Chapter 2

           WhenIfoundmyselfonmyfeet,Ilookedaboutme,andmustconfessIneverbeheldamoreentertainingprospect.Thecountryaroundappearedlikeacontinuedgarden,andtheenclosedfields,whichweregenerallyfortyfeetsquare,resembledsomanybedsofflowers.Thesefieldswereintermingledwithwoodsofhalfastang,andthetallesttrees,asIcouldjudge,appearedtobesevenfeethigh.Iviewedthetownonmylefthand,whichlookedlikethepaintedsceneofacityinatheatre.

           Ihadbeenforsomehoursextremelypressedbythenecessitiesofnature;whichwasnowonder,itbeingalmosttwodayssinceIhadlastdisburdenedmyself.Iwasundergreatdifficultiesbetweenurgencyandshame.ThebestexpedientIcouldthinkof,wastocreepintomyhouse,whichIaccordinglydid;andshuttingthegateafterme,Iwentasfarasthelengthofmychainwouldsuffer,anddischargedmybodyofthatuneasyload.ButthiswastheonlytimeIwaseverguiltyofsouncleanlyanaction;forwhichIcannotbuthopethecandidreaderwillgivesomeallowance,afterhehasmaturelyandimpartiallyconsideredmycase,andthedistressIwasin.Fromthistimemyconstantpracticewas,assoonasIrose,toperformthatbusinessinopenair,atthefullextentofmychain;andduecarewastakeneverymorningbeforecompanycame,thattheoffensivemattershouldbecarriedoffinwheel-barrows,bytwoservantsappointedforthatpurpose.Iwouldnothavedweltsolonguponacircumstancethat,perhaps,atfirstsight,mayappearnotverymomentous,ifIhadnotthoughtitnecessarytojustifymycharacter,inpointofcleanliness,totheworld;which,Iamtold,someofmymalignershavebeenpleased,uponthisandotheroccasions,tocallinquestion.