Charcoal Sketches: Second series

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Page 187 - Ponder's father was run over by a wagon, as he stood debating with himself, in the middle of the road, whether he should escape forward or retreat backward. There were two methods of extrication, and between them both old Ponder became a victim. How then could their worthy son, Peleg, be expected to arrive at a conclusion ? He never does. Yet, for one's general comfort and particular happiness, there does not appear to be any faculty more desirable than the power of
Page 95 - ... will not deign to speak, and environs us, as it were, in an ambuscade, so that we fear the more because we know not what to fear ? " Why don't she blow me up ?" queried Dawdle to himself, as he found his valor collapsing — " why don't she blow me up like an affectionate woman and a loving wife, instead of standing there in that ghostified fashion?
Page 187 - PELEG W. PONDER: OR, THE POLITICIAN WITHOUT A SIDE. IT is a curious thing — an unpleasant thing — a very embarrassing sort of thing — but the truth must be told — if not at all times, at least sometimes ; and truth now compels the declaration, that Peleg W. Ponder, whose character is here portrayed, let him travel in any way, can not arrive at a conclusion.
Page 148 - ... do as he thinks every one should do, derives solace and refreshment for his spirit by going a fishing, alone by himself, with a patent-rod and a red cork. When he succeeds in setting the household by the ears, and has got the whole neighborhood comfortably in an uproar, he then — quietly — like Sylla abdicating — travels off to fish, Fishes have this advantage as companions — they bite, and say not a word ; or, if they do not bite, they never make jeering remark, or indulge in provoking...
Page 2 - Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, BY JS REDFIELD, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, in and for the Southern District of New York.
Page 91 - Dawdle is one of those natural and proper people who become sleepy of evenings, and who are rather apt to yawn after tea. Mr. Dawson Dawdle, on the other hand, is of the unnatural and improper species, who are not sleepy or yawny of evenings — never so, except of mornings. Dawson insists on it, that he is no chicken to go to roost at sundown ; while Mrs. Dawson Dawdle rises with- the lark. The larks he prefers, are larks at night. Now, as a corrective to these differences of opinion, Dawson Dawdle...
Page 95 - ... my dear, it's me — only me." Not a word of response to the tender appeal — the lady remained obdurate in silence — chilly and voiceless as the marble, with her eyes sternly fixed upon the intruder. Dawson Dawdle felt himself running down. " My dear — he! he !" and Dawson laughed with a melancholy quaver — "it's me that's come home — you know me — it's late, I confess — it's most always late — and I — ho! ho ! — why don't you say something, Mrs. Dawson Dawdle? — Do you...
Page 95 - Mrs. Dawdle's hand slowly extended itself toward the culprit, who made no attempt at evasion or defence — slowly it entwined itself in the folds of his neck-handkerchief, and, as the unresisting Dawson had strange fancies relative to bow-strings, he found himself drawn inward by a sure and steady grasp. Swiftly was he sped through the darksome entry and up the winding stair, without a word to comfort him in his stumbling progress. " Dawson Dawdle ! — Look at the clock ! — A pretty time of night,...
Page 96 - I'll save you trouble, and speak the whole speech for you right off the reel, only I can't cry good when I'm jolly." But Dawson Dawdle's volubility, assumed for the purpose of hiding his own misgivings, did not answer the end which he had in view ; for Mrs. Dawson Dawdle, having had a glimpse at its effects, again resorted to the " silent system
Page 90 - Let him wait," remarked Mrs. Dawson Dawdle; "let him wait — 'twill do him good. I'm sure I've been waiting long enough for him." And so she had ; but, though there be a doubt whether this process of waiting had " done good" in her own case, yet if there be truth or justice in the vengeful practice which would have us act toward others precisely as they deport themselves to us — and every one concedes that it is very agreeable, however wrong, to carry on the war after this fashion — Mrs. Dawson...

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