essays on life, art and science-第8节

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The　nieces　replied　that　their　aunt　must　choose　between　the　dog　and
them；　and　Mrs。　Newton　sends　a　second　letter　which　brings　her
development　to　a　climax。　　It　runs：…


〃DEAR　MISS　；　I　have　Receve　your　Letter　and　i　Whent　up　to　your　Aunt
as　you　Wish　me　and　i　Try　to　Perveal　With　her　about　the　Dog　But　she
Wold　not　Put　the　Dog　away　nor　it　alow　him　to　Be　Tied　up　But　She
Still　Wishes　you　to　Come　as　Shee　says　the　Dog　Shall　not　interrup　you
for　She　Donte　alow　the　Dog　nor　it　the　Cats　to　Go　in　the　Parlour
never　sence　She　has　had　it　Donup　ferfere　of　Spoiling　the　Paint　your
Aunt　think　it　vary　Strange　you　Should　Be　so　vary　Much　afraid　of　a
Dog　and　She　says　you　Cant　Go　out　in　London　But　What　you　are　up　a
gance　one　and　She　says　She　Wonte　Trust　the　Dog　in　know　one　hands　But
her　Owne　for　She　is　afraid　theay　Will　not　fill　is　Belley　as　he　Lives
upon　Rost　Beeff　and　Rost　and　Boil　Moutten　Wich　he　Eats　More　then　the
Servantes　in　the　House　there　is　not　aney　One　Wold　Beable　to　Give
Sattefacktion　upon　that　account　Harry　offerd　to　Take　the　Dog　But　She
Wood　not　Trust　him　in　our　hands　so　I　Cold　not　Do　aney　thing　With　her
your　Aunt　youse　to　Tell　Me　When　we　was　at　your　House　in　London　She
Did　not　know　how　to　make　you　amens　and　i　Told　her　know　it　was　the
Time　to　Do　it　But　i　Considder　She　sets　the　Dog　Before　you　your　Aunt
keep　know　Beer　know　Sprits　know　Wines　in　the　House　of　aney　Sort
Oneley　a　Little　Barl　of　Wine　I　made　her　in　the　Summer　the　Workmen
and　servantes　are　a　Blige　to　Drink　wauter　Morning　Noon　and　Night
your　Aunt　the　Same　She　Donte　Low　her　Self　aney　Tee　nor　Coffee　But　is
Loocking　Wonderful　Well

〃I　Still　Remane　your　Humble　Servant　Mrs　Newton

〃I　am　vary　sorry　to　think　the　Dog　Perventes　your　Comeing

〃I　am　Glad　to　hear　you　are　Both　Well　and　we　are　the　same。〃


The　nieces　remained　firm；　and　from　the　following　letter　it　is　plain
the　aunt　gave　way。　　The　dog　motive　is　repeated　pianissimo；　and　is
not　returned　tonot　at　least　by　Mrs。　Newton。


〃DEAR　Miss　；　I　Receve　your　Letter　on　Thursday　i　Whent　to　your　Aunt
and　i　see　her　and　She　is　a　Greable　to　everry　thing　i　asked　her　and
seme　so　vary　Much　Please　to　see　you　Both　Next　Tuseday　and　she　has
sent　for　the　Faggots　to　Day　and　she　Will　Send　for　the　Coles　to
Morrow　and　i　will　Go　up　there　to　Morrow　Morning　and　Make　the　Fiers
and　Tend　to　the　Beds　and　sleep　in　it　Till　you　Come　Down　your　Aunt
sends　her　Love　to　you　Both　and　she　is　Quite　well　your　Aunt　Wishes
you　wold　Write　againe　Before　you　Come　as　she　ma　Expeckye　and　the　Dog
is　not　to　Gointo　the　Parlor　a　Tall

〃your　Aunt　kind　Love　to　you　Both　&　hopes　you　Wonte　Fail　in　Coming
according　to　Prommis

