Page:Beautiful and interesting account of the shepherd of Salisbury Plain.pdf/8

8 meat, drink, and company to me, as I may say; and when want and trouble have come upon me, I do not know what I should have done indeed Sir, if I had not the promises of this book for my stay and support.

You have had great difficulties then? said Mr Johnson. Why, as for that, Sir, not more, than neighbour's fare; I have but little cause to complain, and much to be thankful; but I have had some little struggles, as I will leave you to judge. I have a wife and eight children, whom I breed up in that little cottage you see under the hill, about half a mile off. What, that with the smoke coming out of the chimney, said the gentleman? O no, Sir, replied the Shepherd, smiling, we have seldom smoke in the evening, for we have little to cook, and firing is dear in these parts. It is that cottage which you see on the left hand of the church, near that little tuft of hawthorns. What, that hovel with only one room above and one below, with scarcely any