74 THE RURAL SOCRATES. 



JLimiting ail prctenfion to the advantages of enlarging 

 andimproving bis ideas of men and things, by frequent 

 converlations with perfons of fuperior rank and know- 

 ledge ; he preferves invariabl}^, his fimple and natural 

 manners. — -When I acquainted him with my intention 

 of communicating his character to the world : If you 

 think, faid he, with a natural fmil^, it will in any 

 refpC(^ be the better for it, you are welcome ; but whe- 

 ther men praife or blame me, I fhall be neither better 

 nor worfe. 



Who would believe that envy does not ceafe to per- 

 feeute this worthy being ? Fortunately all its eiForts only 

 furniih fredi fubjcvftfor praife. — I was diverted one day 

 with hearing one of the mofl: rancorous of his neighbors 

 exclaim, *^ This Kliyogg is no better than a beafl of 

 *' burthen ; he is Ihortening his days by hard working, 

 *' and forces ail his family to bear him company! ! His 

 '' whole difcourfe is about making people labor and do 

 *^ good ; though they fay that he does not allow himfclf 

 *' much time to pray !" " But, tell me, is he guilty of 

 ^' thefmallefl degree of injuflicd I Or, do you hear ma- 

 '' ny reports of his fwearing, or of his Handering his 

 '' neighbor ?" '' I cannot pretend that I do 5 it mufl 

 '' even be granted;, that he is punctual in keeping his 

 ^* engagements. I alio do not recollecl ever to have 

 " heard him fwcar, or fpeak ill of any man ; But he 

 ^* tires you with the repetition of his methods of farm- 

 *' ing ; and is always particular in his way of thinking. 

 ^' For inftance, he will not fuffer his children to fet their 

 '' feet in a tavern, or partake of any diverfion ; 

 ^ and makes them wear the fame clothes on Sundays 

 *' and Feftivals, as on w^orking days.— He has the art, 

 *' however, of fpeaking fo fluently, that there is no dif- 

 *' puting againfl him. A near relation of mine, fum^ 

 *' moned him lately before a magillrate, about an af- 

 '' fair that had provoked him to the higheft pitch. He 

 '^ confelFed to me, on coming out of tl^e court, that he 



'' had 



