Yorksher Puddin': A Collection of the Most Popular Dialect Stories from the Pen of John HartleyHartley, John
General
Yorksher Puddin': A Collection of the Most Popular Dialect Stories from the Pen of John Hartley
Hartley, John
English language -- Dialects -- England -- Yorkshire; Yorkshire (England) -- Fiction
For hours they sat beside the sleeping man, and when it was far past
their usual time of retiring to rest, they looked at each other, mutely
asking what would be best to do.
"Father and mother," said Sally, "it is time you went to bed; I know you
cannot bear to miss your accustomed rest. I will watch by this young man
until he awakes, and so soon as he is fit to leave the house he shall do
so, and then I can get an hour's sleep before the shop opens in the
morning; I do not think he will sleep long now."
The old couple did not like to leave her sitting up, but seeing no
reason why they too should watch, they left her with their blessing and
retired to rest.
The light from the candle fell full on the face of the sleeper, and
although Sally often tried to read one of her favourite books, yet as
oft she found her eyes rivetted upon the countenance of the man before
her. At times he moaned as though in pain; again he smiled a sweet,
sweet smile so innocent and childlike, as if no care had ever crossed
his path; then a deep, deep sigh heaved his breast, as though all hope
had died within it. Sally leaned over him, and tears rolled down her
cheeks as she gazed on him, and with her hand she gently parted his
curly locks, exposing a brow that rivalled her own for whiteness. She
was thus occupied when his eyes slowly opened, and she started back. He
looked around him with a listlessness that showed the stupor had not yet
worn off. Presently he aroused himself, and in a husky voice asked,
"Where am I?"
"You are in the house of those who have endeavoured to befriend you,"
she replied; "you are quite safe, perhaps you had better try to sleep
again."
"No! sleep! no! Let me have something to drink I Bring me some beer, I'm
choaking."
"That I cannot do, and would not if I could; but here is some tea made
nice and warm, that will do you much more good." And as she said this
she handed him the jug.
He took it from her, with a half-amused, half-astonished expression on
his face, and drank the contents at a draught. "There, there!" he
muttered and reseated himself.
He looked for a short time at Sally, as she sat opposite him, but there
was such an air of dignity, mingled with compassion, imprinted on her
face, that it was only after one or two ineffectual attempts that he
could articulate another word. At length he said, "Will you kindly tell
me, miss, where I am and how I came here?"
"You are in my father's house in--------street, and he carried you here.
I stumbled over something on my way home, and on going back with my
parents, we found you laid helpless on the pavement. They have gone to
bed, and I am waiting until you feel able to resume your walk home."
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.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account