Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 11 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

j ' . ' ~~ a antes —_~ | . | | | | —_ oe a ~~ -————_— —-- — ee ee ES 7 ee all his life having been humored and indulged—never punished until the day before. The New York Library. | throwing in his line resumed his discourse. “ As I was | listener, “‘that Jack had better fish in_ the river, and After all the caresses | observing, my dear sir,’’ continued Jack, ** that will ad- of his mother and Sarah, which he never knew the | mit of much ratiocination. All the creatures of the value of—after stuffing himself all day long, and being tempted to eat till he turned away in satiety, to find himself without his mother, without Sarah, without | of. Water is also the gift of heaven, and meant for the ing, on the other side of a hedge, a summer apple-tree supper—covered with wheals, and, what was worse | good of all. We now come tw the question how far the | bearing tempting fruit, and he immediately broke than all, without his own way. Nowonder Johnny was | fish are your property. If the fish only bred on pore se _ through the hedge, and climbin confused; at the same time that he was subdued; and, | to please you, and make you a present of their stoc as Mr. Bonnycastle had truly told him, he had learnt | might then require a different line of argument; but as | eat. i earth were given to man for his use—man means man- kind—they were never intended to be made a monopoly , it | more than he had any idea of. And what would Mrs, | in breeding they only acted in obedience to an instinct | Easy have said, had she known all this—and Sarah, too? And Mr. Easy, with his rights of man? At the very time that Johnny was having the devil driven out of him, they were consoling themselves with the idea that, at all events, there was no birch used at Mr, Bonny- castle's, quite losing sight of the fact that, as there are more ways of killing a dog besides hanging him, so are there more ways of teaching Happy in their ignorance, they all went fast asleep, little dreaming that Johnny was already so far ad- vanced in knowledge as to have a tolerable comprehen- sion of the mystery of cane, As for Johnny, he had cried himself to sleep at least six hours before them. CHAPTER VI. IN WHICH JACK MAKES ESSAY OF HIS FATHER’S SUBLIME PHILOSOPHY, AND ARRIVES VERY NEAR TO TRUTH AT LAST. THe next morning Master Jack was not only very sore, but very hungry, and as Mr, Bonnycastle inform- ed him that he would not only have plenty of cane, but also no breakfast, if he did not learn his letters, Johnny had wisdom enough to say the whole alphabet, for which he received a great deal of praise, the which, than a posteriori. | with which they are endowed on purpose that they may | rough voice. supply man, I submit to you that you cannot prove these fish to be yours more than mine. As for feeding a Ted gray coat and red waistcoat, standing un t 7, with the idea that they were your own, that is not an unusual case in this world, even when a man is giving bread and butter to his children. Further—but I have another bite—I beg your pardon, my dear sir—ah! he’s off again—”’ “Then, Mr. Easy, you mean to say that the world and its contents are made for all.” ‘Exactly, sir; that is my father’s opinion, who isa very great philosopher.” “How then Dag your father account for some pos- sessing property and others being without it?”’ “Because those. who are the strongest have deprived those who are weaker.”’ ‘**But would not that be di by the case even if we were in that state of general inheritance which you have supposed? For instance, allowing two men to chase the same animal, and both to come up to it at the same time, would not the strongest bear it off?” **T grant that, sir.” “Well, then, where is your equality?” ‘*That does not disprove that men were not intended if he did not duly appreciate, he at all events infinitely | to be equal; it only proves that they are not so. Neither referred to beating. Mr. Bonnycastle perceived that e had conquered the boy by one hour’s well-timed se- verity. the school], and as they were equally empowered to ad- minister the needful impulse, Johnny very soon became | Easy a very tractable boy. It may be imagined that the absence of Johnny was severely felt at home, but such was not the case. In the first place, Dr. Middleton had pointed out to Mrs Easy that there was no flogging at the school, and that the Spry received by Johnny from his father would very likely be repeated—and in the next, al- though Mrs. Easy thought that she never could have survived the parting with her own son, she soon found out that she was much happier without him, A spoilt child is always a source of anxiety and worry, and after Johnny's departure Mrs. Easy found a quiet and repose much more suited to her disposition, Gradually she weaned herself from him, and, satisfied with seeing him occasionally, and hearing the reports of Dr, Middle- ton, she at last was quite