small respect had latterly been shewn to tho body of jorge mahony jolting along on the shoulders of a half dozen muscular fellows until near the waters edge the remains were seen to find a quick resurrection in the shape of carbines muskets fowling pieces and suitable ammunition


och


the sacrilegious rubble villains to make such use of a coffin shouted felix almost springing from his seat in exulta tion at the success of the enterprise an armed fifty of tliem and more in the wood and those above ready to grind us all to eowder with the big stones were his honour behind there and er ladyship not in it


the sergeant in this emergency was holding a council of war with gorman and the carriage and dragoons were drawn as closely as possible under the bank for protection against the stone artillery which was even more formidable in its effects than tho expected onset at the bridge was like to prove


one horse had already been struck down and the rider hurt and dismounted and others had net escaped nnlmrf


it was hastily resolved that four of the dragoons should dash forward and clear the bridge while the carriage at speed followed their fiery track with the remaining guards


the attempt seem ed desperate but so was the crisis


gorman again hastily seated himself in the chaise and ostentatiously flourishing his pistols from the window proclaimed aloud that the first attempt to arrest their progress should be the signal for the death of the prisoner


this is too much sir cried the peaceful and gigantically powerful though fettered man and as he spoke he had struck up the arm of the messenger and jammed it and his person to the alge of the chaise window leaving him unable to move in any direction


thank your stars sir that you are tolerably safe here until this affray be over and remember that your prisoner has shewn only passive resistance


squire joyces passive resistance with the government ofiicer whom he squeezed together hand and foot has since passed into a byword in the south of ireland


now florence as ogorman and i areoccupied do you as aiddecamp look out for us and report


they were again dashing onward at a furious rate triphook having seized the reins and seeming as if he would precipitate the carriage into the stream instead of driving it along the bridge that structure rude low and almost without ledges rose in a steep curve in the middle and it was not until they were in full speed upon it that the advance of the troopers dis covered a regular barricade at the offside formed of cars ploughs heaps ol turf branches of trees and blocks of timber and stone and were suddenly checked in midcareer two of the number thrown back and the others precipitated over the bridge


musket shots flashed and a yell as if from demons rang through the dell while numbers of men crowded to the bridge wading the stream or rushing down the banks and hastily formed in a sort of military order


the two troopers who had leapt or been driven into the river extricated themselves with equal courage and presence mind and were again back and by the carr iage


florence her fears forgotten in hasty exclamations reported


what she saw her spirits rising or sinking with the fortune of the little war while felix at intervals poured down information from his rather uneasy seat by mr triphook


the firing which had done little execution had ceased though the noise and yell ing waged louder and in a few seconds a tall dark man stripped to his shirtsleeves with a handkerchief bound round his long lank black locks bearing a bit of white rag tied to a pikekindle was seeu to advance from the party on the opposite side of the bridge


its brian shee your honour cried con one of governor general keoughs first liietenants though not in his best uni forms the day ho who killed five proctors and hung six dragoons last week in prosperous town with his own red hands


the saints be merciful to us mhaister triphook


they say you was oncc a roman yourself


tlie flag of tiuce firmly advanced and triphook his eyes gleam ing with the swarthy fire of an enraged beast of prey alternately glared upon him and back upon the prisoner as if debating which should be his first victim


you would not fire upon a flag of trush mhaister triphook


said con pushing aside the levelled pistol that is clean again all the articles of war man


mean while the sergeant as military commander drew up to meet the flag of truce who would not deign to parley with the civil power


his only terms were honourably giving up the prisoner and unconditional surrender of the troopers their horses aud arms to the grand army of all ireland which had already taken many better men


no conditions could be made for the two dublin civilians


at the pleasure of the captors the cravens must be said keoughs reputed lieutenant addressing florence and the measure they have meted shall be measured to them large


but shall t have the honour and pleasure of seeing your honour squire joyce touch irish ground in freedom


the man opened the door of the chaise to hand the prisoner out even before the con ditions ho stipulated had been agreed upon


ogorman had however previously capitulated to the prisoner imploring his protection from the insurgents and the powerful passive resistance of joyces shoulder had been withdrawn


we have done all that brave men could he cried to the sergeant with an air of affected bravado and must submit to the fortune of war


i surrender to mr joyce and throw myself upon his protection


both his lady and himself will say that my treatment of them has been gentle manly


i have their good word


speak for yourself craven roared the frenzied triphook


throw your life to the dogs shall redeem mine or sell it dearly


and the ruffian boiling with brute insensate rage and the thirst of vengeance turned round and while florence with a frantic shriek starting up threw her sheltering arms around her fettered husband he deliberately fired off his pistol into the car riage and knocking down his companion the postboy with the buttend jumped on the ground and stood on the defensive


there was no longer any parley


in a twinkling the soldiers were unhorsed and indeed they offered little resistance while another paity tore the chaise door from its hinges and joyce sprung out and tried fo extricate his wife


your honour is safe then glory to the heavans


but och her ladyship


cried felix who was already on his feet and first in the frav


the monster has murdered her


hell on earth


men look to him


the rage of a man had for one instant taken possession of of the mind of joyce and in the terrible conflict of nis passions he had insens bly with the strengthof madness burst the handcuffs like green withes and first twined his freed arms around his bride while she lay in what seemed the embrace of death


florence dearest most precious


speak to me give me life


was his cry and the wild passion of revenge was overpowered in horror and despair


yet was he terribly avenged


his first act was to carry her to a grassy plot by the brink of the stream where he laid her down aud tore up the sleeve of her gown in search ofthe source of that slowly trickling blood whose every drop was at that moment dearer than a myriad of lives


it is not bad dearest sighed florence very pale but quite calm and collected


am i then so happy ab to see you free safe


and with ecstatic emotion she pressed her lips to the arm that sustained her while only a few paces off an infuriated crowd pulled kicked and cruelly battered at the foul assassin


of this she instantly became aware stay them


stay them for the love of havens mercy


cried florence


let me not witness irishtnene become savage murderers of each other and myself the cause


joyce appeared far more anxious about her own condition slight as were the in juries she acknowledged than about the fate of the wretch for whom she pleaded


let him die a mad dogs death the bloodthirsty ruffian


said ogorman whocame forward


let the men do their pleasure on the assassin he deserves a thousand deaths


yet oh


save him if you would not for ever embitter the remembrance of this day to me cried florence attempting to rise as if to offer interference herself


hes a bit of carrion now any way said felix coming over to them with the flag of truce in a flush from being in at the death


i tould your honour you might get a sight of the fox the day at keshs mill


joyce by an expressive guesture enjoined silence and inquired where tne nearest medical assistance might be obtained florence protested that he himself or any of the women who had now rushed to her aid from the adjoining cabins might leech all the wounds she had received


for his personal safety she was already far more anxious but so impatient so al most angered was he with her proposal that he should now take one of the horses captured for the grand patriot army of ireland and instantly make his escape that she desisted


leave you florence


leave you thus


i could feel displeased bv


so iniurious a suggestion from anv one save yourself said he


shall i take one of the horses that are fair prisoners by the articles of war lifetenant and scamper over the hills for father john and his plasters and launcets said felix


i would do more boy i would be caraying the lady father johns way in the coach so far as roads go


and its myself will drive her ladyship like egg shells cried the other


her ladyship mightnt like to stretch herself in the coffin maybe continued the lieutenant interrogatively but sorrow the better conveyanee for the wounded or delicate and not the first of father johns patients have been carried to his hospital in that some coffin


of this plan joyce would not hear but a rude litter was quickly constructed of branches in which were placed straw blankets and the cushions of the carriage which a detachment of volunteers started forward to carry striving for the honour


florence who in spite of her firmness of spirit was by this time become exhausted by previous fatigue and faint from the loss of blood submitted to the necessary arrangements in silence and her husband having with trembling hands bound up her still bleeding arm as well as his skill peimitted followed the bearers who striking off the road forded the stream ascended by a path leading up the glen and proceeded very slowly through the brushwood and broom with their previous freight


a mother with her new born infant could not have shewn more tenderness than did those rough men in carrying the patient and scarcely were the perpetually whispered entreaties and cautions of joyce who was ever by her side required by them


on looking back upon the spot they had left every sign of the recent conflict was already obliterated of the crowd all the men had dispersed the troop horses were miles away and the dis mounted and disarmed troopers whom it was found inconvenient to retain as prisoners were to be kept for a day and then turned adrift without ceremony to find their way to the nearest military station


emerging from the glen by a winding footpath or bridle track a waste boggy expanse again stretched before them and they took a direction inclining towards the northwest


here the lieutenant left them having repeated his injunctions and cautions and expressed a hope of seeing squire joyce at the headquarters of the army of ireland so soon as he had placed his lady in safety


the squire made definite reply


though far from insensible to the ennobling possession of recovered liberty he felt that his freedom had been dearly purchased and he feared that in the present circumstances ot the country the violent rescue in which he had been merely passive and which had cost him so dear would be construed into fresh crime and certainly augment his danger if he again fell into the hands of those he was now constrained to regard as enemies


the condition of florence though he strove to trust in her faint reassuring smiles and renewed protestations that she was better was tenfold misery


while thus overpowered by the feeling of her danger he would gladly have surrendered himself npon any terms that ensured her shelter and immediate relief


on their way the mansion of a gentleman whom joyce knew by report as one ofthe most zealous of the ascendency faction in this part of the kingdom was pointed out at a distance and he resolved to cast himself upon the generosity of this man at least tor succour to his wife


the resolution of despair was imparted to florence during one of the many halts they made to allow her a few moments to breathe more easily and while joyce held to her parched lips the cup of milk and water which was the only refreshment he had been able so procure for her


