SUMMARY :A Description of the Farmer's Daughter. The Author carried to a Market-Town, and then to the Metropolis. The Particulars of his Journey.

  My Mistress had a Daughter of nine Years old, a Child of towardly Parts for her Age, very dextrous at her Needle, and
skilful in dressing her Baby. Her Mother and she contrived to fit up the Baby's Cradle for me against Night: The Cradle was
put into a small Drawer of a Cabinet, and the Drawer placed upon a hanging Shelf for fear of the Rats. This was my Bed all
the Time I stayed with those People, though made more convenient by Degrees, as I began to learn their Language, and
make my Wants known. This young Girl was so handy, that after I had once or twice pulled off my Cloaths before her, she
was able to dress and undress me, though I never gave her that Trouble when she would let me do either my self. She made
me seven Shirts, and some other Linnen, of as fine Cloth as could be got, which indeed was coarser than Sackcloth; and
these she constantly washed for me with her own Hands. She was likewise my School-Mistress to teach me the Language:
When I pointed to any thing, she told me the Name of it in her own Tongue, so that in a few Days I was able to call for
whatever I had a mind to. She was very good natured, and not above forty Foot high, being little for her Age. She gave me
the Name of Grildrig, which the Family took up, and afterwards the whole Kingdom. The Word imports what the Latins
call Nanunculus, the Italians Homunceletino, and the English Mannikin. To her I chiefly owe my Preservation in that
Country: We never parted while I was there; I called her my Glumdalclitch, or little Nurse: And I should be guilty of great
Ingratitute if I omitted this honourable Mention of her Care and Affection towards me, which I heartily wish it lay in my
Power to requite as she deserves, instead of being the innocent but unhappy Instrument of her Disgrace, as I have too much
Reason to fear.

It now began to be known and talked of in the Neighbourhood, that my Master had found a strange Animal in the Fields,
about the Bigness of a Splacknuck, but exactly shaped in every Part like a human Creature; which it likewise imitated in all
its Actions; seemed to speak in a little Language of its own, had already learned several Words of theirs, went erect upon
two Legs, was tame and gentle, would come when it was called, do whatever it was bid, had the finest Limbs in the World,
and a Complexion fairer than a Nobleman's Daughter of three Years old. Another Farmer who lived hard by, and was a
particular Friend of my Master, came on a Visit on Purpose to inquire into the Truth of this Story. I was immediately
produced, and placed upon a Table, where I walked as I was commanded, drew my Hanger, put it up again, made my
Reverence to my Master's Guest, asked him in his own Language how he did, and told him he was welcome, just as my
little Nurse had instructed me. This Man, who was old and dimsighted, put on his Spectacles to behold me better, at which
I could not forbear laughing very heartily, for his Eyes appeared like the Full-Moon shining into a Chamber at two
Windows. Our People, who discovered the Cause of my Mirth, bore me Company in Laughing, at which the old Fellow
was Fool enough to be angry and out of Countenance. He had the Character of a great Miser; and to my Misfortune he
well deserved it by the cursed Advice he gave my Master to shew me as a Sight upon a Market-Day in the next Town,
which was half an Hour's Riding, about two and twenty miles from our House. I guessed there was some Mischief
contriving, when I observed my Master and his Friend whispering long together, sometimes pointing at me; and my Fears
made me fancy that I overheard and understood some of their Words. But the next Morning Glumdalclitch, my little
Nurse, told me the whole Matter, which she had cunningly picked out from her Mother. The poor Girl laid me on her
Bosom, and fell a weeping with Shame and Grief. She apprehended some Mischief would happen to me from rude vulgar
Folks, who might squeeze me to Death, or break one of my Limbs by taking me in their Hands. She had also observed
how modest I was in my Nature, how nicely I regarded my Honour, and what an Indignity I should conceive it to be
exposed for Money as a publick Spectacle to the meanest of the People. She said, her Papa and Mamma had promised
that Grildrig should be hers; but now she found they meant to serve her as they did last Year, when they pretended to give
her a Lamb; and yet, as soon as it was fat, sold it to a Butcher. For my own Part, I may truly affirm that I was less
concerned than my Nurse. I had a strong Hope, which never left me, that I should one Day recover my Liberty; and as to
the ignominy of being carried about for a Monster, I considered my self to be a perfect Stranger in the Country; and that
such a Misfortune could never be charged upon me as a Reproach, if ever I should return to England; since the King of
Great Britain himself, in my Condition, must have undergone the same Distress.

My Master, pursuant to the Advice of his Friend, carried me in a Box the next Market-Day to the neighbouring Town; and
took along with him his little Daughter, my Nurse, upon a Pillion behind him. The Box was close on every Side, with a little
Door for me to go in and out, and a few Gimlet-holes to let in Air. The Girl had been so careful to put the Quilt of her
Baby's Bed into it, for me to lye down on. However, I was terribly shaken and discomposed in this Journey, though it were
but of half an Hour. For the Horse went about forty Foot at every Step, and trotted so high, that the Agitation was equal to
the rising and falling of a Ship in a great Storm, but much more frequent: Our Journey was somewhat further than from
London to St. Albans. My Master alighted at an Inn which he used to frequent; and after consulting a while with the
Inn-keeper, and making some necessary Preparations, he hired the Grultrud, or Cryer, to give Notice through the Town of
a strange Creature to be seen at the Sign of the Green Eagle, not so big as a Splacknuck (an Animal in that Country very
finely shaped, about six Foot long) and in every Part of the Body resembling an human Creature, could speak several
Words, and perform an Hundred diverting Tricks.

