The Maid of SkerBlackmore, R. D. (Richard Doddridge)
General
The Maid of Sker
Blackmore, R. D. (Richard Doddridge)
Foundlings -- Fiction; Romance fiction; Wales -- Fiction
So with a clearly-pronounced brave roar, having more music than Bunny's
in it, and enough to wash a great deal of "dust" out of her woefully
lingering eyes, away she went in Moxy's arms, with Patty Green in her
own looking likely to get wet through. And Bunny stuck her thumbs into
my legs, which she had a knack of doing, especially after sucking them;
so thus we stood, at our cottage door, looking after Bardie; and I took
off my hat, and she spread her hand out, in the intervals of woe; and
little thought either of us, I daresay, of the many troubles in store
for us both.
Only before that grievous parting, she had done a little thing which
certainly did amaze me. And if anybody knows the like, I shall be glad
to hear of it. I had a snug and tidy locker very near the fireplace,
wherein I kept some little trifles; such as Bunny had an eye for, but
was gradually broken into distant admiration. One morning I came
suddenly in from looking to my night-lines, and a pretty scene I saw.
The door of my cupboard was wide open, and there stood little Bardie
giving a finishing lick to her fingers. Bunny also in the corner, with
her black eyes staring, as if at the end of the world itself. However,
her pinafore was full.
No sooner did my grandchild see me, than she rushed away with shrieks,
casting down all stolen goods in agony of conscience. I expected Bardie
to do the same; but to my great wonderment up she walked and faced me.
"Must I beat poor Patty Geen?" The tears were in her eyes at having to
propose so sad a thing. And she stroked the doll, to comfort her.
"Beat poor Patty!" said I, in amazement. "Why, what harm has Patty
done?"
"Nare she have been, all 'e time, stealing 'a soogar, old Davy!" And she
looked at me as if she had done a good turn by the information. I
scarcely knew what to do, I declare; for her doll was so truly alive to
her, that she might and perhaps did believe it. However, I shut her in
my little bedroom, until her heart was almost broken; and then I tried
to reason with her, on the subject of telling lies; but she could not
understand what they were; until I said what I was forced to do, when I
went among bad people.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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