The Essays of Douglas JerroldJerrold, Douglas William
General
The Essays of Douglas Jerrold
Jerrold, Douglas William
English essays -- 19th century
St Betsy was wedded to a knight who sailed with Raleigh and brought home
tobacco; and the knight smoked. But he thought that St Betsy, like other
fine ladies of the court, would fain that he should smoke out of doors,
nor taint with ’bacco-smoke the tapestry. Whereupon the knight would
seek his garden, his orchard, and in any weather smoke _sub Jove_. Now
it chanced as the knight smoked St Betsy came to him and said, “My lord,
pray ye come into the house.” And the knight went with St Betsy, who
took him into a newly-cedared room, and said, “I pray, my lord,
henceforth smoke here: for is it not a shame that you, who are the
foundation and the prop of your house, should have no place to put your
head into and smoke?” And St Betsy led him to a chair, and with her own
fingers filled him a pipe; and from that time the knight sat in the
cedar chamber and smoked his weed.
ST PHILLIS
St Phillis was a virgin of noble parentage, but withal as simple as any
shepherdess of curds and cream. She married a wealthy lord, and had much
pin-money. But when other ladies wore diamond and pearls, St Phillis
only wore a red and white rose in her hair. Yet her pin-money brought
the best of jewellery in the happy eyes of the poor about her. St
Phillis was rewarded. She lived until fourscore, and still carried the
red and white rose in her face, and left their fragrance in her memory.
ST PHŒBE
St Phœbe was married early to a wilful, but withal a good-hearted
husband. He was a merchant, and would come home sour and sullen from
’change. Whereupon, after much pondering, St Phœbe in her patience set
to work and, praying the while, made of dyed lambswool a door-mat. And
it chanced from that time, that never did the husband touch that mat
that it didn’t clean his temper with his shoes, and he sat down by his
Phœbe as mild as the lamb whose wool he had trod upon. Thus gentleness
may make miraculous door-mats!
ST SALLY
St Sally, from her childhood, was known for her inner-most love of
truth. It was said of her that her heart was in a crystal shrine, and
all the world might see it. Moreover, when other women denied, or strove
to hide their age, St Sally said, “I am five-and-thirty.” Whereupon next
birthday St Sally’s husband, at a feast of all their friends, gave her a
necklace of six-and-thirty opal beads; and on every birthday added a
bead, until the beads mounted to four-score and one. And the beads
seemed to act as a charm; for St Sally, wearing the sum of her age about
her neck, age never appeared in her face. Such, in the olden time, was
the reward of simplicity and truth.
ST BECKY
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