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Updated: May 12, 2025
As poor Sinclair passed out of the door, he heard the company laugh long and loud at the supposed imposition he had attempted to practise upon Mr. Grump, the 'worthy host. Now be it known that this Mr. Grump was one of the most arrant scoundrels that ever went unhung. Low-bred and vulgar, he had made a fortune by petty knavery and small rascalities.
All kinds come here looking for berths on our ships, and some of them are rather queer ones, you know, sir, and we like to have a little fun with them." "Have fun with that man? I wish I had your intellectual nerve." "You know him, sir? If I had known " "I don't know him. I saw him and listened to him, as you did. But let me tell you something, Mr. Grump.
The doubter was there before him, and saw a big tear in the corner of each of Grump's eyes. A few days after Grump went to Placerville for a new pick for the Pet the old one was too heavy for a light man, Grump said. Pet himself felt rather lonesome working on his neighbor's claim, so he sauntered down the creek, and got a kind word from almost every man.
Worthy Mr. Grump lives over him, who is also an ancient inhabitant of the Inn, and who, when Doomsday comes home to read Catullus, is sitting down with three steady seniors of his standing, to a steady rubber at whist, after a dinner at which they have consumed their three steady bottles of Port. You may see the old boys asleep at the Temple Church of a Sunday.
I say, Aleck, you'd have had to starve for a few days to get thin, and then I could have pulled you out. Here, I say, though, old fellow, I'm not going on the grump any more; things might be worse, eh?" "Ever so much," said Aleck, cheerfully. "Let's have a good drink now, and then go and examine some of those barrels.
'Taint 'cos Grump wanted to do him a good turn, fur 'tain't his style. Cons'kently, thar's sumthin' wrong. Tom, I reckon I take you along." And Tom and the colonel departed.
He was a talented fellow great pity, but can't be helped. Yes, it could have been helped, Mr. Grump; had you kindly taken that poor unfortunate by the hand, and afforded him food and shelter for a brief season, he never would have met that tragical end, but might have lived to reform, and lead a life of usefulness and honor; yes, he might have lived to bless you for that timely aid.
That night the boys at the saloon wrinkled their brows like unto an impecunious Committee of Ways and Means, as they vainly endeavored to surmise why Grump could want that young man as a lodger. Men who pursued wittling as an aid to reason made pecks of chips and shavings, and were no nearer a solution than when they began.
The next morning found him back on his old claim, and volunteering to every one the information that "stranger's a grump a reg'lar grump." From that time forth "Grump" was the only name by which the man was known. Time rolled on, and in the course of a month Painter Bar was mentioned as an old camp.
And in spite of beseeching looks from the girls, Kettles was shortly afterwards hurried away with her jug of tea-leaves, and Nurse gave a great sigh of relief as the big boots went clumping down the stairs. "She's far nicer than Mrs Grump," said Nancy when they were left alone with Nurse, "only you don't let her talk half enough. I wanted to ask her lots of things.
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