Page:Affecting history of an inn-keeper in Normandy.pdf/6

(6) recruiting party, and hurried into Flanders. The distreſs of the poor father at this melancholy incident, would probably have been inſupportable, if his brother, who was the minister of the pariſh, had not uſed every argument, which reaſon and religion ſuggested, to alleviate the pangs of the bereaved parent. But although a courſe of time had aſſuaged the ſeverity of his ſufferings, yet his ſorrows were occaſionally quickened by the piteous tales the youth tranſmitted to him, of the many hardſhips he underwent abroad; by repeated applications of this neceſſitous ſon for money; and by the inability of the father to gratify the preſſing requests of a ſtarving child.

After ſome years were elapſed, there rode an officer into the yard of the inn; who alighting from his horſe, called aloud for the landlord. The maſter of the houſe obſerving, that his gueſt by his apparel was a man of rank, approached him with deference. At which time the officer, fixing his eyes ſtedfaſtly upon his hoſt, acquainted him, that he was juſt then arrived from Tournay, and had been deſired to inform him of his ſon's health. The landlord's fond heart bounded at the mention of a perſon ſo exceedingly dear to him, and he was urgent with the gentleman to perpetuate his converſation upon this engaging theme. But the ſoldier replied, that he was neceſſitated