There was a young curate _lately_ come into the neighbourhood, a great _crony_ of _Nim_’s family, and well liked by every body else. He was sprightly, generous and good natured; a good scholar, and a good preacher for a young man; but, above all, had so taking, modest a behaviour, that every one who saw him became his friend, or, at least, was wise enough to dissemble his dislike. All wheels were set a going to make him parson of the _minster_; and to say justice, the young man was not idle in doing for himself. He came in with universal applause, tho’ one of _his_ years had never been in that place before. _Roger_ was glad of his preferment, and whenever the parish met at vestry, or the _hundred_, to applot the land-tax, shew’d him great civility and compliments, which the parish observing, encreased their respect for the parson; and the few who were disatisfied with his advancement changed their note; his youth was now no longer an objection; it was an happiness to have an active young man among them, instead of an old _mumpsimus_, to sleep all sermon time, or an old _pig-doctor_, who had no learning but a receipt for curing the meazles: And, for a good while, he gave general satisfaction, till bad company was the spoil of him, and by degrees led him into projects he never thought to meddle with in the beginning. _AMBITION_, as well as a _law-suit_, may be compared to a _wire-mill_; if it get you by the finger, it draws in your whole body; or, ambition grows on men as they advance higher, as on going up a hill, every step enlarges the prospect: But whether it was his _own ambition_, or only friendship for _ambitious men_, it is fact he plunged over head and ears, and did not look how he leaped.