All were much surprised at beholding Mr. Tweasle in such a situation,
unrobed and wounded, shivering from cold and terror, and deprived
of all self-command by exhaustion and a man-trap. Mrs. Tweasle was
quite overpowered by the sight: her feelings rather claimed pity than
bestowed it; for while John was removing the steel trap from his
master's legs, she kept moaning, and entreating her husband _only_
to consider how his conduct had pained _her_. The poor maid-servant
displayed great goodness of heart; she tenderly bound her master's
naked legs, gently lifted him into the chair that was brought to convey
him into the house, and appeared quite to overcome the natural delicacy
of her sex in the praiseworthy endeavour to render a fellow-creature
every possible assistance; while John and Master Tweasle seemed more
inclined to converse on what had happened than to mingle in what was
taking place, repeatedly putting questions which the sufferer was
incapable of answering, as to wherefore he did that, or why he did not
do this.
Tweasle's injuries were rather painful than dangerous: in a few days he
was convalescent, and was beginning to grow valiant in his descriptions
of his midnight mishaps, when the following hand-bill was submitted to
his notice.
"Whereas a valuable male donkey, the property of Stephen Hedges, was on
the night of the 6th of May last maliciously shot at and killed by some
person or persons unknown; this is to give notice, that whoever will
render such information as shall lead to the conviction of the offender
or offenders, shall receive Five Pounds reward."
For some time after reading this, Tweasle appeared full of thought,
when he surprised his family by a sudden resolution to send Stephen
Hedges five pounds; nor could any remonstrance on the part of his
wife change his charitable purpose. No one could account for this: in
pence the late tobacconist had always been a pattern of benevolence;
but to give _pounds_ was not in the ordinary scale of his charity.
None could assign a reason for so boundless a beneficence, more than
they could comprehend why Tweasle should, whenever the subject was
mentioned, expatiate with so much feeling on "What the poor ass must
have suffered!"
TRANSLATION FROM UHLAND.
THE DREAM.
In a garden fair were roaming
Two lovers hand in hand;
Two pale and shadowy creatures,
They sat in that flowery land.
On the lips they kiss'd each other,
On the cheeks so full and smooth;
They were lock'd in close embracings,
They were blithe with the flush of youth.
Two bells were tolling sadly,--
The dream has pass'd away;
She in the narrow cloister,
He in a dungeon lay.
FAMILY STORIES, No. VII.
PATTY MORGAN THE MILKMAID'S STORY.
"LOOK AT THE CLOCK!"
FYTTE I.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account