into Yorkshire, where all the reft of my Friends had promised to repair. He gave me a Detail of what had happened to him fince we met at Sea, and informed me, that his old Tyrant, Captain Surly, with his Nephew, were, going on Shore at an Island, one of the Ladrones, murdered by the Inhabitants, in Revenge for having feized one of the Natives, a Female, and carried her on board his Ship to gratify his brutal Luft. This Account he received from the Supercargo, who took his Part when the Captain beat him fo violently in his Cabbin, He rejoiced without Measure at my having recovered my Louifa, and we parted, after his making a Refolution to vifit me in Yorkshire as foon as his Wife's Illness would permit him. All Things ready, Mr. Goodwill and his Lady, and Mr. Diaper and his Lady, in Mr. Goodwill's Coach and Six; Mr. and Mrs. Bellair, Mifs Sukey, and my dear Diaper, in Mr. Bellair's Coach; and Madam Rich, Serena, my Louisa, and Sharpley, in a Coach Mrs. Rich had bought in London, with a fplendid Retinue of Servants, fet out for Yorkshire. Myfelf, Mr. Prig, and Mr. Truman rode on Horfeback, and generally kept a Mile before the Coaches, to provide Refreshments, Quarters, and Accommodations, which was our Department. Never was a Set of happier People! Content fat on every Face, and Joy unbounded diftended every Breaft, with rapturous Emotions! And, as to the three Lo vers, vers, never were Creatures so altered! no uneafy Pangs from Abfence, or jealous Suggestions of despairing Frenzy, now affaulted our Bofoms, and we experienced Good after Ill, and after Pain Delight: Arrive at Mr. Bellair's.-Only Thompfon and Sharpley fet out for Mr. Thompson's with Truman.-They arrive there.-Joyous Emotions of his Father and Mother.They wait on Mr. Archer and Mr. Sharpley.-Vifit their Friends.-Receive a MefSage from Sir Walter Rich.-Vifit him.What paffes upon it. E arrived happily at Mr. Bellair's Seat, where WE he infifted we should repofe ourselves fome Days, and were entertained with his usual genteel Hospitality, and he contrived all the Pleasures he could to divert the Ladies, and make their Stay agreeable to them. It was here agreed amongst us, that only myself, Sharpley, and Truman should proceed to my Father's, as well to get proper Quarters for fo numerous a Company, as to keep our Arrival a greater Secret from Sir Walter; and, accord. : accordingly, we fet out, after recommending our lovely Mistresses to the Care of my Friend Diaper, who, at this short Separation, could hardly withhold the Tears that stood ready to ftart from their Eyes, upon which Prig bantered them very fmartly. We made fuch Expedition, that we foon arrived within Sight of the dear and well known Plains, where firft we drew our vital Breath. Ye Groves, I cried, receive under your cooling Shade once more your old Inhabitants! Ye murmuring Streams, that o'er the unnumber'd idle Pebbles stray, once more bring your bubbling Notes to our liftening Ears! Ye refponfive Ecchoes, once more repeat, in imitative Strains, the Name, the wonderous Charms, of my Louisa that dwells upon my Tongue! Ye conscious Bowers to Lovers Sighs and Vows for ever facred, holy, once more to you we breathe the amorous Tale of foft, endearing Tranfports, now our own! Mr. Sharpley gave me the Compliment of going first to my Father's, where we arrived, and, giving our Horfes to Truman, who ftaid without, enquir ed of a Servant, whofe Face I well remembered, if Mr. Thomson was within? He looked earnestly at me, and I could perceive by his not anfwering, and the vifible Alteration of his Countenance, that he knew me, which a little difconcerted us, and, before we could stop him, he opened the Parlourdoor with eager Hafte, and cried, Oh, Sir! oh, Madam! Madam! my young Mafter is come Home ! There needed no more.-My dear Mother crying out, and running into the Paffage, which we had just traverfed as far as the Door, would have fainted, and fell, but that I caught her in my Arms, repeating, Best and most loved of Mothers! Behold, at laft, your Son, who ne'er will leave you more, nor more will cause you Tears i And is it thee, My deareft, dearest Joey ! fhe replied, how bleffed, how happy am I -but yet,-how altered,-fure it can't,-it muft, -it must be he, I feel it here, my Heart confeffes him! All this while I did not fee my Father, and as foon as my Mother was fomewhat calmed, tho' fill the wildly gazed, the led me into the Parlour, and Sharpley, who had taken no Notice, nor been taken Notice of, followed me.-We found that excellent Man just risen, trembling, from his Knees, where he had been pouring forth Ejaculations of Praife for this Happiness! He advanced towards me, the Colour now going from, and now coming into his Face alternately, and he could fcarcely support himself from falling, whilst I rushed into his Arms, and we both uttered the fondeft, the moft warm Expreffions of paternal Affection, filial Love and Duty! Reason, at length, refumed her Empire over us, and our Spirits more compofed, Sharpley feizing my Mother round the Neck, and then kiffing the Hands Hands of my Father, faid, Sure, dear Sir, dearest Madam, you have another Son, that yet you have not acknowledged they stared wishfully on him, but were still at a Lofs to know him,-till, I cried, Ah, can you forget your Sharpley, Sir? They both rofe at this, and careffed him in the kindeft, tendereft Manner, which he returned with a becoming Warmth.-We then fent a Servant to relieve Truman, who was received by my Father and Mother as a valued Friend. By this Time all the Neighbourhood were apprized by the Servants of our Arrival, the Bells rung, and the Farmers came in, to congratulate us. I hugged the honest People in my Arms, and was tranfported to fee them; and, as to Solfa, he had fo much Feeling upon the Occafion, that he could hardly fpeak, whilft Sharpley and I embraced this honest Friend to our boyish Years. My Father, at my Defire, fet open his Doors, and gave all the Parish a hearty Welcome to the best of Chear, and the next Day we went over to Mr. Sharpley's, who was fo overcome with this providential Recovery of his Son, and in fuch Company,-fo happy in his Love, that he dwelt for ever on the pleafing Topic, and never ceafed embracing us; and Mr. Archer alfo, to whom I gave Tidings of our other Friend, was almoft ready to die with joyous Emotion. They accompanied us to fee all our old Friends and Affociates of the neighbouring Villa ges |