ad better be
sucked into the gulf of Florida than once get into the indraught of a
woman; because, in one case, he may with good pilotage bring out his
vessel safe between the Bahamas and the Indian shore; but in the other
there is no outlet at all, and it is in vain to strive against the
current; so that of course he must be embayed, and run chuck upon a
lee-shore. He resolved, therefore, to lay the state of the case before
Gamaliel Pickle, and concert such measures with him as should be thought
likeliest to detach his son from the pursuit of an idle amour, which
could not fail of interfering in a dangerous manner with the plan of his
education.

In the mean time, Perry's ideas were totally engrossed by his amiable
mistress, who, whether he slept or waked, was still present in his
imagination, which produced the following stanzas in her praise:--

Adieu! ye streams that smoothly flow;
Ye vernal airs that softly blow;
Ye plains, by blooming spring arrayed;
Ye birds that warble through the shade.

Unhurt from you my soul could fly,
Nor drop one tear, nor heave one sigh;
But forced from Celia's charms to part,
All joy deserts my drooping heart.

O' fairer than the rosy morn,
When flowers the dewy fields adorn;
Unsallied as the genial ray,
That warms the balmy breeze of May;

Thy charms divinely bright appear,
And add new splendour to the year;
Improve the day with fresh delight,
And gild with joy the dreary night.

This juvenile production was enclosed in a very tender billet to Emilia,
and committed to the charge of Pipes, who was ordered to set out for
Mrs. Gauntlet's habitation with a present of venison, and a compliment
to the ladies; and directed to take some opportunity of delivering the
letter to miss, without the knowledge of her mamma.

CHAPTER XIX.

His Messenger meets with a Misfortune, to which he applies a very
extraordinary Expedient that is attended with strange Consequences.

As a stage-coach passed within two miles of the village where she lived,
Tom bargained with the driver for a seat on the box, and accordingly
departed on this message, though he was but indifferently qualified for
commissions of such a nature. Having received particular injunctions
about the letter, he resolved to make that the chief object of his care,
and very sagaciously conveyed it between the stocking and the sole of
his foot, where he th