I hope the gentle reader will excuse me for dwelling
on these and the like particulars, which, however
insignificant they may appear to groveling vulgar
minds, yet will certainly help a philosopher to enlarge
his thoughts and imagination, and apply them to the
benefit of public as well as private life, which was
my sole design in presenting this and other accounts
of my travels to the world; wherein I have been chiefly
studious of truth, without affecting any ornaments
of learning or of style. But the whole scene
of this voyage made so strong an impression on my
mind, and is so deeply fixed in my memory, that, in
committing it to paper I did not omit one material
circumstance: however, upon a strict review,
I blotted out several passages. Of less moment
which were in my first copy, for fear of being censured
as tedious and trifling, whereof travellers are often,
perhaps not without justice, accused.
CHAPTER II.
[A description of the farmer’s daughter.
The author carried to a market-town, and then to
the metropolis. The particulars of his journey.]
My mistress had a daughter of nine years old, a child
of towardly parts for her age, very dexterous at her
needle, and skilful in dressing her baby. Her
mother and she contrived to fit up the baby’s
cradle for me against night: the cradle was put
into a small drawer of a cabinet, and the drawer placed
upon a hanging shelf for fear of the rats. This
was my bed all the time I staid with those people,
though made more convenient by degrees, as I began
to learn their language and make my wants known.
This young girl was so handy, that after I had once
or twice pulled off my clothes before her, she was
able to dress and undress me, though I never gave
her that trouble when she would let me do either myself.
She made me seven shirts, and some other linen, of
as fine cloth as could be got, which indeed was coarser
than sackcloth; and these she constantly washed for
me with her own hands. She was likewise my school-mistress,
to teach me the language: when I pointed to
any thing, she told me the name of it in her own tongue,
so that in a few days I was able to call for whatever
I had a mind to. She was very good-natured,
and not above forty feet high, being little for her
age. She gave me the name of Grildrig, which
the family took up, and afterwards the whole kingdom.
The word imports what the Latins call nanunculus,
the Italians homunceletino, and the English mannikin.
To her I chiefly owe my preservation in that country:
we never parted while I was there; I called her my
Glumdalclitch, or little nurse; and should be guilty
of great ingratitude, if I omitted this honourable
mention of her care and affection towards me, which
I heartily wish it lay in my power to requite as she
deserves, instead of being the innocent, but unhappy
instrument of her disgrace, as I have too much reason
to fear.
