-- Alighting, and giving his horse to the landlord, he
advanced to an old man who was at work in paving the street, and
accosted him in these words: 'This is hard work for such an old
man as you.' -- So saying, he took the instrument out of his hand,
and began to thump the pavement. -- After a few strokes, 'Have you
never a son (said he) to ease you of this labour?' 'Yes, an
please Your honour (replied the senior), I have three hopeful
lads, but, at
present, they are out of the way.' 'Honour not me (cried the
stranger); but more becomes me to honour your grey hairs. Where
are those sons you talk of?' The ancient paviour said, his eldest
son was a captain in the East Indies; and the youngest had lately
inlisted as a soldier, in hopes of prospering like his brother.
The gentleman desiring to know what was become of the second, he
wiped his eyes, and owned, he had taken upon him his old father's
debts, for which he was now in the prison hard by.
The traveller made three quick steps towards the jail, then
turning short, 'Tell me (said he), has that unnatural captain
sent you nothing to relieve your distress?' 'Call him not
unnatural (replied the other); God's blessing be upon him! he
sent me a great deal of money; but I made a bad use of it; I lost
it by being security for a gentleman that was my landlord, and
was stript of all I had in the world besides.
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