No More Learning

The Conclusion


The next morning as soon as I awaked I found my eldest son sitting by my
bedside, who came to encrease my joy with another turn of fortune in my
favour. First having released me from the settlement that I had made the
day before in his favour, he let me know that my merchant who had failed
in town was arrested at Antwerp, and there had given up effects to
a much greater amount than what was due to his creditors. My boy’s
generosity pleased me almost as much as this unlooked for good fortune.
But I had some doubts whether I ought in justice to accept his offer.
While I was pondering upon this, Sir William entered the room, to whom
I communicated my doubts. His opinion was, that as my son was already
possessed of a very affluent fortune by his marriage, I might accept his
offer without any hesitation. His business, however, was to inform me
that as he had the night before sent for the licences, and expected them
every hour, he hoped that I would not refuse my assistance in making
all the company happy that morning. A footman entered while we were
speaking, to tell us that the messenger was returned, and as I was by
this time ready, I went down, where I found the whole company as merry
as affluence and innocence could make them. However, as they were now
preparing for a very solemn ceremony, their laughter entirely displeased
me. I told them of the grave, becoming and sublime deportment they
should assume upon this Mystical occasion, and read them two homilies
and a thesis of my own composing, in order to prepare them. Yet they
still seemed perfectly refractory and ungovernable. Even as we were
going along to church, to which I led the way, all gravity had quite
forsaken them, and I was often tempted to turn back in indignation. In
church a new dilemma arose, which promised no easy solution. This was,
which couple should be married first; my son’s bride warmly insisted,
that Lady Thornhill, (that was to be) should take the lead; but this the
other refused with equal ardour, protesting she would not be guilty of
such rudeness for the world. The argument was supported for some time
between both with equal obstinacy and good breeding. But as I stood all
this time with my book ready, I was at last quite tired of the contest,
and shutting it, ‘I perceive,’ cried I, ‘that none of you have a mind
to be married, and I think we had as good go back again; for I suppose
there will be no business done here to-day. ’--This at once reduced them
to reason. The Baronet and his Lady were first married, and then my son
and his lovely partner.

I had previously that morning given orders that a coach should be sent
for my honest neighbour Flamborough and his family, by which means,
upon our return to the inn, we had the pleasure of finding the two
Miss Flamboroughs alighted before us. Mr Jenkinson gave his hand to the
eldest, and my son Moses led up the other; (and I have since found that
he has taken a real liking to the girl, and my consent and bounty he
shall have whenever he thinks proper to demand them. ) We were no sooner
returned to the inn, but numbers of my parishioners, hearing of my
success, came to congratulate me, but among the rest were those who rose
to rescue me, and whom I formerly rebuked with such sharpness. I told
the story to Sir William, my son-in-law, who went out and reprove them
with great severity; but finding them quite disheartened by his harsh
reproof, he gave them half a guinea a piece to drink his health and
raise their dejected spirits.

Soon after this we were called to a very genteel entertainment, which
was drest by Mr Thornhill’s cook. And it may not be improper to observe
with respect to that gentleman, that he now resides in quality of
companion at a relation’s house, being very well liked and seldom
sitting at the side-table, except when there is no room at the other;
for they make no stranger of him. His time is pretty much taken up in
keeping his relation, who is a little melancholy, in spirits, and in
learning to blow the French-horn. My eldest daughter, however, still
remembers him with regret; and she has even told me, though I make a
great secret of it, that when he reforms she may be brought to relent.
But to return, for I am not apt to digress thus, when we were to sit
down to dinner our ceremonies were going to be renewed. The question was
whether my eldest daughter, as being a matron, should not sit above the
two young brides, but the debate was cut short by my son George, who
proposed, that the company should sit indiscriminately, every gentleman
by his lady. This was received with great approbation by all, excepting
my wife, who I could perceive was not perfectly satisfied, as she
expected to have had the pleasure of sitting at the head of the table
and carving all the meat for all the company. But notwithstanding this,
it is impossible to describe our good humour. I can’t say whether we
had more wit amongst us now than usual; but I am certain we had more
laughing, which answered the end as well. One jest I particularly
remember, old Mr Wilmot drinking to Moses, whose head was turned another
way, my son replied, ‘Madam, I thank you. ’ Upon which the old gentleman,
winking upon the rest of the company, observed that he was thinking of
his mistress. At which jest I thought the two miss Flamboroughs would
have died with laughing. As soon as dinner was over, according to my
old custom, I requested that the table might be taken away, to have
the pleasure of seeing all my family assembled once more by a chearful
fireside. My two little ones sat upon each knee, the rest of the company
by their partners. I had nothing now on this side of the grave to wish
for, all my cares were over, my pleasure was unspeakable. It now only
remained that my gratitude in good fortune should exceed my former
submission in adversity.






The MAD DOG

ONE OF R. CALDECOTT'S PICTURE BOOKS

Frederick Warne and Co. Ltd.

[Illustration]




An ELEGY
on the DEATH of
a MAD DOG.

WRITTEN
By
Dr GOLDSMITH

PICTURED
By
R. CALDECOTT

SUNG
By
Master BILL PRIMROSE


[Illustration]


Good people all, of every sort,
Give ear unto my song;
And if you find it wondrous short,
It cannot hold you long.

[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]


In Islington there lived a man,
Of whom the world might say,
That still a godly race he ran,
Whene'er he went to pray.

