The Sir Roger de Coverley Papers

Name: The Sir Roger de Coverley Papers
Author: Steele, Richard, Sir

Steele, Richard, Sir

English essays

I was no sooner come into Gray's Inn Walks, but I
  heard my friend upon the terrace hemming twice or
  thrice to himself with great vigour, for he loves to clear
  his pipes in good air, to make use of his own phrase,
  and is not a little pleased with any one who takes notice (10)
  of the strength which he still exerts in his morning hems.

  I was touched with a secret joy at the sight of the good
  old man, who before he saw me was engaged in conversation
  with a beggar-man that had asked an alms of him.
  I could hear my friend chide him for not finding out (15)
  some work; but at the same time saw him put his hand
  in his pocket and give him sixpence.

  Our salutations were very hearty on both sides, consisting
  of many kind shakes of the hand, and several affectionate
  looks which we cast upon one another. After (20)
  which the knight told me my good friend his chaplain
  was very well, and much at my service, and that the
  Sunday before he had made a most incomparable sermon
  out of Doctor Barrow. "I have left," says he, "all my
  affairs in his hands, and being willing to lay an obligation (25)
  upon him, have deposited with him thirty marks, to be
  distributed among his poor parishioners."

  He then proceeded to acquaint me with the welfare of
  Will Wimble. Upon which he put his hand into his fob
  and presented me, in his name, with a tobacco stopper,
  telling me that Will had been busy all the beginning of
  the winter in turning great quantities of them, and that
  he made a present of one to every gentleman in the
  country who has good principles and smokes. He added (187: 5)
  that poor Will was at present under great tribulation, for
  that Tom Touchy had taken the law of him for cutting
  some hazel sticks out of one of his hedges.

  Among other pieces of news which the knight brought
  from his country-seat, he informed me that Moll White (10)
  was dead; and that about a month after her death the
  wind was so very high that it blew down the end of one
  of his barns. "But for my own part," says Sir Roger,
  "I do not think that the old woman had any hand in
  it." (15)

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

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The Sir Roger de Coverley PapersSteele, Richard, Sir

General

The Sir Roger de Coverley Papers

Steele, Richard, Sir

English essays

I was no sooner come into Gray's Inn Walks, but I
  heard my friend upon the terrace hemming twice or
  thrice to himself with great vigour, for he loves to clear
  his pipes in good air, to make use of his own phrase,
  and is not a little pleased with any one who takes notice (10)
  of the strength which he still exerts in his morning hems.

  I was touched with a secret joy at the sight of the good
  old man, who before he saw me was engaged in conversation
  with a beggar-man that had asked an alms of him.
  I could hear my friend chide him for not finding out (15)
  some work; but at the same time saw him put his hand
  in his pocket and give him sixpence.

  Our salutations were very hearty on both sides, consisting
  of many kind shakes of the hand, and several affectionate
  looks which we cast upon one another. After (20)
  which the knight told me my good friend his chaplain
  was very well, and much at my service, and that the
  Sunday before he had made a most incomparable sermon
  out of Doctor Barrow. "I have left," says he, "all my
  affairs in his hands, and being willing to lay an obligation (25)
  upon him, have deposited with him thirty marks, to be
  distributed among his poor parishioners."

  He then proceeded to acquaint me with the welfare of
  Will Wimble. Upon which he put his hand into his fob
  and presented me, in his name, with a tobacco stopper,
  telling me that Will had been busy all the beginning of
  the winter in turning great quantities of them, and that
  he made a present of one to every gentleman in the
  country who has good principles and smokes. He added (187: 5)
  that poor Will was at present under great tribulation, for
  that Tom Touchy had taken the law of him for cutting
  some hazel sticks out of one of his hedges.

  Among other pieces of news which the knight brought
  from his country-seat, he informed me that Moll White (10)
  was dead; and that about a month after her death the
  wind was so very high that it blew down the end of one
  of his barns. "But for my own part," says Sir Roger,
  "I do not think that the old woman had any hand in
  it." (15)

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Sir Roger de Coverley Papers

The Sir Roger de Coverley Papers

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