as you love me think not of it


she exclaimed


can you forget how much this unhappy and galling affray will increase the odium already attached to your name and your actual peril


if you will not yield to my earnest desire and provide for your safety by leaving me in the safe and kind hands of my countrymen then unless you would see me expire before your eyes say more of surrender at this dreadful time when the taste of blood has only whetted the tigerhunger of those whose cruelty their own nominal commanders detest and are yet powerless to restrain


florence had judged aright


the forcible rescue of squire joyce a state prisouer and leader of the rebels the disarming of a small party of dragoons by many hundreds of insurgents at a place called keshs mill and above all the savage murder in cold blood of mr triphook a most loyal and zealous civil ofiicer resounded through the castle prints and over the kingdom with a thousand exaggerations and distortions of fact


large rewards were offered for the reapprehension of the prisoner and the dis covery of any of the perpetrators of those unparalleled atrocities amon


which was placed shooting the wife of one of their own leaders while they vainly attempted to protect her from the brutal violence of the rebels


a lady celebrated as the beauty of port mullina who had become suspected by those ruffians from her previous connexion with the loyal aud wellaffected and from her efforts to detach her misguided husband from traitors


it was years before florence learned to whom in a country where every thing was managed by intrigue and circumvention she had been indebted for this wellmeant and unmerited praise


the insurgent flying gazettes borne on the thousand tongues of rumour in the meantime sent abroad their edition of the brilliant affair at keshs mill where squire joyce had been gallantly rescued in a skirmish between a strong detachment of lord s cavalry and a handful of country people and the english nobleman who commanded the party made prisoner with the loss of all his men horses ammunition and baggage


the misery which these contradictory rumours gave to the anxious friends of florence and her husband in portmullina it would be useless to dwell upon


a full month had now elapsed since the affair of keshs mill and although dr fitzmaurice had not scrupled to hold communications with insurgent leaders touching their fate he could obtain no satisfactory intelligence


it was however imagined that they must either be lying con cealed in the northern parts of cork county or on the borders of tipperary


it was certain that they had not crossed the upper shannon as fitzmaurice imagined for the insurgent leaders were well informed of every movement in that important quarter


by this time all the town and neighbourhood including even the pseudoloyal warmly sympathized in the distress of poor mrs ilooney and the faithful judith pining and yearning over her darlin and beautiful child and at times bewailing florences precipitate marriage with that unlucky squire about whose house there was blessin


but if it be thrue said judith at last that father mike bad cess to him has shut up the squire in a cave of the say to make him a gineral in spite ohim then ill have the truth out o the vagabone before im a week oulder if i rive it from him with them ton nails


mrs rooney looked with anxiety not unmixed with terror upon the movements ofthe energetic judith who had arisen in violence and pushed away her housewifery


this is no time to be dawdling here draggliin a thread


irom the face of a small wheel and work afore me to serve a friend in need


mrs rooney though all unable to divine how judith was to accomplish her purpose acquiesced upon the same principle which makes people in desperate cases try any remedy that offers for the selfsolace of doing something no matter what or although it should be mis chief


in the name of goodness go then judith gallagher she replied and wake woman as you are who knows what may be done by your hand


ill give you a grain of tay a few tinpenny bits ancl a lump of soap to keep you dacent to put in tho bit bundle and in the name of the holy saints be going wo man


next mornings dawn accordingly saw judith at the study or oratory window of dr fitzmaurice who was known to rise with the sun to his private devotions


with some surprise he perceived the traveller in full costume bluecloaked and hooded and loaded with several bundles curtsying to him through the window


she was invited in and instantly out of the face explained her design of going forth in search of adventures


and sure now your riverence wont refuse me a brief


a brief judith


you cannot intend to turn beggar


the black shame take me then or the death itself afore i bring disgrace on the dacent people i come of


but going about the world to look for them though not emptyhanded for mrs ilooney has done handsome i may need a bit and a sup and a corner for the love of god from good christians long before i find themselves


look for them judith


this is utter madness what hope what chance is there that a jioor old woman like you strong only in your kindness of heart can achieve their deliverance


i am indeed plase your liiverence poor and poor enough god knows and oulder than i have been too


no denying it but will not the little life time be best spent for her


ay if i crawled the breadth and length of the kingdom on my bare knees


so sure you cant refuse me a brief testing that im a roman and a chapler from all generations of the gallaghers of ballymuich and a dacent woman who fears the lord baarin the few small thransgressionsof us poor faymale craturs with the tongue belike


your are a good soul judith and one whose affection and fidelity might teach a lesson of christian love to those who fancy themselves your betters


yes you shall have a brief and break fast and my benidiction though i can hardly approve of your wild adventure for your own sake


a ten thousand thanks to your riverence who saving this presence had ever the warm heart and open hand to the poor cratur


and she continued in a coaxing voice and you will approve when you know all first there is a big letter for her own hand with a broad green and gold sale to it and grand news within mrs rooney is sure and i had mighty plaisant dhrames of them myself last night herself walking in the dawn of the casle clad all in a green silk mantle and a train to it and gold and jew is shining in her hair and a palm branch in flourish stately in her hands and the squire upon a tall horse with a cocked hat and goldlaced suit gilt spurs and a sword by his side the livin nickter of his erand father


sauire pierce when mvself


a child first saw him ride over the bridge to meet the judges


your riverence laughs at me now and thinks that an ould wifes dhrame but there is more of it and only lately it happened if your riverence would like to hear


and judith was requested to proceed


a poor ould widdy it was who many is the summer come from the tipperary side beeking her bit from good chris tians among us ami well belonged to and looked on in her ow place


but the world is bound to no one and she came a dissolute poor cratur now fifteen years back wid the grandchilder when my mhaister the docthor was alive himself with your uiverencea lave and her that has left us was a young thing at dames court with a heart would have turned tho house inside out to the poor


widows and orphans blessin upon her


well the ould widdy and the weenocks would be welcome to stay till she thought it dacent to be going to another country and by and by her childer dropt off to farmservice and the boy felix to planter among bastes and mighty clever and handy he turned and reared anate cabin for the grannie who had nothing ado but bile her own pota toes and make her soul or do a stitch of knitting


but this year on midsummer eve who should come to mrs rooney s door but the ould tipperary widdy and i give her the alms for the sake of her was gone and not dry eyed as your riverence may guess


you are in sorro dacent woman says the ould widdy like a wise purpose cratur lord look on ye and relieve you


your heart is in the west says she across the blue waters of the shannon but it is where the sun comes to you you must look for them you long for


the word went to my hearts kernel like as a mother first feeling her babe quicken in her bossom saving your riverences presence and i pressed her to tell me more


no quoth she no i can tell you more but remember this the ginrous heart never lost in doing kindness to the ginrous natur


my poor boy felix has never forgotten the kindness of that dear lady to the ould grannie and the little sisters and maybe the kings business has fallen in the beggars way


i own it is singular judith said the doctor


is it not now


i was certain sure the tipperary woman knew something of her ladyship if not of his honour but she was as close as a poors box with your riverences lave


no says she no but that i pity your sore grief i would not have spoke at all


but if you would know more go betimes to the holy well at mitchelstown and see what will be done for vou


so she gave me a prayer though the cratur is no voteen indeed myself cares little about such idle strammels but a poor pious dissolute widdy


the lord look on her and help her


ana what does your riverence think of it


dr fitzmaurice was a catholic priest and in many points he was by a lax generation fancied a bigoted one yet he could not forbear a smile at judiths ingenious compromise between her human affections and her religious duties


he asked for a sight of that letter on which mrs rooney set such weight


it was ingeniously concealed in a huge clue of worsted thread from which judith purported to be knitting at leisure intervals on her journey


when this was unwound the letter was found to have come under the frank of the chief secretary but an address written below was in the hand of major bertie


he had no


longer any doubt of the importance of this missive and while judith restored it to safe concealment he composed her brief the impos ing name which accredited or gentle beggars in ireland give to the credentials with which they travel


though averse to intrust ing judith at so critical a time with letters he sent verbal mess ages to the objects of her search and in the brief recommended her tothe hospitaities of some of his brethren whose dwellings lay upon her route to the holy fount


and thus the grateful judith departed with his benediction high in hope and affectionately j recommending mrs rooney who was wake and nervish to big j special kindness and beseeching him if she perished in her adventure or was heard of no more to remimber the good of j her poor sowl


though judith held out sturdily and even actively for her age


it was not till the evening of the fourth day that she found she i had over shot the holy well by a good many miles and this


after a world of adventures w hich furnished her with fireside i gossip for all the romainingyears of her life


the sun was going fast down her place of pilgrimage could not bo reached in the present night and there was pointed out to her at the distance of about a mile the suug smiling dwelling of father john ohanlon to whom she had been especially recommended by his reverence and whom she had known many years before in port mullina where he had done duty for a short time


the reputation of the hospitable father had travelled far carried by tlie grateful breath of the poor and it was therefore witli confidence that judith advanced not to the wing where company of her station usually repaired but to the open parlour window where the priest was reading and where she curtsied until her short full petticoats ruffled the gravol


the blessing of the night to your riverence


and the priest returned a courteous salutation


the woman was a traveller none of his own flock nor neighbours and he would have sent her at once to his housekeeper had she not looked surcharged to burst ing with matter


your iliverence sure connot remimber so poor a cratur as myself but well do i remimber yeez though the deep learnin lias gleaned the fair hair off your young brow since you left us


an old friend then replied the priest smiling gently and in a voice of singular sweetness and mildness who has the ad vantage of me


