On This The Good-Natured And Truly Hospitable
Man, Of His Own Accord And Without The Least Distrust, Offered To
Take Me Behind Him On His Horse And Carry Me To A Neighbouring Inn,
Where He Said I Might Stay All Night.
The horse was a tall one, and I could not easily get up.
The
turnpike-man, who appeared to be quite decrepid and infirm, on this
came out. I took it for granted, however, that he who appeared to
have hardly sufficient strength to support himself could not help
me. This poor looking, feeble old man, however, took hold of me
with one arm, and lifted me with a single jerk upon the horse so
quick and so alertly that it quite astonished me.
And now I trotted on with my charming farmer, who did not ask me one
single impertinent question, but set me down quietly at the inn, and
immediately rode away to his own village, which lay to the left.
This inn was called the Bear, and not improperly; for the landlord
went about and growled at his people just like a bear, so that at
first I expected no favourable reception. I endeavoured to gentle
him a little by asking for a mug of ale, and once or twice drinking
to him. This succeeded; he soon became so very civil and
conversable, that I began to think him quite a pleasant fellow.
This device I had learnt of the "Vicar of Wakefield," who always
made his hosts affable by inviting them to drink with him.
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