ABSTRACT
At last it dawned – and, long before the/ sun himself arose, did Ned spring from his bed and prepare for this wished for expedition. e Captain, who was not so eager, would not stir without his breakfast; and though eating was an amusement Ned relished as well as any body, yet he would have fasted a whole Lent rather than not get forward. At last they mounted, and with David and the captain’s man bid adieu to Dublin, and le Lord Rivers in his rst nap. As the domes and the spires of the metropolis withdrew, the spirits and the satisfaction of Ned increased: every step brought him nearer to the beloved of his soul, and every mile-stone that he counted was a new source of transport to his bosom. Ravensdale however was not to be reached in one day, at least not without relays of horses, which those who travel in Ireland must not always expect to nd. e country however was charming, and the alternate objects of splendour and of poverty, of neatness and slovenliness, which seem scattered so promiscuously over the face of it,/ served only to divert his fancy and a ord new topics for his philosophy. ‘How easily is nature satis ed!’ said he, as he beheld six naked children playing on a dung-hill – not naked in rags, but naked as they were born – absolutely divested of all raiment whatsoever. ey had however rosy cheeks and mirthful countenances; they laughed incontinently, and seemed to have no want of butter-milk and potatoes. e hovel in which they were born was built in a ditch, the gripe of which formed two sides of it; and the nuptial bed which produced them consisted of one blanket and a bundle of straw. e mother however was singing as she sat spinning on her wheel; and the father was gone to his labour in the demesne of a gentleman whose splendid palace now rose upon the view, whose estate was at least full 20,0001. a year; and who, though married for half a century, had no child to inherit it; and the happiness of whose whole life was poisoned on that account. O equitable Providence!/ who givest riches as seemeth best to thee, although divided in such partial measure; but who bestowest happiness with more equal hand – who hast seated it in the soul, and not made it absolutely to depend on any external circumstance whatsoever!
