egged pardon for making so free. "Indeed, sir," said the shepherd,
"though my wife is full as unwilling to be in debt as myself, yet I
could hardly prevail on her to consent to my paying this money just
then, because she said it was hard I should not have a taste of the
gentleman's bounty myself. But for once, sir, I would have my own
way. For you must know, as I pass the best part of my time alone,
tending my sheep, 'tis a great point with me, sir, to get
comfortable matter for my own thoughts; so that 'tis rather
self-interest in me to allow myself in no pleasures and no practices
that won't bear thinking on over and over. For when one is a good
deal alone, you know, sir, all one's bad deeds do so rush in upon
one, as I may say, and so torment one, that there is no true comfort
to be had but in keeping clear of wrong doings and false pleasures;
and that I suppose may be one reason why so many folks hate to stay
a bit by themselves. But as I was saying--when I came to think the
matter over on the hill yonder, said I to myself, a good dinner is a
good thing, I grant, and yet it will be but cold comfort to me a
week after, to be able to say--to be sure I had a nice shoulder of
mutton last Sunday for dinner, thanks to the good gentleman! but
then I am in debt. I _had_ a rare dinner, that's certain, but the
pleasure of that has long been over, and the debt still remains. I
have spent the crown; and now if my poor wife should be taken in one
of those fits again, die she must, unless God work a miracle to
prevent it, for I can get no help for her. This thought settled all;
and I set off directly and paid the crown to the doctor with as much
cheerfulness as I should have felt on sitting down to the fattest
shoulder of mutton that ever was roasted. And if I was contented at
the time, think how much more happy I have been at the remembrance!
O, sir, there are no pleasures worth the name but such as bring no
plague or penitence after them."

Mr. Johnson was satisfied with the shepherd's reasons, and agreed
that though a good dinner was not to be despised, yet it was not
worthy to be compared with a _contented mind, which_ (as the Bible
truly says) _is a continual feast_. "But come," said the good
gentleman, "what have we got in this brown mug?" "As good water,"
said the shepherd, "as any in the king's dominions. I have heard of
countries beyond sea, in which there is no wholesome water; nay, I
have been myself in a great town n