are you from my native place from my mothers neighbourhood


your speech savours of the west and is not for that the less welcome to my ears


sorrow bit o me and vexed i am i made your riverence be think you of that dear country for ones own country is ever dear as i found every weary step i dhragged to this from sweet port mullina a poor old cratur thinking it time to be making her soul and so going to the holy well of mitchelstown on a sore errand


the poorest creature in portmullina is kindly welcome here replied the priest


say then what can i do to speed your errand


judith now first exhibited her written credentials and faithfully delivered tlie message entrusted to her and when she understood that in this clerical passport she was truly described as a most affectionate faithful and devoted adherent of her lady and one who for her station possessed remarkable intelligence aud good sense she was melted to tears by the goodness of her priest


father john ringing his silver handbell commended his guest to the attention of his housekeeper with more than ordinary hospi table attention and requested that she would see him again before bedtime


the interview solicited took place in his study or laboratory of which he was careful to shut the door


if i were to tell you now judith that i know something of your mistress and mr joyce nay more that your service at this time might be of essential use to them in their place of conceal ment i might depend not upon your fidelity of that i make no question but ainon your discretion and presence of mind


what of that


down dropt judithon her knees to asseverate by all that was sacred not her powers of discretion but her earnest wish to suffer wore it martyrdom for her dear child and young lady and the squire


the life of mr joyce but at all events liis liberty depend upon his continued concealment for a few more weeks or months at this critical time


he is yet safe but his peril increases every day


at lour utmost need providence has sent youhither worthy iaithful creature and in its hands the humblest instruments are rsufflcientitoiacomplish the highest ends


are you able judith even this same night to extend your journey some miles further for even one alight is precious


able land willing


och willing and able reiterated judith


then at midnight when the household is asleep hold your self in readiness


jf yon are missed in the morning at will lie imagined that you have departed on your pious errand


be


silent and vigilant


i will give the necessary order aud when you are


wanted call you myself


judith was shortly afterwards loft to such repose as her ewild ering intelligence permitted her to indulge


hven before the midnight hour judith was summoned forth and she stood prepared


the priest himself led the way in silence through a labyrinth of


intricate passages until they emerged in a stable court


whence they gaiiied by a sidedooi a strip of planta tion at the edge of


which a man and horse were found with a jpillion fora female rider


they had however taken many turns and made sundry zigzags which completely left at fault judiths knowledge of the stars


turning the heavens with which she was acquainted at portmullina as it seemed eastside westmost long before the priest called a halt and assisted her to dismount


v we have still some way to go lie said but it will be best to walk the rest


v troth then myself is glad of it for save the honour your


riverence put upon me with man and horse the bits of logs were easiest nag


but thanks to yourself


honest boy who brought me on well and did not deafen me with your talk neither


wait ye here felix under the trees or if the day dawns or af


you see an danger use your own judgement in retiring said the priest taking the basket


jfeix


criedjudytheriitisthe tipperary widdysboy is in it and all is right


now he firm of heart and follow me


and he entered a cavity through which lie dragged the blinded woman led her on a few steps and then seating her upon the ground told her that she was now to slide a kittle way as she had done when a girl but that she must utter no sound of alarm


at tho bottom of thisfrapid descent where judith arrived in choking haste the rpriest instantly overtook her


be of good courage the worst is past was his cheering


whisper


and time it was gasped judith


but are we near her now


oh then soggarth thats your iliverence dont leave fine here in this wild place for i feel it wild and cowld and quarc as much as if the eyes of me were open


the bandage was removed from her eyes by softer and more eagerhands than those which had placed it there and a scene burst upon judith which made her exclaim aloud it is herself an angel and


the squire and the priest and we are all in heaven oil earth my poor judith said florence taking the hand of her nurse


or rather driven into its bowels by cruel men but followed even there by kind hearts


to your many many kind nesses father john i am now to add the comfort of seeing my kind my most motherly nurse


och jewel thatsaid it cried judy kissing and carressing the hand ofiiter lady and child


and is this not heaven lady dear


and she looked round bewildered upon a scene of enchant


mentwhiclr might have rivalled the boldest inventions of oriental iictionists


squeenof heaven


what a sightit is


cried the still bewildered


judith


but more like a place in a fairy tale the beggars would be telling oti an


the ould times of the irish kings than the blessed paradise


and purgatory it cannot be or neither herself nor father john would be in it


only vou and i judy would in that case get it all to our selves said joyce laughingly and now claiming the attention of the nurse though there is you found some difficulty of getting to a berth after all


v lord pardon yourself squire


and dont be joking about such though you was always merry


but och darlin lady dear how came you in this wild ould place and pale and wan you look as the lily and the arm in a sling


how is it all


where are


i your servants and your furniture


and when will you come home i to your own casle


and judith squatting down began rapidly to undo the hall of worsted yarn in which she had concealed major berties letter


i they had in fact for many weeks remained hid in those cele brated caverns now well known as tho kingston caves


few persons were now in the secret of this retreat and it had


or pharmacy was required for a celebrated rebel ofiicer who lay concealed in the kingston caves early in long after it was believed that he must either have died of his wounds or that he had succeeded in getting off by some smuggler or french vessel what worse evils can my worst of enemies if enemies i have keep in store for mo than leaving yon in this condition he said in tender reproach a prey myself to the tortures of suspense


no i have made my election


i will take every prudent pre caution i can rest my salvation upon the lidelity of the poorest of my countrymen


these and joyce looked with enthusiasm to the group of peasants standing aside who had just rendered such essential and disinterested service these are not the men that betray their fellows


i will abide my fate where duty and affection and heaven itself have stationed me


father john could not but admire the resolution which he deprecated and after a few minutes of reflection he addressed florence there is one way one place to few women would venture to propose it but to you madam i may a shelter where though under great and trying privations security may he found for mr joyce and in your society


privation returned florence eagerly seizing the idea of security at any cost name it not


my life has been one of what is called privation but not for that the more unhappy


unfold your plan


i will consult the squire said the priest leading joyce farther apart


and as florence intensely watched the conference she read with joy in tho brightening face of her husband that he approved the scheme


it was now midnight and joyce was with all solemnity intro duced blindfolded into the mysteries of the kingston caves


at first his heart misgave and sank at the idea of bringing florence to this scence of forlornness and splendid discomfort but his own nature was much too generous to doubt of that perfect love which had cast out fear harbouring the small taint of selfishness which might have made many otherwise excellent women shrink from the misery of so wild and dreary a sojourn


an involuntary feeling of reverence and delicacy made father ohanlon refrain from blindfolding florence in their descent into those irish lilysian fields where she was to seek her souls partner


in the descent she bore up womankutjly and when rushing into the opening arms of joyce in that wizard scene since namsd the gothic gallery she sank for along while overpowered by thecon ilet of emotion her feelings partook more of the beautified repose of tho satisfied soul than of the sinkings of overwrought humanity


from that hour florence recovered rapidly and when judith found her though the wounded arm was still ooassionally in a sling and siie looked pale from confinement or in the wild lugubrious light of the caves her health she affirmed was perfect her hap piness for the time complete


but let us return to judith who has surely by this had full time to untwine her clew


she delivered her dispatches with an air of grave diplomacy which might have been a fair augury for a young attache and with a quick irish turn to the comic looked down upon the glittering sparry floor on which she had been on her hunkers apostrophising it in irish which may be thus freely translated


in truth then its yourself is a mighty fine seat like the kings own throne shining with diamonds though im not sure but for workdays saving your dignity a beehive stool in a cabin might be as aisv for the ould limbs


the contents of major berties letter referred chiefly to his late efforts to promote the interests of florence by realizing the for tune undoubtedly left to her by that uncle who had diel in the liussian service


the accounts were favourable for though the expected fortune was considerably less in amount than first srumours made it it was more certain and in much nearer prospect


of public affairs major bertie said little or nothing sive ex pressing a hope that the commanding talents and solid and sage character of lord cornwallis would speedily restore that degree of tranquility to


ireland which might permit dispassionate inquiry the redress of any real grievances the repair of injuries and the impartial administration of just ice


rial grievances said florence


intelligent englishmen having no interest in the preservation of the abuses of this country have never doubted of their existence after living for a short time amongst lis


and could we look for anything like the impartial adminis tration of justice i know where we should be my florence before another week


in dublin castle


still still dear jack knowing all that we know of our unhappy country i shrink my blood runs cold at the surrender


there is no truth no manliness no magnanimous generosity among that perfidious ascendency cabal which if corn wallis overmaster he is the iirst who shall have bridled the mon ster for three centuries


florence spoke in a tone of despondency but upon every new visit of father hanlon surrender formed the most engrossing subject of discussion


that gentleman con stantly brought them what newspapera and public intelligence he could pick up and without making their place of retreat known j a sort of enigmatical correspondence was opened in cypher with dr fitzmaurice which gave the latter and the nervous mrs rooney the sincere pleasure of learning that judith had found the objects of her search and that all were well and with fortitude and equanainity awaiting better times


through this channel they learned that father mike had been cut down by crawfords dragoons in destroying the bridge of ballintra to impede the pur suit of humbert


larry llyan had escaped there and by miracle reached squire joyces mountain lodge a miserable spectre


he was still concealed in that neighbourhood


in the meanwhile the long winter wore away in the enjoyment of many of lifes best pleasures though its cares often the source of its mobt solid happiness were not wholly absent and spring brought its own interests and duties even to a cave and present and absorbing occupation banished at least to judith even the thought of tedium


affairs were in this state and florence in renewed health and spirits had consented at last to o abroad like the dove from their saving ark to see if tho waters had abated and the green earth reappeared when towards the end of march father ohanlon came one morning at a very unusual hour


