The free mind , that preferred its own folly to another 's wisdom ; the open spirit , that found companions everywhere ; above all , the restless impulse , that had so often made me wretched in the midst of enjoyments : these were my claims to be of their society . `` My friends ! '' cried I , stepping into the centre of the wagon , `` I am going with you to the camp-meeting at Stamford . '' `` But in what capacity ? '' asked the old showman , after a moment 's silence . `` All of us here can get our bread in some creditable way . Every honest man should have his livelihood . You , sir , as I take it , are a mere strolling gentleman . '' I proceeded to inform the company , that , when Nature gave me a propensity to their way of life , she had not left me altogether destitute of qualifications for it ; though I could not deny that my talent was less respectable , and might be less profitable , than the meanest of theirs . My design , in short , was to imitate the storytellers of whom Oriental travellers have told us , and become an itinerant novelist , reciting my own extemporaneous fictions to such audiences as I could collect . `` Either this , '' said I , `` is my vocation , or I have been born in vain . '' The fortune-teller , with a sly wink to the company , proposed to take me as an apprentice to one or other of his professions , either of which , undoubtedly , would have given full scope to whatever inventive talent I might possess . The bibliopolist spoke a few words in opposition to my plan , influenced partly , I suspect , by the jealousy of authorship , and partly by an apprehension that the viva voce practice would become general among novelists , to the infinite detriment of the book-trade . Dreading a rejection , I solicited the interest of the merry damsel . `` Mirth , '' cried I , most aptly appropriating the words of L'Allegro , `` to thee I sue ! Mirth , admit me of thy crew ! '' `` Let us indulge the poor youth , '' said Mirth , with a kindness which made me love her dearly , though I was no such coxcomb as to misinterpret her motives . `` I have espied much promise in him . True , a shadow sometimes flits across his brow , but the sunshine is sure to follow in a moment . He is never guilty of a sad thought , but a merry one is twin born with it .
We will take him with us ; and you shall see XXXXX he will set us all a-laughing before we reach the camp-meeting at Stamford . ''
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