"But after all, he is not an ass of the parish; he is a vagrant, and he ought to be pounded.

But the pound is in as bad a state as the stocks, thanks to your new-fashioned doctrines." "New-fashioned!" cried the parson, almost indignantly, for he had a great disdain of new fashions.

"They are as old as Christianity; nay, as old as Paradise, which you will observe is derived from a Greek, or rather a Persian word, and means something more than 'garden,' corresponding" (pursued the parson, rather pedantically) "with the Latin--vivarium,--namely, grove or park full of innocent dumb creatures.
Depend on it, donkeys were allowed to eat thistles there." "Very possibly," said the squire, dryly.

"But Hazeldeau, though a very pretty village, is not Paradise.

The stocks shall be mended to-morrow,--ay, and the pound too, and the next donkey found trespassing shall go into it, as sure as my name's Hazeldean." "Then," said the parson, gravely, "I can only hope that the next parish may not follow your example; or that you and I may never be caught straying.".