The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-01-14
A STORY FOR THE NEW YEAR.

first Empire.
A STORY FOR THE NEW YEAR.
BY THE DEAN OF PIMLICo.
From the Dublin University Magazine.
We wsre staying during the Christmas week
at the Bishops palace at x; a small par
ty, chiefly young people, with sprinkiing of
the cleric order. 1t had showed most pertina.
ciously for three days, thus precluding all out
of'doors amusement; SO we were thrown upon
cur own resources to create enjoyment at home,
and kinGle artificial sunshine around the yule
log and beneath the mistletoe.
And 30 it came to pass, that on the last even.
ing OF the old year, after supper, and when our
dear anu venerable prelate had retired to his
rest, one O. his grandsonea fine, bright lad, Just
fresh troa Harrow-made lively proposition
that we saoud all sit up till twelve O'Clock, and
keep vigil, to see the death and the birth, the
exit and the entrance of the old and the new
year; to say " farewell" to the former, and cry
" all hail' to the latter; and 10 behold these
two greas shadows meet and mingle for Sec
ono on the vast dialplate Of time, and then
pass, anj part forevermore. This motion of
our you6g friends was carried, no man dissent
ing; and. furthermore, we agreed to beguile the
cripple tardy gated night" in telling stories,
each IN his turn, thus establishing a sort of
abridged Decameron, but neither go witty nor go
wicked ss the Florentine's, or an English
Nights Entertainment" on an epitomized
scale to that of Sultan Schariar, but wanting
the cutting off of the heads, and the muliericide
OF that sarguineous potentate.
The young people commenced, the Harrow
man leading the van their narratives were not
over wise, but then they were not over long ;
and if they were wanting in learning and wit,
they produced laughter and kept up good hui
NOR, which WAS all we required
Then followed sentimentally intoned and
somewhat lugnbrious recital from the pale
young curate of Hazewhittle-cum. Shiyering.
hafo, which had this remarkable feature, that
the mos melancholy parts of the narrative we're
sufe to produce most concealed mirth among
the you ager auditory; and what the pensive
rasrato' put forth as pathos seemed ever to be
conside, ed BY his hearers as purest bathos.
Dcctr Broadhurst next took up his parable,
and nattated his adventures in the great snow
OF 10 :, during ride from Oxford to c.,
when is black mare balled in her hoofs,
slipped sided, ssliddered, and eventually STUN.
bled, ID fell prone, prostrating the learned
Doctor on the surface Of the snowy element.
who loS on the occasion his equilibrium aud
his blu spectacles. And this fall had moth.
ing OF oracle In it, seeing the Doctor was pur-
oiind 9fioad his vision, and plethoric quoad his
person, and thereby untitled to perform the
tanctlo.:s of the equestrian ORDER" &c.
:" PA, bumct humi Dos" whispered the Harro-
Wan.
1t W; 3 now eleven o'clock, and none remain
Cd put myself and our honored guest, the Dean
CT PiS hco, who locked 80 intelligent, and had
suca ayparkle in his pure gray English eye,
ana su5h meeting of the waters of benevo-
lenca End sarcasm around his wellcut mouth,
! that, e.>lling to mind what the great Usher
once sid OF Bishop Bedel, breach him. and
! you viii find good liquor in him." felt certain
that tbe Dean of Pimlico, "claruns ct uenera6ile
nonaen J" would not belle either his face or his
fame ~ the quality of his narrative So
briefiyAand simply told what had befallen me
by nlslt at an old Inn in the city Of Gloucester,
Where George Whitfield was born, and the com.
tort Dad received, in an hour of depression.
isom ne chimes of an ancient clock, most sweet
and clear, ringing out, over the still midnight
ar, Gregorisn tone. My tale was short, and
my audience applauded mean unexpected
compliment, paid, suspect, more to the brew.
y OF my story, than produced by its weight.
A9d now, all eyes we're turned upon the
pean OF Pimlico, who, crossing his strong
but wsll-shaped limbs on the hearth rug, with
a viii handkerchief in his hand, and a clear
ard ringing voice, and a preliminary smile, and
q httss hem, as if he were about to deliver q
charge to his chapter, proceeded as follows:
1t was about this night seven years that was
stanoing on my own drawing room hearth rug,
thinking of nothing, and listlessly watching the
ioottian, who was extinguishing the wax lights
In Tia lustre for had had bachelors dinner
pari.', and my guests were just departed, when
sade only there came tremendous double knock
al tie hall door, disturbing the silence of the
nigh, and expressive of haste and much men.
tai citation in him who knocked. On the door
beir ! opened, some one bounded up the stairs
viii such a wonderful velocity and eagerness
thai immediately concluded it must be either
! a ghwayman or else my nephew Harry, a
!, you .g divinity student, but who, having Irish
bio j in his veins, occasionally exhibited more
viz. city than just suited the sober standard OF
my staid domicile. True enough, it was he
!. ane his first appearance rather alarmed me, for
Ice the lad ia my soul, and he is to be my
hei.. On the present occasion, his face was
fushed, his hair in disorder, and his eye and
Aspect troubled and excited
Swell, Harry, what IS the matter? What
aas brought you up, like ghost in tragedy,
1T tbs witching hour of night, to murder sleep,
ftne disturb me and my decorous household ?
Speak now, or else forever hereafter hold thy
9esee."
so, uncle" exclaimed the young fellow,
sea.ing himself in an armchair, {" / have done
!deed, half an hour ago, which must affect
my whole future life, and at which I am sure
you will he disRleased; and so 1 came here,
ate though it be, to tell of my distress, and ask
tor counsel"
"Why, what in the name of wonder have you
been doing?" l exclaimed "Say, Stagyrite,
have you been hbelling Sam of Oxford, or pub
Fishing pasquinade on DR.. Pussy, or admin
ll'stering strychnine to Cardinal Wiseman?"
i "No, l assure you, uncle" answered the
Supplemented, matter-of- fact young fellow,
have never written any libel on the Lord Bsh.
op; and as for DR.. Pussy, have only seen
him once, when could not believe it was he
and in regard to DR.. Wiseman, whatever
NIGH"
"Come, come" interrupted I, "let US have
no scandalum magnatum. He has an in
dubtable position, though not from US or with
US; but what is the cause of your trouble,
Harry?"
). "Why, uncle, was dining to-day at our
rscousin's, General O'Brien's. You know you
always wished me to cultivate that family they
/ are 80 accomplished, so pious, and 80 charm.
ing"
" Eumph," said /, "no doubt they are; but
J l can guess what is coming"
" Ard 50, uncle, after having been &C.
: quainted with them for the last six weeks, led
on by the irresistible ardor of an attachment
founded on rational esteem," here smiled,
"oemented by long intercourse" six weeks
. to wit" thought l., and developing golden
future of domestic happiness" (" more gold, !
, fear, 10 the brain than in the bank" mentally
{ calculated, l proposed, and was accepted TO-
night by Mary O'Brisn and we have agreed