Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-28
The Boots at the Holly-Tree Inn
BY CHARLES DICKENS.


Where had he been in his time? he repeated
when asked him the question. Lord, he had
been everywhere And what had he been!
mention Almost.
Seen a good deal? Why, OF course he had.
should say so, he could assure me, if only
kEew about the twentieth part OF what had
come IN his way. Why, it would be easier for
him, be expected, 10 tell what he hadn't seem
than what he had All! A deal il would.
What was the curiOlsest thing he had seen?
Well! He Gidn t know. He couldn't momentiv
name what was the curiOusest thing he had
Seen-unleSs 10 was a CncOTn-and he had seen
him, once, at Fair. But, suppOsing a young
gentleman, not eight years old vet, was to run
away Wlth line young woman OF seven, might
think that queer start? Certainly? Then,
that was a start he himself had had his
blessed eyes O1-and he had cleaned the shoes
they run iD-snd they was so little that he
cOuidn't get his hand into EN-.
Master HAIRY NslmeT's father, yOu see, ne
lived al ths ElBSCS, down away by Shooter
Hill, SIX or seven miles from Lunnon. lie was
gentleman OF spirit and gOOd-lOOking, and
held his head up when he walked, and hqd VIII Ar
You might call nTe about him. de wrote poetry
ana ne rode and be ran, and be danced, AMI hs
acted; ana ne done II all equally beautiful. HI
was UncOmmOuly proud OF Master Harry as ne
was bis only child; but he didn't spoil hum
neither. lie T2s gentleman that had q will Of
MS own and an eye Of his Own, and that wou
be minded. Consequently. though he made
quite companion OF the tine bright bow and
Was delighted to see him a. fond OF reading his
ASliN utJAs AMI Nhs never IiT0u OF hearing lim
say my name Is NOryai; or hearing him sing his
songs about Young May Moons in beaTning
love- and when he a. azores thee has Iett but
the name. and that still he kent the command
over the child, and the child was a child ami
it's to be wished more of EN- was
How did Boots happen TO know all this. whv
through being uEdeT-gardener. OF course he
couldn DC under-garCeGeT, and be always abo o Z
IN the summer time, near the windows on the
iaWn, moving, aud sweeping, and welding.
and pruning, and this and that, without gel
4PQuHInfp1 q va NJ Ia fova iIr-
Eyen surprising Master Harry hadn't coma 10
HIM one morning early, and said, .. CObbs, how
should You spell NOrsh. il You were asked
and then began Cutting It in print all over the
fence.
He couldn't say he had taken anv partic lIar
notice OF Children before that, bat really il va
pref Y % see them two mites agOiug about the
place together, deep In love. Aud the coura -
OF the boy deep III love. And the courage u
boy Bless our SOul. he Il have thrown OF his
niue nat, anu tucked up his little sleeves. aud
gone IN at q lion. he would. Il thew happened
10 meet one, anu ste had been frightened OF
him. one day. he stops, along with her, where
sayS-speakirg up,
:. Cobbs, = says he - l like Won, 30 vou sira
In proud TO hear it - Yes. I 10, Cob5s WHv
DO Ike you; DO you think. CObbs"'' - Don't
know, Master Harry, am sure.' - acause
NOTsh likes YOU, CObbs.'' - Indeed, cir? That
Is very gratifying" e Gratifying, cohbs? It's
better than millions OF the brightest diamond.
