36 TRAVELS IN 
ground could be of fo much importance as to 
oblige thefe planters, contrary to their ufual 
cuftom, to expofe themfelves to the intenfe 
heat of the fun, and even to abandon their 
daughter, I replied very fimply, that if one 
man, paffing by, had planted this ftake, the 
next comer would perhaps take it away again, 
and that there was nothing in the circumftance 
fo extremely urgent. I even offered, if her pa- 
rents did not fucceed in difcovering it, to pull 
it up myfelf if I paffed that way. The bufmefs, 
fhe faid, depended neither upon them, upon 
me^ nor any other perfon. But her father, 
fhe added, would fliortly be at home, who 
would give me a more particular hiftory of 
the baaken. Meanwhile Ihe invited me to take 
fome refrefliment, and to bear her company. 
Her parents, as fhe had fuppofed, foon ar- 
rived. The father careffed her for detaining 
me, and I was loaded with civilities on the 
part of the mother. We fat down to 
table. An unreftraioed cheerfulnefs prefided 
at the meal. The melancholy affair that had 
occafioned fuch alarm w^as arranged, and all 
parties fatisfied. 
I longed for the promifed hiftory of the 
ftake. Thefe good people are flow in their 
motions, 
