THE

IT

STORY OF LE FEVER.

in

T was fome time in the fummer of that year which Dendermond was taken by the allies ; when my uncle Toby was one evening getting his fupper, with Trim fitting behind him at a fmall fideboard,-I fay fitting-for in confideration of the Corporal's lame knee (which sometimes gave him exquifite pain)-when my uncle Toby dined or fupped alone he would never fuffer the Corporal to stand; and the poor fellow's veneration for his mafter was fuch, that with a proper artillery, my uncle Toby could have taken Dendermond itself, with less trouble than he was able to gain this point over him; for many a time when my uncle Toby fuppofed the Corporal's leg was at reft, he would look back, and detect him ftanding behind him with the most dutiful refpect: this bred more little fquabbles betwixt them, than all other caufes for five-and-twenty years together-But this is neither here nor there-why do I mention it?→→ Afk my pen,-it governs me,-I govern not it.

He was one evening fitting thus at his fupper, when the landlord of a little inn in the village came into the parlour with an empty phial in his hand, to beg a glass or two of fack; 'Tis for a poor gentleman, I think of the army, faid the landlord, who has been taken ill at my house four days ago, and has never held up his head fince, or had a defire to taste any thing, till just now, that he has a fancy for a glafs of fack and a thin toast,-66 I think," fays he, taking his hand from his forehead, "it would comfort me.'

-If I could neither beg, borrow, or buy such a thing,-added the landlord,-I would almost steal it for the poor gentleman, he is fo ill.-I hope in God he will still mend, continued he,we are all of us concerned for him.

Thou art a good-natured foul, I will answer for thee, cried my uncle Toby; and thou fhalt drink the poor gentleman's health in a glass of fack thyfelf, and take a couple of bottles with my fervice, and tell him he is heartily welcome to them, and to a dozen more if they will do him good.

Though I am perfuaded, faid my uncle Toby, as the landlord fhut the door, he is a very compaffionate fellow-Trim, yet I cannot help entertaining

taining a high opinion of his guest too; there must be fomething more than common in him, that in fo fhort a time should win fo much upon the affections of his hoft ;-And of his whole family, added the Corporal, for they are all concerned for him.Step after him, faid my uncle Toby,—do Trim,and ask if he knows his name.

I have quite forgot it, truly, faid the landlord, coming back into the parlour with the Corporal,but I can ask his fon again:-Has he a fon with him then? faid my uncle Toby.-A boy, replied the landlord, of about eleven or twelve years of age; but the poor creature has tafted almost as little as his father; he does nothing but mourn and lament for him night and day :-He has not stirred from the bedfide these two days.

My uncle Toby laid down his knife and fork, and thruft his plate from before him, as the landlord gave him the account; and Trim, without being ordered, took away, without faying one word, and in a few minutes after brought him his pipe and tobacco.

Trim! faid my uncle Toby, I have a project in my head, as it is a bad night, of wrapping myfelf

up warm in my roquelaure, and paying a visit to this poor gentleman. Your honour's roquelaure, replied the Corporal, has not once been had on, fince the night before your honour received your wound, when we mounted guard in the trenches before the gate of St. Nicholas;-and befides, it is fo cold and rainy a night, that what with the roquelaure, and what with the weather, it will be enough to give your honour your death, and bring on your honour's torment in your groin. I fear fo, replied my uncle Toby; but I am not at reft in my mind, Trim, fince the account the landlord has given me. -I wish I had not known fo much of this affair,added my uncle Toby, or that I had known more of it:-How shall we manage it? Leave it, an't please your honour, to me, quoth the Corporal;I'll take my hat and stick and go to the house and reconnoitre, and act accordingly; and I will bring your honour a full account in an hour.-Thou shalt go, Trim, faid my uncle Toby, and here's a fhilling for thee to drink with his fervant.-I fhall get it all out of him faid the Corporal, fhutting the door.

It was not till my uncle Toby had knocked thie afhes out of his third pipe, that Corporal Trim returned from the inn, and gave him the following

account.

I despaired

I despaired, at first, said the Corporal, of being able to bring back your honour any kind of intelligence concerning the poor fick Lieutenant-Is he in the army, then? faid my uncle Toby-He is faid the Corporal-And in what regiment? faid my uncle Toby-I'll tell your honour, replied the Corporal, every thing straight forwards, as I learnt it. Then, Trim, I will fill another pipe, faid my uncle Toby, and not interrupt thee till thou haft done; fo fit down at thy ease, Trim, in the window-feat, and begin thy ftory again. The Corporal made his old bow, which generally spoke as plain as a bow could fpeak it-Your honour is good: -And having done that, he fat down, as he was ordered, and began the story to my uncle Toby over again in pretty near the fame words.

I defpaired at first, faid the Corporal, of being able to bring back any intelligence to your honour, about the Lieutenant and his fon; for when I asked where his fervant was, from whom I made myself fure of knowing every thing which was proper to be asked, That's a right diftinction, Trim, faid my uncle Toby-I was anfwered, an' please your honour, that he had no fervant with him ;-that he had come to the inn with hired horfes, which, upon finding himself unable to proceed, (to join, I

fuppofe,