MRS　NEWTON。〃


From　a　later　letter　it　appears　that　the　nieces　did　not　pay　their
visit　after　all；　and　what　is　worse　a　letter　had　miscarried；　and　the
aunt　sat　up　expecting　them　from　seven　till　twelve　at　night；　and
Harry　had　paid　for　〃Faggots　and　Coles　quarter　of　Hund。　　Faggots　Half
tun　of　Coles　1l。　1s。　3d。〃　　Shortly　afterwards；　however；　〃She〃　again
talks　of　coming　up　to　London　herself　and　writes　through　her　servant
…


〃My　Dear　girls　i　Receve　your　kind　letter　&　I　am　happy　to　hear　you　ar
both　Well　and　I　Was　in　hopes　of　seeing　of　you　Both　Down　at　My　House
this　spring　to　stay　a　Wile　I　am　Quite　well　my　self　in　Helth　But　vary
Low　Spireted　I　am　vary　sorry　to　hear　the　Misforting　of　Poor　charles
&　how　he　cum　to　flie　in　the　Fier　I　cannot　think。　　I　should　like　to
know　if　he　is　dead　or　a　Live；　and　I　shall　come　to　London　in　August　&
stay　three　or　four　daies　if　it　is　agreable　to　you。　　Mrs。　Newton　has
lost　her　mother　in　Law　4　day　March　&　I　hope　you　send　me　word　Wather
charles　is　Dead　or　a　Live　as　soon　as　possible；　and　will　you　send　me
word　what　Little　Betty　is　for　I　cannot　make　her　out。〃


The　next　letter　is　a　new　handwriting；　and　tells　the　nieces　of　their
aunt's　death　in　the　the　following　terms：　　…


〃DEAR　Miss　；　It　is　my　most　painful　duty　to　inform　you　that　your
dear　aunt　expired　this　morning　comparatively　easy　as　Hannah　informs
me　and　in　so　doing　restored　her　soul　to　the　custody　of　him　whom　she
considered　to　be　alone　worthy　of　its　care。

〃The　doctor　had　visited　her　about　five　minutes　previously　and　had
applied　a　blister。

〃You　and　your　sister　will　I　am　sure　excuse　further　details　at
present　and　believe　me　with　kindest　remembrances　to　remain

〃Yours　truly；　&c。〃


After　a　few　days　a　lawyer's　letter　informs　the　nieces　that　their
aunt　had　left　them　the　bulk　of　her　not　very　considerable　property；
but　had　charged　them　with　an　annuity　of　1　pound　a　week　to　be　paid　to
Harry　and　Mrs。　Newton　so　long　as　the　dog　lived。

The　only　other　letters　by　Mrs。　Newton　are　written　on　paper　of　a
different　and　more　modern　size；　they　leave　an　impression　of　having
been　written　a　good　many　years　later。　　I　take　them　as　they　come。
The　first　is　very　short：…


〃DEAR　Miss　；　i　write　to　say　i　cannot　possiblely　come　on　Wednesday
as　we　have　killed　a　pig。　　your's　truely；

〃ELIZABETH　NEWTON。〃


The　second　runs：…


〃DEAR　Miss　；　i　hope　you　are　both　quite　well　in　health　&　your　Leg
much　better　i　am　happy　to　say　i　am　getting　quite　well　again　i　hope
Amandy　has　reached　you　safe　by　this　time　i　sent　a　small　parcle　by
Amandy；　there　was　half　a　dozen　Pats　of　butter　&　the　Cakes　was　very
homely　and　not　so　light　as　i　could　wish　i　hope　by　this　time　Sarah
Ann　has　promised　she　will　stay　untill　next　monday　as　i　think　a　few
daies　longer　will　not　make　much　diferance　and　as　her　young　man　has
been　very　considerate　to　wait　so　long　as　he　has　i　think　he　would　for
a　few　days　Longer　dear　Miss　　I　wash　for　William　and　i　have　not　got
his　clothes　yet　as　it　has　been　delayed　by　the　carrier　&　i　cannot
possiblely　get　it　done　before　Sunday　and　i　do　not　Like　traviling　on
a　Sunday　but　to　oblige　you　i　would　come　but　to　come　sooner　i　cannot
possiblely　but　i　hope　Sarah　Ann　will　be　prevailed　on　once　more　as
She　has　so　many　times　i　feel　sure　if　she　tells　her　young　man　he　will
have　patient　for　he　is　a　very　kind　young　man

