THE MISERIES OF A TENDER-EARED MAN. 141 



A most satisfactory and gratifying feeling pervaded me as I 

 alighted from my vehicle, at the neat gateway of a still neater 

 cottage, which was situated at the end of a pleasant parterre, and 

 at the distance of a gun-shot from the road, the view of which 

 w^as prettily diversified by a neat iron railing which surrounded 

 it. A sign, hanging at the garden gate, informed me that a snug 

 apartment was vacant within. I eagerly sought it, and, within a 

 quarter of an hour, had comfortably settled myself in an easy 

 chair, which graced the apartment, sole (temporary) monarch of 

 all I surveyed. 



Night came. What a luxury to sleep without the pale of the 

 din of a disturbed and disturbing town. It is indeed no wonder 

 that the poets speak in such high terms of the delights of a rural 

 retreat. 



I retired to bed, sought, and found the true luxury of a pillow. 

 I slept soundly for iibout an hour, but was awoke by a smart 

 gust of wicd whicl) licwled and leaped amongst the boughs of 

 some vaneruble ebiis which surrounded my cottage; the clatter 

 of hail and rain against the windov/ told me that a sudden change 

 had taken place in the weather, and gave me to understand that 

 I should pass any thing but a pleasant night. I lay awake some 

 time, in hopes that the rain and wind w^ould cease, but, to my 

 utter discomfiture, the depths of night only increased their vio- 

 lence; and, notwithstanding the continued roar, I congratulated 

 myself on being so snugly lioused ; transitory gratification ! by a 

 sudden change in the direction of the wind, my window had to 

 bear the whole burst of the torrent and blast. The sashes shook 

 most mournfully in their frames, forbidding all attempts to sleep. 

 I however somew^hat lessened the noise by the insertion of my 

 pen-knife and tooth-brush, between the parts in opposition and 

 conjunction. I deposited myself again between the sheets, but, 

 alas ! a more direful disturbance awnited me ; — attached to the 

 gate, at the extremity of the garden, was a bell of no small 

 dimensions, affixed to give notice of any entrances or exits; and, 

 by some accident or intent, my landlady had omitted to fasten 

 the door at night, perhaps owing to the reason that time had 

 removed all the fastenings, and, at intervals of about half a minute, 

 the neigiibourhood rung with clashiugs of the door, with the 

 doleful accompanyment of repeated ringings of the bell, which 

 the wind was swaying about in most playful style. It was certain 

 that this sound must be put a stop to; but, then, a distance of 

 about 25 yards of garden intervened *twixt the house and garden 



