The Rangers; or, The Tory's Daughter: A Tale Illustrative of the Revolutionary History of Vermont and the Northern Campaign of 1777Thompson, Daniel P. (Daniel Pierce)
History
The Rangers; or, The Tory's Daughter: A Tale Illustrative of the Revolutionary History of Vermont and the Northern Campaign of 1777
Thompson, Daniel P. (Daniel Pierce)
Vermont -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Fiction
“Well, I'spose I know what you want,” muttered Bart, by way of reply to
this tirade--“you want to accuse, and drive me away, so you won't have
to pay me the two crowns you owe me for work, and other things.”
“I don't owe you half that sum, you lying lout,” returned Brush,
fiercely. “But to get rid of such a pest, and prevent your going round
town with that lie in your mouth, I'll give you all you ask; and there
they are!” he continued, pulling out and disdainfully tossing the coins
down at the other's feet. “Your dirty rags, if you have any in the
house, shall be thrown out to you; and then, if you aint off, I'll set
the dogs on ye.”
With this, and an expressive slam of the door behind him, the secretary
returned into the house; and in a few moments, the sash of a garret
window was thrown up, and a pair of shoes, a pair of old summer
pantaloons, a spare coarse shirt, and pair of stockings, were
successively flung down into the yard, near where the owner was still
lying, by the hand of a grinning and blushing servant maid, while her
dainty-fingered master stood by, directing the operation,
“Well, Bart,” now soon began to mutter this singular being, in his usual
manner of addressing himself as a second person, when alone--“well,
Bart, your plan of getting driv away has worked to a shaving. You've got
your pay, too, jest in the way you calculated would fetch it; yes, all
your honest pay, and one crown more; but you charged that, you know,
when you told him two crowns, as damage for the kick and cane lick you
got. So that's settled. And as to the other accounts against him, and
the rest of 'em there, you'll be in a way to square all, fore long,
guess; for you will be your own rebel, now, Bart, you know.”
While thus communing with himself, he had slowly, and with many winces
of affected pain, gathered up his limbs, risen on to his feet, pocketed
his two crowns, and collected and tied up his clothes. And he was now,
with a grieved look, as if sorrowing for the loss of his home, looking
back to the house, where several curious, half-laughing, half-pitying
countenances were seen peering through the windows to witness his
departure. He then looked hesitatingly abroad, one way and then the
other, with the sad and despairing air of one who feels there is no
place in the wide world where he can find a friendly shelter. After
this, with a wince and groan at every step, he slowly hobbled off up the
street, losing his lameness, and converting his groans into snickers of
low, exulting laughter, as soon as he was out of eye-shot of the company
he had left behind him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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