h he
repents when he is sober; like a thriftless wretch, spending the goods
and gear that his forefathers won with the sweat of their brows; light
come, light go; he cares not a farthing. But why should I stand surety
for his contracts? The little I have is free, and I can call it my
own--hame's hame, let it be never so hamely. I ken well enough, he could
never abide me, and when he has his ends he'll e'en use me as he did
before. I'm sure I shall be treated like a poor drudge--I shall be set
to tend the bairns, darn the hose, and mend the linen. Then there's no
living with that old carline, his mother; she rails at Jack, and Jack's
an honester man than any of her kin: I shall be plagued with her spells
and her Paternosters, and silly Old World ceremonies; I mun never pare
my nails on a Friday, nor begin a journey on Childermas Day; and I mun
stand becking and binging as I gang out and into the hall. Tell him he
may e'en gang his get; I'll have nothing to do with him; I'll stay like
the poor country mouse, in my awn habitation."

So Peg talked; but for all that, by the interposition of good friends,
and by many a bonny thing that was sent, and many more that were
promised Peg, the matter was concluded, and Peg taken into the house
upon certain articles [the Act of Toleration is referred to]; one of
which was that she might have the freedom of Jack's conversation, and
might take him for better or for worse if she pleased; provided always
he did not come into the house at unseasonable hours and disturb the
rest of the old woman, John's mother.

OF THE RUDIMENTS OF MARTIN'S LEARNING

From 'Memoirs of Martinus Scriblerus'

Mrs. Scriblerus considered it was now time to instruct him in the
fundamentals of religion, and to that end took no small pains in
teaching him his catechism. But Cornelius looked upon this as a tedious
way of instruction, and therefore employed his head to find out more
pleasing methods, the better to induce him to be fond of learning. He
would frequently carry him to the puppet-show of the creation of the
world, where the child, with exceeding delight, gained a notion of the
history of the Bible. His first rudiments in profane history were
acquired by seeing of raree-shows, where he was brought acquainted with
all the princes of Europe. In short, the old gentleman so contrived it
to make everything contribute to the improvement of his knowledge, even
to his very dress. He invented for him a geog