Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

HORE SARISBURIENSES.

PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.

RESPECTED EDITORS,

THOUGH naturally a shy youth, and but an indifferent correspondent, I thus venture to lay a statement of my grievances before you; encouraged so to do by the kindness which I hear you often evince towards those who are in distress: nor do I doubt that my complaint will meet with your redress, aud that I shall enjoy your protection, although my paper should be discarded as an unacceptable contribution.

There are few species of cruelty more severe than ridiculing the ignorance of those who chance to be less wise than ourselves, or than leading astray those who confidently and gratefully look up to us for advice, information, or assistance, at a time when they wish to do right, and fear to do wrong. To those who are strangers to us, this conduct is doubly cruel, aud perfectly inexcusable for however careless or familiar-however annoying or blunt, our carriage towards each other may be, they expect and merit from us actions of courtesy, and expressions of politeness.

:

One of the first questions which I was asked on becoming a schoolfellow of your's (and one which, under circumstances like mine, I have since learnt, is never omitted,) was "Do you know any thing of cricket?" "Of whom?" said I-" Of cricket," was the answer. I replied "Yes," I have seen many, and happen to have a great antipathy to their chirping noise.' A burst of laughter, which nearly stunned me, prevented my proceeding further. A second rejoined" He does not understand you,” and turning to me, added—" Can you play cricket?" This astonished me: I replied in the negative, and was voted a Goth.

Anxious to remove so unfavorable an impression, and judging, from its being a general theme, that it must be a favorite game here, I used every means I could devise to discover its mysteries, considering myself lucky in the thought of consulting Dr. Johnson's Dictionary. His definition was very explicit; and finding it was

[ocr errors]

A sport at which the contenders drive a ball with sticks,"

[ocr errors]

I doubted not it would suit my taste also. You are aware that Gerard was a great friend of mine. I prevailed on him to describe the process of cricket to me. In so doing, he used sundry terms for an explanation to which, I was necessitated either to ask Gerard, or to refer to my friendly Dictionary. Fearing again to expose my ignorance, I chose the latter. The expressions to which I allude, were "wicket"- -" bowl"-"bat" "bail"-"point"-"shortstop"-"longstop"-"

wicket."

mid

Gerard informed me, that the four last, with various others, were the names of the mates; and greatly was I disappointed in discovering that the great Lexicographer had omitted to notice them; so that my duty in this way, I was utterly unable to learn. In the former terms, however, I was more fortunate. Wicket, I learned, was

"A pair of short laths, set up within a few inches of each other, to be bowled at in the game of cricket,"

and finding, that to bowl signified

"To roll along on the ground,"

I had a tolerable notion of the game. The " bat," or, as Dr. Johnson calls it

"A heavy stick,"

was nothing very abstruse, and I accordingly furnished myself with the largest club I could manage to wield, long before I had occasion for it. One of Gerard's expressions," striking off the bail," at first puzzled me much; but, on his adding afterwards, that the striker was then out," I concluded them to be synonymous terms, as a sending out and “ setting at liberty" are somewhat analogous.

[ocr errors]

A single wicket match was made, and I was a given mate on one side. Judge then, my surprise and indignation at finding myself first stationed before a wicket, not of "two short laths," but which rather resembled three long poles-with a huge piece of timber in my hand, instead of my favorite club, with directions to "hit away" a ball that equalled in size, hardness, and nearly in velocity, a cannon-ball; for it was not bowled, as I had been led to expect, but jerked, or rather, I might say, transversely thrown, in a manner that endangered the safety, not only of my limbs, but of my very life.

To expose myself to such a hazard, I deemed nothing short of madness, and, therefore, refused to play in a game, which the rashness of youth had converted from a steady, safe, moderate and gentle amusement, to one, alike daring, dangerous, hurtful, and violent: above all, in which I saw the very friend, who had gulled and imposed upon me, raising that right hand which I had often grasped in grateful friendship, in a manner, and with a look that momentarily threatened my utter annihilation. The consequence (as, indeed, I might expect,) is, that I have not heart enough to enter into the other games of the school: a coolness has arisen be

tween myself and Gerard; and my earnest endeavors have been vain to persuade my schoolfellows to correct the abuses of this identical game, by restoring it to that perfection which it undoubtedly possessed in the days of Dr. Johnson, who (judging, as I do, from the nicety and ability of his definitions,) I have no hesitation in saying, must have been a proficient in the art.

Thus situated, I call on you to assist me in the recovery of the esteem of my alienated friend, and beg your still more valuable influence in removing the present dangers of an exercise, which, by your interference, might become far more popular, and decidedly more rational.

CORNUBIANUS.

MY DEAR PALMER,

In our last number, I presented the reader with a few remarks which I had heard during a perambulation of the school-room. My present intention is to lay before him sundry criticisms, of which I was an ocular and ear witness during the last vacation. Without further preamble, therefore, I shall transcribe a few

EXTRACTS FROM MY DIARY.

Dec. 21.-No sooner had I reached home and satisfied all enquiries for my health, improvement, &c. than I was closely questioned as to the fifth number of the

Hora." My boxes were forthwith uncorded, to satisfy all demands, and, in five minutes' time, my brothers and sisters were all seated round the table, attentively perusing it. One laughed over "Steam;" another wept over the 'Orphan;" and a third censured Dash

[ocr errors]

wood' for his ungallant lines to “ Emily." All, however, agreed that the fifth number was decidedly an improve

ment.

Dec. 22.-A conversazione was given at our house in

Square, doubtless, in honor of my return from school. There was much beauty present; and greatly was I disappointed by the absence of one who would have enjoyed himself on this, as he has been accustomed to do on many similar occasions. I allude to Charles Dashwood. I was seated next to the beautiful, the allaccomplished, Fanny Somerset ; at her other hand sat Charles Caustic, one of her devoted admirers. I produced a copy of our fifth number, for Fanny's inspection. After having turned over the leaves, she, (out of complaisance, I assure you, and not because she did not wish to read it all,) presented it to Caustic, who is, bythe-bye, himself an authorling. Immediately that he saw my signature to the " Essay on Coxcombs," he remarked

"That all who view the Coxcomb in his glory,
Conceive the bard the hero of the story.'

The words were pronounced in a low tone of voice, evidently not intended for my ear; but I did hear them, and was not much astonished that he should invidiously endeavor to lower me in the good opinion of her whose favor we were both trying, heart and soul to gain. Before we broke up, however, Caustic solicited me to lend him our five numbers. Delighted to see that there was more merit in the "Hora" than he chose to admit, and by no means wishing to be ill-natured, at all events in my own house, I lent him the wished-for number bound in superfine Russian leather.

Dec. 25.-Wrote rather a long "Essay on the Custom of Decorating Houses, Churches, &c. with Holly." -Was seated at dinner, before a souffle in the third course, and to my utter horror and amazement, I found that it was enveloped in my Essay." Was sadly disappointed, but thought it prudent to pass it off without further notice.

[ocr errors]
« ÎnapoiContinuă »