Excerpt from The World of Anecdote, Vol. 1 of 10: A Collection of Things Clerical, Lawyers, Human Folly, Etc

A woman directed us to a cottage somewhat superior in appearance to those contiguous. It had a small portico, which, if I, remember well, was overgrown with vine. We knocked loud and long at the door, but received no answer; the voice of man was silent, and not even a dog barked. The truth was that the old curate was taking his Siesta, and so were his whole family, which consisted of one ancient female and a cat. The good man was at last disturbed by our noise and vociferation, for we were hungry, and conse quently impatient. Leaping from his couch he came running to the door in great hurry and confusion, and, perceiving us, he made many apologies for being asleep at a period when he said he Ought to have been on the look-out for his invited guest. He embraced me very affectionately, and conducted me into his parlour, an apartment of tolerable size, hung round with shelves, which were crowded with books. At one end there was a kind of table or desk, covered with black leather, with a large easy Chair, into which he pushed me, as I, with the true eagerness of a bibliomaniac, was about to inspect his shelves, saying with considerable vehemence that there was nothing there worthy of the at tention of an Englishman, for that his whole stock consisted of breviaries and dry Catholic treatises on divinity. His care now was to furnish us with refreshments. In a twink ling, with the assistance of his old attendant, he placed on the table several plates of cakes and confectionery, and a number Of large uncouth glass bottles, which I thought bore a strong resemblance to those of Schiedam, and indeed they were the very same. Said he, rubbing his hands, I thank God that it is in my power to treat you in a way which will be agreeable to you. In those bottles there is Hollands thirty years old and producing two large tumblers, he continued, fill, my friends, and drink - drink it every drop if you please, for it is of little use \to myself.

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