a messenger a female one had arrived from dr fitsmaurice announcing that by the secret but certain intelligence which he had met with in dublin he had been able to ascertain that the trial of mr joyce wa now to be hurried on for the evident purpose of procuring his out lawry and thus getting rid of a perplexing and disgraceful affair in the least disgraceful manner possible to those concerned


there is always at first sight something appalling and terrible in a trial aud this one was in ireland and involving the bar barous and sanguinary penalties of treason


florence felt her spirit quail and her hearts blood curdle


she looked pitifully through swimming tears upon her infant daughter now asleep on the lap of judith its wan and waxy but beautiful features still unvisited in its six weeks span of life by the sun or the breeze of heaven and then her glance reverted to its dearer father and for a few seconds florence could have been contented that they should remain in the bowels of the earth for ever rather than risk a life becoming every day more precious the very life of her life


this was madness to be dismissed at once but there was a modified plan to which her womans heart next clung


if trial it must be could they not evade it


the slenderest chance of a conviction was revolting and torturing


they might either escape to america or france now the safest place on the continent for them and although the joyce property should be confiscated her own fortune would amply suffice for all their wants for their child for happiness and peace


l where now is your maiden courage florence returned joyce in answer to her paasionate pleadings


would you have the husband of your choice become a voluntary outlaw abandon his country aud surrender those rights of property derived from a long line of honourable ancestors which he now holds in trust for your children without one manful struggle


shame on the lovely crayon


i your words if not your thoughts wrong me sir cried florence gravely


my maiden couragc vain boast may have flagged yet i am still uble to choose ay even for you death before dishonour


but oh surely prudent evasion fol lowing the example of so many of our countrymen at this time men of courage and honour can augur no taint of disgrace


but i have baid my last


it is for you to decide on a mans part for me to obey


my own florence replied joyce affectionately wo will have neither commands nor obedience between us


our judgments like onr hearts are one depend on it


and now father for a council in this starry chamber


as the results of that council were not altogether conclusive we shall pass from it to the formal and imposing array of that criminal court iu dublin before which john pierce joyce esq of castle joyce county commonly called squire joyce c c was arraigned to be tried foo high treason


there was not a doubt in the minds of the crown lawyers that no prisoner would appear to answer to the charge


it was firmly believed that he had months ago escaped beyond seas with his wife and could not even know of the trial


a few minutes were to he sufficient therefore to huddle over the preliminaries of joyces outlawry before pro ceeding to the other cases about to be tried


yet tliey wondered that the court should be so early crowded and such an array of counsel present though apparently but as spectators


the business opened


the officiating functionary in loud measured monotonous tones summoned the prisoner to appear to answer to the solemn charges set forth in the indictment


no answer was returned no prisoner appeared and tho outlawry was about to be formally declared


stay gentlemen said a wellknown and celebrated liberal counsellor of that period this charge has hung over mr joyce for eighteen mouths in one bhape or other so i find by the warrant on which he was first arrested


surely eighteen seconds nay eighteen minutes may be given him to stand forward


look out again my lad he continued turning to felix the perspiring avunt courier of the squire who had reached dublin by hard riding early in the same morning


the counsellor looked to his watch and while the crown lawyers shewing signs of disturbance eagerly whispered and consulted among themselves cast meaning eyes to the bench rose in haste and then flapped down upon their seats three moro long minutes elapsed


this is trifling with the time of the court cried the attor neygeneral in a loud imperious tone and flirting his papers


i beg that business may proceed


patience brother cried the counsellor who seemed to have assumed the chief management of joyces case


my eighteen minutes are not half up


the court has met to dispense justice to the lieges not to gallop to desired conclusions at the pace which may best suit mr attorney general


the speaker was here joined by a militarylooking elderly gentleman who seemed just off a hasty journey and who was followed by a younger man in uniform the first was our friend major bertie


i am come over from england he said in hot haste and unsubpoenaed to bear my testimony to the peaceful and orderly conduct of mr joyce while i was on service in his neighbourhood which was


exactly during the time at which his alleged crimes aro laid


tis but my good word


i can speak to nothing specific yet i could not withhold my feeble testimony to what i know


this is my friend lord an aiddecamp to his excellency whom i have brought with me


mr joyce is even better known to him than to myself


i am certain it would give him


sincere pleasure to see squire joyce restored m peace and honour to


his wife and lii home


squire joyces claret will sit sour in my stomach for ever if he dont get clcr off today saidflorences former gay admirer as i truly believe it was


muchproyoked resistance


o


some of the compulsory levies of our own forraging blades which first brought liim into trouble or perhaps this was a queer country last year his goodnatured protection of his tenants gave colour to certain charges


what matters it all if he allow a sentence of outlawry to be recorded against him cried the anxious barrister springing


once more to his feet as the officer of the court begau the formal declaration


it was a moment of intense interest carriage wheels were heard and felix who had again been on the outlook rushed iuto the court throwing up his right hand and exclaiming


lamh laidher uboov they are come your honour


a mighty hubbub rose


to prison with that rude fellow


j growled a judge in wrath


he deserves it for such a slogan we have had enough of


late my lord of the cause of the strong hand of might for right returned the excited counsellor


but stay your proceed ings gentlemen here comes my client


good morning sir


you bave been summoned to plead mr joyce guilty or riot


guilty not guilty


cried joyce who had yet scarce reached the bar v in atone which electrified the court


the emphatic words were muttered from several quarters and taken up and repeated in a shrill voice aud strong minister brogue by a hale squab elderly


female in a blue cloak who at the same time elevated a beautiful infant between her hands the smiling emblem of innocence


back judith and retire if you love me whispered florence in agony while the gentlemen made way for her beside the counsel and major bertie hastily advanced to meet her


huaich


then lady dear id say it if the king on his throne hoard me of that sweet babbys father


but judith to her manifest indignation was borne back


every eye was now turned upon the prisoner and his wife who sat with his counsel immediately behind the bar


both were striking and admirable specimens of what either actually is or is imagined the ancient aristocracy of their native land in stature in physiognomy in expression aud in high and at this moment dignified and calm bearing


they formed a study for the spec tators all of whom were powerfully interested in the fate of joyce


the crown lawyers held another whispered conversation and the colour of florence was seen to fluctuate


it was with difficulty


that she replied to the civilities whispered by friends around her yet she did reply and seemed stoically calm until the crown func tionary rose and glibly and not very intelligibly announced that


from the failure of two most important witnesses who it was be lieved had been spirited out of the country lie was not in a con ditiou at present to proceed with the case


the case was there fore in tho meantime abandoned


u liar


conscious despicable liar were the strong coarse words churned forth between the clenched teeth of joyce and his counsel adroitly and goodhumouredly passed what he called a gaggling bill over tlie rebellious lips whose last sounds it was not deemed prudent or dignified by the court to hear


one stifled but audible sob burst from the swelling bosom of florence one sign of womans weakness betrayed only when her resolution was no longer necessary for those she loved


a thrilling shout of joy a jubilant outcry which nothing could repress echoed through the court and was prolonged through the four courts and passages into the heart of the multitude assembled without and the court instead of proceeding with the other cases rose in disorder and hastily adjourned for that day


congratulations poured in from every side and upen that night in every social party in dublin the lucky young barrister who had


seen and could describe the sudden brilliant apparition of tho morning the rebel and his wife became the pet lioncub of tho


ladies for the evening


the right thing in the wrong ptacef


i wonder what has become of the snuffers


said mrs johiistono


i have been seeking for thein all the eveningiand can t find them high or low


after a while ilier tired dutchman of


a husband com i menced pulling off his boots prior to going to bed


all dis day said lie i tirik got some little grabble


stones iu my poot


i kess i got dem out now


he turned up mb boot and out fell the snuflers


american paper v


stiaoer utttpbrcrit ilock


o personal adventures of master humphrey


tfir old curiosity siiopciiapter


xxxviit


kirfor it happens at this juncture not only that we have breathing time to follow his fortunes but that the necessities of these adventures so adapt themselves to our ease and inclination as to call upon us imperatively to pursue the track we most desire to takekit while the matters treated of in the last fifteen chapters were yet in progress was as the reader may suppose gradually familiarising himself more and more with mr and mrs garland mr abel the pony and barbara and gradually coming to consider them one and all as his particular private friends and abel cottage finchley as his proper home


staythe words are written and may go but if they convey any notiou that kit in the plentiful board and comfortable lodging of his new abode began to think slightingly of the poor fare and fur niture of his old dwelling they do their office badly and commit injustice


who so mindful of those he left at homealbeit they were but a mother and two young babiesas kit


what boastful father in the filness of his heart ever related such wonders of his infant prodigy as kit never wearied of telling barbara in the evening time concerning little jacob


wvas


there ever such a mother as kits mother on her sons showing


or was there ever such comfort in poverty as in the poverty of kits family if any correct judgment might be arrived at from his own glosking account


and let us linger in this place for an instant to remark that if ever household affections and loves are graceful things they are graceful in the poor


ithe ties that bind the wealthy and the proud to home may be forged on earth but those which link the poor man to his humble hearth are of the true metal and bear tile stamp of heaven


the man of high descent may love the halls and lands of his inheritance as a part of himself as trophies of his birth and power his associations with them are associations of pride and wealthl and triumph the poor mans attachment to the tenement le holds which strangers have held before and may tomorrow occupy again has a worthier root struck deep into a purer soil


his household gods are of flesh and blood with no alloy of silver gold or precious stone lie has no property but in the affections of his own heart and when they endear bare floors and walls despite of rags and toil and scanty meals that man has his love of home from god and his rude but becomes a solemn place


