The Servant Man, &c.

WILLIAM was a lively young ſervant, who lived in a great but very irregular family. [...]is place was, on the whole, agreeable to him, and [...]ited to his gay thoughtleſs temper. He found a [...]entiful table and a good cellar. There was in⯑ [...]ed, a good deal of work to be done, though it [...]as performed with much diſorder and confuſion. [...]e family in the main were not unkind to him, [...]ough they often contradicted and croſſed him, [...]pecially when things went ill with themſelves. [...]is, William never much liked, for he was al⯑ [...]ys fond of having his own way. There was a [...]erry, or rather a noiſy and riotous ſervants' hall; [...] diſorder and quarrels are indeed the uſual [...]ects of plenty and unreſtrained indulgence. The [...]en were ſmart but idle, the maids were ſhowy, but [...]entious, and all did pretty much as they liked [...] a time, but the time was commonly ſhort. The [...]ages were reckoned high, but they were ſeldom [...]id, and it was even ſaid by ſober people, that the [...]aſter was inſolvent, and never fulfilled any of his [...]attering engagements, or his moſt poſitive pro⯑ [...]iſes; but ſtill, notwithſtanding his real poverty, [4]things went on with juſt the ſame thoughtleſneſ [...] and ſplendor, and neither maſters or ſervants look⯑ed beyond the jollity of the preſent hour.

In this unruly family there was little church go⯑ing, and ſtill leſs praying at home. They pretende [...] indeed, in a general way, to believe in the Bible, bu [...] it was only an outward profeſſion, few of them rea [...] it at all, and even of thoſe who did read it ſtill fewe [...] were governed by it. There was indeed a Bibl [...] lying on the table in the great hall, which wa [...] kept for the purpoſe of adminiſtering an oath, b [...] was ſeldom uſed on any other occaſion, and ſom [...] of the heads of the family were of opinion that th [...] was its only real uſe, as it might ſerve to keep th [...] lower parts of it in order.

William, who was fond of novelty and pleaſur [...] was apt to be negligent of the duties of the houſ [...] He uſed to ſtay out on his errands, and one of [...]; favorite amuſements was going to the parade to ſ [...] the ſoldiers exerciſe. He ſaw with envy ho [...] ſmartly they were dreſſed, liſtened with rapture [...] the muſic, and fancied that a ſoldier had nothi [...] to do but to walk to and fro in a certain regul [...] order, to go through a little eaſy exerciſe, in ſho [...] to live without fighting, fatigue, or danger.

"O," ſaid he, whenever he was affronted [...] home, "what a fine thing it muſt be to be a ſ [...] ⯑dier! to be ſo well dreſſed, to have nothing to [...] but to move to the pleaſant ſound of ſife and dru [...] and to have ſo many people come to look at o [...] and admire one. O it muſt be a fine thing to b [...] ſoldier!"

Yet when the vexation of the moment was ov [...] he found ſo much eaſe and diverſion in his maſt [...] houſe, ſo ſuited to his low taſte and ſenſual ap [...] ⯑tites, [5]that he thought no more of the matter. He forgot the glories of a ſoldier, and eagerly returned to all the mean gratifications of the kitchen. His evil habits were but little attended to by thoſe with whom he lived; his faults, among which were lying and ſwearing, were not often corrected by the family, who had little objection to thoſe ſins, which only of⯑ [...]ended God and did not much affect their own intereſt [...]r property. And except that William was obliged to work rather more than he liked he found little, while [...]e was young and healthy, that was very diſagreea⯑ [...]le in this ſervice. So he went on, ſtill thinking how⯑ [...]ver, when things went à little croſs, "what a [...]ne thing it was to be a ſoldier!" and at laſt one [...]ay as he was waiting at dinner, he had the miſfor⯑ [...]une to let fall a china diſh, and broke it all to [...]ieces. It was a curious diſh, much valued by the [...]amily as they pretended; this family were indeed [...]pt to ſet a falſe fantaſtic value on things, and not [...] eſtimate them by their real worth. The heads [...]f the family, who had generally been rather pa⯑ [...]ent and good-humoured with William as I ſaid [...]efore, for theſe vices, which though offenſive to [...]od did not touch their own pocket, now flew out [...]to a violent paſſion with him, called him a thou⯑ [...]nd hard names, and even threatened to horſe⯑ [...]hip him for his ſhameful negligence.

