Nicknack, one of the dissenting tribe of spiritual teachers, remarkable for exactness in little things; he keeps a diary, in which is recorded every occurrence of his life. By referring to his valuable manuscript, he can inform you who called upon him, and upon whom he called, every hour of the day; and every day in the year 1740, and downwards: how he relished his breakfast; whether his dinner was hot or cold, over or under roasted or boiled, during the same period. He commenced his observations on the thermometer in the hard frost with which that year began, and knows its state and changes to the present moment. No less careful has he been in recording his state of health and person. I once had a sight of his diary, and remember the following passage: 'Sunday, April 20th, 1746, (whispering our hero,) 9 o'clock, breakfast half past nine—ex-
Page:Modern Literature Volume 3 (1804).djvu/97
This page needs to be proofread.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Modern_Literature_Volume_3_%281804%29.djvu/page97-1024px-Modern_Literature_Volume_3_%281804%29.djvu.jpg)