pon a man's
face. "That fellow," says he, "do what he will, can't avoid hanging;
he has a hanging look." By the same art he would prognosticate a
principality to a scoundrel.

* Absolute predestination and reprobation.

** Saving Faith: a belief that one shall certainly be
saved.

He was no less particular in the choice of his studies; they were
generally bent towards exploded chimeras*--the perpetuum mobile, the
circular shot, philosopher's stone, silent gunpowder, making chains
for fleas, nets for flies, and instruments to unravel cobwebs and split
hairs.

* The learning of the Presbyterians.

Thus, I think, I have given a distinct account of the methods he
practised upon Peg. Her brother would now and then ask her, "What dost
thou see in that pragmatical coxcomb to make thee so in love with him?
He is a fit match for a tailor's or a shoemaker's daughter, but not for
you that are a gentlewoman?" "Fancy is free," quoth Peg; "I'll take my
own way, do you take yours. I do not care for your flaunting beaus, that
gang with their breasts open, and their sarks over their waistcoats,
that accost me with set speeches out of Sidney's 'Arcadia' or the
'Academy of Compliments.' Jack is a sober, grave young man; though he
has none of your studied harangues, his meaning is sincere. He has a
great regard to his father's will, and he that shows himself a good son
will make a good husband. Besides, I know he has the original deed of
conveyance to the Fortunate Islands; the others are counterfeits." There
is nothing so obstinate as a young lady in her amours; the more you
cross her, the worse she is.

CHAPTER IV. How the relations reconciled John and his sister Peg, and
what return Peg made to John's message.*

* The Treaty of Union. Reason of it: the Succession not
being settled in Scotland. Fears for the Presbyterian
Church Government, and of being burdened with the English
National Debts.

John Bull, otherwise a good-natured man, was very hard-hearted to his
sister Peg, chiefly from an aversion he had conceived in his infancy.
While he flourished, kept a warm house, and drove a plentiful trade,
poor Peg was forced to go hawking and peddling about the streets selling
knives, scissors, and shoe-buckles; now and then carried a basket of
fish to the market; sewed, spun, and knit for a livelihood, till her
fingers' ends were sore; and when she could not get bread for her
family,