of them follow different professions in all the
different countries of Europe; but it is the only wish of almost all to
return, before their death, to the mountains where they were born and
have passed their youth.

_Tommy._--I do not easily understand that. I have seen a great many
ladies and little misses at our house, and whenever they were talking of
the places where they should like to live, I have always heard them say
that they hated the country of all things, though they were born and
bred there. I have heard one say the country is odious, filthy,
shocking, and abominable; another, that it is impossible to live
anywhere but in London; and I remember once seeing a strange lady, who
wrote down her observations in a book, and she said the country was all
full of barbarians, and that no person of elegance (yes, that was her
word) could bear it for a week.

_Mr Barlow._--And yet there are thousands who bear to live in it all
their lives, and have no desire to change. Should you, Harry, like to
leave the country, and go to live in some town?

_Harry._--Indeed, sir, I should not, for then I must leave everything I
love in the world. I must leave my father and mother, who have been so
kind to me; and you, too, sir, who have taken such pains to improve me,
and make me good. I am convinced that I never shall find such friends
again as long as I live; and what should anybody wish to live for who
has no friends? Besides, there is not a field upon my father's farm that
I do not prefer to every town I ever saw in my life.

_Tommy._--And have you ever been in any large town?

_Harry._--Once I was in Exeter, but I did not much like it; the houses
seemed to me to stand so thick and close, that I think our hog-sties
would be almost as agreeable places to live in; and then there are
little narrow alleys where the poor live; and the houses are so high,
that neither light nor air can ever get to them, and the most of them
appeared so dirty and unhealthy, that it made my heart ache to look at
them. And then I walked along the streets, and peeped into the
shops--and what do you think I saw?

_Tommy._--What?

_Harry._--Why, I saw great hulking fellows, as big as our ploughmen and
carters, with their heads all frizzled and curled like one of our
sheep's tails, that did nothing but finger ribbons and caps for the
women! This diverted me so, that I could not help laughing ready to
split my sides. And then the gentlewoman, at whos