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Mer. Is it possible that he could believe his own nonsense, when so directly contrary to matters of fact?

Loveg. Whether he, or others believed it I cannot tell; it seems however, that so he preached: and though the Doctor has the misfortune to be a remarkably high churchman, insomuch, that when he came to consider the religion of the country from whence he purchased his diploma, he could scarce sleep for three nights together, on account of the evils he apprehended from his Presbyterian degree; yet when he preached his famous visitation sermon, he was liberal in the extreme; for though he said it was certain, that the religion of the established clergy was the best that could be, and must therefore make them the best men ; yet he supposed the religion of the Dissenting clergy made them good also, though it could not be admitted that it made them so good as the church clergy.*

Wor. What contemptible popish trash! but I wish you would tell us something better worth our hearing, than this strange nonsense. How did you finish the day?

Loveg. Sir, young Mr. Lovely begged I might do with them as I do at your house, expound a chapter, and give them a prayer; and I trust it was not without the divine blessing. The only person who appeared dissatisfied, as it was new work to them all, was the old lady. She is terribly afraid 1 shall make her son "righteous over much ;" and has strange apprehensions, if that be the case, he will squander away all his money, by giving it among the poor.

Wor. She has quite the family failing then.

Loveg. I fear she and Mr. Lovely's father, though married, were never matched; she is perpetually tormenting the servant about wearing out mops too fast, drinking too much small beer, and wasting the brown sugar; spending so much for provisions on the dog

* An epitome of a sermon which the author heard at a Visitation.

and cat, suffering themselves to be cheated by purchasing such small half-penny-worths of sand; so that their maid-servants are seldom with her longer than when they have seen about two or three full moons, and then they are off; but as to Mr. Loveiy's father, all these poor cast-offs gave him the best of characters, wherever they went.

Mrs. Wor. No wonder that Mrs. Lovely should keep back from going with her husband to see such a mother-in-law, though they loved each other so much.

Wor. I suppose he returned on the Monday?

Loveg. Yes Sir; and on the Wednesday, when I had engaged to return, Mr. Lovely requested me to accept fifty pounds for ny travelling expences. I immediately told him that I should feel like a downright Gehazi, Elisha's mercenary servant, if I accepted more than was necessary to bring me back to my own door: however he would not let me come away with less than twenty pounds, and before my arrival the other thirty were sent, in a most affectionate letter, as a present to my eldest daughter, with a hope soon to meet again. After this Mr. Lovegood further related a conversation he had on his return in the stage to Brookfield, with old Dame Gossiper, who was very religious in her way, and who hoped to be saved by the help of "her church, her parson, and her good God:" but as the writer has scarcely any time to compose these Dialogues, except at a late hour when all is silent, he wishes to drop a conversation somewhat less interesting, while nature demands its accustomed rest.

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DIALOGUE XXXII.

MR. WORTHY AND FAMILY, MR. CONSIDERATE, AND THOMAS NEWMAN.

THE HAPPY MARRIAGE.

ACCORDING to the hint given in the former

Dialogue, the reader must now be informed, that two days after Mr. Lovegood's return from the Lovelys, the intended union between Mr. Merryman and Miss Worthy took place. As the reporter of these events was not at the wedding, much information from him cannot be expected on that subject. From the feelings of female delicacy, it was the wish of Miss Worthy that the marriage should be solemnized with all possible secrecy; and in order to accomplish this, the family went to the church with Mr. Worthy and Mr. Lovegood, apparently with a design to see about a gallery that was erecting for the children of the sunday school, and some other accommodations, that the poor might be better seated, who so plentifully crowd the aisles. And while the carpenters were gone to their breakfast, old Andrew Snuffle, the Clerk, was ordered to attend at a moment's warning, and then the marriage ceremony was performed. They next retired to Brookfield Hall, when a very appropriate prayer for a blessing on the union, was offered up by Mr. Lovegood.

Though this event was thus performed in secret, yet it was not the wish of the family that it should be kept a secret. Old Andrew went directly to the ringers, who began gingling the bells as well as they could;

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