Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. V, No. XXIX., October, 1852Various
Religion
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. V, No. XXIX., October, 1852
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
Judy the twin is worthy company for these associates. She is so
indubitably sister to Mr. Smallweed the younger, that the two kneaded
into one would hardly make a young person of average proportions; while
she so happily exemplifies the before-mentioned family likeness to the
monkey tribe, that, attired in a spangled robe and cap, she might walk
about the table-land on the top of a barrel-organ without exciting much
remark as an unusual specimen. Under existing circumstances, however,
she is dressed in a plain, spare gown of brown stuff.
Judy never owned a doll, never heard of Cinderella, never played at
any game. She once or twice fell into children's company when she was
about ten years old, but the children couldn't get on with Judy, and
Judy couldn't get on with them. She seemed like an animal of another
species, and there was instinctive repugnance on both sides. It is
very doubtful whether Judy knows how to laugh. She has so rarely seen
the thing done, that the probabilities are strong the other way. Of
any thing like a youthful laugh, she certainly can have no conception.
If she were to try one, she would find her teeth in her way; modeling
that action of her face, as she has unconsciously modeled all its other
expressions, on her pattern of sordid age. Such is Judy.
And her twin brother couldn't wind up a top for his life. He knows no
more of Jack the Giant Killer, or of Sinbad the Sailor, than he knows
of the people in the stars. He could as soon play at leap-frog, or at
cricket, as change into a cricket or a frog himself. But he is so much
the better off than his sister, that on his narrow world of fact an
opening has dawned, into such broader regions as lie within the ken
of Mr. Guppy. Hence, his admiration and his emulation of that shining
enchanter.
Judy, with a gong-like clash and clatter, sets one of the sheet-iron
tea-trays on the table, and arranges cups and saucers. The bread she
puts on in an iron basket; and the butter (and not much of it) in a
small pewter plate. Grandfather Smallweed looks hard after the tea as
it is served out, and asks Judy where the girl is?
"Charley, do you mean?" says Judy.
"Hey?" from Grandfather Smallweed.
"Charley, do you mean?"
This touches a spring in Grandmother Smallweed who, chuckling, as
usual, at the trevets, cries--"Over the water! Charley over the water,
Charley over the water, over the water to Charley, Charley over
the water, over the water to Charley!" and becomes quite energetic
about it. Grandfather looks at the cushion, but has not sufficiently
recovered his late exertion.
"Ha!" he says, when there is silence--"if that's her name. She eats a
deal. It would be better to allow her for her keep."
Judy, with her brother's wink, shakes her head, and purses up her mouth
into No, without saying it.
"No?" returns the old man. "Why not?"
"She'd want sixpence a-day, and we can do it for less," says Judy.
"Sure?"
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