Sir, there is, in if you cannot bear this trifle. this cafe, no need of bearing; for you have the book. I fay, Sir, I have not the book: but your paffion will not let you hear enough, to be informed that I have it not. Learn refignation, betimes, to the diftreffes of this life. Nay do not fret and fume: it is my duty to tell. you, that you are of an impatient fpirit: and an impatient fpirit, is never without woe. Was ever any thing like this? Yes, Sir, there have been many things like this. The lofs is but a trifle; but your temper is wanton, and incapable of the least pain: therefore, let me advise you, be patient, the book is loft; but do not you, for that reafon, lose yourself. 『...《་བ་བ、. W XXIV. STORY OF LE FEVER. HILE my uncle Toby was one evening getting his fupper, with Trim fitting behind him at a fmall fide-board, the landlord of a little inn in the village came into the parlour, with an empty phial in his hand, to beg a glafs or two of fack'tis for a poor gentleman, I think, of the army, faid the landlord, who has been taken ill at my houfe four days ago, and has never held up his head fince, nor had a defire to tafte any thing, till just now, that he has a fancy for a glafs of fack and a thin toaft-"I think," fays he, taking his hand from his forehead," it would comfort me." -If I could neither beg, borrow, nor buy fuch a thing, added the landlord, I would almoft fteal. it for the poor gentleman, he is fo ill. I hope. he he will still mend continued he: we are all of us concerned for him. THOU art a good-natured foul, I will answer for thee, cried my uncle Toby; and thou fhalt drink the poor gentleman's health in a glass of fack thyfelf and take a couple of bottles, with my service; and tell him, he is heartily welcome to them, and to a dozen more, if they will do him good. THOUGH I am perfuaded, faid my uncle Toby, as the landlord hut the door, that he is a very compaffionate fellow, Trim; yet I cannot help entertaining a high opinion of his gueft too. There must be fomething more than common in him, that, in fo fhort a time, fhould win fo much upon the affections of his hoft-and of his whole family, added the corporal, for they are all concerned for him. Step after him, faid my uncle Toby; do, Trim, and afk if he knows his name. I have quite forgot it, truly, faid the landlord, coming back into the parlour with the corporal; but I can afk his fon again. Has he a fon with him, then? faid my uncle Toby. A boy, replied the landlord, of about eleven or twelve years of age; but the poor creature has tafted almost as little as his father he does nothing but mourn and lament for him night and day: he has not ftirred from the bed-fide thefe two days. My uncle Toby laid down his knife and fork, and thrust his plate from before him, as the landlord gave him the account; and Trim, without being ordered, took them away, without faying one word; and, in a few minutes after, brought him his pipe and tobacco. STAY STAY in the room a little, faid my uncle Toby. Trim! faid my uncle Toby, after he had lighted his pipe, and fmoaked about a dozen of whiffs. Trim came in front of his mafter and made a bow. My uncle Toby fmoaked on, and faid no Corporal! faid my uncle Toby. The corporal made his bow. My uncle Toby proceeded no farther, but finished his pipe. more. TRIM! faid my uncle Toby, I have a project in my head, as it is a bad night, of wrapping myself up warm in my roquelaure, and paying a vifit to this poor gentleman. I am not at reft in my mind, Trim, fince the account the landlord has given me.. I wish I had not known fo much of this affair, added my uncle Toby, or that I had known more of it: how fhall we manage it? Leave it, an't please your honour, to me, quoth the corporal: I'll take my hat and stick, and go to the house, and reconnoitre, and act accordingly; and I will bring your honour a full account in an hour. Thou shalt go, Trim, faid my uncle Toby; and here's a fhilling for thee, to drink with his fervant. I fhall get it all out of him, said the corporal, fhutting the door. IT was not till my uncle Toby had knocked. the afhes out of his third pipe, that Trim returned from the inn, and gave him the following account. I despaired, at first, faid the corporal, of being able to bring back your honour any kind of intelligence concerning the poor fick lieutenant.Is he in the army then? faid my uncle Toby. He is; faid the corporal.And in what regiment? faid my uncle Toby.-I'll tell your honour, replied the corporal, every thing ftraight forward, as I learnt it. Then, Trim, I'll fill another pipe, faid my uncle Toby, and not in terrupt terrupt thee till thou haft done: fo fit down at thy eafe, Trim, in the window feat, and begin the story again. The corporal made his old bow, which generally spoke, as plain as a bow could fpeak it, Your honour is good:' and, having done that, he fat down, as he was ordered, and began the story to my uncle Toby, over again, in pretty nearly the fame words. I defpaired, at firft, faid the corporal, of being able to bring back any intelligence to your honour, about the lieutenant and his fon: for, when I alked where his fervant was, from whom I made myself fure of knowing every thing which was proper to be asked. That's a right diftinction, Trim, faid my uncle Toby-I was anfwered, an't please your honour, that he had no fervant with him; that he had come to the inn with hired horfes, which, upon finding himself unable to proceed (to join, I fuppofe, the regiment) he had difmiffed the morning after he came.-If I get better, my dear, faid he, as he gave his purfe to his fon to pay the man, we can hire horfes from hence. But, alas! the poor gentleman will never get from hence, faid the landlady to me, for I heard the deathwatch all night long and, when he dies, the youth, his fon, will certainly die with him, for he is broken hearted already. I was hearing the account, continued the corporal, when the youth came into the kitchen, to order the thin toaft the landlord fpoke of-but I will do it for my father myself, faid the youth. Pray let me fave you the trouble, young gentleman, faid I, taking up a fork for the purpofe, and offering him my chair to fit down upon by the fire, whilft I did it. I believe, Sir, faid he, very modeftly, I can pleafe him beft myfelf. I am fure, am fure, faid I, his honour will not like the toast the worse for being toafted by an old foldier. The youth took hold of my hand, and inftantly burst into tears. Poor youth! faid my uncle Toby; he has been bred up, from an infant, in the army; and the name of a foldier, Trim, founded in his ears, like the name of a friend: I wish I had him here. WHEN I gave him the toaft, continued the corporal, I thought it was proper to tell him, I was Captain Shandy's fervant; and that your honour (though a ftranger) was extremely concerned for his father; and that, if there was any thing in your houfe or cellar-(and thou mighteft have added my purfe too, faid my uncle Toby) he was heartily welcome to it. He made a very low bow (which was meant to your honour) but no anfwer, for his heart was full fo he went up ftairs with the toast. I warrant you, my dear, faid I, as I opened the kitchen door, your father will be well again. - WHEN the lieutenant had taken his glass of fack and toast, he felt himself a little revived; and fent down into the kitchen, to let me know, that, in about ten minutes, he should be glad if I would step up ftairs. I believe, faid the landlord, he is going to fay his prayers; for there was a book laid upon the chair by his bed-fide, and, as I fhut the door, I faw his fon take up a cushion. WHEN I went up, continued the corporal, into the lieutenant's room, which I did not do till the expiration of the ten minutes, he was lying in his bed, with his head raised upon his hand, his elbow refting upon the pillow, and a clean white handerchief befide it. The youth was just stooping down to take up the cushion, upon which, I fuppofed, he |