Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 17.djvu/209

Rh, the copper and tin mines. All this while Nic. laid down every thing exactly upon paper, calculated the acres and roods to a great nicety. When we had finished the land, we were going to break into the house and gardens to take an inventory of his plate, pictures, and other furniture.

Mrs. B. What said lord Strutt to all this?

J. B. As we had almost finished our concern, we were accosted by some of lord Strutt's servants: "Heyday! What's here? What a devil's the meaning of all these trangrams and gimcracks, gentlemen? What in the name of wonder are you going about, jumping over my master's hedges, and running your lines across his grounds? If you are at any field pastime, you might have asked leave; my master is a civil, wellbred person as any is."

Mrs. B. What could you answer to this?

J. B. Why truly my neighbour Frog and I were still hotheaded; we told him his master was an old doating puppy, that minded nothing of his own business; that we were surveying his estate, and settling it for him, since he would not do it himself. Upon this there happened a quarrel, but we, being stronger than they, sent them away with a flea in their ear. They went home and told their master : My lord," said they, "there are three odd sort of fellows going about your grounds, with the strangest machines that ever we beheld in our life: I suppose they are going to rob your orchard, fell your trees, or drive away your cattle: they told us strange things of settling your estate: one is a lusty " old