William, in a great fright, for he was a ſad cow⯑ [...]d at bottom, ran directly out of the houſe to avoid [...]e threatened puniſhment, and happening juſt at [...]at very time to paſs by the parade where the [...]oldiers chanced to be then exerciſing, his reſolu⯑ [...]on was taken in a moment. He inſtantly deter⯑ [...]ined to be no more a ſlave, as he called it; he [...]ould return no more to be ſubject to the humours [6]of a tyrannical family; no, he was reſolved to b [...] free, or at leaſt, if he muſt ſerve he would ſerve n [...] maſter but the King.

William, who had now and then happened to hea [...] from the accidental talk of the ſoldiers, that tho [...] who ſerved the great family he had lived with, we [...] ſlaves to their tyranny and vices, had alſo hea [...] in the ſame caſual manner, that the ſervice of th [...] King was perfect freedom Now he had taken it in [...] his head to hope that this might be a freedom [...] do evil, or at leaſt to do nothing, ſo he thought [...] was the only place in the world to ſuit him.

A fine likely young fellow as William was, ha [...] no great difficulty to get enliſted. The few for [...] were ſoon ſettled, he received the bounty-mone [...] as eagerly as it was offered, took the oaths of all [...] ⯑giance, and was joined to the regiment, and hearti [...] welcomed by his new comrades. He was the ha [...] ⯑pieſt fellow alive. All was ſmooth and calm. T [...] day happened to be very fine, and therefore Willia [...] always reckoned upon a fine day. The ſcene w [...] gay and lively, the muſic cheerful, he found t [...] exerciſe very eaſy, and he thought there was litt [...] more expected from him.

He ſoon began to flouriſh away in his talk; an [...] when he met with any one of his old fellow ſervan [...] he fell a prating about marches and counter-marche [...] and blockades, and battles, and ſieges, and bloo [...] and death, and triumphs, and victories, all at ra [...] ⯑dom, for theſe were words and phraſes he h [...] picked up without at all underſtanding what [...] ſaid. He had no knowledge, and therefore he h [...] no modeſty, he had no experience, and therefo [...] he had no fears.

All ſeemed to go on ſwimmingly, for he had [7]yet no trial. He began to think with triumph what [...] mean life he had eſcaped from in the old quarrel⯑ſome family, and what a happy, honourable life he ſhould have in the army. O there was no life like [...]he life of a ſoldier.

In a ſhort time, however, war broke out, his regiment was one of the firſt which was called out [...]o actual and hard ſervice. As William was the [...]oſt raw of all the recruits he was the firſt to mur⯑ [...]ur at the difficulties and hardſhips, the cold and [...]unger, the fatigue and danger of being a ſoldier.) what watchings, and perils, and trials, and hard⯑ [...]hips, and difficulties he now thought attended a military life! "Surely," ſaid he, "I could never [...]ave ſuſpected all this miſery when I uſed to ſee [...]he men on the parade in our town.

He now found, when it was too late, that all the [...]eld-days he uſed to attend, all the evolutions and [...]xerciſes which he had obſerved the ſoldiers to go [...]hrough in the calm times of peace and ſafety, were [...]nly meant to fit, train, and qualify them, for the [...]ctual ſervice which they were now ſent out to per⯑ [...]orm by the command of the King.

The truth is, William often complained when [...]ere was no real hardſhip to complain of; for [...]e common troubles of life fell out pretty much [...]ike to the great family which William had left, and [...] the ſoldiers in the King's army. But the ſpirit [...]f obedience, diſcipline, and ſelf-denial of the latter [...]emed hardſhips to one of William's looſe turn of [...]ind. When he began to murmur ſome good old [...]ldier clapped him on the back, ſaying, "cheer [...]p lad, it is a kingdom you are to ſtrive for, if we [...]int not, henceforth there is laid up for us a great [...]eward, we have the King's word for it man." Wil⯑liam [8]obſerved that to thoſe who truly believed thi [...] their labours were as nothing, but he himſelf did not at the bottom believe it; and it was obſerve [...] of all the ſoldiers who failed, the true cauſe wa [...] that they did not really believe the King's promiſ [...] ▪ He was ſurpriſed to ſee the then ſoldiers, who uſe [...] to bluſter, and boaſt, and deride the aſſaults of th [...] enemy now began to fall away; while ſuch as ha [...] faithfully obeyed the king's orders, and believe [...] in his word, were ſuſtained in the hour of tria [...] ▪ Thoſe who had truſted in their own ſtrength all fain [...] ⯑ed in the ſlighteſt attack, while thoſe who had p [...] on the armour of the king's providing, the ſword and the ſhield, and the helmet, and the breaſt-plat [...] and whoſe feet were ſhod according to order, no [...] endured hardſhips as good ſoldiers, and were e [...] ⯑abled to fight the good fight.

