fell into a profound, curious Speculation upon the Difference between him that constructs, and him that destroys; and very hugely to the Disadvantage of this Latter; seeing that Construction (that is, the Devoting of our human Skill to the Formation of useful Products from those Materials with which the Beneficence of Nature has provided us), is at all Times a laudable Work; while the Undoing of these Products is but a deplorable Retrogression toward Savagery. Thus I hold that he who constructs is ever more worthy than is he who destroys; and by Consequence the Encloser (or Constructor of Fences), than the rightful Owner (or Destroyer of Fences).
"Sir Ogre's ancestor."
Sir Ogre himself has frequently shown me in the Parish Church a stained Window that is believed to represent an Ancestor of his in the Act of slaying a Fence Destroyer; which seems to put me in the Right.
I was aroused from this Speculation by Sir Ogre's inviting me to take a Walk with him upon the Pieces of Land which he had lately added to his Property; and I was filled with Admiration at the Ingenuity with which his Operations were carried on. "For," said he, with that humorous Twinkle in his eye which is the Sign or Patent of a good Man in those Moments when he feels that he has done his Duty to himself, "you must know that I will often be sending one of my Fellows on an obscure Night to fix a low Wire along the Ground where I propose to afterward erect a Fence; and this for the Reason, that I hold it wiser to carry on the Work which I have set myself with as little Fuss and Ostentation as may be possible; being unwilling to provoke in the Commoners that deplorable Resentment and Anger which the Sight of my Operations in actual Progress would be calling forth."
"One of Sir Ogre's wires."
I here fell into a profound and improving Speculation upon the evident Worth of a Man who displays so delicate a Consideration for others, that he is of a Mind to avoid the setting before them any Temptation to an Outbreak of those violent Passions which must always be so harmful to Themselves. I was awakened from this Reverie by falling suddenly into a deep Ditch full of Mire, by reason of having tripped over one of Sir Ogre's Wires; the good old Man being at this so mightily diverted that he was fain to leave me with
