MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 



The father and mother in their 

 -unday clothes looked neat, though 

 only as common tradespeople. The 

 aunt wore brownish tresses under her 

 cap, which, like the rest of her dress, 

 iippcared to be at least half as old as 

 herself. Agnes, sister Ivitty, and the 

 young suitor, were in new clothes, a 

 degree smarter than they had ever 

 before worn ; and the mother Mas. 

 dressed like a respectable citizen's 

 widow, without any ornaments, but 

 perfectly nice. 



As she appeared to have been 

 brought up rather better than the 

 people of the house, I dare say«ihe 

 had given them both hur advice and 

 assistance towards arranging the 

 table. Every thing was in exact or- 

 der. The table-cloth was fine and 

 large, and the napkins curiously 

 folded, with a roll of bread in each. 

 On the side of every pewter-plate 

 lay a new-fashioned knife, with a 

 silver fork and spoon, which looked 

 •s if just come from the shop. — 

 Whilst I was making these obser- 

 vations, the first course was brought 

 in, which consisted merely of a very 

 large bason of broth, containing a 

 knuckle of veal, with a dish of 

 force-meat balls, and sausages. 



Come, friends, says the old man, 

 don't let the victuals cool, but take 

 your places, if you please. 



Let me manage this, says the mo- 

 ther ; I shall soon settle the matter 

 as it should be: Mr. Counsellor is a 

 bachelor : he shall sit between the 

 girls ; James next to Agne;;, then 

 the widow, and aunt, and we shall 

 find our places. So said, so done; 

 and in a minute this skain was un- 

 ravelled and wound up. Agnes, 

 lier mother, and 1, immediately took 

 something on our plates, in which 

 James, who, like the others, had be- 

 gun to sup the broth from the ba- 



vo». xLvn. 



son, imitated us, instigated by Ag- 

 nes, who softly said to him, " fye 

 James !" 



Alter the soup was removed, a 

 large sirloin of beef Mas set upon 

 the table, between two dishes of 

 grej' pease, a sallad, and stewed ap- 

 ples. TheVe, my friends, you see 

 the v,hole, said the father ; there is 

 a venison pasty in the middle, and 

 (he more3'Ou eat, the more picasura 

 you will give me. After this hearty 

 compliment, as I found nobody ven- 

 tured to attack the beef, I, although 

 an indifterent carver, undertook to 

 help the company, which I did to 

 their satislaction, James, who saw 

 his beloved, h-ar mother, and me, 

 eat with a fork, being upon his 

 guard, after his mistake ^\ith the 

 spoon, likewise tried to do so, and, 

 considering it Mas his first essay, 

 succeeded tok'rab'.y ; indeed, what 

 cannot love teach ! The father took 

 notice of his son's dexterity: well, 

 my lad, says he, where have you 

 learnt to eat with a fork ? and you 

 do it M'ell too ! well, keep to that 

 new fashion ; I M'ould do so like- 

 M ise, were 1 not too old to alter my 

 habit; I have not boen accustomed 

 to it. Your mother and I, my boy, 

 (never forget it, in whatever sta- 

 tion you may hereafter be) were 

 brought up here in the Orphan's 

 Hospital, and we have raised our- 

 selves from the ground, without ever 

 having, thank God ! wronged our 

 consciences, or any person ; and, 

 as we have saved a pretty penny for 

 our children, ue are very willing 

 they should fare better thaji Me did, 

 " Tell me Mhat I am, and notMhat 

 1 Mas," says the old Dutch proverb: 

 what say you, mother ? Honour be 

 to your heart, father, said the good 

 woman ; Ave Mill not give ourselv<^s 

 out for what we are Hot, as many 

 3 da 



