The Project Gutenberg EBook of Village Annals, Containing Austerus and
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Title: Village Annals, Containing Austerus and Humanus
A Sympathetic Tale
Author: Anonymous
Release Date: March 18, 2014 [EBook #45164]
Language: English
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[Illustration: FRONTISPIECE.
SIR FILMER HOPEWELL.]
VILLAGE ANNALS,
CONTAINING
AUSTERUS AND HUMANUS.
A SYMPATHETIC TALE.
[Illustration]
EMBELLISHED WITH FINE ENGRAVINGS.
_PHILADELPHIA_:
PUBLISHED BY JOHNSON & WARNER,
NO. 147, MARKET STREET.
Griggs & Dickinsons, Printers.
1814.
VILLAGE ANNALS.
[Illustration]
[Sidenote: Skaiting.]
[Sidenote: Village Ale-House.]
IT was in that season of the year when nature wears an universal gloom,
and the pinching frost arrests the running stream in its course, and
gives a massy solidity to the lake that lately curled with every
breeze, that Sir Filmer Hopewell, having lost his road in the Dale of
Tiviot, was met by two youths that swiftly skimmed the surface of the
slippery brook, and sought an antidote against the inclement cold in
the wholesome though dangerous exercise of skaiting. Of these hale
and ruddy young villagers he enquired his road, or where he might
meet with a lodging for the night, for the sun was declining in the
shades of evening fast encompassing the dale. They directed him to the
summit of a neighbouring hill, on the declivity of which there stood a
small village, where probably he might meet with accommodation. Though
wearied and fatigued, this information gave him vigour, and he hastened
up the hill, and soon beheld with pleasure, beheld the sign of the Lion
and Dog; that on a lofty post invited to the village ale-house. He
entered it a seasonable and salutary asylum from the wintry blast, and
was conducted into a neat little parlour, with a cheerful fire. Being
seated, his host quickly made his appearance, with such refreshment
as his house afforded. Sir Filmer, on his first entering, immediately
perceived there was _character_ in his countenance; a quick dark eye
and sharp features that gave him that appearance of intellect, which is
seldom found to be belied upon further acquaintance. He therefore gave
him an invitation to spend an hour or two with him; which he accepted
without hesitation: and after taking a bumper to the health of his
guest, entertained him with numerous anecdotes of the village.
[Sidenote: The Landlord.]
[Sidenote: Scenes of distress.]
[Illustration]
"You must, at this inclement season," said Sir Filmer, "witness many
scenes of distress, and have many calls upon your humanity." "Yes,"
replied the worthy man, the tear glistening in his eye, "to weep with
those that weep, to lighten the burden of human woe, and to administer
comfort to the dejected soul, are offices, to the exercise of which,
we have frequent calls. Having lived here for some years, and being
well known, I am sometimes called to the houses of neighbouring
peasants, in which poverty and affliction seem to have taken up their
abode; yet, believe me, sir, I never return from those houses with
greater pleasure, or with more heart-felt satisfaction, than when I
think I have contributed my share in wiping away the falling tear, or
whispering peace to the troubled breast.
[Sidenote: Two opposite characters.]
"Small, however, sir, as the village is, it produces two characters, as
opposite almost in their natures, as the darkness of a stormy night is
to the splendour of meridian day. These characters as they are unknown
to you, allow me to introduce to your acquaintance, under the names of
_Austerus_ and _Humanus_; the former a man of callous soul; the latter
one who thinks, and feels while he thinks.
[Sidenote: Character of Austerus.]
"_Austerus_ possesses a fortune of three thousand pounds a-year, has an
elegant house, and keeps a large retinue.
"His lands yield abundant crops, and his flocks are heard bleating
on the neighbouring hills. His tenants are pretty numerous, and his
dependants many.
"One would imagine," says Sir Filmer, "this man was destined by heaven,
as a blessing to the part of the country in which he lives; that the
families around him, would hail him as their liberal benefactor, and
that his domestics would bless the hour in which they entered his
spacious hall."
[Sidenote: Lordly Oppression.]
"However natural this conclusion, Sir," replied the host, "it is far
from being well founded. Extremely passionate, he rages and storms; and
even after the storm has subsided, his face bespeaks the anger which
he can ill conceal. Sour and austere, haughty and overbearing, he is
dreaded by his servants, and despised by all. His tenants, whose lands
are rented to the full, barely subsist, and regret the moment they
were so unfortunate as to tread the ground of hard oppression; one of
which--poor man!--how often have I witnessed the tear drop from his
eye, on the approach of quarter-day, when, with the spade in his hand,
he ceased from toil, to awaken bitter reflections over the sad state of
a destitute family.
[Illustration]
[Sidenote: Hard Treatment of the Poor.]
"But what adds an indelible stain to the character of _Austerus_, is
that he is hard-hearted to the poor, and unfeeling to the sons of
distress. It is a painful truth, that his cane has been lifted up
over the head of poverty, as it approached his lordly door to beg
a pittance. What! O hardened _Austerus_! were riches given thee to
indulge thy pampered carcase, and to steel thy heart against thy poorer
_brethren_? for the shivering beggar at the gate is still thy brother!
[Sidenote: Distressed Family.]
"This I have frequently witnessed with a poor old woman, who travels
round the country with laces and other little things, and asks the
boon of the wealthy, to enable her to exist; while his children, who
dare not, with his knowledge, assist her, let down trifles from their
chamber window, to relieve this poor old creature, bent with the
winters that have past over her head.
