登陆注册
5262500000057

第57章 HANNAH BINT.(2)

My friend, Hannah Bint, is by no means an ordinary person. Her father, Jack Bint (for in all his life he never arrived at the dignity of being called John, indeed in our parts he was commonly known by the cognomen of London Jack), was a drover of high repute in his profession. No man, between Salisbury Plain and Smithfield, was thought to conduct a flock of sheep so skilfully through all the difficulties of lanes and commons, streets and high-roads, as Jack Bint, aided by Jack Bint's famous dog, Watch; for Watch's rough, honest face, black, with a little white about the muzzle, and one white ear, was as well known at fairs and markets as his master's equally honest and weather-beaten visage. Lucky was the dealer that could secure their services; Watch being renowned for keeping a flock together better than any shepherd's dog on the road--Jack, for delivering them more punctually, and in better condition. No man had a more thorough knowledge of the proper night stations, where good feed might be procured for his charge, and good liquor for Watch and himself; Watch, like other sheep dogs, being accustomed to live chiefly on bread and beer. His master, though not averse to a pot of good double X, preferred gin; and they who plod slowly along, through wet and weary ways, in frost and in fog, have undoubtedly a stronger temptation to indulge in that cordial and reviving stimulus, than we water-drinkers, sitting in warm and comfortable rooms, can readily imagine. For certain, our drover could never resist the gentle seduction of the gin-bottle, and being of a free, merry, jovial temperament, one of those persons commonly called good fellows, who like to see others happy in the same way with themselves, he was apt to circulate it at his own expense, to the great improvement of his popularity, and the great detriment of his finances.

All this did vastly well whilst his earnings continued proportionate to his spendings, and the little family at home were comfortably supported by his industry: but when a rheumatic fever came on, one hard winter, and finally settled in his limbs, reducing the most active and hardy man in the parish to the state of a confirmed cripple, then his reckless improvidence stared him in the face; and poor Jack, a thoughtless, but kind creature, and a most affectionate father, looked at his three motherless children with the acute misery of a parent who has brought those whom he loves best in the world to abject destitution. He found help, where he probably least expected it, in the sense and spirit of his young daughter, a girl of twelve years old.

Hannah was the eldest of the family, and had, ever since her mother's death, which event had occurred two or three years before, been accustomed to take the direction of their domestic concerns, to manage her two brothers, to feed the pigs and the poultry, and to keep house during the almost constant absence of her father. She was a quick, clever lass, of a high spirit, a firm temper, some pride, and a horror of accepting parochial relief, which is every day becoming rarer amongst the peasantry; but which forms the surest safeguard to the sturdy independence of the English character. Our little damsel possessed this quality in perfection; and when her father talked of giving up their comfortable cottage, and removing to the workhouse, whilst she and her brothers must go to service, Hannah formed a bold resolution, and without disturbing the sick man by any participation of her hopes and fears, proceeded after settling their trifling affairs to act at once on her own plans and designs.

Careless of the future as the poor drover had seemed, he had yet kept clear of debt, and by subscribing constantly to a benefit club, had secured a pittance that might at least assist in supporting him during the long years of sickness and helplessness to which he was doomed to look forward. This his daughter knew. She knew also, that the employer in whose service his health had suffered so severely, was a rich and liberal cattle-dealer in the neighbourhood, who would willingly aid an old and faithful servant, and had, indeed, come forward with offers of money. To assistance from such a quarter Hannah saw no objection. Farmer Oakley and the parish were quite distinct things. Of him, accordingly, she asked, not money, but something much more in his own way--'a cow! any cow! old or lame, or what not, so that it were a cow! she would be bound to keep it well; if she did not, he might take it back again. She even hoped to pay for it by and by, by instalments, but that she would not promise!' and, partly amused, partly interested by the child's earnestness, the wealthy yeoman gave her, not as a purchase, but as a present, a very fine young Alderney. She then went to the lord of the manor, and, with equal knowledge of character, begged his permission to keep her cow on the Shaw common. 'Farmer Oakley had given her a fine Alderney, and she would be bound to pay the rent, and keep her father off the parish, if he would only let it graze on the waste;' and he too, half from real good nature--half, not to be outdone in liberality by his tenant, not only granted the requested permission, but reduced the rent so much, that the produce of the vine seldom fails to satisfy their kind landlord.

Now Hannah showed great judgment in setting up as a dairy-woman.

