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that I cannot. O he cried, I had forgot, I was a rafcal for propofing it: you're of high blood, have high relations, and fo fcorn to have connections with a poor tradefman like me. That is not the cafe indeed, my dear Ben, but--Damn your dears, fays he, I will have no more of them! you are a covetous fcoundrel, and value money more than love. Well, fays I, but will you be patient, will you hear reafon, my friend? Friend, friend, fays he, my curfe upon all fuch friendfhips! I fee into you now. You're an ungrateful, unloving, cold-hearted villain, and I would fooner be godfather to a child of the Turk. So faying, he ftruck at me, and repeated his blows acrofs the table. But as I faw that his choler was inflaming more and more, I got up and retreated, merely intending to defend myself till his passion should be fpent upon me. But you faw what happened, gentlemen, which I am heartily forry for, as I fear that my poor dear fel low is much hurt.

Well, faid my tutor, I have heard many definitions, and many difputes concerning the word Courage, but I never faw the thing itself, till this day. Pray Mr Peter, were you never angry? Scarce ever, Sir, that I remember; at least on

my

my own account; for I do not fear any man that fteps upon the earth, and what is it then that fhould make me angry? A man may be angry, faid Mr Clement, from other motives fure, befides that of fear. God himfelf can be angry, and yet he cannot poffibly fear.

I am feelingly affured, Sir, replied the valiant Peter, that God was never angry in his whole life; and that is a long time, that has neither beginning nor ending. Don't you believe the gofpel, fays Mr Clement; the fcripture affures us, in a hundred places, of the anger of God againft impenitent finners. I am the son of a clergyman, Sir, faid Peter, and mayhap could quote fcripture as well as another. The fcriptures were written for man; but how should man understand them, if they were not written according to his own language and to his own paffions? I will afk you a queftion, Sir, Can you be angry at a mite or a worm which you can crufh into nothing at pleasure? I think not, said my tutor. No certainly, faid Peter, because you cannot fear a thing that has not power to offend you. Now all the world is but as a worm or nite to God; and neither man nor angels can disturb or affect him with any thing, except delight, on.

their

their acceptance of that happiness which he defires to give to all his creatures.

Ay but, fays Mr Clement, you see that God's anger and indignation was fo great againft fin, that nothing could fatisfy for it fave the death of his beloved Son. Ay but, fays Peter, the fcripture, which you quote, tells you, that it was not his anger but his love that fent him to us. "For "God fo loved the world," a very finful world indeed!" that he gave his only "begotten Son to take his death upon "the crofs." And I am as fully affured, as I am of my own being, that the fame gracious God, who has already redeemed poor finners, would willingly redeem the poor devils alfo, if they could but find in their hearts to defire his falvation.

Here, catching and clasping his hand, My dear Peter, fays 1, I embrace and with from my heart that your doctrine may be true. I have many tutors, Mr Peter, and my dada pays them all with pleasure for the inftructions that they give me. Tell me then, Mr Peter, what muit he give you for the leflon which you have taught me? What leffon, my hero? A very precious leffon, says I; a leflon that will always teach me " to despite myself for a "coward, whenever I fhall be angry."

Peter

Peter then fprúng up, without fpeaking a word, and hugged, and clasped, and kiffed me with all his affections. Then, plucking a button from the upper part of my coat, I will accept of this token, my darling, fays he; and will look at it, many a time in the day, for your fake.

But Mr Peter, fays I, I think it would be my advantage to keep up an acquaintance with you, and this cannot be fo well done, while your dear Gatty is angry with

me.

You must therefore promife me to carry a token to her alfo, as an olivebranch of that peace which I want to be made between us. I will, my love, says he; I never refufe to give or accept the favours of a friend. You must be upon honour then, not to reject what I offer you. I am upon honour he faid.

I then flipped fomething into his hand, at which he looked and looked again; and then cried out, from the overflowings of a good and grateful heart, You are either of the blood royal, or ought to be fo! For the man was very poor, though fo very fenfible and well defcended, and fo he looked upon a little as a great mat

ter.

Here Harry clofed his narration, and all the company gathered about him, and nearly fmothered him with their careffes,

in

in which little Sufanna came in for her full fhare.

On the following day, Harry introduced his friend Vindex and family to his dear dada, who received them with a gracioufnefs that foon difpelled that aukward diffidence and humbling fenfe of obligations, under which the late unhappy preceptor apparently funk

As foon as it was known abroad that Mr Vindex enjoyed the patronage and good countenance of Mr Fenton and his family, his former friends reforted to him, his acquaintance was fought by all the neighbourhood, his credit was reftored, his fchool daily increased, and, like Job, his latterend was far more bleffed than his beginning.

Within a few weeks, Mr and Mrs Fielding, with their fifter Plæbe, our friend Ned, and a fplendid equipage, called and breakfafted at Mr Fenton's; and, foon after, 'Mr Fenton and his Harry, with Mr and Mrs Clement, attended their vifitants to St Albans, where, all together, they spent the happiest night; only that this happiness was blended, at times, with the affecting confideration of parting in the morning.

For two fucceeding years and upward, little interefting happened, fave that our

hero

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