FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102  
103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   >>   >|  
aid a voice behind the Dominie. It was that of old Tom, who had just come from the cabin. The Dominie turned round, and perceived old Tom. "This is old Tom, sir," said I to the Dominie, who stared with astonishment. "Art thou, indeed? Jacob, thou didst not tell me that he had been curtailed of his fair proportions, and I was surprised. Art thou then Dux?" continued the Dominie, addressing old Tom. "Yes," interrupted young Tom, who had come from forward, "he is _ducks_, because he waddles on his short stumps; and I won't say who be goose. Eh, father?" "Take care you don't _buy goose_, for your imperance, sir," cried old Tom. "A forward boy," exclaimed the Dominie. "Yes," replied Tom "I'm generally forward." "Art thou forward in thy learning? Canst thou tell me Latin for goose?" "To be sure," replied Tom; "Brandy." "Brandy!" exclaimed the Dominie. "Nay, child, it is _anser_." "Then I was right," replied Tom. "You had your _answer_!" "The boy is apt." _Cluck cluck_. "He is apt to be devilish saucy, old gentleman; but never mind that, there's no harm in him." "This, then, is young Tom, I presume, Jacob?" said the Dominie, referring to me. "Yes, sir," replied I. "You have seen old Tom, and young Tom, and you have only to see Tommy." "Want to see Tommy, sir?" cried Tom. "Here, Tommy, Tommy!" But Tommy, who was rather busy with a bone forward, did not immediately answer to his call, and the Dominie turned round to survey the river. The scene was busy, barges and boats passing in every direction, others lying on shore, with waggons taking out the coals and other cargoes, men at work, shouting or laughing with each other. "`_Populus in fluviis_,' as Virgil hath it. Grand indeed is the vast river, `_Labitur et labetur in omne volubilis aevum_,' as the generations of men are swept into eternity," said the Dominie, musing aloud. But Tommy had now made his appearance, and Tom, in his mischief, had laid hold of the tail of the Dominie's coat, and shown it to the dog. The dog, accustomed to seize a rope when it was shown to him, immediately seized the Dominie's coat, making three desperate tugs at it. The Dominie, who was in one of his reveries, and probably thought it was I who wished to direct his attention elsewhere, each time waved his hand, without turning round, as much as to say, "I am busy now." "Haul and hold," cried Tom to the dog, splitting his sides, and the tears runni
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102  
103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Dominie

 

forward

 

replied

 
Brandy
 
immediately
 

turned

 
answer
 

exclaimed

 

labetur

 

volubilis


Labitur
 

cargoes

 

taking

 

waggons

 

generations

 
shouting
 

Virgil

 

fluviis

 

Populus

 
laughing

attention

 
direct
 

wished

 

reveries

 

thought

 

splitting

 

turning

 
appearance
 

mischief

 

musing


eternity

 

making

 

desperate

 

seized

 

accustomed

 

gentleman

 

father

 

stumps

 

waddles

 

generally


imperance

 

interrupted

 

addressing

 

perceived

 

stared

 

astonishment

 
surprised
 

continued

 

proportions

 

curtailed