oh i if those who rule the destinies of nations would but remember thisif they would but think how hard it is for the very poor to have engendered in their hearts that love of home from which all domestic virtues spring when they live in dense and squalid masses where social decency is lost or rather never foundif they would but turn aside from the wide thoroughfares and great houses and strive to improve the wretched dwellings in byeways where only poverty may walkmany low roofs would point more truly to the sky than the loftiest steeple that now rears proudly up from the midst of guilt and crime and horrible disease to mock them by its contrast


in hollow voices from workhouse hos pital and jail this truth is preached from day to day and has been proclaimed for years


it is no light matter no outcry from the working vulgar no mere question of tihe peoples health and comforts that may be whistled down on wednesday nights


in love of home the love of country has its rise and who are truer patriots or the best in time of needthose who venerate the land owning its wood and stream and earth and all that they produce or tlhose who love their country boasting not a foot of ground in all its wide domain


kit knew nothing about such questions but he knew that his old home was a very poor place and that his new one was very unlike it and yet be was constantly looking back with grateful satisfaction and affectionate anxiety and often indicted square


folded letters to his mother inclosing a shilling or eighteen pence or such other small remittance which mlr


abels liberality enabled him to make


some times being in the neighbourhood he had leisure to call upon her and then great was the joy and pride of kits mother and extremely noisy the satisfaction of little jacob and the baby and cordial the con gratulations of the whole court who listened with admiring ears to the accounts of abel cottage and could never be told too much of its wonders and magnificence


although kit was in the very highest favour with the old lady and gentleman and mr abel and barbara it is certain that no member of the family evinced such a remarkable partiality for him as the selfwilled pony whlo from being the most obsti nate and opinionated pony on the face of the earth was in his hands the mneekest and most tractable of animals


it is true that in exast proportion as he became manageable by kit he became utterly ungovernable by anybody else as if he had deter minedtl to keep him in the family at all risks and ihazards and thlat even under the guidantce of iis favourite he would perform a great varietyof strange freaks and capers to the extrenme discomposure of the old indys nerves butam kit always represented that this was only hiis fun or a way he hiad of show


ilg


hiis attachtment to his employers lra garland grudunlly suffered heirself to be persiadod into the belief in whichl she at last became so strongly coo firmed that if in one of those ebullitions hie had overturned thle chase shq would have beent qut satisfied that he had done it with the very best in tentions


besides becoming in a short time a perfect marvel in all stable matters kit soon made himself a very tolerable gardener a handy fellow within doors and an indispensable attendant on alr


abel who every clay gave him some new proof of his confidence and approbation


sir


wsitlherden the notary too regarded him with a friendly eye and even mr chuckster would sometimes condescend to give ilim a slight nod or to honour him with that peculiar form of recognition which is called taking a sight or to favour him with some other salute com bining pleasantry with patronge


one morning kit drove mr abel to the notarys office as lie sometimes did and having set hint down at the house was about to drive off to a livery stable hard by when this same mr chuctk ster emerged from the officedoor and cried woaaaaadwelling upon the note a long time for the purpose of striking terror into the ponys heart and asserting the supremacy of man over the interior animals


pull up snobby cried mr chuckster ad dressing himself to kit


youre wanted inside here


hlas mir


abel forgotten anything i wonder said kit as lie dismounted


ask no questions snoobby returned mr chuckster but go and see


woaa then will you


if that pony was mine id break him


you must be very gently with hiln if you please said kit or youll find him troublesome


youd better not keep on pulling his ears please


i know he wont like it


to this remonstrance ar


chuckster deigned no other answer than addressing kit with a lofty and distant air as young feller and requesting him to cut and come again with all speed


the young feller complying mr chuckster put his hands in his pockets and tried to look as if he were not minding the pony but happened to be lounging there by accident


kit scraped his shoes very carefully for he had not yet lost his reverence for the bundles of papers and the tin boxes and tapped at the officedoor which was quickly opened by the notary himself


oh come in christopher said amr


wi therden is that the lad asked an elderly gentleman but of a stout bluff figure who was in the room


thats the lad said smr


vitherden


lie fell in with my client mir


garland sir at this very door


i have reason to think he is a good lad sir and that you may believe what be says


let me introduce mr abel garland sir his young master my articled pupil sir and most particular friend


my most particular fread


sir repeated the nosar drawing out his silk handkerchief and flourishing it about his face


your servant sir said the stranger gentleman


yours sir im sure replied mr abel


mildly


you were wishing to speak to christopher sir yes i was


have i your permission i y all means


mly business is no secret or i should rather say it need be no secret here said the stranger observing that mr abel and the notary were pre paring to retire


it relates to a dealer in curiosities with whom lihe lived and in whom i am earnestly and warmly interested


i have been a stranger to this country gentlemen for very many years and if i am deficient in form and ceremony i hope you will forgive me


no forgiveness is necessary sir none what ever replied the notary and so said mlr


abel


have been making inquiries in the neighbour hood in which his old master lived said tihe stranger and i learnt that he had been served by this lad


i found out his mothers house and was directed by her to this place as the nearest in which i should be likely to find him


thats the cause of my presenting myself here this morning


i am very glad of any cause sir said the notary which procures me the honour of thil visit


sir retorted the stranger you speak like a mere man of the world and i think you something better


therefore pray do not sink your real cha racter in paying unmeaning compliments to me


hem i coughed the notary


youre a plain speaker sir


and a plain dealer returned the stranger


it may lie my long absence and inexperience that lead me to the conclusion but if plain speakers are scarce in this part of the world i fancy that plain dealers are still scarcer


if mny speaking should offend you sir my dealing i hope will make amends


mr itheorden seemed a little disconcerted by the elderly gentlemans mode of conducting his dialogue and as for kit lihe looked at him in open mouthed astonishment wondering whvlat kind of language lie would address to him if hlie talked ir that free and easy way to a notary


it was with no iharshness hlowever though with something of con stitutinnal irritability antd haste that he turned to kit and said if you think mny lad that i ams pursuing theur inquiiies with any olther view than tlhat of serving and reclaiming thlose i am in search of you do nme a very great wrong and deceive yourself


ont be deceived i beg of you but rely upon iny assurance


the fact is gentlemen hie added turnting again to the notary and his pupil that i am in a very painful and wholly unexpected positotn


i came to this city with a darling object at my heart expecting to find no obstacle or dilliculty in the way of its attainment


i find myself suddenly chlecked and stopped labort in the esecutiona of msy design by a maystery whiuhi i cannot penetrate


elvery effort i have made to penetrate it has only served to render it darker and more obscure and i ant afraid to stir openly in the matter lest those whom i anxiously pursue should fly still further from me assure you that if you could give me any assistance you would not be sorry to do so if you knew how greatly i stand in need of it und what a load it would relievu me from


there was a siilopliity in thin confidence which occasioned it to find a quick resposse in thie breast of thie goadnatured notary wbno replied in the same selirit that thu stranger had not mistaken hiis desire and tlat if lie could be of any service to him he nosdl monot willingly


kit was then put under examination and closely nrestioncd by the unknown gentlemlan touching his lid nmaitr and the child their lonely way of life their retired habits and strict seclusion the nightly absence of the old man the solitary exist ence of the child at those times his illness and re covery qailps possession of the house and their sudden disa ppearance were all the subjects of much qucbtioning and answer


finally kit infornmed the gentleman that the premises were now to let and that a board upon the door relerred all inquirers to lr


sampson brass solicitor of bevis marks from whom lie might perhaps learn some further particulars


nuot by inquiry said the gentleman shaking his head


i live thlrc


live at brasss the attorneys


cried mlr


wi therden in some surprise having professional know ledge of the gentleman in question


aye was the reply


i entered upon his lodgings tother day chiefly because id seen this very board


it matters little to me where live and i had a desperate hope that some intelligence might be cast in my way there wlhich would not reach me elsewhere


yes live at brasss oroe i shame for me i suppose thats a mere matter of opinion said the no tary shrugging his shoulders


lie is looked upon as rather a doubtful character


doubtful echoed the other


i am glad to hear theres any doubt about it


i supposed that had been settled long ago


but will you let me speak a word or two with you in private amr


itherden consenting they walked into that gentlemans private closet and remained there in close conversation for some quarter of an hour whet they returned into the outer office


the stranger had left his hat in mr witherdens room and seemed to have established himself in this short interval on quite a frtundly footing


ill not detain you any longer now he said putting acrown into kits hand and looking towards the notary


you shall hear from me again


not a word of this you know except to your master and mistress


alother sir would be glad to know said kit faltering


glad to know what anything so that it was no harm about miss nell


would she


well then you may tell her if she can keep a secret


but mind not a word of this to anybody else


dont forget that


be particular


ill take care sir said kit


thankee sir and good morning


now it happened that the gentleman in his anxiety to impress upon kit that ihe was not to tell aanybody what had passed between them followed him out to the door to repeat his caution and it further happened that at that moment the eyes of mr richard swiveller were turned in that direction and beheld his mysterious friend and kit together


it was quite an accident and the way in which it came about was this


mr chuckster being a gen tleman of a cultivated taste and refined spirit was one of that lodge of glorious apollos whereof mr swiveller was perpetual grand


lr


swiveller passing through the street in the execution of some brazen errand and beholding one of his glorious brotherhood intently gazing on a pony crossed over to give him that fraternal greeting with which per petual grands are by the very constitution of their office bound to cheer and encourage their disciples


he had scarcely bestowed upon him his blessiug and followed it with a general remark touching the present state and prospects of the weather when lifting up his eyes lie beheld tile single gentleman of bevis marks in earnest conversation with chris topher nubbles