"Besides the poor, Sir, the afflicted, who are tossed on the bed of
sickness, implore his assistance in vain. Pity is even denied them.
[Illustration]
"I ventured once to recommend to him a peasant's family, in the
neighbourhood, on whom affliction's rod had suddenly fallen, by sad
accident. As they were boiling their frugal meal of potatoes, the
vessel upset, and scalded the father and one of the children most
dreadfully.
"While I related these circumstances to him, a tear, some how or other,
had forced its way down my cheek.
[Sidenote: Hard Heartedness.]
"He heard me with a shocking indifference; said _he would think of
it_, and turned away rudely from me, though I assured him (what was
too true, and aggravated his shame) that they resided in a corner of
his own estate, and that their situation admitted of no delay. As he
retired, I could perceive that he was indignant at my freedom."
Here the good landlord's looks betrayed his detestation of this
unfeeling conduct; and while he thought of the miseries of this
unfortunate family, he exclaimed with the patriarch, "Cursed be his
anger, for it was fierce; and his wrath, for it was cruel!" I envy not
his crimson bed of state, nor his faring sumptuously every day, while
he possesses an unfeeling heart and a niggardly soul.
[Sidenote: Pleasures of a Liberal Mind.]
"Better (says he) infinitely better, is that man, who, though his share
of wealth may be more scanty, is blessed with a noble, a liberal heart;
and such is Humanus.
[Illustration]
[Sidenote: Character of Humanus.]
"Humanus honours me with his acquaintance and his confidence. I know
his heart and his feelings almost as well as he knows them himself.
Descended from worthy ancestors, he retains no small portion of their
virtues. Possessing a moderate fortune, he has no idea of extravagance.
He lives in a neat little house, adjoining a small freehold-farm, which
descended to him from his father, and which has been held by one family
for many years, at a rent that enables them to live comfortable, and to
till the land with pleasure.
Unlike the tenants of Austerus, this family is always cheerful; and
the father, while he ploughs his fields, is frequently visited by his
little prattlers, whom he looks upon with the greatest pleasure, while
he stops his well-fed horses to mount them on his plough.
[Sidenote: Benignity.]
"Nor is it only among those with whom Humanus is immediately connected,
that his benevolence is felt: he seems to walk about doing good, and is
never so happy as when he sees all nature rejoice, and when, as is his
custom, he is seen with his grandson, feeding the parent hen and her
chickens: his benign countenance seems to say, The poor and needy, how
should I like to shelter you under my wing, as the hen sheltereth her
chickens.
[Illustration]
[Sidenote: The afflicted Cottage.]
"His charity is indeed wonderful. It often puts me to the blush, when
I reflect how far I fall short of it. It was but the other day that he
said, "Come, let us make a short excursion." I followed him. We entered
a thatched cottage; I shall never forget the sight, nor the part the
good Humanus acted on that occasion.
[Sidenote: Toil of the Villager.]
"On a low bed lay the very picture of wretchednes, that seemed to say,
"I fly to the grave as the end of my sorrows." The feeling Humanus,
whose very soul is sympathy, with soft steps approached the bed of
the sufferer, his eyes full of tears, his heart oppressed with grief:
"Live, (cried he) Heaven is kind! Who can tell what happiness is in
reserve for you! I go to send for the physician, and shall immediately
return. Humanus hurried home to give directions to his servant, and
came quickly back. His attentions were now renewed to the afflicted
mother, for she was the wife of a poor thresher, who rises at the
crowing of the cock, and toils till the going down of the sun, to
maintain a numerous family.
[Illustration]
[Sidenote: The Reward of Virtue sure.]
[Sidenote: Effects of Beneficence.]
"He now ordered some wine, which he had brought with him, to be
administered with success: and the arrival of the doctor, who expressed
hopes of her recovery, changed, I could perceive, the face of my
friend; the joy of his heart shone forth in his countenance; and never
did he appear in my eyes more worthy and more amiable. Happy Humanus!
said I to myself; the rewards of virtue are sure. Thou already enjoyest
those within thy own breast, and Heaven has still greater ones in store
for thee. May thy laudable example become more universal! He repeated,
frequently his visits to the humble dwelling; nor were those visits
dropped till he saw there was little occasion for them: and the wife
of the poor thresher is now recovered from a dangerous fever, as much
through the sympathy of the good Humanus, as through the skill of the
physician, his tender heart prompted him to send to her aid. She now
lives useful to children; and her poor little Betty is no longer seen
weeping on the village green, for the distressed state of her suffering
mother. The flail of the father now awakens echo with the dawn of the
morning, and he goes on with his work rejoicing; and the whole family
is often heard to pray heaven's richest blessing on the head of their
compassionate friend and benefactor. Such are the charming effects of
beneficence, and, such the disposition of Humanus!"
[Sidenote: Conclusion.]
So finished our landlord his tale, and Sir Filmer prepared for bed.
I shall only ask my young reader whether, upon a review of the two
characters, he would be an Austerus, or an Humanus?--a sordid, selfish
being, or one who possesses a generous, a heaven-born soul? If he would
wish to be the latter, let him endeavour to make all around him happy,
and frequently call to mind the distresses of human life--the solitary
cottage, and the weeping orphan--for graceful in youth is the tear of
sympathy, and benign its influence on the sons of affliction.
[Illustration: FINIS]
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