〃i　remain　your　sincerely

〃ELIZABETH　NEWTON。〃


The　last　letter　in　my　collection　seems　written　almost　within
measurable　distance　of　the　Christmas…card　era。　　The　sheet　is　headed
by　a　beautifully　embossed　device　of　some　holly　in　red　and　green；
wishing　the　recipient　of　the　letter　a　merry　Xmas　and　a　happy　new
year；　while　the　border　is　crimped　and　edged　with　blue。　　I　know　not
what　it　is；　but　there　is　something　in　the　writer's　highly　finished
style　that　reminds　me　of　Mendelssohn。　　It　would　almost　do　for　the
words　of　one　of　his　celebrated　〃Lieder　ohne　Worte〃：


〃DEAR　MISS　MARIA；I　hasten　to　acknowledge　the　receipt　of　your　kind
note　with　the　inclosure　for　which　I　return　my　best　thanks。　　I　need
scarcely　say　how　glad　I　was　to　know　that　the　volumes　secured　your
approval；　and　that　the　announcement　of　the　improvement　in　the
condition　of　your　Sister's　legs　afforded　me　infinite　pleasure。　　The
gratifying　news　encouraged　me　in　the　hope　that　now　the　nature　of　the
disorder　is　comprehended　her　legs　willnotwithstanding　the　process
may　be　gradualultimately　get　quite　well。　　The　pretty　Robin
Redbreast　which　lay　ensconced　in　your　epistle；　conveyed　to　me；　in
terms　more　eloquent　than　words；　how　much　you　desired　me　those
Compliments　which　the　little　missive　he　bore　in　his　bill　expressed；
the　emblem　is　sweetly　pretty；　and　now　that　we　are　again　allowed　to
felicitate　each　other　on　another　recurrence　of　the　season　of　the
Christian's　rejoicing；　permit　me　to　tender　to　yourself；　and　by　you
to　your　Sister；　mine　and　my　Wife's　heartfelt　congratulations　and
warmest　wishes　with　respect　to　the　coming　year。　　It　is　a　common
belief　that　if　we　take　a　retrospective　view　of　each　departing　year；
as　it　behoves　us　annually　to　do；　we　shall　find　the　blessings　which
we　have　received　to　immeasurably　outnumber　our　causes　of　sorrow。
Speaking　for　myself　I　can　fully　subscribe　to　that　sentiment；　and
doubtless　neither　Miss　　nor　yourself　are　exceptions。　　Miss　's
illness　and　consequent　confinement　to　the　house　has　been　a　severe
trial；　but　in　that　trouble　an　opportunity　was　afforded　you　to　prove
a　Sister's　devotion　and　she　has　been　enabled　to　realise　a　larger　（if
possible）　display　of　sisterly　affection。

〃A　happy　Christmas　to　you　both；　and　may　the　new　year　prove　a
Cornucopia　from　which　still　greater　blessings　than　even　those　we
have　hitherto　received；　shall　issue；　to　benefit　us　all　by
contributing　to　our　temporal　happiness　and；　what　is　of　higher
importance；　conducing　to　our　felicity　hereafter。

〃I　was　sorry　to　hear　that　you　were　so　annoyed　with　mice　and　rats；
and　if　I　should　have　an　opportunity　to　obtain　a　nice　cat　I　will　do
so　and　send　my　boy　to　your　house　with　it。

〃I　remain；
〃Yours　truly。〃


How　little　what　is　commonly　called　education　can　do　after　all
towards　the　formation　of　a　good　style；　and　what　a　delightful　volume
might　not　be　entitled　〃Half　Hours　with　the　Worst　Authors。〃　　Why；　the
finest　word　I　know　of　in　the　English　language　was　coined；　not　by　my
poor　old　grandfather；　whose　education　had　left　little　to　desire；　nor
by　any　of　the　admirable　scholars　whom　he　in　his　turn　educated；　but
by　an　old　matron　who　presided　over　one　of　the　halls；　or　houses　of
his　school。

This　good　lady；　whose　name　by　the　way　was　Bromfield；　had　a　fine　high
te