ilallo t said dick who is that he called to see my governor this morning replied mir chuckstcr and beyond that i dont know him from adam


at least you know his name said dick


to which mr cluckster replied with an eleva tion of speech becoming a glorious apollo that he was everlastingly blessed if he did


all i know my dear feller said mir chuck


ster running his fingers through his hair is that lie is the cause of my having stood here twenty minutes for which i hate him with a mortal and undying hatted and would pursue him to the con fines of eternity if i could afford the time


while they wete thus discoursing the subject of their conversation who had not appeared to recog nise mlr


richard swiveller reentered the house and kit came down the steps and joined them to whom mr swiveller again propounded his inquiry with no better success


he is a very nice gentleman sir said kit and thats all i know about him


mlr


chuckster waxed wroth at this answer and without applying thn remark to any particular case mentioned as a general truth that it was expedient to break the heads ofe snobs and to tweak their noses


without expressing his concurrence in this sentiment air


swiveller after a few momentts of abstraction inquired which way kit was driving and being informed declared it was his way and that hlie would trespass on him for a lift


kit would gladly have declined the proffered honour but as ar


swiveller was already established in the seat beside him he had no means of doing so otherwise than by a forcible ejectment and therefore drove briskly offso briskly indeed as to cut short the leavetaking between mr chuckster and his grand master atid to occasion the former gentleman some inconveieice from ihaoving his corues squeezedl by the impatient pony


as whisker was tired of standing mr swiveller was kind enough to stimulate him still further by shrill whistles and various sporting cries they rat tied off at too sharp a pace to admit of much con versation especially asthe pony incensed by mlir


swivellers admonitions took a particular fancy for the lamtp posts and cart wheels and evincedl a strong desite to run on the pavement and rasp him self against brick walls


it was not therefore until tlhey hadl arrivedl at the stable and the chaise had bieen extricated from a very small doorway into which the pony draggedl it under the impression tliat hie conld take it along with him into his usual stall that mr swiveller found time to talk


its hard work said richard


what do you say in some beer


kit at first declined but afterwards consented and they adjourned to thie nighbourirg bar together


well drink our friend whlatshlisname said ick holding uip sthe bright frothy ipot tllhat was talking to you this morning yon knowl know hima good fellow hbt eccentriceveryloheres whatshis natme


kit pledged hin


ihe lives in my house said dick at least in the house occupied by the firm in which im a sort of aof a managlug parttera difficult fellow to get anything out of but we like himswe like him


i must be going sir if you please said lit moving away


dont be in a isirry chrilstophcr replied his patron well drink your motllher thank you sir


an excellent woman that mother of yours christopher said smr


swivoller


who ran to catch me when i fell and kissed the place to make it


well i my mother


a charming woman


iles a lib ral sort of fellow


we must get him to do sonething j r our mother


des he know her chiistopher lit shook his head and glancing slyly at his questioner thanked him and made oil before he coull say anothler word


llnmph said mr swiveller pondering this is queer


nothing but mysteries in con nexion with brasss house


ill keep my own counsel honcever


everybody and anybody han been in my confidence as yet but now i think ill set upin business for myself


queervery queer


after pondering deeply and with a face of exceed ing wisdom for some time mr swiveller drunk some more of the beer and summoning a small boy who had been watching his proceedings poured forth the few remaining drops as a libation upon the gravel and bade him carry the empty vessel to the bar with his compliments and above all things to lead a sober and temperate life and abstain fromn all intoxicating and exciting liquors


having given this piece of moral advice for his trouble which as lie wisely observed was far better than halfpence the perpetual grand master of the glotious apollos thrust his hands into his pockets and saun tured away still pondering as he went


to be continuedl


klaster putmpbrcit qioctt


o personal adventures of master humphrey


thei old curiosity shopchapter xxxlrr


hallo i


he said standing on tiptoo on the windowsill and looking down into the room


is there anybody at home


is there any of the devils ware here


is brass at a premium eh


ha ha ha laughed the lawyer in an affected ecstacy


oh very good sir


oh very good indeed


quite eccentric


dear me what humour he has i is that my sally


croaked the dwarf ogling the fair miss brass


is it justice with the bandage off her eyes and without the sword and scales


is it the strong arm of the law


is it the virgin of bevis


what an amazing flow of spirits cried brass


upon my word it is quite extraordinary


open the door said quilp


ive got him here


such a clerk for you brass such a prize such an ace of trumps


be quick and open the door or if theres another lawyer near and he should happen to look out of window hell snap him up before your eyes he will


it is possible that the loss of the phoenix of clerks even to a rival practitioner would not have broken mr brasss heart but pretending great alacrity he rose from his seat and going to the door returned introducing his client who led by the hand no less a person than mr richard swiveller


there she is said quilp stopping short at the door and wrinkling up his eyebrows as he looked towards miss sally there is the woman i ought to have marriedthere is the beautiful sarahthere is the female who has all the charms of her sex and none of their weaknesses


oh sally sally


to this amorous address miss brass briefly responded bother


hardhearted as the metal from which she takes her name said quilp


why dont she change itmelt down the brass and take another name


hold your nonsense mr quilp do


returned miss sally with a grim smile


i wonder youre not ashamed of yourself before a strange young man


the strange young man said quilp handing dick swiveller forward is too susceptible himself not to understand me well


this is mr swiveller my intimate frienda gentleman of good family and great expectations but who having rather involved himself by youthful indiscretion is content for a time to fill the humble station of a clerkhumble but here most enviable


what a delicious atmos phere


if mr quilp spoke figuratively and meant to imply that the air breathed by miss sally brass was sweetened and rarified by that dainty creature he had doubtless good reason for what he said


but if he spoke of the delights of the atmosphere of mr brasss office in a literal sense he had certainly a peculiar taste as it was of a close and earthy kind and besides being frequently impregnated with strong whiffs of the secondhand wearing apparel exposed for sale in dukes place and houndsditch had a decided flavour of rats and mice and a taint of mouldiness


perhaps somedoubts of its pure delight presented themselves to mr swiveller as he gave vent to one or two short abrupt sniffs and looked incredulously at the grinning dwarf


l mr swiveller said quilp being pretty wall accustomed to the agricultural pursuits of sowing wild oats miss sally prudently considers that half a loaf is better than no bread


to be out of harms way lhe prudently thinks is something too and therefore he accepts your brothers offer


brass mr swiveller is yours


i am very glad sir said mr brass very glad indeed


mr swiveller sir is fortunate to have your friendship


you may be very proud sir to have the friendship of mr quilp


dick murmured something about never wanting a friend or a bottle to give him and also gasped forth his favourite allusion to the wing of friendship and its never moulting a feather but his faculties ap peared to be absorbed in the contemplation of miss sally brass at whom he stared with blank and rueful looks which delighted the watchful dwarf beyond measure


as to the divine miss sally herself she rubbed her hands as most men of business do and took a few turns up and down the office with her pen behind her ear


i suppose said the dwarf turning briskly to his legal friend that mr swiveller enters upon his duties at once


its monday morning


at once if you please sir by all means re turned brass


miss sally will teach him law the delightful study of the law said quilp shell be his guide his friend his companion his blackstone his coke upon littleton his young iawyers best companion


he is exceedingly eloquent said brass like a man abstracted and looking at the roofs of the op


posite houses with his hands in his pockets lie has an extraordinary flow of language


beautiful really


with miss sally quilp weut on and the the beautiful fictions of tihe law his days will pass like mtinutes


those charming creations of the poet john doe and richard roe when they first dawn upon him will open a new world for the enlargement of his mind and thie improvement of his heart


oh beautiful beautiful i beautiful indeed cried brass


its a treat to hear him i where will lr


swiveller sit said qulp looking round


why well buy another stool air returned brass


we hadnt any thoughts of having a gen tleman with us sir until you were kind enough to suggest it and our accommodations notextesisive well look about for n second hand stool sir


in the meantime if mr swiveller will take may seat and try lris hand at a fair copy of this ejectment as i shall be out pretty well all the morning


walk with me said quitp


i have a word to say to you on points of business


can you spat the time


can i spare the time to walk with you sir


youre jokiug sir youre joking with me replied the lawvyer putting on hiis hat


im ready sir quite ready my time must he fully occupied indeed sir not to leave m time to walk with you


its not everybody sir who hias an opportunity of improving himself by the conversation of mr


qulp


the dwarf glanced sarcastically at his brazen friend and with a short dry cough turned upon his heel to bid adieu to mliss sally


after a very gallant parting on his side and a very cool and gentlemanly sort of one on hers he nodded to dick swiveller and withdrew with the attorney


dick stood at the desk in a state of utter stupe


faction staring with all his might at the beauteous sally as if she had been some curious animal whose like had never lived


when the dwarf got into the street he mounted again upon the windowsill and looked into the office for a moment with a grinning face as a man might peep into a cage


dick glanced upward at him but without any token of recognition and long after he had disappeared still stood gazing upon miss sally brass seeing or thinking of nothing else and rooted to the spot


miss brass being by this time deep in the bill of costs took no notice whatever of dick but went scratching on with a noisy pen scoring down the figures with evident delight and working like a steam engine


there stood dick gazing now at the green gown now at the brown head dress now at the face and now at the rapid pen in a state of stupid perplexity wondering how he got into the company of that strange monster and whether it was a dream and he would ever wale


at last he heaved a deep sigh and began slowly pulling off his coat


mr swiveller pulled off his coat and folded it up with great elaboration staring at miss sally all the time then put on a blue jacket with a double row of gilt buttons which lie had originally ordered for aquatic expeditions but had brought with him that morning for office purposes and still keeping his eye on her suffered himself to drop down silently upon mr brasss stool


