Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 2).djvu/434

 he suspected would be grimacing upon him.

Seeing my Friend salute with more than his usual Cordiality a Farmer that came by in a Gig, I was interested to hear that this Man was the only being in that Part after the Proprietor's own Heart; and this for the Reason that he would ever be putting some Despite upon his Neighbours (and that particularly such of them as were unable to retort upon him), and had lately invented a very quaint Conceit of driving quickly here and there in the midst of any Neighbour's fowls that he might come upon in his rough Meadows, and this for pure good Humour.

"And in short," said the Riverside Proprietor, "I do in this Thing greatly value myself, that (although this Part is among the most beautiful on the Thames), there come but few hither to take their Pleasure of the Scenery, nor to fish, nor camp, for Fear of me; for, being of more Substance than them that would be for doing so, I will always be frightening them from any maintaining of their Right by threatening to put upon them the Costs of a Suit at Law, which they can ill afford." And with this Sir Ogre made off at great Speed to point out to his Man how a certain Stranger lay a-fishing in a Punt over his River Bed.

No sooner had I taken leave of my good Friend than I fell into profound Speculation on the Blessing that our River enjoys in the having upon its Banks such a gentle Soul; and after so wonderful a Manner is the River dotted with Notice-boards, that I am come to an Opinion that there must be many Landowners almost as worthy as he; though, indeed, they do speak of a certain Landowner, not far from my Friend, that has devoted an Island for the Enjoyment of such as pass by, providing not only a Summer-house, and Tables, and a Landing Platform, but also a Hammock and, for that matter, great rustic Vases, which he causes his Gardener to tend, for the Good of others; which Thing must be a Cause of huge Diversion and Pleasantry to my Friend. I cannot conclude this Speculation without giving great Praise to the Wisdom of my old Friend in bearing himself after a Manner that must needs endear the Landowner to the People, to the disarming of that Socialism that would be for confiscating landed Property; for I warrant you, if Matters shall ever have come to such an Extremity, there shall be found None that shall lay a Hand upon the Property of so worthy a Man.