A New and Great Acquaintance Introduced-What we Place Most Hopes upon Generally Proves
                                          Most Fatal.

   AT a small distance from the house my predecessor had made a seat overshaded by a hedge of hawthorn and honeysuckle.
Here, when the weather was fine and our labor soon finished, we usually sat together, to enjoy an extensive landscape in the
calm of the evening. Here, too, we drank tea, which now was become an occasional banquet, and as we had it but seldom, it
diffused a new joy, the preparations for it being made with no small share of bustle and ceremony. On these occasions our two
little ones always read to us, and they were regularly served after we had done. Sometimes, to give a variety to our
amusements, the girls sang to the guitar, and while they thus formed a little concert, my wife and I would stroll down the sloping
field, that was embellished with bluebells and centaury, talk of our children with rapture, and enjoy the breeze that wafted both
health and harmony.

   In this manner we began to find that every situation in life might bring its own peculiar pleasures: every

morning waked us to a repetition of toil; but the evening repaid it with vacant hilarity.

   It was about the beginning of autumn, on a holiday, for I kept such as intervals of relaxation from labor, that I had drawn out
my family to our usual place of amusement, and our young musicians began their usual concert. As we were thus engaged we
saw a stag bound nimbly by, within about twenty paces of where we were sitting, and by its panting it seemed pressed by the
hunters. We had not much time to reflect upon the poor animal's distress, when we perceived the dogs and horsemen come
sweeping along at some distance behind, and making the very path it had taken. I was instantly for returning in with my family;
but either curiosity or surprise, or some more hidden motive, held my wife and daughters to their seats. The huntsman who rode
foremost passed us with great swiftness, followed by four or five persons more, who seemed in great haste. At last a young
gentleman of a more genteel appearance than the rest came forward, and for a while regarding us, instead of pursuing the
chase, stopped short, and giving his horse to a servant who attended, approached us with a careless, superior air. He seemed
to want no introduction, but was going to salute my daughters as one certain of a kind reception; but they had early learned the
lesson of looking presumption out of countenance. Upon which he let us know his name was Thornhill, and that

he was owner of the estate that lay f or some extent around us. He again, therefore, offered to salute the female part of the
family; and such was the power of fortune and fine clothes that he found no second repulse. As his address, though confident,
was easy, we
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soon became more familiar, and perceiving musical instruments lying near, he begged to be favored with a song. As I did not
approve of such disproportioned acquaintances, I winked upon my daughters, in order to prevent their compliance; but my hint
was counteracted by one from their mother, so that with a cheerful

air they gave us a favorite song of Dryden's. Mr. Thornhill seemed highly delighted with their performance and choice, and then
took up the guitar himself. He played but very indifferently; however, my eldest daughter repaid his former applause with
interest and assured him that those tones were louder than even those of her master. At this compliment he bowed, which she
returned with a courtesy. He praised her taste, and she commended his understanding: an age could not have made them better
acquainted; while the fond mother, too, equally happy, insisted upon her landlord's stepping in and tasting a glass of her
gooseberry. The whole family seemed earnest to please him; my girls attempted to entertain him with topics they thought most
modern, while Moses, on the contrary, gave him a question or two from the ancients, for which he had the satisfaction of being
laughed at. My little ones were no less busy, and fondly stuck close to the stranger. All my endeavors could scarcely keep their
dirty fingers from handling and tarnishing the lace on his clothes, and lifting up the flaps of his pocketholes to see what was
there. At the approach of evening he took leave; but not until he had requested permission to renew his visit, which, as he was
our landlord, we most readily agreed to.

   As soon as he was gone, my wife called a council on the conduct of the day. She was of opinion, that it was a most fortunate
hit; for she had known even

stranger things at last brought to bear. She hoped again to see the day in which we might hold up our heads with the best of
them; and concluded, she protested she could see no reason why the two Miss Wrinkles should marry great fortunes and her
children get none. As this last argument was directed to me, I protested I could see no reason for it either, nor why Mr. Simkins
got the ten thousand pound prize in the lottery, and we sat down with a blank. "I protest Charles," cried my wife, "this is the
way you always damp my girls and me when we are in spirits. Tell me, Sophy, my dear, what do you think of our new visitor?
Don't you think he seemed to be good-natured?""Immensely so, indeed, mamma," replied she. "I think he has a great deal to
say upon every thing, and is never at a loss; and the more trifling the subject, the more he has to say,"-"Yes," cried Olivia, "he is
well enough for a man; but for my part, I don't much like him, he is so extremely impudent and familiar; but on the guitar he is
shocking." These two last speeches I interpreted by contraries. I found by this that Sophia internally despised as much as Olivia
secretly admired him. "Whatever may be your opinion of him, my children," cried I, "to confess the truth, he has not
prepossessed me in his favor. Disproportioned friendships ever terminate in disgust, and I thought, notwithstanding all his ease,
that he seemed perfectly sensible of the distance between us. Let us keep to companions of our

own rank. There is no character more contemptible than a man that is a fortune-hunter; and I can see no reason why
fortune-hunting women should not be contemptible too. Thus, at best, we shall be contemptible if his views be honorable; but if
they be otherwise! I should shudder but to think of that! It is true I have no apprehensions f rom the conduct of my children; but
I think there are some from his character." I would have proceeded, but f or the interruption of a servant f rom the 'Squire,
who, with his compliments, sent a side of venison, and a promise to dine with us some days after. This well-timed present
pleaded more powerfully in his favor than any thing I had to say could obviate. I therefore continued silent, satisfied with just
having pointed out danger, and leaving it to their own discretion to avoid it. That virtue which requires to be ever guarded, is
scarcely worth the sentinel.