10 be liked by NOrah.' Certainly. sir -
" You're going away, Amt you, C0bbs?'' 8 zee,
sir" Would you like another s!tua-ioU
CObbs?' "Well | wouldn't object. ii il was a
good 'un.' "Then, CoJbs." saws he. '.vo1
shall be our Head Gardener when we are ma
RED. And he tucks her. IN her little sky b!as
mantle, under his arm. sud walks away
EOCts could assure me that it Was better than
picture and equal 20 a play, to see them b4-
bits with their long bright curling hair, their
Sparkling eyes, and their beautiful light treal,
aIsmbhns about the garden, deep in love
Boots was OF opinion that the birds LaIIeved
they were birds, and kept up with 'em. Some
times they would creep under the tulip tree
and would sit there with their arms round one
anotheT's neeks, and their soft cheeks touching
reading about the Prince, and the Dragon
and the good and bad enchanters and the kings
Islr daughter. Sometimes he would hear them
planning about having house in the forest
keeping bees and a COW. AMI living entirely on
mix and honey. Once he came upon them by
the pond, and heard Master Harry say
Adorable NCTah, kiss me, aud say Vol, iove
me % distraction, or IN jump in head lore
most And Boots made no question he would
have done. if she hadn't complied. On the
whole, Boots said il had tendency 20 maze
lin feel as If he was in iove himself-on!y he
didn't exactly know who with.
"CObbs," said Master Harry. one evening
when CObbs was watering the flowers, al am
going on visit this present midsummer, to nv
grsndmamDa's at York"
% Are You indeed, sir? 1 hope yoaT have a
nice time. am going TO Yorkshire myself,
ARE you going to your grandmother,
g. No, sir. | havu't got such a thing
. Not as grandmother, Cob5s:"
Tie boy looked on at the watering Of the
flowers for little while and then said. al SHAH
ing,
with YOUR beautiful sweetheart by your side -
"CObbs,' returned the bow, flushing. Il
never LEI any one joke about it, when / can
:. IL wasn't joke, sir said Cob5s, with I'M
mi!lry, LIT wasn't meant
- am glad OF that. CO5bs, because I Ike
you you snow, and you are going ID live with
"Sir"
me, when 20 down theTe?'
- 1 couldn't 20 much a. make A yuaSs sirJ
q A Bank Of England dye- pound note. Cohbs -
new. SAYS Cobos- that's spanking
sum Of money, Master Harry"
person could DO good deal with surh a
s Sn, OF motley a. that. Couldn't a person,
al believe you. sir,
"CObts said the boy. " III tell Won a secret.
AT Norah's house they have been ioking her
about me, and pretending TO l.uyh A. on -,
engaged. Pretending TO MAKE game OF II.
such, cir. says CObts, SIS the depra7ity of
human natuv.'
The boy, looking eractIylike his father. s,oo !
LOT lev moments with his glowing face to-
WARDS the sunset, and then Departed win
1000 night, Cobbs. I'm going IN. -
t v a. 20 ask Boots how il happened that
-
iresSTJ uhe, well, he couldn't rightly answer
inS' ne cin suppose he might have staid there
in nov, ~ nc mad been anyway inclined. But
you, Ahss ne Was younger then and he wante
shAhSe- MI w almers, ne said IN hiu, vbao
ne gave him notice OF his intentionS 70 lssvs
Coohs, he says, have you ANYTHING 70 com.
piSln OF: make the inquiry bscsrssiTI fin ,
that any or my people really has anvtbipy 70
complain q, wish To make IL right n 4 ca, ;,
No, s4T, SAYS CObbS, thanking Won sir 7
mo ysef as well sitiwated here a. \ co,,I5
hope 70 DC any~he e.. The truth L. SIR. tn.
M Eolng 70 seek my fortin." 30 in1asJ
tCbts: be says; 81 hope you nav tind - ;,
ana Boots could assure me-which be IA
toucbing his hair with lbs bO0t-iack a a s,lats,
not found II vet. &c H@~
Wei, str. Boots left the Elmsas when his tina
was up and Master Harry he went d1un ), 49,
OH lAdys az orb, whica Old LADY would nave
given that child the teeth out Of her head IN
kne bad any,, she was 80 wrept no in hi n
What does that infant do-fOr inf ant Won rn a .
call lin and be within the msrk-cut aVay
from the old lsdy's with his Norah on an eXne-
dition TO 20 20 Gretna Green and be married ,,
Sir, Boots was this identical HoIly-Tres Inn
thAsiDg lett IL several q mes To better himself
bnt always came back through one thing OF