Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 303: what you’re looking at

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

294 ‘Pray, accept this simple gift,” he said, earnestly. “‘ These chanced to come in my way ” (a chance indeed !) “and I shall be glad if you will accept them. Pray do not thank me. I am only too glad to be able to bestow any- thing, I who have so little,’ and he fairly hastened from the door. 3c 8 x x At last the burden was off his shoul- ders. It was well worth the trouble to rid the brotherhood of such evil things. How such trifles can disturb peace t ‘nd now they should have no more of Brother John’s malice, and Brother David’s laziness, and Brother Solo- mon’s petty spite—ah, and his own self love! It had been a blessed miracle which had changed all these bitter ele- ments into the bodies of hideous, crawling things, to be boiled and caten, and so done away with forever. Meanwhile, Reuben and _ Isabel opened the basket. “ Poor creatures,’ cried the girl, ‘and to think that I must put them alive into the pot! I love every hving thing too much for that. Sweetheart, I shall give them to little Paul, and if he likes he may sell them for half a crown.” So little Paul, who was a sturdy lad of ten with a cheek like an apple, anda mercantile instinct that was well de- veloped already, was summoned, and took the basket, and staggering under its weight strode off to find a cus- tomer, “Pray, Peter Simple, hast a crown to give me for a basket of fine live crabs?” he cried to the first whom he met. “A crown! And where should I get a crown?” returned Peter Simple, a clumsy sixteen year old, putting his hand cautiously into his pocket to feel that his half dozen crown pieces were safe. “°Tis a pity,” said little Paul, “ for they are worth thrice that, so fat and so lively as they are.” THE ARGOSY. The two stood under the summer sun, the basket between their feet, and at length the bargain was concluded, and Peter carried away his purchase in triumph. “ Peter! ” cried his mother, who was as simple minded as he, and a pious, grateful soul, to whom the pleasures of the palate were nothing if one might do a deed of generosity and grace, ‘ Peter, remember, my son, how good the brothers of the monastery have been to you. You would never have known your letters if they had not la- bored faithfully with your slowness, and now you shall carry this basket of crabs to them as a token of your grati- tude.” Peter Simple raised the basket, with gloom in his heart, and betook himself to the monastery. When he reached his destination there was no living soul in view, but a sound of singing came from the chapel, telling him that every member of the brotherhood was there, rigidly observing some _ feast or fast. He would not disturb them at their devotions; so Peter, quietly stepping within the corridor, left for once un- guarded, set down his burden. “T can tell them it was a token of gratitude from me when I come for the catechism on Sunday,” he reflected gloomily, and strode away. 7 * * x And ere the brothers had finished their devotions in the chapel, the lid of the basket was pushed up, and one after another the army of crabs wrig- gled their way out. They scuttled about the corridors, they hid in the corners of the cells, they scrambled here and there, and en- gaged in battle with one another, seeming to be everywhere at once. There were fifty of them, but there seemed to be a thousand; and it was the biggest and most malignant of the number that caught Brother Dunstan by the skirt, as he passed, rapt in de- votion, to his cell. eORnic boo SS CO