THE PARISH CLERK. BY THE AUTHOR OF "PETER PRIGGINS." EDITED BY THEODORE HOOK, ESQ IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON: HENRY COLBURN, PUBLISHER, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 1841. THE PARISH CLERK. CHAPTER XVIII. THE LIEUTENANT'S TALE. Or Ben Griskin and his wife I shall have but little more to say, except that they had two children Gregory, so named after his maternal uncle, and Matilda his sister. The parson of the parish of Oakapple did his best to induce Ben and his wife to give these two children a good education. His exertions and persuasions were useless, for both Ben and his wife had, as they said, "got on in the world theirselves, without any larning; and they didn't see the use on't for the young uns." VOL. II. B 129163 Master Gregory, therefore, wandered about *he farm, and did nothing but shoot small birds, hunt rats, feed his rabbits, ferrets, and dogs, all day, except during the few hours he passed at the village-school, from which he played truant three days out of the six. He was the tyrant of the school, because, as he was known to be the heir to great riches, the schoolmaster humoured him in every thing, and never punished him. His schoolfellows yielded to him for fear the master should punish them if they did not. He grew up an unlicked, ill-tempered, conceited cub. Matilda, his sister, would have shared the same fate, had it not been for the parson's wife, who took a great fancy to the pretty, modest little girl; and, having no child of her own, invited her frequently to the rectory. She devoted most of her spare time to the teaching of her protégée, not only the common acquirements of reading, writing, and fancy work, but, as far as her talents allowed her, she initiated her into the mysteries of music, drawing, and dancing. She had an apt pupil; and her success in teach ing her all she herself knew was a sufficient reward for the trouble she underwent. "Vayther," said Gregory to his sire one day, when he was about nineteen years of age, I do wish theed'st let I go to varmering or summat else. I'm precious sick o' ha'ing nothing to do. I'd rather work than lie oidle.” Varmering! work!" said Ben, putting down his pipe, "why shouldst thee varmer? why shouldst thee work? Arn't I meyad more money than thee'llt be able to zpend ?" "That may be, and it may not," said Gregory, "but I'se so precious dull at times I don't know what to do wi' myself.' "Why dosn't go and verrett the rats, boy?" inquired the father. "They be all verretted," replied the son. 66 Well, then, veed thy dogs and thy rabbits." "They be ved three times over." "Zhoot zome zparrows, then, or larks, or sommat.' "They be all zetting hard now; and if I kills the old uns there'll be none left for autumn." "Casn't go and catch zome vish ?” |