LONDON: CHARLES FOX, 67, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1833. CONTENTS. Chap. Page 1. Every Man his Whim 2001 2. Much may come of Little 2017 3. The harm of a Whim 2030 4. Prosperity 2049 5. How to use Prosperity 2070 6. Disasters 2084 7. Discontents 2103 8. Uproar 2117 9. All quiet again 2133 THE HILL AND THE VALLEY. CHAPTER I. EVERY MAN HIS WHIM. -------------- Among the hills, in a wild district of South Wales, stood a dwelling, known to few and avoided by most of those whose curiosity had led them to inquire concerning the inmates. This cottage was too humble in its appearance to attract frequent notice, and there was so much difficulty in reaching it, that no call but that of business was likely to bring any stranger to its threshold. A narrow path led up the hills to the foot of a steep flight of steps, made of rude stones, placed not very securely. At the top of a slippery bank above these steps was a gate, too high to be easily climbed, and too well tethered to be quickly opened. When one or the other difficulty, however, was overcome, the path lay direct to the porch of the cottage, on the bench of which lay sometimes a newspaper or a tobacco-pipe, and sometimes a ricketty work-basket, full of undarned stockings, according as the master or mistress of the cottage had been sitting there to enjoy the air. No place could be more retired than this porch, for it was nearly surrounded by garden and orchard ground, and was screened by a thick hedge of elder on the side where the gate was placed.