An engagement was expected immediately. Th [...] men were ordered to prepare for battle. Whi [...] the reſt of the corps were ſo preparing, William whole thoughts were bent on contriving how h [...] might deſert. But alas! he was watched on a [...] ſides, he could not poſſibly deviſe any means [...] eſcape. The danger increaſed every moment, th [...] battle came on. William, who had been ſo ſure an [...] confident before he entered, flinched in the m [...] ⯑ment of trial, while his more quiet and leſs boaſ [...] ⯑ful comrades prepared boldly to do their dut [...] ▪ William looked about on all ſides, and ſaw th [...] there was no eye upon him, for he did not kno [...] that the King's eye was every where at once. [...] at laſt thought he ſpied a chance of eſcaping, n [...] from the enemy, but from his own army. Whi [...] he was endeavouring to eſcape, a ball from the o [...] ⯑poſite camp took off his leg. As he fell, the fir [...] [9] [...]ords which broke from him were, "while I was [...] my duty I was preſe [...]ed, in the very act of de⯑ [...]rting I am wounded." He lay expecting every [...]oment to be trampled to death, but as ſoon as the [...]onfuſion was a little over, he was taken off the [...]eld by ſome of his own party, laid in a place of [...]fety, and left to himſelf, after his wound was [...]reſſed.

The ſkirmiſh, for it proved nothing more, was [...]on over. The greater part of the regiment eſ⯑ [...]ped in ſafety, while the few who fell [...] rejoiced [...]at they fell in their duty. William in the mean [...]e ſuffered cruelly both in mind and body. To [...]e pains of a wounded ſoldier, he added the diſ⯑ [...]ace of a coward, and the infamy of a deſerter. ▪O," cried he, "why was I ſuch a fool as to leave [...]e great family I lived in where there was meat [...]d drink enough and to ſpare, only on account of little quarrel? I might have made up that with [...]em as we had done our former quarrels. Why [...]d I leave a life of eaſe and pleaſure, where I had [...]ly a little rub now and then, for a life of daily [...]ſcipline and conſtant danger? Why did I turn [...]dier? O, what a miſerable animal is a ſoldier!"

As he was ſitting in this weak and diſabled con⯑ [...]ion, uttering the above complaints, he obſerved [...] [...]enerable old officer, with thin grey locks on his [...]ad, and on his face deep wrinkles engraved by [...]e, and many an honeſt ſcar inflicted by war. [...]illiam had heard this old officer highly com⯑ [...]nded for his extraordinary courage and conduct [...] battle, and in peace he uſed to ſee him cool [...]d collected, devoutly employed in reading and [...]ying in the interval of more active duties. He [...]ld not help comparing this officer with himſelf. [10]"I," ſaid he, "flinched and drew back, and wou [...] even have deſerted in the moment of peril, an [...] now in return, I have no conſolation in the ho [...] of repoſe and ſafety. I would not fight then, I ca [...] not pray now. O why would I ever think of bei [...] a ſoldier? He then began afreſh to weep and l [...] ⯑ment, and he groaned ſo loud that he drew th [...] notice of the officer who came up to him, kind [...] ſat down by him, took him by the hand, and i [...] ⯑quired with as much affection as if he had been h [...] brother, what was the matter with him, and wh [...] particular diſtreſs, more than the common fortu [...] of war it was which drew from him ſuch bitt [...] groans?" "I know ſomething of ſurgery," add [...] he, "let me examine your wound and aſſiſt yo [...] with ſuch little comforts as I can."

