the gentleman might be a good master in the main, yet he must say he was a little strict, and a little stingy, and not a little censorious. That

he was blamed by the gentlemen in the wilderness for shutting his house against good company, and his servants were laughed at by people of spirit, for submitting to the gloomy life of the castle, and the insipid pleasures of the garden, instead of ranging in the wilderness at large.

"It is true enough," said Parley, who was generally of the opinion of the person he was talking with. "My master is rather harsh and close. But to own the truth, all the barring, and locking, and bolting, is to keep out a set of gentlemen, who, he assures us, are robbers, and who are waiting for an opportunity to destroy us. I hope no offence, Sir, but by your livery, I suspect you, Sir, are one of the gang he is so much afraid of."

Flatterwell. Afraid of me? Impossible, dear Mr. Parley. You see I do not look like an enemy. I am unarmed: what harm can a plain man like me do?

Parley. Why, that is true enough. Yet my master says, that if we were once to let you into the house, we should be ruined soul and body.

Flatterwell. I am sorry, Mr. Parley, to see so sensible a man as you are so deceived. This is mere prejudice. He knows we are cheerful entertaining people, foes to gloom and superstition, and therefore he is so morose he will not let you get acquainted with us.

Parley. Well, he says you are a band of thieves, gamblers, murderers, drunkards, and atheists.

Flatterwell. Do not believe him : the worst we should do, perhaps, is, we might drink a friendly glass with you, to your master's health, or play an innocent game of cards just to keep you awake, or sing a cheerful song with the maids: now is there any harm in all this?

Parley. Not the least in the world. And I begin to think there is not a word of truth in all my master says.

Flatterwell. The more you know us, the more you will like us. But I wish there was not this ugly hedge between us. I have a great deal to say, and I am afraid of being overheard.

Parley was now going to give a spring over the hedge, but checked himself, saying, "I dare not come on your side, there are people about, and every thing is carried to my master. Flatterwell saw by this, that his new friend was kept on his own side of the hedge by fear rather than by principle, and from that moment he entertained but little doubt of success. "Dear Mr. Parley," said he, "if you will allow me the honor of a little conversation with you, I will call under the window of your lodge this evening. I have something to tell you greatly to your advantage. I admire you exceedingly. I long for your friendship; our whole brotherhood is ambitious of being known to so amiable a person.”- -" O dear," said Parley, “ I shall be afraid of talking to you at night. It is so against my master's orders. But did you say you had something to tell me to my advantage?

Flatterwell. Yes, I can point out to you how you may be a richer, a merrier, and a happier man. If you will admit me to-night under the window, I will convince you that 'tis prejudice and not wisdom which makes your master bar his door against us; I will convince you that the mischief of a robber, as your master scurrilously calls us, is only in the name, that we are your true friends, and only mean to promote your happiness.

"Do not say we," said Parley, 66 pray come alone, I would not see the rest of the gang for the world, but I think there can be no great harm in talking to you through the bars, if you come alone, but I am determined not to let you in. Yet I can't say but I wish to know what you can tell me so much to my advantage; indeed, if it is for my good, I ought to know it."

Flatterwell, (going out, turns back.) Dear Mr. Parley, there is one thing I had forgotten. I cannot get over the hedge at night without assistance. You know there is a secret in the nature of that hedge; you in the house may get over to us in the widerness of your own accord, but we cannot get to your side by our own strength. You must look about to see where the hedge is thinest, and then set to work to clear away here and there a little bough for me: it will not be missed, and if there is but the smallest hole made on your side, those on ours can get through; otherwise we do but labour in vain. To this Parley made some objection, through the fear of being

seen.

Flatterwell replied, that the smallest hole

from within would be sufficient, for he could then work his own way. "Well," said Parley, "I will consider of it. To be sure I shall even then be equally safe in the castle, as I shall have all the bolts, bars, and locks between us, so it will make but little difference."

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Certainly not," said Flatterwell, who knew it would make all the difference in the world. So they parted with mutual protestations of regard. Parley went home charmed with his new friend. His eyes were now clearly opened as to his master's prejudices against the robbers, and he was convinced there was more in the name than in the thing. "But," said he, "though Mr. Flatterwell is certainly an agreeable companion, he may not be so safe an intimate. There can, however, be no harm in talking at a distance, and I certainly will not let him in."

Parley, in the course of the day, did not forget his promise to thin the hedge of separation a little. At first, he only tore off a handful of leaves, then a little sprig, then he broke away a bough or two. It was observable, the larger the breach became, the worse he thought of his master, and the better of himself. Every peep he took through the broken hedge increased his desire to get out into the wilderness, and made the thoughts of the castle more irksome to him.

He was continually repeating to himself, "I wonder what Mr. Flatterwell can have to say so much to my advantage. I see he does uot wish to hurt my master, he only wishes to serve me.”

As the hour of meeting, however, drew near, the master's orders now and then came across Parley's thoughts. So to divert them, he took the Book. He happened to open it at these words: My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." For a moment his heart failed him. "If this admonition should be sent on purpose"-said he, "but no, 'tis a bugbear. My master told me that if I went to the bounds, I should get over the hedge. Now, I went to the utmost limits, and did not get over." Here conscience puts in, Yes, but it was because you were watched.""I am sure," continued Parley, one may always stop where one will, and this is only a trick of my master's to spoil sport; so I will even hear what Mr. Flatter well has to say so much to my advantage. I am not obliged to follow his counsels, but there can be no harm in hearing them."

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Flatterwell prevailed on the rest of the robbers to make no publick attack on the castle that night.

My brethren," said he, "you now and then fail in your schemes, because you are for violent beginnings, while my soothing, insinuating measures hardly ever miss. You come blustering, and roaring, and frighten people, and set them on their guard. You inspire them with terror of you, while my whole scheme is to make them think well of themselves, and ill of their master. If I once get them to entertain hard thoughts of him, and high thoughts of themselves, my business is done, and they fall plump into my snares. So let this delicate affair alone to me. Parley is