Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England Christmas Penny Readings Original Sketches for the Season By George Manville Fenn Published by George Routledge and Sons This edition dated 1867 Christmas Penny Readings, by George Manville Fenn. ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ CHRISTMAS PENNY READINGS, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. CHAPTER ONE. CUTTING TIMES; OR, A FROST AND THAW. ONE--FREEZING SHARP. Twenty years ago, Hezekiah Thornypath was in Luck's way--so much so, that Luck kicked him out of it. Hez went up to London to make his fortune, and he took his wife and children with him to help to make it: Hez meant "to make his crown a pound," as the old song says, but he did not. Either times, trade, or Hez's management was bad; things went contrary; and, as though it were a punishment for marrying against old Thornypath's wish, Hezekiah's few hundred pounds melted away, troubles came upon him, friends forsook him, and when he considered that his affairs could be no worse, he had to fetch the doctor, who came, shook his head, and in a few hours Hez and his wife were weeping bitterer tears than they had ever shed before, for the rigour of death was fast stealing away the beauty from the features of their youngest child. The house looked sad and sombre with the blinds drawn down; footsteps were hushed, and voices were heard but in a whisper--how needlessly Hez too well knew, as he gazed, with his weeping wife, upon the little sleeper. The world looked in advance one dreary desert, while hope seemed to have parted from them for ever. No friendly word of comfort was spoken, no whispered consolation--they were alone in the great city, and the tears that fell had no earthly witness. A few days dragged slowly past, and then the lid of the little painted deal coffin hid from aching eyes the tiny spirit's cast-off robe. Blinding tears, breasts heaving while the thrilling words of the Apostle fell upon the grieving parents' ears, a last long look at the deep cold grave, and a catching of the breath as the earth fell heavily upon their infant's breast, and then, slowly, sadly, hand-in-hand, away from the little grave.