The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-01-21

away from home and joining circus.
A ride that l shall never forget was
one that had about week or ten
days before Captain Marryat's death.
| had been staying for several days,
together with my father, at Langham
Cottage, and on this particular occasion
il was not thought possible that Capt.
Marryat would live till the morning.
Accordingly my father, thinking l should
be in the way, started me off at mid
night on the cream coiored pony,
Dumping, to ride home. 1t was a
beautiful moonlight night, and the air
was intensely hot. Something in the
atmosphere, combined with the excep.
tionaI nature of the situation in which
| found myself, filled me with a wild
sense of elation. Twas heartily ashamed
of it, remembering that my dear old
friend was probably dying at the same
time. But ! could not subdue the feel
ing, and when | dashed up to our own
door, frightening my dear mother out
of her first sleep and her wits by my
unexpected arrival, l was so radiant
with excitement and delight that she
thought l must be the bearer of better
news of our old friend, instead of the
little messenger of woe that | was.
Captain Marryat rallied the next day,
and I went back to stay with his daugh-
tiers, and remained there until he died
on the morning of the 9th of August,
aged fifty-six.
A long, long interval ensued between
the loss of my first literary acquain-
tance and my meeting with my second,
who Was none other than the late DR..
Emmanuel Deutsch, of "Talmud" cele-
brity. 1t was at his instigatlon that
made my first effort at writing for pub
LEGATION. This initial effort, to my own
unbounded surprise, was successful,
and appeared, under the title of "a
Stroll in the Park" in the first number
of London Society. Twenty-six years
have rolled over my head since then
but have never forgotten the thump
of ecstasy my heart gave when opened
letter from Mr.. James Hogg, the edi-
tor, and found that it contained a check
for 4lI2 in payment for my article,
Being of a sanguine temperament, |
Immediately assumed that as | had
written that article in two days, l could
with the greatest ease make thirty-six
pounds week, irrespective of that
novel-writing which resolved to COM
mence at once.
Ii was blissful dream, and | very
soon awoke from it.
Shortly after this the eldest Miss
Marryat took me with her to a party
at the house of Mrs. Lynn Linton.
where | met for the first time Mr..
Shirley Brooks and Mr.. Edmund Yates,
and very soon, through the kind inhu-
ence of the former gentleman, my
novel, 'TTheo Leigh commenced to
run in Once a Week.
lust about this time | met with an
accident that threatened for time TO
put an end not only to my literary work,
but to my life. l was trying a clever
little mare over some hurdles in the
riding school at Kensington, and after
going over triumphantly four or five
times, either the mare or | got careless.
At any rate, she slipped in landing and
came down with me, and when l was
pulled up and my habit cut off, it was
discovered that my shoulder, elbow,
and wrist were dislocated. | confess
to not remembering very much about
what followed, as | became unconscious
very soon, and remained in a state OF
delirlum for ten days. When l recov-
cred, my dear mother made vain efforts
to wiring a promise from me that
would never ride again. But evaded
making the promise, and long before
my arm had got straight again l was in
my favorite place-the saddle.
In fact, in those days riding was alb
solutely necessary for me. as | had no
time for walking exercise. Twas work
ing very hard, frequently writing up to
three or four O'Clock in the morning,
and getting up regularly at eight O'Clock
to resume my place at my desk. AT
two my horse was brought to the door,
and | would go off into the country
-1ooeeyy9 9nd Richmond for three or four
hours alone, BUT a aTiSsa4s in brilliantly
high unclouded spirits, that had habit
of communicating themselves to the
mare, whose demeanor when she
touched turf was that of a mad cat.
After my introduction to the Yateses,
Mr.. Edmund Yates was very often my
companion in these rides. The World
was lot in those days, and he did not
require weight-carrier. For long
time l remember was rather shy of
talking to him in society, as l feared
his sarcasms. But in tine saddle | was
any mans equal l felt proudly con-
scious, and so, after a few rides, my
sense Of awe subsidized, and a very
pleasant feeling of comradeship sue
ceeded it.
About this time tragic incident oc-
cured in our family with what bid fair
to be disastrous results to me.
One of my dearest and most faithful
friends-a red setter called Rock-had
the misfortune to engage in a street
row with very aggressive and ill-look-
ing pointer, that was afterward proved
to have been suffering from rabies at
the time. Rocks first bad symptom
developed that same night. He was