52 MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 



it at the parsonage gates, many of the old neigh- 

 bours assembled at the churchyard wall, to see us 

 set off, and to express their good wishes; and, 

 amongst the rest, was a good sensible old woman 

 of the village, named Betty Kell, who gave us her 

 blessing, and each a penny for good luck. This 

 being done, our horses were mounted, and we 

 commenced our journey. The parties kept at a 

 little distance from each other. I suppose our late 

 preceptor was lecturing his son, and my father 

 was equally busied in the same way with me. He 

 had always set me the example and taken every 

 opportunity of showing how much he detested 

 meanness, and of drawing forth every particle of 

 pride wfthin me, for the purpose of directing it in 

 the right way. He continued a long while on 

 subjects of this kind, and on the importance and 

 inestimable value of honour and honesty ; and he 

 urgently pressed upon me to do my duty to my 

 master, in faithfully and obediently fulfilling all 

 his commands, to be beforehand in meeting his 

 wishes, and, in particular, to be always upon my 

 guard against listening to the insinuations and 

 the wicked advice of worthless persons, who I 

 would find ever ready to poison my ear against 

 him. He next turned his discourse on another 

 topic new to me from him of great importance 

 religion and pressed this also upon me in a way 

 I did not forget. He begged I would never omit, 

 morning and evening, addressing myself to my 

 Maker, and said that if I ceased to do so, then 

 he believed and feared every evil would follow. 

 I was greatly surprised to hear him dwell on this 

 subject; for I think it was the first time. He 

 used, indeed, to go to church ; but I do not recol- 