I was placed upon a Table in the largest Room of the Inn, which might be near three Hundred Foot square. My little Nurse
stood on a low Stool close to the Table, to take care of me, and direct what I should do. My Master, to avoid a Croud,
would suffer only Thirty People at a Time to see me. I walked about on the Table as the Girl commanded; she asked me
Questions as far as she knew my Understanding of the Language reached, and I answered them as loud as I could. I turned
about several Times to the Company, paid my humble Respects, said they were welcome, and used some other Speeches I
had been taught. I took up a Thimble filled with Liquor, which Glumdalclitch had given me for a Cup, and drank their
Health. I drew out my Hanger, and flourished it after the Manner of Fencers in England. My Nurse gave me part of a
Straw, which I exercised as a Pike, having learned the Art in my Youth. I was that Day shewn to twelve Sets of Company;
and as often forced to go over again with the same Fopperies, till I was half dead with Weariness and Vexation. For those
who had seen me made such wonderful Reports, that the People were ready to break down the Doors to come in. My
Master for his own Interest would not suffer any one to touch me except my Nurse; and, to prevent Danger, Benches were
set around the Table at such a Distance, as put me out of every Body's Reach. However, an unlucky School-Boy aimed a
Hazel-Nut directly at my Head, which very narrowly missed me; otherwise, it came with so much Violence, that it would
have infallibly knocked out my Brains, for it was almost as large as a small Pumpion: But I had the Satisfaction to see the
young Rogue well beaten, and turned out of the Room.

My Master gave publick Notice that he would shew me again the next Market- Day: And in the mean time he prepared a
more convenient Vehicle for me, which he had Reason enough to do; for I was so tired with my first Journey, and with
entertaining Company for eight Hours together, that I could hardly stand upon my Legs, or speak a Word. It was at least
three Days before I recovered my Strength; and that I might have no rest at Home, all the neighbouring Gentlemen from an
Hundred Miles round, hearing of my Fame, came to see me at my Master's own House. There could not be fewer than
thirty Persons with their Wives and Children; (for the Country is very populous); and my Master demanded the Rate of a
full Room whenever he shewed me at Home, although it were only to a single Family. So that for some Time I had but little
Ease every Day of the Week (except Wednesday, which is their Sabbath) although I were not carried to the Town.

My Master, finding how profitable I was likely to be, resolved to carry me to the most considerable Cities of the Kingdom.
Having therefore provided himself with all Things necessary for a long Journey, and settled his Affairs at Home; he took
Leave of his Wife, and upon the 17th of August 1703, about two Months after my Arrival, we set out for the Metropolis,
situated near the Middle of that Empire, and about three Thousand Miles distance from our House: My Master made his
Daughter Glumdalclitch ride behind him. She carried me on her lap in a Box tied about her Waist. The Girl had lined it on
all Sides with the softest Cloth she could get, well quilted underneath; furnished it with her Baby's Bed, provided me with
Linnen and other Necessaries, and made everything as convenient as she could. We had no other Company but a Boy of
the House, who rode after us with the Luggage.

My Master's Design was to shew me in all the Towns by the Way, and to step out of the Road for Fifty or an Hundred
Miles, to any Village or Person of Quality's House where he might expect Custom. We made easy Journies of not above
seven or eight Score Miles a Day: For Glumdalclitch, on Purpose to spare me, complained she was tired with the trotting
of the Horse. She often took me out of my Box at my own Desire, to give me Air, and shew me the Country; but always
held me fast by Leading-strings. We passed over five or six Rivers many Degrees broader and deeper than the Nile or the
Ganges; and there was hardly a Rivulet so small as the Thames at London-Bridge. We were ten Weeks in our Journey,
and I was shewn in Eighteen large Towns besides many Villages and private Families.

On the 26th day of October, we arrived at the Metropolis, called in their Language Lorbrulgrud, or Pride of the
Universe. My Master took a Lodging in the principal Street of the City, not far from the Royal Palace, and put out Bills in
the usual Form, containing an exact Description of my Person and Parts. He hired a large Room between three and four
Hundred Foot wide. He provided a Table sixty Foot in Diameter, upon which I was to act my Part; and palisadoed it round
three Foot from the Edge, and as many high, to prevent my falling over. I was shewn ten Times a Day to the Wonder and
Satisfaction of all People. I could now speak the Language tolerably well; and perfectly understood every Word that was
spoken to me. Besides, I had learned their Alphabet, and could make a shift to explain a Sentence here and there; for
Glumdalclitch had been my Instructer while we were at home, and at leisure Hours during our Journey. She carried a little
Book in her Pocket, not much larger than a Sanson's Atlas; it was a common Treatise for the use of young Girls, giving a
short Account of their Religion; out of this she taught me my Letters, and interpreted the Words.