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
Grandfather Smallweed has been gradually sliding down in his chair
since his last adjustment, and is now a bundle of clothes, with a voice
in it calling for Judy. That Houri appearing, shakes him up in the
usual manner, and is charged by the old gentleman to remain near him.
For he seems chary of putting his visitor to the trouble of repeating
his late attentions.
"Ha!" he observes, when he is in trim again. "If you could have traced
out the Captain, Mr. George, it would have been the making of you. If,
when you first came here, in consequence of our advertisements in the
newspapers--when I say 'our,' I'm alluding to the advertisements of my
friend in the city, and one or two others who embark their capital in
the same way, and are so friendly toward me as sometimes to give me a
lift with my little pittance--if, at that time, you could have helped
us, Mr. George, it would have been the making of you."
"I was willing enough to be 'made,' as you call it," says Mr. George,
smoking not quite so placidly as before, for since the entrance of Judy
he has been in some measure disturbed by a fascination, not of the
admiring kind, which obliges him to look at her as she stands by her
grandfather's chair; "but, on the whole, I am glad I wasn't now."
"Why, Mr. George? In the name of--of Brimstone, why?" says Grandfather
Smallweed, with a plain appearance of exasperation. (Brimstone
apparently suggested by his eye lighting on Mrs. Smallweed in her
slumber).
"For two reasons, comrade."
"And what two reasons, Mr. George? In the name of the--"
"Of our friend in the city?" suggests Mr. George, composedly drinking.
"Ay, if you like. What two reasons?"
"In the first place," returns Mr. George; but still looking at Judy,
as if, she being so old and so like her grandfather, it is indifferent
which of the two he addresses; "you gentlemen took me in. You
advertised that Mr. Hawdon (Captain Hawdon, if you hold to the saying,
Once a captain always a captain) was to hear of something to his
advantage."
"Well?" returns the old man, shrilly and sharply.
"Well!" says Mr. George, smoking on. "It wouldn't have been much to
his advantage to have been clapped into prison by the whole bill and
judgment trade of London."
"How do you know that? Some of his rich relations might have paid his
debts, or compounded for 'em. Beside, he had taken _us_ in. He owed us
immense sums, all round. I would sooner have strangled him than had no
return. If I sit here thinking of him," snarls the old man, holding up
his impotent ten fingers, "I want to strangle him now." And in a sudden
access of fury he throws the cushion at the unoffending Mrs. Smallweed,
but it passes harmlessly on one side of her chair.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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