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lapsed into silent sorrow and melancholy reflection; a thousand times I wished myself a bear, that I might retreat to woods and desarts, far from the inhospitable haunts of man, where I could live by my own talents. As I lay in this manner, groaning over my hapless fate, I heard the sound of a violin. and raising my head perceived a company of men and women dancing on the grass at some distance from me. I soon discovered them to be a party of soldiers, with their wives and children, diverting themselves after the fatigue of a march. I had never before seen such a parcel of scare-crows together. I saluted them, however, and was received with great politeness; after which they formed a ring and danced around me. This jollity had a wonderful effect upon my spirits, I was infected with their gaiety, and in spite of my dismal situation, forgot my cares, and joined in their extravagance. When we had recreated ourselves a good while at this diversion, the ladies spread their manteaus on the ground, upon which they emptied their knapsacks of some onions, coarse bread, and a few flasks of poor wine. I sat down with the rest, and in the whole course of my life never made a more comfortable meal.——When our repast was ended, we got up again to dance. And now that I found myself refreshed. I behaved to the admiration of everybody. The serjeant in particular expressed
