Two or three of them then led him away, while the rest stayed behind, and flattered me, and worshipped me, and called Hunter all kinds of dogs' names.What do you think of that?""Why," said I, "it makes good what I read in a letter which Ireceived yesterday.It is just the way of the world.""A'n't it," said the landlord."Well, that a'n't all; let me go on.Good fortune never yet came alone.In about an hour comes home my poor niece, almost in high sterricks with joy, smiling and sobbing.She had been to the clergyman of M-, the great preacher, to whose church she was in the habit of going, and to whose daughters she was well known; and to him she told a lamentable tale about my distresses, and about the snares which had been laid for my soul; and so well did she plead my cause, and so strong did the young ladies back all she said, that the good clergyman promised to stand my friend, and to lend me sufficient money to satisfy the brewer, and to get my soul out of the snares of the man in black; and sure enough the next morning the two young ladies brought me the fifty pounds, which I forthwith carried to the brewer, who was monstrously civil, saying that he hoped any little misunderstanding we had had would not prevent our being good friends in future.That a'n't all; the people of the neighbouring county hearing as if by art witchcraft that I had licked Hunter, and was on good terms with the brewer, forthwith began to come in crowds to look at me, pay me homage, and be my customers.Moreover, fifty scoundrels who owed me money, and would have seen me starve rather than help me as long as they considered me a down pin, remembered their debts, and came and paid me more than they owed.That a'n't all; the brewer being about to establish a stage-coach and three, to run across the country, says it shall stop and change horses at my house, and the passengers breakfast and sup as it goes and returns.He wishes me - whom he calls the best man in England - to give his son lessons in boxing, which he says he considers a fine manly English art, and a great defence against Popery - notwithstanding that only a month ago, when he considered me a down pin, he was in the habit of railing against it as a blackguard practice, and against me as a blackguard for following it; so I am going to commence with young hopeful to-morrow.""I really cannot help congratulating you on your good fortune," said I.
"That a'n't all," said the landlord."This very morning the folks of our parish made me churchwarden, which they would no more have done a month ago, when they considered me a down pin, than they - ""Mercy upon us!" said I, "if fortune pours in upon you in this manner, who knows but that within a year they may make you a justice of the peace?""Who knows, indeed!" said the landlord."Well, I will prove myself worthy of my good luck by showing the grateful mind -not to those who would be kind to me now, but to those who were, when the days were rather gloomy.My customers shall have abundance of rough language, but I'll knock any one down who says anything against the clergyman who lent me the fifty pounds, or against the Church of England, of which he is parson and I am churchwarden.I am also ready to do anything in reason for him who paid me for the ale he drank, when Ishouldn't have had the heart to collar him for the money had he refused to pay; who never jeered or flouted me like the rest of my customers when I was a down pin - and though he refused to fight cross FOR me was never cross WITH me, but listened to all I had to say, and gave me all kinds of good advice.Now who do you think I mean by this last? why, who but yourself - who on earth but yourself? The parson is a good man and a great preacher, and I'll knock anybody down who says to the contrary; and I mention him first, because why; he's a gentleman, and you a tinker.But I am by no means sure you are not the best friend of the two; for Idoubt, do you see, whether I should have had the fifty pounds but for you.You persuaded me to give up that silly drink they call sherry, and drink ale; and what was it but drinking ale which gave me courage to knock down that fellow Hunter -and knocking him down was, I verily believe, the turning point of my disorder.God don't love them who won't strike out for themselves; and as far as I can calculate with respect to time, it was just the moment after I had knocked down Hunter, that the parson consented to lend me the money, and everything began to grow civil to me.So, dash my buttons if I show the ungrateful mind to you! I don't offer to knock anybody down for you, because why - I dare say you can knock a body down yourself; but I'll offer something more to the purpose; as my business is wonderfully on the increase, I shall want somebody to help me in serving my customers, and keeping them in order.If you choose to come and serve for your board, and what they'll give you, give me your fist; or if you like ten shillings a week better than their sixpences and ha'pence, only say so - though, to be open with you, I believe you would make twice ten shillings out of them - the sneaking, fawning, curry-favouring humbugs!""I am much obliged to you," said I, "for your handsome offer, which, however, I am obliged to decline.""Why so?" said the landlord.
"I am not fit for service," said I; "moreover, I am about to leave this part of the country." As I spoke a horse neighed in the stable."What horse is that?" said I.
"It belongs to a cousin of mine, who put it into my hands yesterday in the hopes that I might get rid of it for him, though he would no more have done so a week ago, when he considered me a down pin, than he would have given the horse away.Are you fond of horses?""Very much," said I.
"Then come and look at it." He led me into the stable, where, in a stall, stood a noble-looking animal.
"Dear me," said I, "I saw this horse at - fair.""Like enough," said the landlord; "he was there and was offered for seventy pounds, but didn't find a bidder at any price.What do you think of him?""He's a splendid creature."
"I am no judge of horses," said the landlord; "but I am told he's a firstrate trotter, good leaper, and has some of the blood of Syntax.What does all that signify? - the game is against his master, who is a down pin, is thinking of emigrating, and wants money confoundedly.He asked seventy pounds at the fair; but, between ourselves, he would be glad to take fifty here.""I almost wish," said I, "that I were a rich squire.""You would buy him then," said the landlord.Here he mused for some time, with a very profound look."It would be a rum thing," said he, "if, some time or other, that horse should come into your hands.Didn't you hear how he neighed when you talked about leaving the country? My granny was a wise woman, and was up to all kinds of signs and wonders, sounds and noises, the interpretation of the language of birds and animals, crowing and lowing, neighing and braying.If she had been here, she would have said at once that that horse was fated to carry you away.On that point, however, I can say nothing, for under fifty pounds no one can have him.Are you taking that money out of your pocket to pay me for the ale? That won't do; nothing to pay; I invited you this time.
Now if you are going, you had best get into the road through the yard-gate.I won't trouble you to make your way through the kitchen and my fine-weather company - confound them!"
