guilt is as great as yours； but ever shall this house and this heart be open to a poor returning repentant sinner。 The sooner she returns from her transgression； the more welcome shall she be to me。 For the first time the very best may err； art may persuade； and novelty spread out its charm。 The first fault is the child of simplicity； but every other the offspring of guilt。 Yes； the wretched creature shall be welcome to this heart and this house； tho' stained with ten thousand vices。 I will again hearken to the music of her voice； again will I hang fondly on her bosom； if I find but repentance there。 My son； bring hither my bible and my staff； I will pursue her； wherever she is； and tho' I cannot save her from shame； I may prevent the continuance of iniquity。'
CHAPTER 18
The pursuit of a father to reclaim a lost child to virtue
Tho' the child could not describe the gentleman's person who handed his sister into the post…chaise； yet my suspicions fell entirely upon our young landlord； whose character for such intrigues was but too well known。 I therefore directed my steps towards Thornhill…castle； resolving to upbraid him； and； if possible； to bring back my daughter： but before I had reached his seat； I was met by one of my parishioners； who said he saw a young lady resembling my daughter in a post…chaise with a gentleman； whom； by the description； I could only guess to be Mr Burchell； and that they drove very fast。 This information； however； did by no means satisfy me。 I therefore went to the young 'Squire's； and though it was yet early； insisted upon seeing him immediately： he soon appeared with the most open familiar air； and seemed perfectly amazed at my daughter's elopement； protesting upon his honour that he was quite a stranger to it。 I now therefore condemned my former suspicions； and could turn them only on Mr Burchell； who I recollected had of late several private conferences with her： but the appearance of another witness left me no room to doubt of his villainy； who averred； that he and my daughter were actually gone towards the wells； about thirty miles off； where there was a great deal of company。 Being driven to that state of mind in which we are more ready to act precipitately than to reason right； I never debated with myself； whether these accounts might not have been given by persons purposely placed in my way； to mislead me； but resolved to pursue my daughter and her fancied deluder thither。 I walked along with earnestness； and enquired of several by the way； but received no accounts； till entering the town； I was met by a person on horseback； whom I remembered to have seen at the 'Squire's； and he assured me that if I followed them to the races； which were but thirty miles farther； I might depend upon overtaking them； for he had seen them dance there the night before； and the whole assembly seemed charmed with my daughter's performance。 Early the next day I walked forward to the races； and about four in the afternoon I came upon the course。 The company made a very brilliant appearance； all earnestly employed in one pursuit； that of pleasure； how different from mine； that of reclaiming a lost child to virtue！ I thought I perceived Mr Burchell at some distance from me； but； as if he dreaded an interview； upon my approaching him； he mixed among a crowd； and I saw him no more。 I now reflected that it would be to no purpose to continue my pursuit farther； and resolved to return home to an innocent family； who wanted my assistance。 But the agitations of my mind； and the fatigues I had undergone； threw me into a fever； the symptoms of which I perceived before I came off the course。 This was another unexpected stroke； as I was more than seventy miles distant from home： however； I retired to a little ale…house by the road…side； and in this place； the usual retreat of indigence and frugality； I laid me down patiently to wait the issue of my disorder。 I languished here for near three weeks； but at last my constitution prevailed； though I was unprovided with money to defray the expences of my entertainment。 It is possible the anxiety from this last circumstance alone might have brought on a relapse； had I not been supplied by a traveller； who stopt to take a cursory refreshment。 This person was no other than the philanthropic bookseller in St Paul's church…yard； who has written so many little books for children： he called himself their friend； but he was the friend of all mankind。 He was no sooner alighted； but he was in haste to be gone； for he was ever on business of the utmost importance； and was at that time actually compiling materials for the history of one Mr Thomas Trip。 I immediately recollected this good…natured man's red pimpled face； for he had published for me against the Deuterogamists of the age； and from him I borrowed a few pieces； to be paid at my return。 Leaving the inn； therefore； as I was yet but weak； I resolved to return home by easy journies of ten miles a day。 My health and usual tranquillity were almost restored； and I now condemned that pride which had made me refractory to the hand of correction。 Man little knows what calamities are beyond his patience to bear till he tries them； as in ascending the heights of ambition； which look bright from below； every step we rise shews us some new and gloomy prospect of hidden disappointment； so in our descent from the summits of pleasure； though the vale of misery below may appear at first dark and gloomy； yet the busy mind； still attentive to its own amusement； finds as we descend something to flatter and to please。 Still as we approach； the darkest objects appear to brighten； and the mental eye becomes adapted to its gloomy situation。
I now proceeded forward； and had walked about two hours； when I perceived what appeared at a distance like a waggon； which I was resolved to overtake； but when I came up with it； found it to be a strolling company's cart； that was carrying their scenes and other theatrical furniture to the next village； where they were to exhibit。 The cart was attended only by the person who drove it； and one of the company； as the rest of the players were to follow the ensuing day。 Good company upon the road； says the proverb； is the shortest cut； I therefore entered into conversation with the poor player； and as I once had some theatrical powers myself； I disserted on such topics with my usual freedom： but as I was pretty much unacquainted with the present state of the stage； I demanded who were the present theatrical writers in vogue； who the Drydens and Otways of the day。'I fancy； Sir；' cried the player； 'few of our modern dramatists would think themselves much honoured by being compared to the writers you mention。 Dryden and Row's manner； Sir； are quite out of fashion； our taste has gone back a whole century； Fletcher； Ben Johnson； and all the plays of Shakespear； are the only things that go down。''How；' cried I； 'is it possible the present age can be pleased with that antiquated dialect； that obsolete humour； those overcharged characters； which abound in the works you mention？''Sir；' returned my companion； 'the public think nothing about dialect； or humour； or character； for that is none of their business； they only go to be amused； and find themselves happy when they can enjoy a pantomime； under the sanction of Johnson's or Shakespear's name。''So then； I suppose；' cried I； 'that our modern dramatists are rather imitators of Shakespear than of nature。' 'To say the truth；' returned my companion； 'I don't know that they imitate any thing at all； nor； indeed does the public require it of them： it is not the composition of the piece； but the number of starts and attitudes that may be introduced into it that elicits applause。 I have known a piece； with not one jest in the whole； shrugged into popularity； and another saved by the poet's throwing in a fit of the gripes。 No； Sir； the works of Congreve and Farquhar have too much wit in them for the present taste； our modern dialect is much more natural。'
By this time the equipage of the strolling company was arrived at the village； which； it seems； had been apprised of our approach； and was come out to gaze at us； for my companion observed； that strollers always have more spectators without doors than within。 I did not consider the impropriety of my being in such company till I saw a mob gather about me。 I the