THINKS-I-TO-MYSELF,

&c.

I was born of very honest, worthy, and respectable parents at least I think so. They were certainly fully as much so as their neighbours: their circumstances were affluent; their rank in life conspicuous; their punctuality as to the discharge of all just debts, and regular payment of their trades-people, unexceptionable. They generally appeared to be regarded by all around them in a very respectable light, being in the habit of receiving and returning, according to the customs of the world, all the usual compliments and civilities of visits, entertainments, &c. &c. Divers personages, of all ranks and denominations, used occasionally to resort to the house: some in carriages, some on horseback, some on foot; some in a formal, stiff, ceremonious manner; some upon a footing of intimacy and equality; some upon special invitation; some quite unexpected.

Not having very good health in my early days, I lived much at home, and generally kept my good mother company; so that I was present at most of the meetings and greetings of which I have spoken; privy to all the preliminary arrangements of chosen and select parties; and a witness commonly to the reception given to the several invitations that came from all quarters of the neighbourhood; as Lord and Lady this; Sir Timothy and Lady that; Mr. and Mrs. T'other-thing, &c. &c. &c. all in their turns, and out of their turns, welcome or unwelcome, friends or foes, were, in the course of the year, admitted or invited to the Hall. For we lived, you must know, in a Hall! that is, our house was called so:-not when I was born, nor till long afterwards; nor ever very seriously; rather, indeed, as a nickname than any thing else. The case was this:-my sister happened to have a correspondent at a school near London, who, finding it essentially necessary to the support of her dignity among her school-fellows, always directed her letters so: for the parents of one,