[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]


A kind and gentle heart he had,
To comfort friends and foes;
The naked every day he clad,
When he put on his clothes


[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]


And in that town a dog was found:
As many dogs there be--
Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound,
And curs of low degree.


[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]


This dog and man at first were friends;
But, when a pique began,
The dog, to gain some private ends,
Went mad, and bit the man.

[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]


Around from all the neighbouring streets
The wondering neighbours ran;
And swore the dog had lost his wits,
To bite so good a man.

[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]


The wound it seem'd both sore and sad
To every christian eye;
And while they swore the dog was mad,
They swore the man would die

[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]


But soon a wonder came to light,
That show'd the rogues they lied--
The man recover'd of the bite;
The dog it was that died.

[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]

Randolph Caldecott's

Picture Books

"The humour of Randolph Caldecott's drawings is simply irresistible, no
healthy-minded man, woman, or child could look at them without laughing. "

_In square crown 4to, picture covers, with numerous coloured plates. _

1 John Gilpin

2 The House that Jack Built

3 The Babes in the Wood

4 The Mad Dog

5 Three Jovial Huntsmen

6 Sing a Song for Sixpence

7 The Queen of Hearts

8 The Farmer's Boy

9 The Milkmaid

10 Hey-Diddle-Diddle and Baby Bunting

11 A Frog He Would a-Wooing Go

12 The Fox Jumps over the Parson's Gate

13 Come Lasses and Lads

14 Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury
Cross, &c.

15 Mrs. Mary Blaize

16 The Great Panjandrum Himself

_The above selections are also issued in Four Volumes, square crown 4to,
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Coloured Pictures and innumerable Outline Sketches. _

1 R. Caldecott's Picture Book No. 1
2 R. Caldecott's Picture Book No. 2
3 Hey-Diddle-Diddle-Picture Book
4 The Panjandrum Picture Book

RANDOLPH CALDECOTT'S

Collection of Pictures and Songs No. 1 containing the first 8 books
listed above with their Colour Pictures and numerous Outline
Sketches

RANDOLPH CALDECOTT'S

Collection of Pictures and Songs No. 2 containing the second 8
books listed above with their Colour Pictures and numerous Outline
Sketches

Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd.

LONDON & NEW YORK.

_The Published Prices of the above Picture Books can be obtained of all
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ENGRAVED AND PRINTED BY EDMUND EVANS, LTD. , 154 CLERKENWELL ROAD, LONDON,
E. C. 1.

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN.





THE DESERTED VILLAGE

By Oliver Goldsmith

Illustrated by the Etching Club

New York: D. Appleton And Co. Broadway

MDCCCLVII


[Illustration: 0001]


[Illustration: 0008]


The Illustrations in this Volume are copied, with permission,
from a series of Etchings published some years since by the
"Etching Club. " Only a few impressions of that work were
printed, the copper-plates were destroyed, and the book, except
in a very expensive form, has long been unattainable. Great
care has been taken to render the present Wood-blocks as like
the original Etchings as the different methods of engraving will
allow.




ILLUSTRATIONS

Page

Sweet Auburn! loveliest milage of the plain. . . T. Creswick, R. A. . . . 007

The never-failing brook, the busy mill. . . . . . . . T. Creswick, R. A. . . . 008

The hawthorn bush, with seals in shade. . . . . . . . C. W. Cope, R. A. . . . . 009

The matron's glance that would reprove. . . . . . . . H. J. Townsend. . . . . . 010

The hollow sounding bittern guards its nest. . . F. Tayler. . . . . . . . . . . 012

These, far departing, seek a kinder shore. . . . . C. Stonhouse. . . . . . . . 014

Amidst the swains show my book-learn'd skill. . J. C. Horsley. . . . . . . 015

And, as a hare, whom hounds and horns pursue. . F. Tayler. . . . . . . . . . . 016

To spurn imploring famine from the gale. . . . . . . C. W. Cope, R. A. . . . .
017

While resignation gently slopes the way. . . . . . . T. Creswick, R. A. . . . 018

The playful children let loose from school. . . . T. Webster, R. A. . . . . 019

All but yon widow'd solitary thing. . . . . . . . . . . . F. Tayler. . . . . . . . . . . 020

The village preacher's modest mansion rose. . . . T. Creswick, R. A. . . . 021

He chid their wanderings; relieved pain. . . . . . . C. W. Cope, R. A. . . . . 022

Shoulder'd his crutch, and show'd fields won. . C. W. Cope, R. A. . . . . 023

Beside the bed where parting life was laid. . . . R. Redgrave, R. A. . . . 025

And pluck'd his gown, share the man's smile. . . J. C. Horsley. . . . . . . 026

The village master taught his little school. . . T. Webster, R. A. . . . . 027

Full well they laugh'd with glee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . T. Webster, R. A. . . . . 028

Convey'd the dismal tidings when he frown'd. . . T. Webster, R. A. . . . . 028

In arguing too the parson own'd his skill. . . . . C. W. Cope, R. A. . . . . 029

Near yonder thorn, that lifts its head high. . . T. Creswick, R. A. . . . 030

Where village statesmen with looks profound. . . F. Tayler. . . . . . . . . . . 031

But the long pomp, the midnight masquerade. . . . J. C. Horsley. . . . . . . 033

Proud swells the tide with loads of ore. . . . .