is inhabited by descendants of Europeans. In these countries man may be said to be most man; and they may apply to themselves the poet's boast, Man is the nobler growth these realms supply, THE LANDLORD'S VISIT. A DRAMA. Scene-A room in a farm-house. BETTY, the farmer's wife ; FANNY, a young woman grown up; Children of various ages differently employed. Enter Landlord. Landl. Good morning to you, Betty. Betty. Ah! is it your honour? How do you do, Sir ?-how are madam and all the good family? Landl. Very well, thank you; and how are you, and all yours? Betty. Thank your honour all pretty well. Will you please to sit VOL. III. C down? Ours is but a little crowded Set place, but there is a clean corner. out the chair for his honour, Mary. Landl. I think every thing is very clean. What, John's in the field, I suppose. Betty. Yes, Sir, with his two eldest sons, sowing and harrowing. Landl. Welland here are two, three, four, six; all the rest of your stock, I suppose. All as busy as bees! Betty. Ay, your honour! These are not times to be idle in. John and I have always worked hard, and we bring up our children to work too. There's none of them, except the youngest, but can do something. Landl. You do very rightly. With industry and sobriety there is no fear of their getting a living, come what may. I wish many gentlemen's children had as good a chance. Betty. Lord! Sir, if they have fortunes ready got for them, what need they care? Landl. But fortunes are easier to spend than to get; and when they are at the bottom of the purse, what must they do to fill it again? Betty. Nay, that's true, Sir; and we have reason enough to be thankful, that we are able and willing to work, and have a good landlord to live under. Landl. Good tenants deserve good landlords; and I have been long acquainted with your value. Come, little folks; I have brought something [Takes out cakes. Betty. Why don't you thank his honour ? for you. Landl. I did not think you had a daughter so old as that young woman. Betty. No more I have, Sir. She is not my own daughter, though she is as good as one to me. Landl. Some relation, then, I suppose? Betty. No, Sir, none at all. Landl. Who is she, then? Betty. (whispering) When she is gone out, I will tell your honour.(Loud.) Go, Fanny, and take some milk to the young calf in the stable. [Exit Fanny. Landl. A pretty modest-looking young woman, on my word! Betty. Ay, Sir-and as good as she is pretty. You must know, Sir, that this young woman is a stranger from a great way off. She came here quite by accident, and has lived with us above a twelvemonth. I'll tell your honour all about it if you choose. Landl. Pray do,-I am curious to hear it. But first favour me with a draught of your whey. Betty. I beg your pardon, Sir, for not offering it. Run, Mary, and fetch his honour some fresh whey in a clean basin. [Mary goes. Landl. Now, pray begin your story. Betty. Well, Sir-As our John was coming from work one evening, he saw at some distance on the road a carrier's waggon overturned. He ran up to help, and found a poor old gentlewoman lying on the bank much hurt, and this girl sitting beside her, crying. My good man, after he had helped in setting the waggon to rights, went to them, and with a good deal of difficulty got the gentlewoman into the waggon again, and walked by the side of it to our house. He called me out, and we got something comfortable for her; but she was so ill that she could not bear to be carried further. So after consulting a while, we took her into the house, and put her to bed. Her head was sadly |