GILPIN. 261 Mr. Gilpin, from the earliest period, was inclined to serious thoughtfulness. Thiswas discovered by the follow- ing circumstance. A begging friar coming on a Saturday evening to his father's house, was received, according to the custom of those times, in a very hospitable manner. The friar made too free with the bounty set before him, and became thoroughly intoxicated. The next morning, how- ever, he ordered the bell to toll for public worship; and from the pulpit, expressed himself with great vehemence against the debauchery of the times,but particularly .against drunkenness. Young Gilpin, then a child on his mother's lap, seemed for some time exceedingly affected by the friar's discourse ; andat length, with the utmost indignation, cried out : " Oh, mamma, do you hear how this fellow " dares speak against drunkenness, and was drunk himself " last night !" The disinterested pains which Mr. Gilpin took among the barbarous people in the north, and the great kindness he manifested towards them, excited in them the warmest gratitude and esteem. One instance is related, chewing how greatly he was revered. Being once on his journey to Reads-dale and Tyne-dale, by the carelessness of his servant, he had his horses stolen. The news quickly spread through the country, and every one expressed-the highest indignation against it. While the thief was rejoicing over his prize, he found, by the report of the country, whose horses he had stolen ; and being exceedingly terrified at what he had done, he instantly came trembling back, con- fessed the fact, returned the horses, and declared he believed the devil would have seized him immediately, if he had taken them off, when he found they belonged to Mr. Gilpin. The hospitality of this excellent person was not con- fined in its objects. Strangers and travellers found the kindest entertainment in his house. And even their beasts were so well taken care of, that it was humorously said, " If a horse was turned out in any part of the country, he would immediatelymake his way to the rectory of Hough- ton."-The following instance of his benevolent spirit, is preserved. As he was one day returning from a journey, he saw several persons crowding together in a field ; and supposing some disaster had happened, he rode up to them, and found that one of the horses in a team had suddenly dropped down, and was dead. The owner be- moaning the greatness ofhis loss, Mr. Gilpin said, "Honest
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=