expression,
I have never been deceived in him, but have generally on inquiry,
found his character to be as bad as his language gave me room to
expect.

He entered into conversation with the shepherd in the following
manner: "Yours is a troublesome life, honest friend," said he. "To
be sure, sir," replied the shepherd, "'tis not a very lazy life; but
'tis not near so toilsome as that which my GREAT MASTER led for my
sake; and he had every state and condition of life at his choice,
and _chose_ a hard one; while I only submit to the lot that is
appointed to me." "You are exposed to great cold and heat," said the
gentleman. "True, sir," said the shepherd; "but then I am not
exposed to great temptations; and so, throwing one thing against
another, God is pleased to contrive to make things more equal than
we poor, ignorant, short-sighted creatures are apt to think. David
was happier when he kept his father's sheep on such a plain as this,
and employed in singing some of his own Psalms perhaps, than ever he
was when he became king of Israel and Judah. And I dare say we
should never have had some of the most beautiful texts in all those
fine Psalms, if he had not been a shepherd, which enabled him to
make so many fine comparisons and similitudes, as one may say, from
country life, flocks of sheep, hills, and valleys, fields of corn,
and fountains of water."

"You think, then," said the gentleman, "that a laborious life is a
happy one." "I do, sir; and more so especially, as it exposes a man
to fewer sins. If king Saul had continued a poor laborious man to
the end of his days, he might have lived happy and honest, and died
a natural death in his bed at last, which you know, sir, was more
than he did. But I speak with reverence, for it was divine
Providence overruled all that, you know, sir, and I do not presume
to make comparisons. Besides, sir, my employment has been
particularly honored: Moses was a shepherd on the plains of Midian.
It was to 'shepherds keeping their flocks by night,' that the angels
appeared in Bethlehem, to tell the best news, the gladdest tidings,
that ever were revealed to poor sinful men; often and often has the
thought warmed my poor heart in the coldest night, and filled me
with more joy and thankfulness than the best supper could have
done."

Here the shepherd stopped, for he began to feel that he had made too
free, and talked too long. But Mr. Johnson was so well pleased with
what he said, and w