the expedition of humphry clinker-第98章
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and all the chairs and tables worm…eaten and crazy。 There was
not a bed in the house that could be used; except one old…fashioned
machine; with a high gilt tester and fringed curtains
of yellow mohair; which had been; for aught I know; two centuries
in the family。 In short; there was no furniture but the utensils
of the kitchen; and the cellar afforded nothing but a few empty
butts and barrels; that stunk so abominably; that I would not
suffer any body to enter it until I had flashed a considerable
quantity of gunpowder to qualify the foul air within。
'An old cottager and his wife; who were hired to lie in the
house; had left it with precipitation; alledging; among other
causes of retreat; that they could not sleep for frightful
noises; and that my poor brother certainly walked after his
death。 In a word; the house appeared uninhabitable; the barn;
stable; and outhouses were in ruins; all the fences broken down;
and the fields lying waste。
'The farmer who kept the key never dreamed I had any intention to
live upon the spot He rented a farm of sixty pounds; and his
lease was just expiring。 He had formed a scheme of being
appointed bailiff to the estate; and of converting the house and
the adjacent grounds to his own use。 A hint of his intention I
received from the curate at my first arrival; I therefore did not
pay much regard to what he said by way of discouraging me from
coming to settle in the country; but I was a little startled
when he gave me warning that he should quit the farm at the
expiration of his lease; unless I could abate considerably in the
rent。
'At this period I accidentally became acquainted with a person;
whose friendship laid the foundation of all my prosperity。 In the
next market…town I chanced to dine at an inn with a Mr Wilson;
who was lately come to settle in the neighbourhood。 He had been
lieutenant of a man of war; but quitted the sea in some disgust;
and married the only daughter of farmer Bland; who lives in this
parish; and has acquired a good fortune in the way of husbandry。
Wilson is one of the best natured men I ever knew; brave; frank;
obliging; and ingenuous He liked my conversation; I was charmed
with his liberal manner; and acquaintance immediately commenced;
and this was soon improved into a friendship without reserve。
There are characters which; like similar particles of matter;
strongly attract each other。 He forthwith introduced me to his
father…in…law; farmer Bland; who was well acquainted with every
acre of my estate; of consequence well qualified to advise me on
this occasion。 Finding I was inclined to embrace a country life;
and even to amuse myself with the occupation of farming; he
approved of my design He gave me to understand that all my farms
were underlett; that the estate was capable of great improvement;
that there was plenty of chalk in the neighbourhood; and that my
own ground produced excellent marle for manure。 With respect to
the farm; which was like to fall into my hands; he said he would
willingly take it at the present rent; but at the same time
owned; that if I would expend two hundred pounds in enclosure; it
would be worth more than double the sum。
'Thus encouraged; I began the execution of my scheme without
further delay; and plunged into a sea of expence; though I had no
fund in reserve; and the whole produce of the estate did not
exceed three hundred pounds a year In one week; my house was
made weather…tight; and thoroughly cleansed from top to bottom;
then it was well ventilated by throwing all the doors and windows
open; and making blazing fires of wood in every chimney from the
kitchen to the garrets。 The floors were repaired; the sashes new
glazed; and out of the old furniture of the whole house; I made
shift to fit up a parlour and three chambers in a plain yet
decent manner。 The court…yard was cleared of weeds and rubbish;
and my friend Wilson charged himself with the dressing of the
garden; bricklayers were set at work upon the barn and stable;
and labourers engaged to restore the fences; and begin the work
of hedging and ditching; under the direction of farmer Bland; at
whose recommendation I hired a careful hind to lie in the house;
and keep constant fires in the apartments。
'Having taken these measures; I returned to London; where I
forthwith sold off my household…furniture; and; in three weeks
from my first visit; brought my wife hither to keep her
Christmas。 Considering the gloomy season of the year; the
dreariness of the place; and the decayed aspect of our
habitation; I was afraid that her resolution would sink under the
sudden transition from a town life to such a melancholy state of
rustication; but I was agreeably disappointed。 She found the
reality less uncomfortable than the picture I had drawn。 By this
time indeed; things were mended in appearance The out…houses had
risen out of their ruins; the pigeon…house was rebuilt; and
replenished by Wilson; who also put my garden in decent order;
and provided a good stock of poultry; which made an agreeable
figure in my yard; and the house; on the whole; looked like the
habitation of human creatures。 Farmer Bland spared me a milch
cow for my family; and an ordinary saddle…horse for my servant to
go to market at the next town。 I hired a country lad for a
footman; the hind's daughter was my house…maid; and my wife had
brought a cook…maid from London。
'Such was my family when I began house…keeping in this place;
with three hundred pounds in my pocket; raised from the sale of
my superfluous furniture。 I knew we should find occupation
enough through the day to employ our time; but I dreaded the long
winter evenings; yet; for those too we found a remedy: The
curate; who was a single man; soon became so naturalized to the
family; that he generally lay in the house; and his company was
equally agreeable and useful。 He was a modest man; a good
scholar; and perfectly well qualified to instruct me in such
country matters as I wanted to know。 Mr Wilson brought his wife
to see us; and she became so fond of Mrs Dennison; that she said
she was never so happy as when she enjoyed the benefit of her
conversation。 She was then a fine buxom country lass;
exceedingly docile; and as good…natured as her husband Jack
Wilson; so that a friendship ensued among the women; which hath
continued to this day。
'As for Jack; he hath been my constant companion; counsellor; and
commissary。 I would not for a hundred pounds you should leave my
house without seeing him。 Jack is an universal genius his
talents are really astonishing: He is an excellent carpenter;
joiner; and turner; and a cunning artist in iron and brass。 He
not only superintended my oeconomy; but also presided over my
pastimes He taught me to brew beer; to make cyder; perry; mead;
usquebaugh; and plague…water; to cook several outlandish
delicacies; such as ollas; pepper…pots; pillaws; corys; chabobs;
and stufatas。 He understands all manner of games from chess down
to chuck…farthing; sings a good song; plays upon the violin; and
dances a hornpipe with surprising agility。 He and I walked; and
rode; and hunted; and fished together; without minding the
vicissitudes of the weather; and I am persuaded; that in a raw;
moist climate; like this of England; continual exercise is as
necessary as food to the preservation of the individual。 In the
course of two and twenty years; there has not been one hour's
interruption or abatement in the friendship subsisting between
Wilson's family and mine; and; what is a rare instance of good
fortune; that friendship is continued to our children。 His son
and mine are nearly of the same age and the same disposition;
they have been bred up together at the same school and college;
and love each other with the warmest affection。
'By Wilson's means; I likewise formed an acquaintance with a
sensible physician; who lives in the next market…town; and his
sister; an agreeable old maiden; passed the Christmas holidays at
our house。 Mean while I began my farming with great eagerness;
and that very winter planted these groves that please you so
much。 As for the neighbouring gentry; I had