then he underwent a re lapse and becoming powerless again rested his chin upon his hand and opened his eyes so wide that it appeared quite out of the question that be could ever close them any more


when he had looked so long that he could see nothing dick took his eyes off the fair object of his amazement turned over the leaf of the draft he was to copy dipped his pen into the inkstand and at last and by slow approaches began to write


but he had not written halfadozen words when reaching over the inkstand to take a fresh dip he happened to raise his eyes end there was the in


tolerable brown headdressthere was the green gownthere in short was miss sally brass ar rayed in all her charms and more tremendous than ever


this happened so often that mlr


swiveller by degrees began to feel strange influences creeping over himhorrible desires to annihilate this sally brassmysterious promptings to knock her head dress off and try how she looked without it


there was a very large ruler on the table a large black shining ruler


mr swiveller took it up and began to rub his nose with it


from rubbing his nose with the ruler to poising it in his hand and giving it an occasional flourish after the tomahawk manner the transition was easy and natural


in some of these flourishes it went close to miss sallys head the ragged edges of the headdress fluttered with the wind it raised advance it but an inch and that great brown knot was on the ground yet still the unconscious maiden worked away and never raised her eyes


well this was a great relief


it was a good thing to write doggedly and obstinately until lie was des perate and then snatch up the ruler and whirl it about the brown head dress with the consciousness that he could have it off if he liked


it was a good thing to draw it back and rub his nose very hard with it if be thought miss sally was going to look up and to recompense himself with more hardy flourishes when he found site was still absorbed


by these means mr swiveller calmed the agitation of his feelings until his applications to the ruler became less fierce and frequent and lie could even write as many as halfadozen consecutive lines without having re course to it which was a great victory


to be contlinue


mr


caudle bkeakfast talk


chaster iv


suowina now caudle iijlvino lost money at ctuds dbteuinbs to ailllidal


tub house exlessf


i dont know how it is my dear but when i rpmeraber that theres only you and myself just two of us and i eat and drink next to nothing and when i soo wlmt other noonlo do with half our money i do think you might bo a little nnro careful


i in sure i spend no money on mysslf none


nobody can be moro watchful of every sixponco hut of course n man uaii savo but little whim ho know or that is when lu fears ho knows that everythings going tu waste at homo


besides iivu womans place jiani cularly a womans place to save


momon were designed for it


pcnnnmy is one nf thu noblest virtues bound up with matrimniiy


there can bo very httlo real iqve mrs cuudlo


where economys neglected a woman ojut truly i are for a mans heiyt unless slip has an equal regard for his pocket tho things gotugotlfcr and always did from tlio firt


no mrs caudle i did not lose at my whist club last night thnt is only lie t to nothing in ither


word nothing to soik of


now thats like your sex


you always set about hunting for somo foolish shabby motive fur whatover your husbands complain about


bucauso i lose at curds dont want to git thi money bick out of your cupboard


no i want to savo money that should i bo uken from you and life at all times is uncertain mrs caudle you might be left snug and comfortable thats my object


but i never knew uny woman yet except one rest her siinted soul


who had tho mind or tho generosity to allow a truly noble motive to what her husnand should do thnt is if it wont against herself


you cant help it poor things


nevertheless when a rannik depriving himself of every lntlo enjoy ment that ho may lay by something for a rainy day it in hard a little hard i thiuic to have a woman snend what you do in housekeeping


now mrs caudle bii rational and fiv the thousandth time lot mo bog of you not to cry


you only waste your troublo and your tears


both nro thrown uway upon me im not ono of tho people i tell you again to bo melted with a littlo soft water


my expenses that is yoiir expenses are dreadful


your grocer s bill and when i never tasto sugar in my tea is prep s tcrous enough to ruin man of ton thousand a year


what take sugar in my grog and jo do my friends


scarcely any nothing to ipealc of not worth naming


and then look at your butcher for tho last fortnight


well


i know wont eat cold oints


i had enough uf them with my first hat is i cant boar em


besides with half tho lionoy you have a cold joints an insult to any nan


and finally mrs caudle for you know


i late this talk at breakfast its a meal of all hhers i like to enjoy whon i can finally i lavo rnudo a calculation and in tho next month omo what will your cupboard must do with on pounds loss


its for your good i tell you when im gone aud ten pounds i must havo of fou


ciuijtu v suowino how


caudli paje hojin


vkjtv iatb and vekv vinous


iib complains op want of


sympathy


the old story mrs caudle


sulky again


but so it is with women of no intellect thoy can never p oporly sympathise with a man


syou make the tea as if you wore making poison and all because i kept you up just alittle last night


ha


i only wish you had half what t have upon my mjnd


what


yon wouldnt have half what i had in my head


indeed


i know what you mean but i only wish you had


youd have a littlo more sympathy for nhat i have to go through as i say you dont know whats on my mind


women who havo to sit quietly basking before the tiro all day doing nothing whatever except perhaps nlittlosewiiij women in their snug homes know nothing o


what their husbands have to go through in the world slaving nnd wonringua


i may say their verysouls utl ha


i only wish id been u woman


oh you neednt sigh mrs cuudle youve al tho best of it from tno beginning


for liow can yu tell when your husband is doing all ho can to seem happy and delighted at home what


ou rptlpr


see irirfy in such a state


you might if youd oyos like any other woman


i say how can you tell nt iho very timo that hes full running over i may say with smiles nnd affability and good tamper how can you tell that his bruin isnt being torn into bits and all to niako ins wife happy and oomfortablo nt her own firosido


must say it i only wish youd my anxieties sometimes just for half a day thats all youd havo more sympathy mrs caudle a little moro sympathy


thero you go on again with your womans arguments


jf i have so much on my mind j neednt stay out so late


how can you possibly tell what it is that detains mo


if i chose like soiao mdn to tell my wife everything und so worry you nnd make you unhappy with all sorts of anxiutipvthenvindoed dare say i alight have a little more tondorness from you


but precisely bocause i wish to keep you in clover precisely becauso i won t let you bo worried by worldly matters you think ivo nothing to con tend with


ha


mrs caudle


i cant help saying it if you only know what was on my mind


what do you know what wino will do or wont do


besides id taken buta poor half pint of the very weakest slierry lust night


only halfujint


hut when im harrasscd you ought to know how a littlo tells upon me


i was not intoxicated mrs caudle i was merely intensely anxious


and if youd any sympathy youd know it


yes a woman with sympathy woud have felt for mo would havo turned a face upon mo a faco beaming with lovo and comfort and not have boon all night making up looks of thutyjer to corao to breakfast with


im going out now and i shall tako the key so dont tlt up again


i promised to sup at doubledays tonight and you dont know whats on my mind punch


railway tiui taijle


it will bo low water mark at cnpel court until tho beginning of may when tho tide will turn and after soveral fluctuations will riso to its level ibid


jtiib qicioin or baimvavs


the first idea of railways is of very ancient date for wo hear of tho great norman line immediately after the conquest


ibid


a linunai offhk


a gentleman advertises in thqtimcs of tuesday or


a seerptury who s to receive a hundred a year ami is expected to have two thousand poundsof his own one thousand of which nro to bo deposited with his employers banker for purposes thut aro to bo lierealtor explained


wo havo no objection to tako fifty secretaries on tho same terms and rcquoit that any gout ionian wishing to treat may iunil his thousand pounds ut unco to the punch olnctbid


railway gaiiubnino


with a viow to stan lard fruit cultivate good trunks but keep clear it all unprofitable brunches


tuko are


that jiti stock is of thu right sort or it will not bo vorlli putting in and will not pay for the outlay


ciors


the bet place in tho world fur chops cbhm whara persona of tlio highest rank have ilono the privilege of serving them jfyid


marie antoinette or the chevalier of the red house


continued from our last


chapter x


as maurice had caused general santerre to he informed he was seriously indisposed


whilst he was confined to his chamber lnrin had come regularly to seo him and had done all that lay in his power to determine him to occupy himself in some way or other but maurice declined


there are maladies which are incurable


on the first of june lorin arrived at one oclock


what is there extraordinary today asked maurice you look superb


lu fact he wore the stictly prescribed uniform the cap of liberty the carmagnole and the tricolor sash adorned with a brace of pistols


in the first place said lorin there is generally speaking about to be put in practice by beat of drum the breaking up of the girond party like a sheet of ice hy a torrent j at this very moment for instance they are heating bullets on the place du carrousel


then to speak more pointedly there is a solemnityto be performed to which i invite you the day after tomorrow


but today what is there to do


you say you caine for me


yes to day we have the rehearsal


what rehearsal asked maurice


the rehearsal of the grand solemnity


my dar fellow said maurice you know that during these eight days i have never gone out consequently being completely ignorant of passing events i have the greater need of being enlightened


what have i not then told you


you have told me nothing replied mau rice


in the first place my dear friend you know that already we have suppressed god for the time being and have replaced him by the supreme being


yes i know all that


well it seems that they have discovered something new viz that the supreme being was a moderatist a rolandist a girondist


lorin let us have no sporting with holy things you know that i do not like if what can one do my dear fellow


one must belong to the age we live in


for my part i prefer the ancient god because i have been more accustomed to him as for the su preme being it seems he is denounced and has been guilty of wrong therefore our legislators have decreed his deposition


maurice shrugged his shoulders


shrug your shoulders as much as you please said lorin but tis decreed by momus and his philosophic band


that follys creed alone illuminates the land so much so continued lorin that wo are about to worship the goddess of reason


and you remarked maurice are mixed up with this masquerade


ah my friend if you only knew the god dess of reason as much as i do you would be one of her warmest partisans


