546 ANNUAL R 



*' conTcrsation shortened the road; 

 *' he enquired, as we went along, 

 *' what was become of my hat, 

 *' which led to a relation of some 

 *' of my disasters. He pitied, 

 '' without laughing at me, and 

 *' blamed tlic secretary,for his, what 

 " he called, unpardonable neglect. 

 " lie desired me, when I came to 

 *' Ilenningstone again, to pay him 

 '' a visit, which he said he flattered 

 " himself he should be able to 

 *' render more agreeable to me than 

 " this had been. We soon, almost 

 " sooner than I wished, arrived at 

 *' my friend's hospitable mansion, 

 '' and he left me with the assurance 

 *' that he would send me my hat 

 " the next morning. 



" I hastily opened the gate : 

 " Charles, who was watching at the 

 " window for my return, ran to 

 '' meet rae, as soon as he heard the 

 creaking of the hinges. lie 

 caught hold of my hand w.ith a — 

 'come! come! — the supper is 

 ready,' and we hurried across the 

 farm yard together, as fast as wc 

 *' could. The cattle lay in supine 

 " repose, and Basto, my friend's 

 *' spaniel, wagged his tail, and ran 

 " barking tp announce our ap- 

 proaoh. 



EGISTER, 1805. 



u 



" Mrs. Thompson met me at the 

 door with a smiling infant in her 

 arms, and received me with these 

 Avords, — ' Welcome ! thrice wel- 

 come from court to our frugal 

 meal ! Come, the supper waits. 

 Charles, call your father.' 

 " The cloth was laid, and a dish 

 of asparagus and a shoulder of 

 lamb, that were left in the kitchen 

 to keep warm, were added to the 

 sallad and currant tart that 

 already stood upon the table. 

 My friend entered the room soon 

 after, with a jug of ale in one 

 hand, and a bottle of wine in the 

 other, and Avelcomed me in the 

 same hearty manner as his wif« 

 had done. We sat down to sup- 

 per. My friends laughed at the 

 recital of my woes more than I 

 Avas able to do myself, for the 

 Avounds Avere still sore. How- 

 ever, a few hours sleep has en- 

 abled me to view every perplex- 

 ing circumstance in the same lu- 

 " dicrous light, and I am noAV ablo 

 " to join in the laugh, and assure 

 " you that I am reconciled to the 

 " Avorld, to courts, and myself; and 

 " that I am, 



" Your contented, 

 " And sincere friend, 

 " Goodwin." 



POETRY. 



