Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 17.djvu/205

Rh upon Peg, which had been better let alone; but it was the business of good people to restrain the injuries on one side, and moderate the resentments on the other; a good friend acts both parts; the one without the other will not do.

The purchase money of Peg's farm was ill paid ; then Peg loved a little good liquor, and the servants shut up the wine-cellar; for that Peg found a trick, for she made a false key. Peg's servants complained, that they were debarred from all manner of business, and never suffered to touch the least thing within the house ; if they offered to come into the warehouse, then straight went the yard slap over their noddle! if they ventured into the counting-room, a fellow would throw an inkbottle at their head; if they came into the best apartment, to set any thing there in order, they were saluted with a broom; if they meddled with any thing in the kitchen, it was odds but the cook laid them over the pate with a ladle; one that would have got into the stables, was met by two rascals, who fell to work with him wiih a brush and a currycomb; some climbing up into the coachbox, were told that one of their companions had been there before that could not drive: then slap went the long whip about their ears.

On the other hand it was complained, that Peg's servants were always asking for drinkmoney ; that Rh