er husband--for they took
special care I should never be alone. As soon as her back was turned,
the little misses ran backward and forward every moment; and constantly
as they came in, or went out, made a courtesy directly at me, which, in
good manners, I was forced to return with a bow, and, "Your humble
servant, pretty miss." Exactly at eight the mother came up, and
discovered by the redness of her face that supper was not far off. It
was twice as large as the dinner, and my persecution doubled in
proportion. I desired, at my usual hour, to go to my repose, and was
conducted to my chamber by the gentleman, his lady, and the whole train
of children. They importuned me to drink something before I went to bed;
and upon my refusing, at last left a bottle of _stingo_, as they called
it, for fear I should wake and be thirsty in the night. I was forced in
the morning to rise and dress myself in the dark, because they would not
suffer my kinsman's servant to disturb me at the hour I desired to be
called. I was now resolved to break through all measures to get away;
and after sitting down to a monstrous breakfast of cold beef, mutton,
neats' tongues, venison-pasty, and stale-beer, took leave of the family.
But the gentleman would needs see me part of my way, and carry me a
short-cut through his own grounds, which he told me would save half a
mile's riding. This last piece of civility had like to have cost me
dear, being once or twice in danger of my neck, by leaping over his
ditches, and at last forced to alight in the dirt; when my horse, having
slipped his bridle, ran away, and took us up more than an hour to
recover him again. It is evident that none of the absurdities I met with
in this visit proceeded from an ill intention, but from a wrong judgment
of complaisance, and a misapplication in the rules of it.

XVII. FROM THE "ESSAY ON MAN."[B]

ALEXANDER POPE.--1688-1744.

Heaven from all creatures hides the book of fate,
All but the page prescrib'd, their present state;
From brutes what men, from men what spirits know;
Or who could suffer being here below?
The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day,
Had he thy reason, would he skip and play?
Pleas'd to the last, he crops the flowery food,
And licks the hand just rais'd to shed his blood.
O blindness to the future! kindly given,
That each may fill the circle mark'd by heaven;
Who sees with equal eye, as God of all,
A