have fallen a prey to the hogs, if my groans had not disturbed
the family, and brought some of them out to view my situation. But
Hodge resembled the Jew more than the good Samaritan, and ordered
me to be carried to the house of the parson, whose business it was
to practise as well as to preach charity; observing that it was
sufficient for him to pay his quota towards the maintenance of
the poor belonging to his own parish. When I was set down at the
vicar's gate, he fell into a mighty passion, and threatened to
excommunicate him who sent, as well as those who brought me, unless
they would move me immediately to another place. About this time
I fainted with the fatigue I had undergone, and afterwards understood
that I was bandied from door to door through a whole village, nobody
having humanity enough to administer the least relief to me, Until
an old woman, who was suspected of witchcraft by the neighbourhood,
hearing of my distress, received me into her house, and, having
dressed my wounds, brought me to myself with cordials of her own
preparing. I was treated with great care and tenderness by this
grave matron, who, after I had recovered some strength, desired to
know the particulars of my last disaster. This piece of satisfaction
I could not refuse to one who had saved my life, therefore related
all my adventures without exaggeration or reserve. She seemed
surprised at the vicissitudes I had undergone, and drew a happy
presage of my future life from my past suffering, then launched out
into the praise of adversity, with so much ardour and good sense,
that I concluded she was a person who had seen better days, and
conceived a longing desire to hear her story. She perceived my drift
by some words I dropped, and smiling told me, there was nothing
either entertaining or extraordinary in the course of her fortune;
but, however, she would communicate it to me, in consideration of
the confidence I had reposed in her. "It is of little consequence,"