Page:Beautiful and interesting account of the shepherd of Salisbury Plain.pdf/18

22 Here the grateful woman's tears ran down so fast that she could not go on. She wiped them with the corner of apron, and humbly begged pardon  making so free.

Indeed Sir, said the Shepherd, though my wife is as unwilling to be in debt as myself, yet could hardly prevail or her to consent to my paying the money just then, because she said it was hard I should not have a taste of the gentleman's bounty myself.

Are you not a little two cautious, my honest friend, said Mr Johnson. I humbly ask your pardon, Sir, replied the Shepherd, for I think that impossible. In my poor notion I no more understand how a man can be too cautious, than how he can be too strong and healthy.

Just as they were in this part of the conversation, Mr Jenkins, the clergyman, came in. After the usual salutation, he said, Well, Shepherd, I wish you joy; I know you will be sorry to gain any advantage by the death of a