Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 278: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

280 be excited for them might not with greater benefit be excited for those who struggle with poverty in the hearts of the great cities—men, whose wages are little more than the farm labourers, and are yet expected to appear re- spectable, and give their children an education —men, who are trusted with thousands, and whose honesty and faithful services are re- warded by perhaps a guinea‘a week. There are not afew of this class in London ; and it is doubtful whether Hodge and Roger would not lose by the change, were they induced to accept it. Hodge, with his little cottage and vegetable patch, and his numberless little presents of milk, meat, elc., and in the enjoyment of pure air and twelve or thirteen shillings a-week, is not so bad off after all as the city porter or under clerk. 3 Still, Hodge is not paid as he ought to be ; and, when he gets a chance, he often pays himself by stealing a hurdle, a few turnips, and such like, to make up for his bad wages. To a well-to-do farmer, the loss of afew turnips ora hurdle is a mere nothing ; but then, if Hodge and his companions take hurdle after hurdle, and turnip after turnip, it becomes a serious matter, and the farmer finds it necessary to make an example of the delinquent by sending him to prison for a week—-a proceeding, by the way, which is pretty sure to call down upon his head a fearful storm of anathemas, both uttered and printed, and find for Hodge a number of commiserating friends. Another proof how for- tunate is the country labourer, when compared with the city one,—for not a voice would be raised, nor a word uttered of sympathy for Thomas Smith, if he so far forgot’ himself as to abstract a shilling from his employer’s desk or till, albeit his wage is no better than that of Hodge, and the temptation ever so much greater. It would be cruel to assert that country labourers are not so upright as they should be ; but it is no libel to assert that there are many who look upon various things belonging to others as legal spoil, and the consequence is, that land- owners and farmers are often robbed to a fearful extent by their poorer neighbours, and, driven to desperation, at length the sufferer has either recourse to the law or violence. Now, the latter ought never to be tolerated. An aggrieved man has no right to be his own judge, because, smarting under an injury, he is apt to inflict a punishment greater than is merited. Yet it cannot be wondered at that men, after. being robbed continually, having - sought the assistance and protection of the law, finding themselves badgered and bullied on all sides resort to other means than a court of jus- tice to avenge themselves on the offender, Still, such a course isobjectionable. And so our hero thought asin a few minutes after his musing, he came in sight of a gentleman on horseback, lashing furiously a cowering rustic with a heavy ridingwhip, at each blow of which the country- man yelled and capered to an almost ridiculous degree, It was evident to Jack, as he hurried forward, that the horseman had lost all control of his AN SPRING-HEEL’D JACK! THE TERROR OF LONDON. temper, so furious were the blows which came down upon the shoulders of the yokel. “Oh, sir! [ll never do it nomore, sir,” eried the countryman, in tones so loud and pleading that they might have been heard amile off. ‘“‘ You cursed, thieving scoundrel !” roared the horseman. ‘‘ I’ll take care you don’t. Ill not be robbed, day after day, in this manner. If I put you in gaol there’s a howl about justices’ justice, and such like; so I’ll take the law in my own hands, and protect my property with my whip.” And down it descended upon the rustiec’s shoulders, raising a weal at every blow. The countryman wriggled and ran, but the horseman spurred his animal alongside of him ; and, raising himself in his stirrups, beat away with all his might, one blow falling across the man’s face, as Jack hurried up. £3 The man’s cheeks were cut by the thong, and he covered his blood-stained face with-his hands, and yelled in agony. | ~The horseman, who appeared to have lost all control of his temper, raised his whip again, but, as it descended, Jack caught at the thong, and held it firmly. ga ‘* Hold, sir!” he eried. | The man rose still higher in his stirrups and, casting a quick glance at Jack, yelled out, in tones furious with passion— o at ede “Who the hell are you, sir? Let go the whip, or, by heaven! I'll lay it over your shoulders as well.”’ vale And as he spoke he strove to tear the whip from Jack’s hold. sel “Sir, you are either drunk or mad,” said Jack, “or you would not so unmercifully lash this poor fellow, or address me in such terms.” | ‘Who are you, ’d like to know?” retorted the man, in the same angry tone of voice, and the same furious look. ‘“ You may know sooner than yor wish,”’ said Jack, indignantly. “ Pray, who are you?” ‘¢'That’s my business.’’ : | ‘* He be Squire Hepworth, of the big house etn Car said the countryman. ‘“ That’s who 1e be.” . “You scoundrel,” roared the squire, turning to the man. ‘ ‘‘ For shame, sir,” said Jack, “to lower your- self thus. manner that must excite the indignation of any- one with the least feeling.’’ ‘* Curse him! Pll kill him,’’ roared the squire. “ The—the— Damn it, sir, let go my-whip, or it will be the worse for you.” — ‘“ Have a care, sir,” said Jack. “Iam notin the habit of submitting to threats.” ‘Let go my whip.” “ T will not.” Ts Not ? ») ‘No, sir,” said Jack, calmly. ‘I will not let go the whip until you have gained a sufficient command over your temper, to know how to use it,” . ‘‘ Confound you!” cried the squire, tugging with all his force to tear the whip from Jack. ‘Shall I submit to be dictated to by you—a stranger? You had better release your hold, or Pll ride you down.” ‘Alpes 4 “ Coir “w You have beaten this poor man ina - GDOOKS.CO LL rr rr ee oe ee : Fi i. a . .