William at once ſaw the difference betwe [...] the ſoldiers in the King's army, and the peop [...] in the great family; the latter commonly withdr [...] their kindneſs in ſickneſs and trouble when m [...] wanted, which was juſt the very time when [...] others came forward to aſſiſt. He told the offi [...] his little hiſtory, the manner of his living in [...] great family, the trifling cauſe of his quarrelli [...] with it, the ſlight ground of his entering i [...] the King's ſervice. "Sir," ſaid he, "I quarr [...] ⯑led with the family, and I thought I was at o [...] fit for the army: I did not know the qualificati [...] it required. I had not reckoned on diſcipli [...] and hardſhips, and ſelf-denial. I liked well enou [...] to ſing a loyal ſong, or drink the King's heal [...] but I find I do not reliſh working and fighting [...] him, though I raſhly promiſed even to lay do [...] my life for his ſervice if called upon, when I to [...] the bounty money and the oath of allegian [...] [11] [...]n ſhort, ſir, I find that I long for the eaſe and [...]oth, the merriment and the feaſting of my old [...]ervice; I find I cannot be a ſoldier, and, to ſpeak [...]ruth, I was in the very act of deſerting when [...] was ſtopped ſhort by the cannon ball. So that I [...]el the guilt of deſerting, and the miſery of hav⯑ [...]g loſt my leg into the bargain."

The officer thus replied, "your ſtate is that of [...] very worldly, irreligious man. The great family [...]ou ſerved is a juſt picture of the WORLD. The [...]ages the world promiſes to thoſe who are willing to [...]o its work are high, but the payment is attended [...]ith much diſappointment; nay, the world, like [...]our great family, is in itſelf inſolvent, and in its [...]ery nature incapable of making good the pro⯑ [...]iſes, and of paying the high rewards, which it [...]olds out to tempt its credulous followers. The [...]ngodly world, like your family, cares little for [...]urch, and ſtill leſs for prayers; and conſiders [...]e Bible rather as an inſtrument to make an oath [...]nding, in order to keep the vulgar in obedi⯑ [...]ce, than as containing in itſelf a perfect rule of [...]ith and practice, and as a title-deed to heaven. [...]he generality of men love the world as you did [...]our ſervice, while it ſmiles upon them, and gives [...]em eaſy work, and plenty of meat and drink; but [...] ſoon as it begins to croſs and contradict them, [...]ey get out of humour with it, juſt as you did [...]ith your ſervice. They then think its drudgery [...]rd, its rewards low. They find out that it is [...]gh in its expectations from them, and ſlack in [...] payments to them. And they begin to fancy [...]ecauſe they do not hear religious people mur⯑ [...]ur as they do) that there muſt be ſome happineſs [...] religion. The world, which takes no account of [12]their deeper ſins, at length brings them into diſcr [...] ⯑dit for ſome act of imprudence, juſt as your fami [...] overlooked your lying and ſwearing, but threa [...] ⯑ened to drub you for breaking a china diſh, ſu [...] is the judgment of the world, it particular [...] bears with thoſe who only break the laws [...] God, but ſeverely puniſhes the ſmalleſt neg [...] ⯑gence by which property is injured. The wor [...] ſooner pardons the breaking ten commandmen [...] of God than even a china diſh of its own.

After ſome croſs or oppoſition, worldly men, [...] I ſaid before, begin to think how much content a [...] cheerfulneſs they remember to have ſeen in religio [...] people. They therefore begin to fancy that re [...] ⯑gion muſt be an eaſy and delightful, as well as [...] good thing. They have heard that, "her wa [...] are ways of pleaſantneſs, and all her paths a [...] peace;" and they perſuade themſelves, that [...] this is meant worldly pleaſantneſs and ſenſu [...] peace. They reſolve at length to try it, to tu [...] their back upon the world, to engage in t [...] ſervice of God and turn chriſtians; juſt as y [...] reſolved to leave your old ſervice, to enter i [...] the ſervice of the King and turn ſoldier. But [...] you quitted your place in a paſſion, ſo they lea [...] the world in a huff. They do not count the [...] ▪ They do not calculate upon the darling ſins, the [...] ⯑bitual pleaſures, the eaſe and vanities which [...] undertake by their new engagements to renoun [...] any more than you counted what indulgences [...] were going to give up when you quitted the lu [...] ⯑ries and idleneſs of your place to enliſt in the [...] ⯑dier's warfare. They have, as I ſaid, ſeen ch [...] ⯑tians cheerful, and they miſtook the ground [...] their cheerfulneſs; they fancied it aroſe not [...] cauſe, through grace they had conquered diffic [...] ⯑ [...]es, [13]but becauſe they had no difficulties in their [...]aſſage. They fancied that religion found the road [...]ooth, whereas it only helps to bear with a rough [...]ad without complaint. They do not know that [...]eſe Chriſtians are of good cheer, not becauſe the [...]orld is free from tribulation, but becauſe Chriſt [...]eir captain has "overcome the world." But the [...] religious man, who has only ſeen the outſide of a [...]hriſtian in his worldly intercourſe, knows little of [...] ſecret conflicts, his trials, his ſelf-denials, his [...]arfare with the world without, and with his own [...]rrupt deſires within.

