The Trinity times., 1855-06-09
The Raven

Inc Raven,
In the preface to recent edition Of Bar
nady Rudge, Charles Dickens gives the FOL
lowing story of the Raven which plays Sc
conspicuous part in that tale.
"Ihe raven IN this story is compound o
two great originals, of whom | have been, al
different times, the proud posses,or. The
first was in the bloom Of his youth, when he
was discovered in modest retirement in Lon
don, by friend Of mine, and gwen to me
He had from the first as Sir Hugh Evans
says of Anne Page, good gifts which he
improved by study and attention in most
exemplary manner lie slept in stable
generally on horesback-and so terrified a
Newfoundland dog by his preternatural sagaci-
ty, that he has been known, by The mere supe
rority OF his genius, to walk off unmolested
with the dogs dinner from before his face.
He was rapidly rising in requirements and
virtues, when in an evil hour, his stable was
newly painted. He observed the workmen
closely, saw that they were careful of the
paint, and Immediately burned to possess it
On their going to dinner, he eat up all they
had left behind, consisting of pound or two
of white lead; and this youthful indiscrelon
terminated in death.
While | was yet inconsolable for his loss,
another friend of mine in Yorkshire dscov-
cred an older and more gifted raven mt a
village public-house, which he prevailed up
on the landlord to part with for considera-
ton, and sent up to me. The FIRST act OF this
Sage, was to administer to the effects Of his
predecessor, by disinierrng all the cheese
and lalipenee he bad buried in the garden
IA work of immense labor aud research, 10
which he devoted all the energies Of his
mind. When he had achieved this task, he
applied himself TO the acquisition OF stable
language, in which he soon became such an
adept that he would perch outside my win
dow and drive imaginary horses with great
skin, all day. Perhaps even never saw him
at his best for his former master sent his
duty with him, and if wished the bird to
come out very strong, would be so good as
to show him drunken man'-which never
did, having unfortunately none but sober
people at hand. But could hardly have re-
speeted him more, whatever the stimulating
influences Of this sight might have been.--
He had not the least respect, | am sorry to
say, for me in return, or for anybody but the
cook; TO whom he was attached--Lut only,
fear as a policeman might lave been. Ouce,
met him Unexpectedly, about hall a mile
off, walking down the middle OF the npper
street, and spontaneously exhibiting The
whole Of his accomplishments. His gravity
under those trying circumstances, | never
can forget, nor the OK rnordinary gaantty
with which, refusing to be brought home, lie
defended himself behind pump, until over
powered by numb 1t may have been
that he was too bright genius 20 live long,
or it may have been that he took some per
nicious substance into his bill, and thence IN
to lis m,w-which is not Improbable seeing
tha, I've new painted the greater part of the
earden-wall by digging out the mortar, broke
countless square Of glass by scraplng away
the putty all around the frames, aud tore up
and swallowed, in splinters, the greater part
of a wooden staircase Of six steps aud land
ing-but after some three years he too Was
taken in, and died before the kitchen fire
lie kept his eye to the last upon the meat as
it roasted, and suddenly turned over Oh his
back with a sepllclral cry Of Cuckoo! -
Since then have been ravenless."