“The sickofnts!--that wery Cook had split on me to the Housekeeper
ony last week (catchin me priggin some cold tuttle soop, of which I'm
remarkable fond). Has for the butler, I always EBOMMINATED him for his
precious snears and imperence to all us Gents who woar livry (he never
would sit in our parlor, fasooth, nor drink out of our mugs); and in
regard of Visp--why, it was ony the day before the wulgar beest hoffered
to fite me, and thretnd to give me a good iding if I refused. Gentlemen
and ladies,' says I, as haughty as may be, 'there's nothink that I
want for that I can't go for to buy with my hown money, and take at my
lodgins in Halbany, letter Hex; if I'm ungry I've no need to refresh
myself in the KITCHING.' And so saying, I took a dignified ajew of these
minnial domestics; and ascending to my epartment in the 4 pair back,
brushed the powder out of my air, and taking off those hojous livries
for hever, put on a new soot, made for me by Cullin of St. Jeames
Street, and which fitted my manly figger as tight as whacks.
“There was ONE pusson in the house with womb I was rayther anxious to
evoid a persnal leave-taking--Mary Hann Oggins, I mean--for my art is
natural tender, and I can't abide seeing a pore gal in pane. I'd given
her previous the infamation of my departure--doing the ansom thing by
her at the same time--paying her back 20 lb., which she'd lent me 6
months before: and paying her back not only the interest, but I gave
her an andsome pair of scissars and a silver thimbil, by way of boanus.
'Mary Hann,' says I, 'suckimstancies has haltered our rellatif positions
in life. I quit the Servnts Hall for ever, (for has for your marrying a
person in my rank, that, my dear, is hall gammin,) and so I wish you a
good-by, my good gal, and if you want to better yourself, halways refer
to me.'
“Mary Hann didn't hanser my speech (which I think was remarkable kind),
but looked at me in the face quite wild like, and bust into somethink
betwigst a laugh & a cry, and fell down with her ed on the kitching
dresser, where she lay until her young Missis rang the dressing-room
bell. Would you bleave it? She left the thimbil & things, & my check
for 20lb. 10s., on the tabil when she went to hanser the bell. And now
I heard her sobbing and vimpering in her own room nex but one to mine,
vith the dore open, peraps expecting I should come in and say good-by.
But, as soon as I was dressed, I cut down stairs, hony desiring
Frederick my fellow-servnt, to fetch me a cabb, and requesting
permission to take leaf of my lady & the famly before my departure.”
*****
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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