The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-10-15


"Now my dear children, said Thump'-
emwell, you know | love you sincere
ly,' and the hypocritical wretch seized
hold OF his ferula ns he spoke, 'and l
should die with grief, il one of you ever
came to the gallows. Do you hear p
Now continued he after short
pause Il was telling you that 1 loved
you dearly and, as love you, / must
save you from the gallows. Now, the
little atrocious vagabond who made that
drawing is sure to be hanged nothing
can save him from il, unless / find him
out and fog him and confne him for
three days upon bread and water. You see
therefore my dear children continued
he, still in the same bland voice that
my affection compels me to punish the
offender. Therefore ask you who did
it?" '
No reply. ia.
"Tell me, or will fog every soul of
you from the biggest to the least. Who
was the atrocious reptile that had the
audacity to do it ?"
Still there was no reply; and Thump'-
emwell lifted his rod, and brandished
1t in air passing the fingers of his left
hand lovingly through the thongs as it
descended
Still a general silence eprevailed every
one looked innocent; and the real cul.
prit certainly the most innocent of all.
Again the question was asked, and all
eyes were directed towards poorTweezle,
who, though guiltless as the babe un
born, stood trembling at the bottom Of
the file. His countenance was pale, his
eyes were downcast, and his knees
knocked together. AS the fierce look
Of the pedagogue was turned towards
him, my poor friend thought that he
might as well have been guilty since he
was sure to bear the punishment.
at was you, was it; you incorrigible
rascal?" said Thump'emwell, seizing
the unlucky Peregrine by the nape Of
the neck. Now go sir, and rub it Off"
Tweczle did as he was desired.
"Now my dear little boy, "said Thum'p
emwell, "come hcre!'
Tweezle knew it would be of no Use
TO resist, and so he went.
| In minute afterwards, the instru-
ment of torture assembled and descended
in rapid succession, and the screams of
the unhappy sufferer rcsounded through
the apartment.
"I'll teach you, you imp,to make sport
of your superiOrs,' said Thump'emwell,
after he had logged him till his arm
was tired. And noW;" added he, ,"cOmo
with mel"
Tweezle, still believing, as if he had
the lungs of ten urchins, was dragged
by Thump'emwell to little dark, dus
ty room, used as the prison for juvenile
delinqucnts, and there locked up. W.
all of us heard him roaring for abou
five minutes, when the noise gradually
subsidized, and he was as quiet as if hi
had dropped asleep. Feeling acutely
for his suilerings, and indignant that ht
should have undergone such severe pun
ishment for an offence Of which lie Wa.
guiItless, | seized an opportunity tt
steal away to condole with him upoL
his wrongs. Tapping gently at the dool
OF his prison | announced myself, and
straightway began to console him un
der the pressure of his evil fortune.
"Oh, / am quite comfortable" sale
Tweezle, stopping me short in the mids
OF my lamentations.
"What! said l, surprised, after sucl
, beating rs that Internal Thump'em
well gave you ?"
"Yes," said Tweezle.
"And three whole days to be locke,
up here and condemned to bread an,
water. Comfortable did you say?"
Mesquite comfortable, ''said Tweezl
'one thing only troubles me-"
"And what is thatT
"That l was not guilty. However,
intend to become SO as soon as get ou
and there's comfort in that"
"Well done, Tweezle l admire yo
, for that! But is it not cruel neverthe
less that you should be confined her
for three days? Is 1t not disgraceful :?
at is rather replied Tweezle; shut
| don't mind it. Three days will soone
!. pass than week. / might have bee
worse !"
5 And with this small grain OF comfor
, that his punishment might hav
( been more severe, Tweezle passed tn
A term OF his imprisonment in Cheerful
n ness. Happy Tweezle!
+ This was one OF the troubles Of hi
. early life; and in manhood he has nc
!. been more fortunate. Ill luck has al
t ways followed him. He has been i
3 love, and been jlltcd; he has played
;. and been plucked; he has confided an
O been deceived; but still the more tina
@ fortune has fr0wned, the more stubbor
: he has been in defiance of her-and tn
IS more eager to console himself, even !
l. fate's darkest day, by rejecting, 'thG
r it might have been worse"
II Another adventure in which he wa
II concerned will show his turn of mint
d The Hon. Major Fitzhggins, gentl,
It man who rcjoiccd in Il great stock {
!. assurance, tolerably handsome pc
?, son, and II very accommodating COZ
is science, took il into his head to pa
@ some very marked attentions TO Mi
y Julietta Blossom, II young lady to whol
II Tweezle was engaged. These gallan
II ries of the Major towards the fair Ju
y ietta were, of course, not very pleasii
u To my friend Peregrine; and it may
l. course bo inferred that no great portic
70 Of good Will subsisted between him IN
If the Major. Peregrine being an e,ls
l. good natured fellow, would never hay
l. insulted Major Fitzliggins; but the la
T. ter being an Overbearing puppy
N thought fit to apply mn epithet towar'
l. Mr.. Peregrine Tweezle, which as ge
N tleman, Mr.. Percgrine Tweezle cou