I HAVE A RIGHT.
my mind—I said, "Rev. Sir, I do not fence and guard my grounds that paupers may make a playground of them; and, though your request makes me question your good taste a little, I trust to your good sense not to render your people liable to be taken up as trespassers. I have a right to prosecute all trespassers in my grounds, and, therefore, I advise you to keep your people clear of them."'
'And very proper, too,' replied the other; 'there are plenty of people that will receive them; there's your neighbor, Sir Edward, who's happy and proud to entertain as many as they like to pour into his domain.'
Upon this they both laughed, as it appeared, in pity of the said Sir Edward. 'Well, well, every man has a right to his own opinion.' (N. B., is that a fact?) 'Sir Edward wanted me, the other day, to subscribe to some new baths and wash-houses. "My good fellow," I said, "when all the paupers in London can earn their own living, it will be time enough to talk of washing their faces; but for goodness' sake let 'em earn dinners before you offer 'em Windsor soap, and hats before you find 'em pomatum."'
'And may I know what Sir Edward said in reply?' I inquired, addressing the old gentleman.
He seemed to consider. 'Well,' he said, after a puzzled pause, 'it was something of this sort—something about the decencies of life being striven for with better heart, if a few of its amenities were within reach.'
This reminded me of a poor woman who lived in a particularly dirty cottage, near my father's house, in
