Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-05-21

When life's journey Is complete,
To sing anthems to Heav'n's High King!
-<SSS%
From BlackiDood's Magazias.
LONG LIFE UNDER DIFFICULTIES
On the twenty-second of August, fourteen
hundred and eighty-fve, poor woman having
started from the town of Leicester on the pre-
vious day, was pursuing her journey on foot,
with little boy some two or three years OF
age strapped on her back, and small bundle
in handkerchief in her hand. As they pro,
ceeded they were incommoded by the rapid
marchingof numerous bodies Of men, all armed
and intent on some great business. In answer
to her questions, q soldier would sometimes
tell her to move on and hold her tongue; but
once ortwice more civil respondent informed
her there was great fight toward, and that the
pretender Richmond was marching to London,
and King Richard was leading them to meet
the invader. The woman had never heard OF
either Richard or Richmond-there having
been no penny political newspapers in those
days-and went on without fear. When she
came to a large and open Geld, she saw the
armies drawn up in hostile arrayi and being
afraid to force her way through, and too tired
to take the necessary roundabout, she was fain
TO rest herself under thorn-bush at one end
of the plain. Putting her little son upon his
legs, and telling him not to move from her
side, she watched the proceedings Of the forces
before her, without being able to imagine what
they were doing, or what il was all about. AT
tho end of tremendous crswding and yelling,
and showing and hurraing, she saw man very
hot and tired throw something, she could not
tell what, upon the thick-leayed bush under
which she lay, and gallop of with all speed.
Tommy,n she said to the child, g what's
that the gentleman filings among the branchesi"
Odds bodkins 70 babbled the child, sc it's
the fine hat o. st. Thomas from our church at
home.'
"Can thee reach it, Tommy, deara'
"Ees, il thee'll how'd up tot"
The woman cautiously rose, and raising the
boy in her arms, was in the act of holding him
forward to grasp the saints hat, when great
bevy of horsemen rode up. One leaped from
his steed, impetuously dashed at the bush, up
setting the poor woman and her boy, and seized
the gttering prize.
"The English crown, by'r layde!"he said
and. kneeling on one knee. offered 1t to pale,
misunderstanding gentleman, who bad dis
mounted from his horse.
The gentleman, however, smiled and said,
g You know the place that fits it, Lord Stan
ley,'' and bent his head as he spoke.
Lord Stanley put it over the auburn locks Of
the cavalier, and Immediately great cry was
heard all over the field ;-ssGod save King
Henry God save the King"
The woman seeing what treasure she had
missed, began to exclaim &c Please remember
me, o King, for it was my little Tommy that
found that ERE crown"
did you, my little man p" said Henry, too
happy to take offence at anything.
81 'leckins did" replied the child, in it:
indistinct kind OF prattle.
Here, give him some money, some o
You,'' said the generous and economical mon
arch; and several purses were instantly throw
into the woman's lap. The party were turning
away.
"Another thing, may it please you," saiC
the woman. =" I've heard down in Shropshire
that the kings touch cures the evil; now Tom
my be very bad, and can't live unless he bt
delivered-"
The king stroked the boy on the chin, hal
in sport and said, sc Do you want to be cured
my boy z"
and the operation was complete.
The child, we have said was not more than
three years of age but there were already
deep marks upon his face, and intentions al
most like wrinkles upon his brow. He looked
prematurely old, and his sanity illusions
and very decided way Of speech gave further
evidence that his mode Of thought was great
ly in advance of his years. lie was very little,
and was feeble on his legs. 30, when the bat
tie was over, the msther strapped him again
upon her back, and with light heart and heavy
pocket, recommended her journey to ShrOp-
shire. On first coming in sight Of the Wrekin
SO great was her delight that she suddenly
stopped, and fell upon her knees. Tommy
who had climbed upon her shoulder, was pre-
cipitated over her head, and fell with grea
violence ON the ground.
" Drat the child,'' said the unfeeling parent
sc thee can't live to enjoy thy fortune, if thee
breaks thy bones in this guise. Get up Tom
my. Hast thee snapt of thy t'other leg fol
thy right one be scarce mended since the mil
ler's donkey kicked it in twain. Art thee
killed 2" she cried, in a louder voice, wher
Tommy lay quiet. sc Clean dead wiz such
tumble as this-'
The boy opened his eyes and said, 6 By
Pottsrkind, l thinks be-"
The woman gathered him up as if he had
been u broken piece of srockery. "Thee haS
cracked thy two legs" she said, and three Of
thy ribs; thou hast had measles that crooked
thy back, and hooping-ceugh that wore out thy
chest thou hast kings evil, and art in a
deep decline, and canst eat nothing, and never
sleeps o'nights. Thee can't live, Tommy"
" Hold the tongue o. thee, ;" replied the inva-
lid. g By the Splutteu of York, l won't die
nowhere but in my little bed at home. So get
thee on, mother, for thinks shall never sur
viye the SHUTDOWN"
Tommy, however did survive, and when
twenty years were past, he had grown to his
full height, which was not much, and was
strong for SO very delicate person; and as his
mother before her decease had pointed. out to
him the rafter between which and the thatcb
She had hidden the ransom money of the Eng
fish crown, he considered himself above the
necessity of work, and INDUCED in complete
idleness and Independence Being idle and
Independent, he did many foolish things,
among the reat, he fell in love. A girl was
coming through the church-yard with pail of
water on her head a beautiful, fair-haircd
nght-igHred girl-the ornament Of the village.
This was Tommy's sweetheart.
g Good evening, Susan Prodigy" he said
Fatherland how sweet thou lookest; give
us kiss Susan.''
g Out o. my gate, Tommy the triher," said
Susan, but stopping at his address. I" What
would such dying like apparition do wi 4
kiss, if l gi'ed We onel"
"'Twould maybe keep me alive" replied
Tommy, " for I've such pain in the chest
s.Try a poHltice," replied the fair physician:
SEA little brown paper and tar would be o. more
use to a . host than ever kiss Of mine"
&c feckins," said Tommy, Z" perhaps you re
right. / really wish / could die once for good
for nobody ever thinks | can live year. Harly
ye, Susan Prodigy, like thee so that | wish TO
make thee rich. If thou'lt marry me promise
to die within the twelve months, and thee shall
have all my COIN"
"rhat be good and tempting offer, Tom.
my" replied the girl, with laugh, sc and I'll
think ont. Clear the road, or I'll souse thee
with the watcr-can." And so saying, she
brushed past the unfortunate wooer, and
tripping gracefully over the stile, was lost to
view.
Dodderiopsl" said Tommy, &c if I could
only hope 10 live a few years-but it is useless
to hope it. I've had the jaundice and the
smallpox, and the sweating sickness; I've
broke all my bones I've had my head crack
eds I've had my jaws out of joint; l have
cough 40 loud as a shepherds dog; l have
falling sicknSs; hsse q complaint in my liv-
sr; | hssa twist in the spine; 1 have ague
every spring and autumn, and scarlet fever