reconciled to his being at school, and not coming back except during the holidays. John Kasy made great progress; he had good natural abilities, and Mr. kasy rubbed his hands when he saw the doctor, saying, ‘* Yes, let them have him for a year or two longer, and then Ill finish him myself, Each vacation he had attempted to instillinto Johnny’s mind the equal rights of man, Johnny appeared to pay but little attention to his father’s discourses, but evidently showed that they were not altogether thrown away, as he helped himself to everything he wanted, without ask- ingleave. And thus was our hero educated until he ar- rived at the age of sixteen, when he was a stout, good- looking boy, with plenty to say for himself—indeed, eee it suited his purpose, he could out-talk his fa- ther. Nothing pleased Mr. Easy so much as Jack’s loqua- city. ‘‘That’s right; argue the point, Jack—argue the point, boy,’’ would he say, as Jack disputed: with his mother. And then he would turn to the docter, rub bing his hands, and observe: ** Depend upon it, Jack be a great, a very great man,.”* And then he wouid call Jack and give him 4 g@iinea for his Meverness; and at last Jack thought it 4 ery ciever thing to argue. He hever would attempt to argue with Mr. Bonny- castle, because he wasaware that Mr. Bonnycastle’s ar- guments were too strong for him, but he argued with all the boys until it ended in a fight, which decided the point; and he sometimes argued with the ushers. In sliort, at the time we now speak of, which was at the breaking up of the midsummer holidays, Jack was as full of argument as he was Zond of it, He would argue the point to the point of a needle, and he wou!d divide that point into as many as there were days of the year, and argue upon each. In short, there was no end to Jack’s arguing the point, although there seldom was int to his argument. Jack had been fishing in the river, without any suc- cess, for a whole morning, and observed a large pond which had the appearance of being well stocked—he cleared the park palings and threw in his line. He had willed up several fine fish, when he was accosted y the proprietor, accompanied by a couple of keeper's. “May I request the pleasure of your name, young gentleman?” said the proprietor to Jack, Now Jack was always urbane and polite. “ Certainly, sir; my name is Easy, very much at your service.” ; *“ And you appear to me to be taking it very easy,” replied the gentleman. ‘“ Pray, sir, may | inquire whether you are aware that you are trespassing?" “The word trespass, my dear sir,” ee Jack, “will admit of much argument, and I will divide it into three heads. It implies, according to the conventional meaning, coming without permission upon the land or property of another. Now, sir, the questton may all be resolved in the following. Was not the world made for all? and has any one, or any portion of its inhabitants, an exclusive right to claim any part of it as his prop- erty? If you please, I have laid down the proposition, and we will now argue the point.” The gentleman who accosted Jack had heard of Mr. and his arguments; he was a humorist, and more inclined to laugh than to be angry’ at the same time that he considered it necessary to show Jack that un- der existing circumstances they were not tenable. * But, Mr. Easy, allowing the trespass on the property to be venial, surely youdo not mean to say that you are justified in taking my fish; I bought the fish an stocked the pond, and have fed them ever since. You cannot deny but that they are private property, and that to take them is a theft?” ¢ —_ will ag gd of pac 4 agra dear sir,” replied Jack; “but— our pa have a fish.” Jack pulled up a large oT bi much to the indignation of the oa g-ty and to the amusement of their master, unhooked it, placed it in his basket, re- newed his bait with the greatest sang froid, and then | | | | | / does it disprove that everything was not made for the benefit of all: it only proves that the strong will take He therefore handed him over to the ushers in | advantage of the weak, which is very natural.” “Oh, you grant that to be very natural. Well, Mr. Iam glad to perceive that we are of one mind and I trust we shall continue so. You'll observe that I and my keepers being three, we are the strong panty in this instance, and admitting your argument that the fish are as much yours as mine, still 1 take advantage of my strength to re-possess myself of them, which is, aS you say, very natural—James, take those fish.”’ “Tf you please,’ interrupted Jack, “ we will argue that point——”’ **Not at all; I will act according to your own argu- ments—lI have the fish, but I now mean to have more— that fishing-rod is as much mine as yours, and_being the stronger party I will take possession of it. James, William, take that fishing-rod—it is ours.”’ ‘‘T presume you will first. allow me to observe,” re- plied Jack, “that although I have expres my opinion that the earth and the animals on it were made for us all, that I never yeq have asserted that what a man creates by himself, or has created for him for a consideration, is not his own rg al “T beg your pardon; the trees that that rod was made from were made for us all, andif you, or any one for you, have thought proper to make it into a rod, it is no more my fault than it is that Ihave been feeding | him.” the fish, with the supposition that they were my own. | head up, and eyes glaring at Jack, showing a ra Everything being common, and it being but natural | teeth that drove » _(CwOLSS LL CL Cll rs that the strong should take advantage of the weak, I | must take that rod as my Broperty until I am dispos- sessed by one more powerful. loreover, being the stronger party, and having possession of this which you say does not belong to me more than to you —I also shall direct my keepers to see you off this | aac f James, take the rod—see Mr. Easy over he par palings. Mr. Easy, I wish you a good-morn- ing.” a Sir, I be your pardon, you have not yet heard all my arguments,’’ replied Jack, who did not approve of the conclusions drawn “*T have no time to hear more, Mr. ; I wish you a good-morning.’’ And the proprietor departed, leav- ing Jack in company with the keepers ‘I'll trouble you for that rod, master,” said William, James was very busy stringing the fish through the gills upon a piece of osier, ** At all events you will hear reason,” said Jack; “I have arguments—”’ **T never heard no ato arguments in favor of poach- ing,’’ interrupted the keeper. " ‘You’re an insolent fellow,” replied Jack. “It’s by such vagabonds as you that people are able to ruilty of en Sapa “It’s by paying us that the land ain’t poached—and if there be some excuse for a poor devil who is out of Ares there be none for you, who call yourself a gen- eman ” “ According to his ’count, as we be all equal, he be no more a gentleman than we be.”’ “Silence, you blackguard, I shall not condescend to argue with such as you; if I did 1 could prove that you are a set of base slaves who have just as much right to this property as your master or I ve,” a ou have, I dare say, master.’ ** As T have, you scoundrel; this pond is as much m property, and so are the fish in it, as they are of your master, who has usurped the right.” “T say, James, what wed ety say, Shall we put the roung gentieman in possession of his property?’ said Villiam, winking to the other. William took the hint, they seized Jack by the arms and legs, and soused him into the pond. Jack arose after a deep submersion, and floundered on shore blow- ing and spluttering. But in the meantime the keepers had walked away, carrying. with them the rod and fish, and tin-can of ughing loudly at the prac- tical joke whicb they had played our hero, ‘Well,’ thought Jack, “either there must be some mistake in my father’s philosophy, or else this is a very wicked world. I shall submit this case to my father. And Jack received this reply: “I have told you before, Jack, that these important truths will not at present be admitted—but it does not the less follow that they are true. This is not the age of iron, in which might has become right—but the time will come when these truths will be admitted, and pone father’s name will be more celebrated than that of any philosopher of ancient days. Recollect, Jack, that although, in preach- ing against wrong, and advocating the rights of man, you will be treated as a martyr, it is still your duty to payin i ersevere; and if you are d through all the norse ponds in the kingdom, never give up your argu- ts) * “That I never sir,” replied Jack; ‘but the next time, I argue it shall be, if possible, with power on my side, and at all events, not quite so near a pond,” “I think.” said Mrs. Easy, who had @ silent nd, | alimb of you together—when work's done [ll come eee _— a ee — — - = f then, if he catches no fish, at all events he will not bk soused in the water, and spoil his clothes.”’ But Mrs, Easy was no philosopher. A few days afterward Jack discovered, one fine morn- the tree, as our first ed the fairest and did “IT say, you sir, what are you doing there?” cried a mother did before him, he c Jack looked down and perceived a stout, thickset nea ‘*Don’t you see what I’m about?"’ replied Jack, ‘I'm eating apples—shall I throw you down a few?” “Thank you kindly—the fewer that are pulled the better; perhaps, as you are so free to give them to oth- ers as well as to help yourself, you may think that they are * he own property !”’ - “Not a bit more my property than they are yours, my good man ” ‘I guess that’s something like the truth; but you are not quite at the truth yet, my lad; those apples are mine, and I'll trouble you to come down as fast as you please; when you’re down we can then settle our ac counts; and,” continued the man, shaking his cudgel, ‘depend upon it you shall have your receipt in full.” Jack did not much like the appearance of things. **My good man,”’ said he, ‘it is quite a prejudice on your part to imagine that apples were not given, as well as all other fruit, for the benefit of us all—they are common property, believe me ”’ * That’s a matter of opinion, my lad, and I may be allowed to have my own.’ ‘You'll find it in the Bible,” “fs Jack. ‘‘T never did yet, and I've read it through and through | ) los eben Diane ail a -M ae <> Il ne oo al gg Ohad de> k-th all, bating the ok om : 2 “Then,” said Jac “go home and fetch the Bible, and I'll prove it to you’ ‘*T suspect you'll not wait till I come back again. No, t] no; I have lost plenty of apples, and have long wantea a to find the robbers out; now I’ve caught one I'll take | care that he don’t ‘scape without apple-sauce, at al: ) events—so come down, you young thief,comedowndi & rectly—or it will be all the worse for you.” h ‘thank you,’ said Jack, ‘‘ but I am very well here. fi I will, if you please, argue the point from whereIam.” wu “‘T’ve no time to argue the point, my lad; I’ve plenty _—‘f to do, but do not think I'll let you off. Tf you dont W choose to.come down, why then you may stay thero, er and I'll answer for it, as soon as work is done I shail Ww find you safe enough.” ti #: at can be done,”’ thought Jack, ‘‘ with a ma E who will not listen to argument? What a world is this —however, he'll not find me here when he comes bach, , # I've a notion.” * it But in this Jack was mistaken. The farmer walk bh to the hedge, and called a boy, who took his orders an s¢ ran to the farm-house, In a minute or two a large bull- dog was seen bounding along the orchard to his master. ‘Mark him, Ceesar,”’ said the farmer to the dog, ‘ mark The dog crouched down on the with a 5 ot ero’s philosophy out of his ate Pp phy Tal “T can’t wait here, but Ceesar can, and I will tell you) as a friend, that if he gets hold of you, he'll not leave: aR eo our ( back;"’ so saying, the farmer walked off, leaving Jack | and the dog to argue the point, if so inclined, at sad jade must philosophy be, to put her votaries in — ‘such predicaments! After a while the dog laid his head down and closed his eyes, as if yoo but Jack observed that at th least movement on his part one eye was seen : to unclose; so Jack, like a prudent man, resolved to he remain where he was He picked afew more apples, _ fit for it was his dinner-time, and as he chewed herumi- — th nated . Jack had been but a few minutes ruminating before he was interrupted by another ruminating animal, no less a personage than a bull, who had been turned out with full possession of the orchard, and who now ad — vanced, bellowing occasionally, and tossing his head at the sight of Ceesar, whom he considered as much a trespasser as his master had our hero. Ceesar started on his legs and faced the bull, who advanced pawing, with his tail up in the air hen within a few ya the bull made a rush ax the dog, who evaded him an attacked him in return, and thus did the warfare con- tinue until the opponents were already at some tance from the apple-tree. yack p for diate flight, but unfortunately the combat was carried on by the side of the hedge at which Jack gained ad mission. Never mind, one Jack, there are twosides to every field, and although the other hedge joined on to the garden near tothe farm-house, there was no option, “At all events,’ said Jack, “I'll try it.”” Jack wag a yg, the trunk, when he heard a tremendous roar; the bulldog had been tossed by the bull; he was then high in the air, and Jack saw him fall on the other side of the hedge; and the bull was thus celebratin his victory with a flourish of trumpets. Upon whic sipped down th that he was relieved from sentry, ROr rreres wi : FReeep ESAE F ce _ an slipped down the rest of the tree and took to his heels, U Spire, tae Jack, the bull saw him, and, flushed with victory, he immediately set up another roar, an¢d bounded after Jack Jack perceived his danger, and fear gave him wings; he not only flew over the orchard, but he flew over the hedge, which was about five feet high, just as the bull drove his head into it. Look before you leap, is an old proverb. Had Jack done so, he would have done better; but as there were cogent reasons to be offered in extenua- tion of our philosopher, we shall say no more; bu; merely state that Jack, when he got to the other sid. of the ah found that he had pitched into a sma)| — apiary, and had upset two hives of bees, who resente;| | é intrusion; and Jack had hardly time to get sp his legs before he found them very busy stin vi inall quarters All that Jack could do was to.run for it, but the bees flew faster than he could run, and Jack was mad with pain, when he stumbled, -blinded, over the brick-work of a well. Jack could not stop his pitching sto the well, but he seized the iron chain as it struck him across the Down went Jack, and q round went the windlass, and after a rapid descent of forty feet, our hero found himself under water. rn 5 S$ Bf eo 8 emremesupe oe pe ose longer troubled with the who, whe ; lost scent of their prey from his rapid descent, or bein notoriously clever truth # th ra ell alone,” had ce