In 1715 , what must he do but run away to join the rebels ? It was your father that pursued him , found him in a ditch , and brought him back multum gementem ; to the mirth of the whole country . However , majora canamus -- the two lads fell in love , and that with the same lady . Mr. Ebenezer , who was the admired and the beloved , and the spoiled one , made , no doubt , mighty certain of the victory ; and when he found he had deceived himself , screamed like a peacock . The whole country heard of it ; now he lay sick at home , with his silly family standing round the bed in tears ; now he rode from public-house to public-house , and shouted his sorrows into the lug of Tom , Dick , and Harry . Your father , Mr. David , was a kind gentleman ; but he was weak , dolefully weak ; took all this folly with a long countenance ; and one day -- by your leave ! -- resigned the lady . She was no such fool , however ; it 's from her you must inherit your excellent good sense ; and she refused to be bandied from one to another . Both got upon their knees to her ; and the upshot of the matter for that while was that she showed both of them the door . That was in August ; dear me ! the same year I came from college . The scene must have been highly farcical . '' I thought myself it was a silly business , but I could not forget my father had a hand in it . `` Surely , sir , it had some note of tragedy , '' said I. `` Why , no , sir , not at all , '' returned the lawyer . `` For tragedy implies some ponderable matter in dispute , some dignus vindice nodus ; and this piece of work was all about the petulance of a young ass that had been spoiled , and wanted nothing so much as to be tied up and soundly belted . However , that was not your father 's view ; and the end of it was , that from concession to concession on your father 's part , and from one height to another of squalling , sentimental selfishness upon your uncle 's , they came at last to drive a sort of bargain , from whose ill results you have recently been smarting . The one man took the lady , the other the estate . Now , Mr. David , they talk a great deal of charity and generosity ; but in this disputable state of life , I often think the happiest consequences seem to flow when a gentleman consults his lawyer , and takes all the law allows him . Anyhow , this piece of Quixotry on your father 's part , as it was unjust in itself , has brought forth a monstrous family of injustices . Your father and mother lived and died poor folk ; you were poorly reared ; and in the meanwhile , what a time it has been for the tenants on the estate of Shaws !
And I might add -LRB- if it was a matter I cared much about -RRB- what a time for Mr. XXXXX ! ''
David Dick Ebenezer Harry Quixotry Shaws Tom day gementem nodus