you that fhilling was fufficient."-"But it was not fufficient for me," replied the good-natured vicar: Pray except this trifle, and you will greatly oblige me."

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It is impoffible to exprefs the variety of sensations by which our pedestrian hero is overpowered. Nor could his worthy benefactor forbear from expreffing how much he was affected by the exquifite fenfibility which this humble and uncultivated mind difplayed. In every gesture, in every word, there was that conciseness, yet pathetic eloquence of expreffion, which nature teaches, and which no refinement can furpafs. Their mutual fatisfaction, it may be imagined, could fcarce admit of being heightened. The poor veteran, who now thought himself "as rich as Crœfus," was the happiest of men; and generous ecclefiaftic, whose income was far from affluent, yet who felt himself not the poorer for this bounty, enjoyed a felicity which none but the virtuous and good can feel. They parted once more." Oh! the excellent man! the excellent man!" faid the foldier, when he found himself alone: "after having obliged me my own way, to come after me again, and oblige me ftil! more. The good vicar, the good vicar! he live a hundred years!" May

the

The

The foldier had for sometime made a confiderable progrefs on his journey, when, at last, he perceived, that the village where he had proposed to lodge that night, was ftill so very diftant, that, after all, it would be much better to turn towards that which the vicar had pointed out, and take up his quarters there.

One would be tempted here to imagine, that that vigilant and invifible Providence, which the ancients call Destiny, (Fatum) had determined the foldier to change his purpose, and to repair to the village in which this beneficent vicar lived. If we explore the pages of history, we fhall find numberless examples of that protecting power, which feems, as it were, to create miracles for our preservation; and what is more astonishing, the ingratitude of men is fuch, that he is either infenfible of this heavenly interpofition, or regards it with an indifference equally unwife and culpable.

Conducted then by a kind of guardian genius, the foldier directs his fteps towards his benefactor's village. Attentive at this moment to œconomy, he enters a wretched ale-house. "Comrade," fays he, "bring me a pint of wine, and hark let it be of the beft. I am intolerably

ye

thirsty."

thirsty." The landlord placed himself at the fame table where three honest peasants were converfing with great volubility. "Sit down here," said one of the peasants; "you will not be too much; we love gentlemen of your cloth; they ferve the King, and fight for us." Then turning to his companions, "I tell thee, Claude, he is the jewel of men! Did you obferve with what good judgment he determined in that there affair of Gaffer Matthew? And you, Nicholas, do you remember what care he took of the poor family of Robert that's dead and gone, and how he cried over them? "Ah!" said Christopher, "he is one that does as he fays, and fo I gets his fermons almost by heart." "My good friends," interrupted the foldier, toffing off a large bumper of wine, "you are praising some honest fellow: may I know who he is?" "Mr. Officer, it is our vicar." "Your vicar! Here, boy, bring me another pint. Your vicar, and all that you fay is true?" "True! why we ha'n't yet faid half enough. There isn't his fellow upon earth. Hark ye, would you believe it, we ha'n't had a fingle lawfuit fince he has been in the parish! He is the best creature in the world!"." My good friends," again interrupted the foldier, "give me your hand. Do you know what pleasure you have juft given me? You praise a man who has obliged me like a prince.

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prince. And I-I would put to death the man that could only think of hurting him." He then related, and he could fcarce refrain from tears, how good the vicar had been to him. “Had you but feen him," said he, "turn back to give me a crown. Here it is. I won't carry it away. Comrades, we will fup together, on condition we all drink his health."

He inftantly orders the landlord to spread a fupper on the table; and the converfation continues:-"Hark ye, my friends, I have just thought of it; I cannot leave the place without having vifited my good vicar. I am not satisfied with myfelf; I have not thanked him enough. But it is now late; I fhall fleep here to-night; and tomorrow morning early I will go and fee him." "And why not this evening, Mr. Soldier? The vifits of fuch brave fellows as you are always acceptable. I'll answer for it, he will give you both fupper and lodging with all his foul. Poor man! he has fome rafcals of nephews that torment him, and who are for getting whatever they can from him."-"They torment him! let him turn them over to me; I'd manage them. I'll go then this inftant to the good vicar; but I fcarce know my way." The three peasants, with one voice, offer to be his guides; the reckoning is difcharged,

and

and they all fet out; the conversation on the way turning continually upon the excellent character and actions of their common benefactor.

They arrive at the door of the parfonage-house; they knock, and they knock again: no answer is returned: not the flightest noife is heard. "What," faid one of the peasants, "can be the meaning of this? I do'nt half like it." They now knock with greater violence; but all is filent ftill; and even the great dog is not heard to bark. Their fears increase. "This is very fingular he is always at home at this hour: we muft abfolutely make fomebody hear." They won't open it, my friends: I know an excellent way to enter, we must burst open the door." The foldier inftantly applied to this work: the door foon yielded to his efforts: he enters the first with what an object is he struck! A man hanging upon a beam; he runs to him: recollects the good vicar: it is impoffible to exprefs his agitation he perceives fome figns of life; he quickly cuts the rope; he takes him in his arms; he revives him. "I hear fome noife," faid he; "fhut the door; take care of this good man, and I'll do justice to the wretches that have treated him thus." He perceives the dog killed; he goes up ftairs into the vicar's apartment; and he there found