about noon
Adams continued his subject till they came to one of the beautifullest spots of ground in the universe . It was a kind of natural amphitheatre , formed by the winding of a small rivulet , which was planted with thick woods , and the trees rose gradually above each other by the natural ascent of the ground they stood on ; which ascent as they hid with their boughs , they seemed to have been disposed by the design of the most skilful planter . The soil was spread with a verdure which no paint could imitate ; and the whole place might have raised romantic ideas in elder minds than those of Joseph and Fanny , without the assistance of love . Here they arrived about noon , and Joseph proposed to Adams that they should rest awhile in this delightful place , and refresh themselves with some provisions which the good-nature of Mrs Wilson had provided them with . Adams made no objection to the proposal ; so down they sat , and , pulling out a cold fowl and a bottle of wine , they made a repast with a cheerfulness which might have attracted the envy of more splendid tables . I should not omit that they found among their provision a little paper containing a piece of gold , which Adams imagining had been put there by mistake , would have returned back to restore it ; but he was at last convinced by Joseph that Mr Wilson had taken this handsome way of furnishing them with a supply for their journey , on his having related the distress which they had been in , when they were relieved by the generosity of the pedlar . Adams said he was glad to see such an instance of goodness , not so much for the conveniency which it brought them as for the sake of the doer , whose reward would be great in heaven .