United States or South Africa ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Poverty began already to stare him in the face, when the only friend who, having shared his prosperity, remained true to his adverse fate, a friend, fortunately for him, of high connections and brilliant prospects succeeded in obtaining for him the humble living of A . To this primitive spot the once jovial roisterer cheerfully retired contrived to live contented upon an income somewhat less than he had formerly given to his groom preached very short sermons to a very scanty and ignorant congregation, some of whom only understood Welsh did good to the poor and sick in his own careless, slovenly way and, uncheered or unvexed by wife and children, he rose in summer with the lark and in winter went to bed at nine precisely, to save coals and candles.
Poverty began already to stare him in the face, when the only friend who, having shared his prosperity, remained true to his adverse fate, a friend, fortunately for him, of high connections and brilliant prospects succeeded in obtaining for him the humble living of A . To this primitive spot the once jovial roisterer cheerfully retired contrived to live contented upon an income somewhat less than he had formerly given to his groom preached very short sermons to a very scanty and ignorant congregation, some of whom only understood Welsh did good to the poor and sick in his own careless, slovenly way and, uncheered or unvexed by wife and children, he rose in summer with the lark and in winter went to bed at nine precisely, to save coals and candles.
Benito Windham stole from his dwelling, closing the door softly after him so Alice, his wife, might not wake. A faint rose dawn colored the Contra Costa ridge. From a few of the huts and larger buildings which sprinkled San Francisco's hills and hollows so haphazardly, curls of blue white wood smoke rose into the windless air. Here and there some belated roisterer staggered toward his habitation.
The madcap roisterer has given place to the plodding tradesman; the clattering of pots and the sound of "harpe and sawtrie," to the din of carts and the accurst dinging of the dustman's bell; and no song is heard, save, haply, the strain of some syren from Billingsgate, chanting the eulogy of deceased mackerel. I sought, in vain, for the ancient abode of Dame Quickly.
One great roisterer from the sheep country who had just instigated a movement toward the bar, swept Curly in like a stray goat with the rest of his flock. The princes of kine and wool hailed him as a new zoological discovery, and uproariously strove to preserve him in the diluted alcohol of their compliments and regards.
Now and then, too, a ribald jest came from some young roisterer near, and the fact that I stood alone among sneering enemies wound me up to a point where pride was more active than aught else. I began to press him a little, and I pricked him once. Then a singular feeling possessed me. I would bring this to an end when I had counted ten; I would strike home when I said "ten."
Not until the last light was out in the last saloon in Piety Hollow, and the last roisterer had driven off into the darkness carrying a Saturday paper in his pocket, did Sam close the day's business. And it was on a Saturday night that he decided to drop paper selling. "I will take you into business with me," announced Freedom Smith, stopping him as he hurried by.
But tarry no longer now you are here. He has asked for you twice. Take care lest you dally too long!" Something in Rachel's face and in her manner of speaking seemed to make an impression upon the young roisterer. Tom was not drunk, although he had been spending the day with comrades who seasoned every sentence with an oath, and flavoured every pastime with strong drink.
For Cocky had a way with him, and ways and ways. He, who was sheer bladed steel in the imperious flashing of his will, could swashbuckle and bully like any over-seas roisterer, or wheedle as wickedly winningly as the first woman out of Eden or the last woman of that descent.
It seemed impossible that he could be the same raw rustic youth who, a few short months ago, was accounted the greatest roisterer of his own county. His doings in the past seemed just the outcome of boyish spirits. He had been nothing but a great boy in those days; now he felt that his manhood was coming upon him by leaps and bounds.
Word Of The Day