low it.

All this having been effected by the said peal on the bell, the said
somebody or somebodies did incontinently take to their heels, and
disappear long before the old porter could pull his legs through his
nether garments and obey the rude summons. At last the old man swang
open the gate and the basket swang across his nose; he went in again for
a knife and cut me down, for it was cruel to hang a baby of a few days
old; carried me into the lodge, lighted a candle, and opened the basket.
Thus did I metaphorically first come to light.

When he opened the basket I opened my eyes, and although I did not
observe it, the old woman was standing at the table in very light
attire, sponging her nose over a basin.

"Verily, a pretty babe with black eyes!" exclaimed the old man in a
tremulous voice.

"Black eyes, indeed," muttered the old woman. "I shall have two
to-morrow."

"Beautiful black eyes, indeed!" continued the old man.

"Terrible black eyes, for sartain," continued the old woman, as she
sponged away.

"Poor thing, it must be cold," murmured the old porter.

"Warrant I catch my death a-cold," muttered the wife.

"But, dear me, here's a paper!" exclaimed the old man.

"Vinegar and brown paper," echoed the old woman.

"Addressed to the governors of the hospital," continued the porter.

"Apply to the dispenser of the hospital," continued his wife.

"And sealed," said he.

"Get it healed," said she.

"The linen is good; it must be the child of no poor people. Who
knows?"--soliloquised the old man.

"My poor nose!" exclaimed the old woman.

"I must take it to the nurses, and the letter I will give to-morrow,"
said the old porter, winding up his portion of this double soliloquy,
and tottering away with the basket and your humble servant across the
court-yard.

"There, it will do now," said the old wife, wiping her face on a towel,
and regaining her bed, in which she was soon joined by her husband, and
they finished their nap without any further interruption during that
night.

The next morning I was reported and examined, and the letter addressed
to the governors was opened and read. It was laconic, but still, as
most things laconic are, very much to the point.

"This child was born in wedlock--he is to be named Japhet. When
circumstances permit, he will be reclaimed."

But there was a postscript by Abraham Newland, Esquire, promising to pay
the bearer, on demand, the sum of fifty pounds.