Don P. I have nothing to do with lenity. Woman, would you not have your husband be looking out againft a rainy day? What would become of you, and your children, if I were to spend my time in studying lenity, inftead of my intereft-table? I tell you, that now is the harvest time, and I am determined to thrust in the fickle, and reap my proportion of the crop before the feafon's over. The town is crowded with foreigners who are exiled from their homes, and neceffity obliges them to pay whatever price is demanded, for a fhelter to cover their heads.

Wife. Would you then profit by the neceffities and misfortunes of your fellow-creatures? Thefe exiles are entitled to our compaffion, instead of experiencing our oppreffion.

Don P. You talk like a poor weak woman. Did I not tell you that I had nothing to do with other people's good or ill fortune? It is more than I can do to take care of my own dependants. We fhould make fine way ahead, if you were at heln. I believe in my confcience, that, if you poffeffed the keys of the ftrongbox, you would fquander away to the full amount of a pistareen a week upon thefe poor ftarving runaways. I have not yet forgotten how you lavished a whole gallon of cider upou thofe three miferable wretches that cleared out our well, the day before thanksgiving. Does this look like taking a prudent care of your family? Pray how do you read your Bible? Has not Nebuchadnezzar faid, that "He, who provides not for his own household, has denied the faith, and is worfe than an infidel ?"

Wife. If you had ftudied your Bible as faithfully as you have your intereft-table, you would not have put Saint Paul's words into the mouth of the king of Babylon. Does not the fame fcripture fay, that "He who oppreffeth the poor, and”

Don P. Hufh, I fay; one of my tenants approaches. Banish your womanish feelings; and let not your unruly tongue betray your weakness.

Enter TENANT.

Ten. Sir, I come to inform you, that I have at last been fortunate enough to procure a fhelter for my family, though an indifferent one; and have brought you the rent of your tenement, which I quitted with reluctance yesterday.

Don P. It is well you are out; for you would have met with trouble, if you had remained three days longer. I had ordered my attorney to give directions to an officer to tumble all your goods into the ftreet, and children after them.

and

your

you

Ten. Then a good Providence has preferved us. Don P. Providence has fmiled upon me, I confefs, in granting me fuch a riddance.

Ten. I contend not with an adversary who is mantled in gold. Will you pleafe to count your money, and give me a discharge?

Don P. [Counts the money.] Why, man, the fum is deficient; I cannot receipt it.

Ten. It is the fame, Sir, as I paid the laft term. Don P. That is very true; but did I not double the rent three days ago

?

Ten. You did, indeed; but my reply was, that I was utterly unable to pay a higher price; and as the time was fo fhort, I thought you would not stand for trifles.

Don P. Trifles! If you were to receive it, I believe you would not call it a trifle; neither do I. I demand the utmoft farthing.

Ten. For the fake of peace, though I think your demand unjust, I will take your receipt for this, and bring the remainder to-morrow.

Don P. Not a cent will I receive without the whole, left by fome quibble of the law I lofe the reft.

Ten. Your avaricious difpofition leads you to act contrary to your own interest.

Don P. I fhall not apply to you for leffons of inftruction. I hall conduct my own affairs according to my fovereign will and pleafure. Let me tell you, Sir,

this impudence does not well become a man of your circumftances.

Ten. "Sir, your honored father never used me thus." Alas! he little thought in what oppreffive hands he left his large eftate. Could he be permitted to revifit the earth, his ghoft would haunt your guilty foul; and, if you have any conscience left, harrow up remorfe, and awaken you to repentance.

Don P. I did not admit a tenant into my houfe to hear a moral lecture from him.

Ten. If you will take your money, I will quit your houfe with pleasure. But before we part, give me leave to tell you, that though your great wealth has exalted you above yourself, and, in your own opinion, placed you beyond the reach of poverty, the time may come when you will feel what oppreffion is.

Wife. I entreat you to receive the money and be

content.

Don P. A woman, who can't be filent in her hufband's prefence, especially when he is negociating important business, may take a modeft hint to leave the [Exit Wife.

room.

Ten. If you are refolved not to receive your money, I must carry it home again. And I hope the time is not far diftant, when I fhall be out of the reach of your oppreffive hands. [Exit. Don P. [Solus.] Every man I deal with is trying to cheat me. Mankind are by nature all knaves. I am afraid to truft even my best friends. What an affliction it is to have property! The poor always think that the rich are bound to maintain them, and are never fatisfied with what is done for them. My tenants would be glad to live in my houses rent free if they could. This, I am perfuaded, they learned of my father; but I'll foon teach them to expect different things. Rather than matters fhould go on at fuch loofe ends, I'll fell avery one of my buildings, and put the money in bank. My mind is conftantly on the ftretch to contrive ways and means to preserve what

little I poffefs. It is well my father left his property to me. Had he left it to one of only common underftanding, thefe plotting tenants would have run away with the whole of it.

Enter fecond TENANT.

2d. Ten. Sir, I appear before you to crave your compaffion. I am the most unfortunate of all your tenants. My misfortune is, to be obliged to remain in your house, after it is your pleasure that I should leave it.

Don P. To-morrow I will cure you of your misfortune; for if you cannot get out yourself, I will help

you out.

2d. Ten. Why may I not remain? It may be for your intereft as well as mine. I have ever made you punctual payment; and ftand ready now to give as much as any other man, or as much as your confcience will fuffer you to demand.

Don P. My will and pleasure is, that you depart immediately. My reasons for my conduct I give to no

man.

2d. Ten. But, Sir, I have a claim upon your mercy. You are not infenfible of the pains I've taken to accomplish what you wifh. Neceffity is the only reason why I ask this favour. One fpecial reafon why you ought to grant it is, that I am now in your fervice with the fame falary as in years paft; when your good father was fatisfied with one fourth the fum his craving fon demands. I have been you must allow, a faithful flave to your children. They have long received, and ftill receive my best inftruction, without an augmentation of reward. If you will not hear the plea of mercy, grant me justice. If you increase your price of rent, increase my pay.

Don P. I meddle not with your affairs. Look out for your pay among your employers. I am but one , among many, and promise you that I fhall not be foremoft to enhance the price of inftruction, while children are fo numerous. My houfes are my own. I bought

them with my own money; and shall difpose of them at my own pleasure.

2d. Ten. You speak as though you were lord of the creation, and had the world at your command.

Don P. I am lord of my own poffeffions; and shall not ask my tenants how I am to difpofe of them. 2d. Ten. Did you ever read, that "Riches take to themfelves wings, and fly away?"

܂

Don P. I am not apprehenfive that any wings are attached to my property.

ad. Ten. Your mountain may not stand so strong as you think it does, The cries of the fatherlefs and the widow, who have groaned under your oppreffion, have reached the heavens, and you have reafon to fear they will be answered with vengeance on your head. Did you but believe in a future day of retribution, as you have impiously profeffed, you would ferioufly engage in the work of repentance and reformation: which, let. me tell you, it is prefumption to neglect.

Re-enter firft TENANT, with a LAWYER.

A Ten. I pray you to accept your money, and give me a difcharge.

Don P. I told you, not a cent, till the whole amount was paid.

Law. That is fufficient. The law allows no force in paying debts. Every creditor has an undoubted right to refuse his money, when offered by his debtor. This he has done before witnefs. I now declare it for feit, Keep it as your own.

Don P. Rogues will always men. The whole world are me out of my lawful earnings. become my worst enemies.

combine against honest endeavouring to cheat My best friends have.

Law. You have no friends; nor will you ever have, fo long as you make an idol of your own dear felf. Don P. My property is my best friend, and one which I truft will never forfake me.

[Cry of fire without.