and drinks in measure; who at supper reads the editorials and the news in the daily paper, for which, as is proper, he has paid his subscription in advance; who at times borrows a book that has been favorably reviewed, and, reading it, is glad if on the last page everything ends with a marriage; who retires after ten o’clock and sleeps a peaceful, restful sleep until half past seven. . . . The verses, which he has written in leisure hours, were at first a little strange, yet sounded harmonious and contained an approved moral,—so he is probably not far from right when he thinks that after his demise he will be pleasantly remembered by his acquaintances, Such, in reality, is the author.
Furthermore, he makes the solemn promise that from this place we shall issue among decent people, that he will describe peaceful life, christenings, weddings, the conversations of our good neighbors,—and so he
