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⟨habit⟩ of lying. His word was ſcarcely ever ⟨believed⟩ by his friends; and he was often ⟨ſuſpected⟩ of faults, becauſe he denied the commiſſion of them, and puniſhed for offences, of which he was convicted only by his ⟨aſſertions⟩ of innocence. The experience of every day manifeſted the diſadvantages which ⟨he⟩ ſuffered from the habitual violation of ⟨truth⟩. He had a garden ſtocked with the choiceſt flowers; and the cultivation of it was his favourite amuſement. It happened that the cattle of the adjoining paſture had broken down the fence; and he found them trampling upon, and deſtroying, a bed of fine auriculas. He could not drive theſe ravagers away, without endangering the ſtill more valuable productions of the next parterre; and he haſtened to requeſt the aſiſtance of the gardener. "You intend to make a fool of me," ſaid the man, who refuſed to go, as he gave no credit to the reation of Mendaculus.
One froſty day, his father had the ⟨misfortune⟩ to be thrown from his horſe, and to fracture his thigh. Mendaculus was preſent, ⟨and⟩ was deeply affected by the accident, but ⟨had⟩ not ſtrength to afford the neceſſary help, He was therefore obliged to leave him, in his painful condition on the ground, which was at that time covered with ſnow; and, with all the expedition in his power, he rode ⟨to⟩ Mancheſter, to ſolicit the aid of the firſt