hear me i shall make you known to her


i shall present you


dont plague me with such follies i am very dejected you know thatrwell


morbleu that is the very reason it will amuse you she is an excellent girl


eh i hut you know the austere goddess whom the parisians are about to crown with laurel and drag in a chariot of gilt pasteboard


it is guess how can i guess


it is arthemise


arthemise said maurice endeavouring to recollect without the name recalling anything


yes a tall brunette whose acquaintance i made last year at the opera ball


in proof you supped with us and got tipsy


ah i


yes that is true replied maurice j i now recollect is it her


it was she who had the greatest chance


i have presented her to the assembly all the thermopolites have promised me their votes


in tin ee days tin re is the general election to d iy there is the preparatory dinner when we shal drink champnune perhaps the day after tomorrow we may spill blood but let them spill as much as they please arthemise shall be tlie goddess or may the devil fly away with me


come come we will make her put on her tunic


thank you i have always had a repug nance for such proceeding


peste to di ess the goddes


my dear fellow you are very difficult to please well come if un thing will arouse you i shall put on her tunic and you shall take it off


lorin i am sick more than that i have no more gaiety whilst the gaiety of others makes me ill


i


maurice you alarm me


you fight no more youlauyh no more are you conspiring


mel thank god no


you mean to say thank the goddess of reason


leave me alone lorin i cannot i will not go out i am in bed and here i shall re main


lorin scratched his ear


good said he i see how it is


you seel said maurice


you see what i see thntyou


aw tut the goddens of reason


j morbleu exclaimed maurice ones spiritual friends are very troublesome if you do not wish me to curse you be off you and your goddess


charge charge cried lorin


i maurice lifted his hand to curse him when his servant interrupted him by entering with a letter for his citizen brother


citizen agesilas you enter at an inconve nient moment your master was about to surpass himself


i maurice listlesly let his hand fall stretching it towards the letter


he had scarcely touched it when he started and gazing at it he devourd the direction with avidity examined the seal and turning excessively pale be broke the seal


i oh obi murmured lorin j tseemsyour interest is aroused at last


maurice heard no more he read with his whole soul the four lines written by genevive


after having read them he ieread them four times then he wiped his brow and let his hand fall regarding loriti like a person entranced


i the devill said lorin here is a letter which encloses glorious news maurice read the letter for the fifth time and a vermilion colour suffused his face his arid eyes moistened and a profound sigh escaped him


then all at once forgetting his illness and his feeble condition which was a conse quence he leaped from his bed


my clothes exclaimed he to his amazed servant


my clothes my dear agesilas


oh my good my excellent lorin


i awaited it every day but in truth i did not expect it


those white trowsers and frilled shirt dress my hair and shave me instantly


the domestic hastened to obey maurices orders and speedily dressed and shaved linn


i


oh to see her once more j once again cried the young man


lorin indeed i never until this moment knew what happiness was


i my poor maurice said loi in i be lieve j ou have need of the visit i counselled


my dear friend exclaimed maurice i pirdon me hut i fear i have lost my senses


in which case i offer mine said lorin laughing at his frightful witticism


i what was surprising maurice laughed too


happiness had his mind light and elastic that was not all


hold said he cutting an orangebranch in flu wer


present this from me to the worthy widow mausole


very good exclaimed lorin


there is gallantry but i pardon you


besides it seems to me jou ure decidedly m love and i have al ways the utmost respect for great misfortunes


well j es i am in love cried maurice his heart overflowing with joy i am in love an now i can avow it as she loves me because when the recalls me she must love me is it not so lorin undoubtedly answered the worshipper of the goddess of reason cotnplaisatitly hut beware maurice the manner in which you meet the affair alarms me


egries love so full of art is folly and deception love reason free from cupid darts and dread no false reception bravo bravo cried maurice applauding arid then with the utmost precipitation he descended the stairs four steps at a time reached the quay and darted off in the wellknown direction of the old street st jaques


i believe agesilas said lorin he ap plauded me


yegr certainly citizen and it is not surpri sing for what you said was really beautiful


then he is worse than i believed re marked lorin


he in turn descended the stairs but at a much calmer pace


arthemise was not genevive


scarcely was lorin in the street st honore bearing his orangebranch than a crowd of young citizens whom according to his existing disposition he either treated to a verse or a kick in the breech followed him respectfully taking him no doubt for one of those virtuous men to whom st just proposed they should present a white robe and a bouquet of orange flowers


as the cortige gradually increased more especially as a virtuous man was a rare sight in those days until there might be several thousands of young men present when the bouquet was presented to arthemise a homage which affected other goddesses who were candidates even with the headache


this very evening there was distributed throughout pai is this famous canticle long live the goddess of reason with her light so soft and her flame so pure


and as it has even reached us without the name of the author a circumstance which has exercised greatly the ingenuity of the revolu tionary archiologists we have almost the hardi hood to affirm that it was made for the fair arthemige by our friend hyacinth lorin


chapter xi


when they are feasting and drinking they shall be consumed as stubble


natem


i


f


my son besides those passages that have iquoted froin the scred criptures there are many others a few of which i shallquote for your instruction


s thank you father i shall be most happy to hearthem


the apostle st peter in cautioning his disciples against the temptations of the devil says brethren be sober


now the reason of this holy admonition is founded upon the words of our redeemer wvhich i have already given you namely take theed to yourselves lest your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunken ness and that day comeo upon you sud denly


unless a ian be given to sobriety it is folly for him to expect a participation in the grace of god and consequently impossible for him to acquire eternalsalva tion


though the son of god has died upon the cross for his sake thbughthe holy ghost has descended upon him at his baptism and at his confirmation yet so powerful are the effects of drunkenness in the destruction of the soul that he who is the slave of it if he persevere has no reason to hope for heaven


s i wish father that all drunkards


knew those things


iam sure if they did they would give up the evil practice


sf st paul that great


apostle of the lord in teaching us how we are to live so as to please god and be saved says not in rioting and drunkenness and in ano ther place he distinctly informs us that drunkards shall not enter the kingdom of heaven


i trust my son that your reflec tioin upon those sacred truths will be to you a safeguard against ever becoming a slave to intemperance


s so i hope father with the grace of god


american notes for general circulation


by charles dickens


chapter vii


philadelphia and its solitary prison


the journey from new york to philadel phia is made by railroad and two ferries and usually occupies between five and six hours


it was a fine evening when we were passengers in the train and watch ing the bright sunset from a little window near the door by which we sat my at tention was attracted to a remarkable appearance issuing from the windows of the gentlemens car immediately in front of us which i supposed for some time was occasioned by a number of industrious persons inside ripping open featherbeds and giving the feathers to the wind


at length it occurred to me that they were only spitting which was indeed the case though how any number of passengers which it was possible for that car to con tain could have maintained such a playful and incessant shower of expectoration i am still at a loss to understand notwith standing the experience in all salivatory phenomena which i afterwards acquired


i made acquaintance on this journey with a mild and modest young quaker who opened the discourse by informing me in a grave whisper that his grand father was the inventor of colddrawn castor oil


i mention the circumstance here thinking it probable that this is the first occasion on which the valuable medi cine in question was ever used as a conver sational aperient


we reached the city late that night


looking out of my chamber before going to bed i saw on the opposite side of the way a handsome building of white marble which had a mournful ghostlike aspect dreary to behold


i attributed this to the sombre influence of the night and on rising in the morning looked out again expect ing to see its steps and portico thronged with groups of people passing in and out


the door was still tight shut however the same cold cheerless air prevailed and the building looked as if the marble statue of don gusman could alone have any busi ness to transact within its gloomy walls


i hastened to enquire its name and pur pose and then my surprise vanished


it was the tomb of many fortunes the great catacomb of investment the memorable united states bank


the stoppage of this bank with all its ruinous consequences had cast as i was told on every side a gloom on philadel phia under the depressing effect of which it yet laboured


it certainly did seem lather dull and out of spirits


it is a handsome city but distractingly regular


after walking about it for an hour or two i felt that i would have given the world for a crooked street


the collar of my coat appeared to stiffen and the brim of my hat to expand beneath its quakerly influence


my hair shrunk into a sleek short crop my hands folded them selves upon my breast of their own calm accord and thoughts of taking lodgings in mark lane over against the market place and of making a large fortune by speculations in corn came over me in voluntarily


philadelphia is most bountifully pro vided with fresh water which is showered and jerked about and turned on and poured off everywhere


the waterworks which are on a height near the city are no less ornamental than useful being tastefully laid out as a public garden and kept in the best and neatest order


the river is dammed at this point and forced by its own power into certain high tanks or reservoirs whence the whole city to the top stories of the houses is supplied at a very trifling expense


there are various public institutions among them a most excellent hospital a quaker establishment but not sectarian in the great benefits it confers a quiet quaint old library named after franklin a handsome exchange and post office and so forth


in connexion with the quaker hospital there is a picture by west which is exhibited for the benefit of the funds of the institution


the subject is our saviour healing the sick and it is perhaps as favourable a specimen of the master as can be seen anywhere


whether this be high or low praise depends upon the readers taste


in the same room there is a very characteristic and lifelike portrait by mr sally a distinguished american artist


my stay in philadelphia was very short but what i saw of its society i greatly liked


treating of its general characteris tics i should be disposed to say that it is more provincial than boston or new york and that there is afloat in the fair city an assumption of taste and criticism savouring rather of those genteel discus sions upon the same themes in connexion with shakspeare and the musical glasses of which we read in the vicar of wake field


near the city is a most splendid unfinished marble structure for the girard college founded by a deceased gentleman of that name and of enormous wealth which if completed according to the original de sign will be perhaps the richest edifice of modern times