Great Britain -- Social conditions -- 19th century; London (England) -- Description and travel
As I took a parting look at First Witch in turning away, the red marks
round her eyes seemed to have already grown larger, and she hungrily and
thirstily looked out beyond me into the dark doorway, to see if Jack was
there. For, Jack came even here, and the mistress had got into jail
through deluding Jack.
When I at last ended this night of travel and got to bed, I failed to
keep my mind on comfortable thoughts of Seaman’s Homes (not overdone with
strictness), and improved dock regulations giving Jack greater benefit of
fire and candle aboard ship, through my mind’s wandering among the vermin
I had seen. Afterwards the same vermin ran all over my sleep. Evermore,
when on a breezy day I see Poor Mercantile Jack running into port with a
fair wind under all sail, I shall think of the unsleeping host of
devourers who never go to bed, and are always in their set traps waiting
for him.
VI
REFRESHMENTS FOR TRAVELLERS
IN the late high winds I was blown to a great many places—and indeed,
wind or no wind, I generally have extensive transactions on hand in the
article of Air—but I have not been blown to any English place lately, and
I very seldom have blown to any English place in my life, where I could
get anything good to eat and drink in five minutes, or where, if I sought
it, I was received with a welcome.
This is a curious thing to consider. But before (stimulated by my own
experiences and the representations of many fellow-travellers of every
uncommercial and commercial degree) I consider it further, I must utter a
passing word of wonder concerning high winds.
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account