The irreligious man quarrels with the world, on [...]me ſuch occaſion as you did with your place. [...] now puts on the outward forms and ceremo⯑ [...]es of religion, and aſſumes the badges of Chriſ⯑ [...]nity, juſt as you were ſtruck with the ſhows of [...] field day; juſt as you were pleaſed with the [...]uſic and the marching, and put on the cockade and [...]e red coat. All ſeems ſmooth for a little while. [...]e goes through the outward exerciſes of a Chriſ⯑ [...]n, a degree of credit attends his new profeſ⯑ [...]on, but he never ſuſpects there is either diffi⯑ [...]lty or diſcipline attending it; he fancies reli⯑ [...]ion is a thing for talking about, and not a thing [...] the heart and the life. He never ſuſpects that [...] the pſalm-ſinging he joins in, and the ſermons he [...]ars, and the other means he is uſing, are only [...] the exerciſes and the evolutions of the ſoldiers, [...] fit and prepare him for actual ſervice; and that [...]eſe means are no more religion itſelf, than the [...]erciſes and evolutions of your parade were real [...]arſare.

At length ſome trial ariſes. This nominal Chriſ⯑ [...]an is called to differ from the world in ſome [14]great point; ſomething happens which may ſtri [...] at his comfort, or his credit, or ſecurity. T [...] cools his zeal for religion, juſt as the view of [...] engagement cooled your courage as a ſoldie [...] ▪ He finds he was only angry with the world, [...] was not tired of it. He was out of humour wi [...] the world, not becauſe he had ſeen through [...] vanity and emptineſs, but becauſe the world w [...] out of humour with him. He finds that it is [...] eaſy thing to be a fair-weather Chriſtian, b [...] where there is nothing to be done, and confide [...] where there is nothing to be feared. Difficult [...] unmaſk him to others; temptations unmaſk h [...] to himſelf; he diſcovers, that though he is a hi [...] profeſſor, he is no Chriſtian; juſt as you fou [...] out that your red coat and your cockade, yo [...] ſhoulder-knot, and your muſket, did not preve [...] you from being a coward.

Your miſery in the military life, like that of [...] nominal Chriſtian, aroſe from your love of ea [...] ▪ your cowardice, and your ſelf-ignorance. Y [...] ruſhed into a new way of life, without trying af [...] one qualification for it. A total change of he [...] and temper were neceſſary for your new calli [...] ▪ With new views and new principles the ſoldie [...] life would have been not only eaſy but delight [...] to you. But while with a new profeſſion you [...] ⯑tained your old nature, it is no wonder all [...] ⯑cipline ſeemed intolerable to you.

The true Chriſtian, like the brave ſoldier, [...] ſupported under dangers by a ſtrong faith [...] the fruits of that victory for which he fights [...] be ſafety and peace. But, alas! the pleaſures [...] this world are preſent and viſible; the kingd [...] and the crown for which he ſtrives are remo [...] ▪ [15]He is therefore apt to think them uncertain. He [...]s therefore apt to fail, becauſe nothing ſhort of a [...]ively faith can outweigh the preſent temptation, [...]nd teach him to prefer the joys of conqueſt to [...]he pleaſures of ſloth."

Whether William went back to his old ſer⯑ [...]ice, or was received again into the army, may be [...]nown hereafter.