Sir R. Pshaw! There's no distress in that.
Hum. Yes, there is, to a man that must go twenty miles every Sunday to
preach three sermons, for thirty pounds a year.
Sir R. Why won't the vicar give him another nag?
Hum. Because 't is cheaper to get another curate ready mounted.
Sir R. Well, send him the black pad which I purchased last Tuesday, and
tell him to work him as long as he lives. What else have we upon the list?
Hum. Something out of the common; there's one Lieutenant Worthington, a
disabled officer and a widower, come to lodge at Farmer Harrowby's, in the
village; he is, it seems, very poor, and more proud than poor, and more
honest than proud.
Sir R. And so he sends to me for assistance? Hum. He'd see you hanged
first! No, he'd sooner die than ask you or any man for a shilling! There's
his daughter, and his wife's aunt, and an old corporal that served in the
wars with him, he keeps them all upon his half pay.
Sir R. Starves them all, I'm afraid, Humphrey.
Fred. (Going.) Good morning, uncle.
Sir R. You rogue, where are you running now?
Fred. To talk with Lieutenant Worthington.
Sir R. And what may you be going to say to him?
Fred. I can't tell till I encounter him; and then, uncle, when I have an
old gentleman by the hand, who has been disabled in his country's service,
and is struggling to support his motherless child, a poor relation, and a
faithful servant, in honorable indigence, impulse will supply me with
words to express my sentiments.
Sir R. Stop, you rogue; I must be before you in this business.
Fred. That depends on who can run the fastest; so, start fair, uncle, and
here goes.--(Runs out.)
Sir R. Stop, stop; why, Frederic--a jackanapes--to take my department out
of my hands! I'll disinherit the dog for his assurance.
Hum. No, you won't.
Sir R. Won't I? Hang me if I--but we'll argue that point as we go. So,
come along Humphrey.
NOTES.-Ergo (pro. er'go) is a Latin word meaning therefore. Negatur (pro.
ne-ga'tur) is a Latin verb, and means it is denied.
The Tartars are a branch of the Mongolian race, embracing among other
tribes the Calmucks. The latter are a fierce, nomadic people inhabiting
parts of the Russian and Chinese empires.