同类推荐
  • 针经节要

    针经节要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 阴真君还丹歌诀注

    阴真君还丹歌诀注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上九要心印妙经

    太上九要心印妙经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 六十种曲双烈记

    六十种曲双烈记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 百花弹词

    百花弹词

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 弃妃难宠,洞房不拜堂

    弃妃难宠,洞房不拜堂

    他娶她的那一天,万人空巷,热闹空前。她是全天下女人羡慕的对象,因为她的夫君是西凉最宠爱的贤王。他休离她的那一天,天下易主,众望所归。她成为全天下女人笑话的对象,因为她曾经的身份曝光人前。她一个青楼女子,如何能成为母仪天下的皇后?从云端跌入泥中,个中滋味只有自己知晓。再次相见,他温润一笑,她却释然颔首。听着她身后的稚童甜甜的叫她一声“娘亲”。为何他的心有刹那间的疼痛。衣袂翩然,指尖轻擦。他想握,却再也握不住……情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 全面战争之英雄无敌

    全面战争之英雄无敌

    战争永远是进步的阶梯,战争一触即发。永远不要失去对战争的警惕
  • 爆宠

    爆宠

    一场雨林中的乱情,全身重伤的她被无情的凌辱而怀有身孕,但也让她从低贱的奴隶成为镜帝国的王妃。大婚之夜,她怀有身孕照样逃婚,带着他的孩子逃之夭夭。“孩子!抓牢你老妈的肚子,老妈带你出去看看外面的世界!”“可恶的女人,就算你逃到天涯海角,本王也要把你抓回来!本王的孩子你休想带走!”“想抓我!你以为老娘是软柿子?”怀孕又如何,毁容又如何,是奴隶又如何,她照样翻云覆雨,俯视苍穹,成就一方霸业,让整个大陆最杰出的男人为她争得头破血流,而自己拈花淡笑,独自妖娆!好友文文推荐:埖埖的文文岚赏弃妇要休夫:暮阳初春总裁姐夫好凶猛艾晓朵戏宠………...................................................................................本文诚招收藏者,待遇优渥,不包吃包住,不过包看。不包五险一金,但包N险N惊。每天上班时间只需几分钟,打卡制(留言投票),无假期。有意应聘者请点放入书架那个按钮,无需面试,来者不拒。此文的群:100359218,进群说角色名字即可。在移动手机阅读平台上使用的名称为《蜜爱帝国王妃》
  • 转生仙途之追寻

    转生仙途之追寻

    重获新的人生吗?啧!我还以为转世投胎,然后什么也不记得了。既然还拥有着过去的记忆……那就没什么好怕的了。一个老太太,重生之后变成一个十三、四岁的小女生,这要用什么语气态度面对旁人?装萌装可爱装小装撒娇吗?什么!那个什么首席大弟子多个嘴,自己就得累得像条狗,虽然,从中还是捞了不少修炼资源,但是怨气还是重呀…那个谁?修为高就跩吗?什么叫欢迎我投怀送抱?我呸!老娘这辈子只想要自由、长生,一点都不想跟情爱勾搭半点关系。
  • 团子驾到

    团子驾到

    谦谦君子意,七窍玲珑心。他说:我是你的。你在哪里,我在哪里。他说:我为什么要放弃,你告诉我到底该如何放弃?他说:为敌为友,只为你而已。如果你不来找我,那我便去找你。这次我不会再等。米团说:我只想当个快乐的富二代,上上学,看看美男。可如果你非要赶团子上架,那就别怪我不客气了!团子驾到!坏人退散。
  • 有爱不觉天涯远

    有爱不觉天涯远

    那一刻,她的心,忽然柔软无比。她仿佛听到自己心里铁马冰河一般轰隆隆响过,所有的坚冰,都融化了。她知道,原来她的心,一直偏离在爱的轨道之外。这摔倒的跤,让她的爱情拐了一个弯,他的宠爱和心疼,是拐弯处鲜明的路标,一路引领着她,走进爱的轨道。
  • 咒印巫师

    咒印巫师

    努力改变出身,知识改变未来,我将撬动命运的天平!诸神黄昏,由我展开!
  • 要婚不昏

    要婚不昏

    大龄剩女徐静贞很想一波婚姻求带走,但是不婚主义地下男友孙协安,坚决不从。直到在一场被设计的相亲上遇到他,这才知道,原来他不是不婚,只是不想和她婚。既然如此,老娘不伺候了。可为什么分手以后,前男友他又圆润地滚了回来?
  • 大道至繁

    大道至繁

    鸿蒙苍穹,万千宇宙,究竟何为大道?道究竟浩瀚还是渺茫,极简还是至繁?且看我宿小羽万法一身,将这三界力挽狂澜!
  • 冷酷帝君别这样

    冷酷帝君别这样

    她本是二十一世纪特种雇佣兵,穿越到北辰国,代嫁枫瀮国,却独独失去了记忆!他是北辰的皇子,为了复仇,他狠心舍去心爱的她,只为能够登上皇位!他是枫瀮国年轻的皇帝,却独独放不下她。为了让她开心,他忍痛送她回国!他是枫瀮国遗忘的皇子,原本性格淡然,却为了保护心爱的她,处心积虑,密谋叛变!