The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-05-15
M i S G eIIaneous.
From the Bench and Bar Revie.y.
WILLIAM PINKNEY AT BEL AIR.
(C0ncAN0ed.l

Dogberry's apartment was indeed ar
humble one. Only in the centre of it coulC
you stand upright. Over our heads were
the rafters and bare shingles, formed exact
ly in the shape of the capital letter V in.
verted. Opposite the door was little
window of four panes of glass, and under it
or rather beside it, in the corner was little
bedstead, with straw mattrass upon it. A
small table, with tumbler and broker
pitcher, and a candle in tin candlestick
stood opposite the bed. A board nailed
across from raiter to rafter, held few books
and beside it, on nails, were q few articles OF
clothing. There were besides in the apart
ment two chairs, and a wooden chest ir
the corner by the door.
Come, drink, my old boy exclaimed
Mr.. Pinkney.
Thank you, Mr.. Pinkney; your charac
ter can stand it, l tell you, but mine can't.
Friend of my soul, this goblet SIP reit
Grated Mr. Pinkncy, offering Dogbery the
glass.
Thank you, Mr.. Pinkney, would not
choose any, said he.
You can't but choose, Dogberry; there
is no alternative. Do you remember what
the poet beautifully says of the Roman
daughter, who sustained her imprisoned
father from her own breast2
Drink, drink and live old man;
Heavens realm holds no such tide
Do you remember it l bid you drink
then and say to you, Hebe or Ganymed(
never offered to the immortals purer wine
than that; l imported it for my own use
Drink; here's to you, Dogberry, and tc
your speedy promotion and Mr.. Pinkney
swallowed every drop in the glass, and re-
| filling it handed it to the usher.
How do you like the letter, Mr.. Dogber.
ry 2 asked Mr.. Pinkney ofthe pcdagogue
What letter, sir l must say this is 8
strange proceeding; don't know, sir, tC
what you allude'
Don't know to what l allude! Why the
letter wishing to know if you would take
the academy at the same price at which
Sears now holds it,
Sir, have no such letter. l certainly
would, sir, if it was thought that was
Was competent. Merit is always mod.
est; you are the most competent of the two
sir-take some.'
So saying, Mr.. Pinkney filled up the tum.
bier, and Dogberry swallowed the wine
and the compliment together, and fixed his
eyes on the rafters with an exulting look
While he was so gazing, the lawyer filled
his glass, and observed, Come, drink, and
let me open this other bottle; want glass
myself Down went the wine, and, with q
smack of his lips, Dogberry handed tho
glass to Mr.. Pinkney.
Capital, amt it, eh 2
Capital re-echoed Dogbery. The wine
and his supposed honors had reused tho
brain of the pedagogue in q manner which
seemed to awake him to new existence.
While Mr.. Pinkney was striking the toy
from the other bottle, Dogberry handed
me the candle which he held, the other he
had put in his candlestick, taking out hi.
own candle, when he first drank, and lift
ting the tumbler he stood ready. Agar
he quatled bumper. The effect of these
potations on him was electrical. He had {
long face, with snipe-like nose, which
was subject to nervous twiching, when
ever its owner was excited. Itnow danced
about seemingly, all over his face, while
his naturally caduveruus countenance, I'm
der the excitement turned to glowing
red, and his small ferret eyes looked boil
dignificd and dancing, merry and import
ant. &c. he exclaimed, 4 am to be prin
cipal of the academy; ha-ha-ha. o Lord
William Russell, l would reproye you OF
the spot, but that you are in such distn
guished company
Whether Dogberry meant only Mr.. Pink
ney or included himself, do not know
but as he spoke he arose, and paced hi
apartment with proud tread, forgetting
what figure he cut, with his suspender
dangling about his knees, and his night
cap on, and forgetting, also, that his atti
was not high enough to admit his head t.
to be carried at its present altitude. TIL
consequence was that he struck it agains
one OF the raiters, with violence tina
threatened injury to the latter, if not to TIL
head. He stopped down and rubbed tn
injured part, when Mr.. Pinkney said to hin
'Pro- di-gi-ous,' as Dominic Sampson, on
of you, said, amt it2 Hang Franklin
notion about STOPPING in this world Come
we'll finish this bottle and then go fortl
The scholars are all rejoiced at your pro
motion, and are all assembled without t
do you honor. They have made complet
saturnalia OF it. They marvel why yo
treat them with so much reserve
Cad, I'll do it, exclaimed Dogberry
taking a tumbler and swallowing the con
tents
Just put your blanket around you,' sail
Mr.. Pinkney to him, and let your night-ca
remain; it becomes YOU
No, it don't indeed, eli p
1T does pom honor. That's it. Nov
pale-face, come forth the eloquence of I'll
Charming Serpent has Prevailed
So speaking, Mr.. Pinkney opened IL
door, and we stepped upon the platform.
The scene without was grotesque in Il
extreme. In front of us, suppose to I'll
number of hundred persons, were Il