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fortune at her feet. Nay more, in the height of

frenzy, he actually dared to hand, and, agreeing perhaps in

seize her gaunt

the truth of the

proverb, the nearer the bone the sweeter the flesh, imprinted a thousand kisses on each time-worn knuckle.

At this instant, while the heated pulse and swelling bosom of the old girl (I beg her pardon, I should have said young lady) attested her sympathy, the door opened, and in rushed Kenedy, followed by the Exciseman, who, as it appears, had seen the Solomon of Carisbroke enter the house, and had given an exaggerated statement to the farmer. The Schoolmaster rose from his knees; while Kenedy, attacking him with every epithet in the vocabulary of disgust, rained a heavy shower of blows upon his carcase. A battle instantly ensued. The farmer attacked the Schoolmaster; while Miss Deborah unwilling to be neglected, fought with alarming intrepidity, and observing that the Lord had commanded her to take the part of the godly, even as Jael drove the nail into the temples of Sisera, drove her own nails into the cheeks of the Exciseman. As for the poor flagellant, after a slight struggle, he remained in a state of passive obedience, while the fair virago, incensed at his timidity, attacked his nose with infinite dispatch.

This-this-was the unkindest cut of all,

For when the noble Laurence saw her scratch,
Ingratitude, more strong than Deborah's arms,
Quite vanquished him; then burst his mighty heart;
And, in his 'kerchief muffling up his nose,
Which all the while ran blood, Old Surly fell.

There are some callous dispositions, to whom disgrace is but the inconvenience of the moment, and who rise, after each mishap, as the reed when the blast has blown over it. This was not the case with poor Solomon: he was a pedant, but he had all the, pride of principle about him, and knowing little of mankind, could ill brook the worldly doctrine of expediency. In proportion to his sense of importance, was his consciousness of degradation; and when the once-obsequious villagers passed him with a sneer, his proud soul bled within him. But even at fifty life has charms; and where there is an hospitium within call, and an audience to edify by one's learning, there needs little or no philosophy to reconcile us to existence. So argued our academician, when after a decent interval he timidly ventured to resume his arm-chair at the Three Cups. But his dignity was fled, never to return; and when, on entering, he discovered Kenedy, the Publican, and the Exciseman, engaged in busy waggery, his intended fortitude forsook

him. But when they congratulated him ironically on the happy termination of his amours, he burst into a passion of tears, exclaiming as he retired, that it was but sorry courage to trample on a broken heart.

When the mind is harassed, the body soon declines; and a few days subsequent to this insult, found our Schoolmaster on his death-bed. As he approached nearer to the goal from which no traveller returns, his moroseness subsided into a spirit of the gentlest humility. "I freely forgive my enemies," he exclaimed to the apothecary, who attended him in his last moments, "although their gibes have cut deep into my soul." "Console yourself," replied his companion, "it was but a jest; and they that laughed, little recked that it would create a tear." 66 Jest!" resumed the invalid, "is a broken heart a fit subject for jesting? Oh! Master Oliver, I have seen and wrestled with many a sorrow, but the reflection that cut me to the soul was, that mine own dearest friends should desert me." 66 Nay, but hear me, my good Sir—” “I know what you would say," continued the pedagogue, his native pedantry bursting through, even in the arms of death," but it is all flocci, nauci, nihili, for I am fast going to a region where neither syntax nor prosody will avail me."

It was now evening, and the sun was setting in a flood of crimson glory. "Undraw the curtains," exclaimed the invalid, "while I take my last farewell of yon declining orb-or, as Virgil hath it, of golden-haired Phoebus. Sol ruit, et montes umbrantur, when this broken heart is at rest, and this unworthy character is for ever forgotten." "Be easy on that head," said his friend, "for, believe me, your name will live in Carisbroke long after your bones are in the mould." A gleam of conscious vanity brightened the eyes of the dying man, as with a faint smile he replied, "Why yes, Master Oliver, though it doth not become me to boast, I thank God that I was of some little consideration in classical literature. My nonsense verses were good, and my acquaintance with Phædrus passing that of ordinary mortals; but death, you know, æquo pede pulsat pauperum tabernas regumque turres, and he is now knocking hard at my chamber-door. Retire then awhile, I beseech you, for I would fain make out my last half-year's bill, and balance the etceteras with my Maker." His companion immediately quitted the room, while the Schoolmaster employed the brief interval in addressing himself fervently to that God, in whose presence he was so soon to appear.

After a short time the apothecary returned; but

started on perceiving the change which even that brief space had occasioned in the countenance of the invalid. The hand of death was already impressed on his forehead, and in the intervals of delirium, he incoherently exclaimed, as if engaged with his pupils, "Hic, hæc, hoc; Genitive hujus, Dative huic ; well, go on, you dunce, AccusativeTom Holloway, take up Jem Stykes; I'll teach you to remember the Accusative. First class, come up to your Phædrus, Lupus et agnus siti compulsi, a wolf and a lamb compelled by thirst-very well indeed."

"Poor fellow," wimpered Oliver, bursting into tears, "he's thinking of his school, I doubt." After a short time the lunatic continued, "Deborah! tu patulæ recubans sub tegmine fagi-no, no, that's not it, for she forsook me, and all the world has forsaken me now." "Nay, good Master Laurence, you have still one friend left." "I thank you from my heart," whispered the invalid, in the brief interval of recollection; "a few moments longer, and your kindness will not be needed; for the alphabet of my life is finished-my last substantive declined." He spoke but too truethe life-blood ebbed to his heart-a faint sigh was heard, and in an instant all was over."

He was buried in the church mentioned in the

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