_NIM_ had a _brave boy_ for his second son, a _buck_ and a _buffer_. He was a great favourite of the old corporal, who spared nothing to make a _man of him_, and got him another daughter of the deputy for a wife, and a tight wench she was; but it was no easy matter to bring young _Hopeful_ to take a liking for business; _foot-ball_ and _prison-bars_ were his delight. He could never be sober for the blood of him, or orderly, or rest a moment in a place; if he went to sermon, he was every turn whistling or kicking his heels, and the curate said he would never come to good. But _Nim_ was resolved to have him a man of business, and got him put into his own place, which was _surveyor_ of the _excise_; and indeed it was time for _Nim_ to quit, as, either from carelessness or having his ink _too thick_, he was very apt to leave _blots_ in his book. Well, a surveyor was young _Hopeful_, and did well enough; his carriage was more stay’d, and he looked sometimes (especially in company with the excisemen) as if he was _thinking_; but when a holyday came he was as gamesom as ever, and he contrived to make _more_ holydays than are marked in the almanack, having bought (for that purpose) a new prayer-book, with births, martyrdoms, massacres and coronations, all put together along with _saints_, male and female, _blacks_ and _whites_, he religiously observed them all, and would have honoured, willingly, a hundred more; such a regard had he for the _holy church_. _NIM_ now thought it was time to push himself forward, and, forgetting his agreement with _Roger_, set all hands to work. The _Parson_ was his fast friend. _Hopeful_ was now a man of enterprize, and, if holydays did not come thick, could _stick_ to _business_. _Nim_’s _first_ scheme was to have him made _chairman_ at the quarter-session, as that would make him popular among the justices; and, if they had a majority of the justices, they could do any business the deputy had a mind, and so _Roger_ might be laid by. They worked cunning enough for a while. _Nim_, with his son and heir _Hopeful_, and his _comrades_, were all _court_ and _compliment_ to _Roger_, cryed him up in all companies; but, under-hand, were setting the _Parson_ against him, and engaged to the _Parson_, that he should _rule the roast_, in a little time, instead of _Roger_, and have all the farmers and _yeomanry_ on his side; tho’ they meant nothing less than _his interest_; for indeed it was impossible he could be bettered by any interest, or get any more preferment; but they thought it _politick_ to let him _appear_ to be the _principal_. _Roger_ got an _inkling_ of their design, but resolved they should _shew themselves_ a little more before _he_ set about to _shew_ them. They were watching all opportunities to get new friends among the justices, and try’d to get one of the _King’s boatmen_ into the commission. They pushed him on, and assisted him with might and main; and all the while were writing, and cursing, and swearing to