Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1859-02-23
3llst&llantOus.
Extracts from the Biography of Douglas
Jerrold, by his son.
DOUGLAS JERRoLD AS MrDsHIrMAv.


" He had gone ashore with Capt. Hutch
inson, and was left in command of the gig.
While the commander was absent, two of
the men in the midshipman's charge re.
quested permission to make some trifling
purchase. The good naturcd officer as
sented, adding BY the way, you may as
well buy me some apples and few pears.
'AIl right, sir said the men and they
departed. The captain presently returned,
and still the seamen were away on their
errand. They were searched for, but they
Any naval reader whose eyes may wander
over this page will readily imagine the dis
grace into which Midshipman Douglas Jer-
rold fell with his captain. Upon the young
delinquent the event made a lasting i'm
preston, he talknd about il with that Gu
rious excitement which lit up his face
when he spoke OF anything he had felt
He remembered even the features of the
two deserters; as he had, most unexpect-
edly, an opportunity of proving. The
midshipmun had long PIT his dirk aside,
and washed the salt from his brave face
He had become fighter with keener
weapon than his dirk ever proved, when,
one day stroling eastward, possibly from
the office of his own newspaper 10 the
printing premises of Messrs. Bradbury and
Evans, in Whitefriars, he was suddenl,
struck with the face and form of baker,
who, with his load of bread at his back,
was examining some object in the window
of the surgical instrument maker, who
puzzled so many inquisitive passers by,
81, To
There was no mistake. Even the Aour
dredge could not hide the fact. The eX-
midshipman walked niubly to the bakers
side, and rapping him sharply upon the
back, said-I say, my friend, don you
think you've been rather long time about
that fruit? The deserter's jaw fell. Thr-
ty years had not calmed the unquiet sug
gestions OF his conscience. He remem-
bered the fruit and the little MILDLY, for
he said d-'Lor! is that you sirY The mid.
shipman went on his way laughing"
DICKENS OPINION or JERRoLr.
- Few of his friends. Mr.. Dickens
writes, i think, can have more favorable
opportun ties of knowing him in his GENT
lest md most afiectIonate aspect than |
have had. He was one of the gentlest
and most aflectionate mon. remember
very well that when ! FIRST saw him, in
about the year 1885, when went into his
sick room in Thistle Grove Brompton,
and found him propped up in great chair,
bright-eyed, and quick, and eager in spirit,
but very lame in body, he gave me an i'm.
preston of tenderness. 1t never became
dissociated from him. There was nothing
cynical or sour in his heart as | knew it.
In the company of children and young
people he was particularly happy, and
showed to extraordinary advantage. He
never was so gay sweet-tenlpered, so pleas
ing and so pleased as then. Among my
own children ! have observed this many
and many time When they and came
home from Italy, in lS45, your father went
to Brussels to meet us, in company with
our friends, Mr.. Forster and Mr. Maclise.
We all travelled together about Belgium
for a little while. and all came home to-
gether He was the delight Of the chill
dren all the time, and they were his de-
light. He was in his most brilliant spirits,