dickory cronke(迪克雷·克龙克)-第2节
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and a very good fortune； took him into her service； and carried him with
her； first to Bath； and then to Bristol； where； after a lingering distemper；
which continued for about four years； she died likewise。
Upon the loss of his mistress； Dickory grew again exceeding
melancholy and disconsolate； at length； reflecting that death is but a
common debt which all mortals owe to nature； and must be paid sooner or
later； he became a little better satisfied； and so determines to get together
what he had saved in his service； and then to return to his native country；
and there finish his life in privacy and retirement。
Having been； as has been mentioned； about twenty…four years a
servant； and having； in the interim； received two legacies； viz。； one of
thirty pounds； left him by his master； and another of fifteen pounds by his
mistress； and being always very frugal； he had got by him in the whole
upwards of sixty pounds。 This； thinks he； with prudent management； will
be enough to support me as long as I live； and so I'll e'en lay aside all
thoughts of future business； and make the best of my way to Cornwall； and
there find out some safe and solitary retreat； where I may have liberty to
meditate and make my melancholy observations upon the several
occurrences of human life。
This resolution prevailed so far； that no time was let slip to get
everything in readiness to go with the first ship。 As to his money； he
always kept that locked up by him； unless he sometimes lent it to a friend
without interest； for he had a mortal hatred to all sorts of usury or
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extortion。 His books； of which he had a considerable quantity； and some
of them very good ones； together with his other equipage； he got packed
up； that nothing might be wanting against the first opportunity。
In a few days he heard of a vessel bound to Padstow； the very port he
wished to go to； being within four or five miles of the place where he was
born。 When he came thither； which was in less than a week； his first
business was to inquire after the state of his family。 It was some time
before he could get any information of them； until an old man that knew
his father and mother； and remembered they had a son was born dumb；
recollected him； and after a great deal of difficulty； made him understand
that all his family except his youngest sister were dead； and that she was a
widow； and lived at a little town called St。 Helen's； about ten miles farther
in the country。
This doleful news； we must imagine； must be extremely shocking； and
add a new sting to his former affliction； and here it was that he began to
exercise the philosopher； and to demonstrate himself both a wise and a
good man。 All these things； thinks he； are the will of Providence； and
must not be disputed； and so he bore up under them with an entire
resignation； resolving that； as soon as he could find a place where he
might deposit his trunk and boxes with safety； he would go to St。 Helen's
in quest of his sister。
How his sister and he met； and how transported they were to see each
other after so long an interval； I think is not very material。 It is enough for
the present purpose that Dickory soon recollected his sister； and she him；
and after a great many endearing tokens of love and tenderness； he wrote
to her； telling her that he believed Providence had bestowed on him as
much as would support him as long as he lived； and that if she thought
proper he would come and spend the remainder of his days with her。
The good woman no sooner read his proposal than she accepted it；
adding； withal； that she could wish her entertainment was better； but if he
would accept of it as it was； she would do her best to make everything
easy； and that he should be welcome upon his own terms； to stay with her
as long as he pleased。
This affair being so happily settled to his full satisfaction； he returns to
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DICKORY CRONKE
Padstow to fetch the things he had left behind him； and the next day came
back to St。 Helen's； where； according to his own proposal； he continued to
the day of his death； which happened upon the 29th of May； 1718； about
the same hour in which he was born。
Having thus given a short detail of the several periods of his life；
extracted chiefly from the papers which he left behind him； I come in the
next place to make a few observations how he managed himself and spent
his time toward the latter part of it。
His constant practice； both winter and summer； was to rise and set with
the sun； and if the weather would permit； he never failed to walk in some
unfrequented place； for three hours； both morning and evening； and there
it is supposed he composed the following meditations。 The chief part of
his sustenance was milk； with a little bread boiled in it； of which in the
morning； after his walk； he would eat the quantity of a pint； and sometimes
more。 Dinners he never eat any； and at night he would only have a pretty
large piece of bread； and drink a draught of good spring water； and after
this method he lived during the whole time he was at St。 Helen's。 It is
observed of him that he never slept out of a bed； nor never lay awake in
one； which I take to be an argument； not only of a strong and healthful
constitution； but of a mind composed and calm； and entirely free from the
ordinary disturbances of human life。 He never gave the least signs of
complaint or dissatisfaction at anything； unless it was when he heard the
tinners swear； or saw them drunk； and then； too； he would get out of the
way as soon as he had let them see； by some significant signs； how
scandalous and ridiculous they made themselves； and against the next time
he met them； would be sure to have a paper ready written； wherein he
would represent the folly of drunkenness； and the dangerous consequences
that generally attended it。
Idleness was his utter aversion； and if at any time he had finished the
business of the day； and was grown weary of reading and writing； in which
he daily spent six hours at least； he would certainly find something either
within doors or without； to employ himself。
Much might be said both with regard to the wise and regular
management； and the prudent methods he took to spend his time well
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towards the declension of his life； but； as his history may perhaps be
shortly published at large by a better hand； I shall only observe in the
general； that he was a person of great wisdom and sagacity。 He
understood nature beyond the ordinary capacity； and； if he had had a
competency of learning suitable to his genius； neither this nor the former
ages would have produced a better philosopher or a greater man。
I come next to speak of the manner of his death and the consequences
thereof； which are； indeed； very surprising； and； perhaps； not altogether
unworthy a general observation。 I shall relate them as briefly as I can；
and leave every one to believe or disbelieve as he thinks proper。
Upon the 26th of May； 1718； according to his usual method； about four
in the afternoon； he went out to take his evening walk； but before he could
reach the place he intended； he was siezed with an apoplectic fit； which
only gave him liberty to sit down under a tree； where； in an instant； he was
deprived of all manner of sense and motion； and so he continued； as
appears by his own confession afterwards； for more than fourteen hours。
His sister； who knew how exact he was in all his methods； finding him
stay a considerable time beyond the usual hour； concludes that some
m
