careful overseer of the poor; for he went from house to house,
industriously inquiring into the distresses of the people. He repaired
their huts, clothed their backs, filled their bellies, and supplied them
with necessaries for exercising their industry and different occupations.

"I'll give you one instance now, as a specimen of his character:--He and
I, strolling one day on the side of a common, saw two boys picking hips
and haws from the hedges; one seemed to be about five, and the other a
year older; they were both barefoot and ragged, but at the same time fat,
fair, and in good condition. 'Who do you belong to?' said Mr. Greaves.
'To Mary Stile,' replied the oldest, 'the widow that rents one of them
housen.' 'And how dost live, my boy? Thou lookest fresh and jolly,'
resumed the squire. 'Lived well enough till yesterday,' answered the
child. 'And pray what happened yesterday, my boy?' continued Mr.
Greaves. 'Happened!' said he, 'why, mammy had a coople of little Welsh
keawes, that gi'en milk enough to fill all our bellies; mammy's, and
mine, and Dick's here, and my two little sisters' at hoam:--Yesterday the
squire seized the keawes for rent, God rot'un! Mammy's gone to bed sick
and sulky; my two sisters be crying at hoam vor vood; and Dick and I be
come hither to pick haws and bullies.'

"My godfather's face grew red as scarlet; he took one of the children in
either hand, and leading them towards the house, found Sir Everhard
talking with my father before the gate. Instead of avoiding the old
gentleman, as usual, he brushed up to him with a spirit he had never
shown before, and presenting the two ragged boys, 'Surely, sir,' said he,
'you will not countenance that there ruffian, your steward, in oppressing
the widow and fatherless? On pretence of distraining for the rent of a
cottage, he has robbed the mother of these and other poor infant-orphans
of two cows, which afforded them their whole sustenance. Shall you be