Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

66

stated, and your full sum of an hundred

pounds paid."

Charlotte by no means appeared impro perly elated with this intelligence, but after raising her eyes to Heaven for a moment, in silence, she answered, "Oh, Sir! how "far beyond the knowledge of frail mor

[ocr errors]

tality is it to comprehend the wisdom "and goodness of God! Had I received "that money at my grandmother's death, "it would have been expended, all my "follies have remained uncorrected, and

[ocr errors]

myself have been friendless. As it is, "I trust, my vices are crushed: I have ob"tained your protection, and shall now "have the means of exerting my industry, without being too great a burthen on your generosity.”.

Mr. Richardson assured her she might depend on his friendship to recommend her, if she continued to act properly; then dismissed her abruptly, to prevent receiving

her thanks.

"And now, my children," said he, "though we cannot take a regular excur❝sion

"sion this morning, if you are inclined for

[ocr errors]

a ride, I shall be pleased with your com66 pany, as I have business to transact in "Southwark."

The children expressed their thanks, and were soon ready to accompany their father, who finding himself rather earlier than his appointment, left the carriage, at the request of Charles, to take a nearer view of the Church of St. Mary Overie's, commonly called St. Saviour's.

"This church," said Mr. Richardson, in reply to the questions his children pressed on him respecting it, "appertained to the "religious house which was first founded "for maidens, as I before informed you,

by the piety of the boatman's daughter, "from the profits of the ferry, but after"wards changed to a college of priests, "who built London bridge. The Bishop "of Winchester, in the reign of Henry. "the First, built the conventual church, "which was probably burnt by the fire "which consumed the priory, in 1207, "for we find by the old writers, that it

was rebuilt in either the reign of King. "Richard

"Richard the Second or of Henry the "Fourth. On the dissolution of mo"nasteries, it was purchased of the King by the inhabitants of Southwark, and converted by them into a parish church, "under the name of St. Saviour.

66

66

[ocr errors]

"I shall here, Charles, point out to

your notice the monument of one of "the most ancient of our English poets,

་་

contemporary with Chaucer, and named "Gower. Chaucer died in the year 1400, "and Gower in 1402."

On examining the monument, the figure of the venerable poet is represented recumbent in a long gown, a chaplet of roses on his head, and three books under his feet; three figures above representing Charity, Mercy, and Piety, holding scrolls, with lines in French, intreating pardon for the soul of him that lieth underneath.

Though the monuments in this church could neither attract, by their number, nor beautiful sculpture, yet the antiquity of them greatly pleased Charles, while

Mary,

Mary, more volatile, paid them little attention, until one particularly attracted her notice, by the account she received from the man who attended them.

"My dear Charles," said she, running. to him, for he had continued with his father, examining one he thought worthy of his notice, "come this way---here is one "erected to the memory of a dwarf: he "is represented lying on a mat in his "shroud, and is said to have been but one "foot three inches in height, and died at "the advanced age of ninety-two, in the 66 year 1575."

"I will attend you presently, Mary," replied Charles: "but, by my father's permission, will first transcribe the epitaph "on Richard Humble and his family."

EPITAPH.

Like to the damask rose you see,
Or like the blossom on the tree,
Or like the dainty flower of May,
Or like the morning of the day,
Or like the sun, or like the shade,
Or, like the gourd which Jonas had:

E'en

E'en so is man, whose thread is spun,
Drawn out and cut, and so is done.
The rose withers, the blossom blasteth,
The flower fades, the morning hasteth,
The sun sets, the shadow flies,

The gourd consumes, and man he dies.

"These lines are really very pleasing, "Charles," said Mr. Richardson," and "much more worthy of observation than "Mary's dwarf."

"Sir, returned Mary, blushing, "I "overlooked that epitaph; though now "I hear it I think it very pretty."

"So will it ever be, my love, with those "who run eagerly forward to divert their

[ocr errors]

eyes, and neglect the more slow, but "solid amusements of the mind. But "come-never look grave: proceed in

866

improving as you have begun, and I "shall have no reason to complain. We "will now take a view of this dwarf, after which I must hasten to my appoint

[ocr errors]

ment; for it is now nearly the hour, "and want of punctuality, though even in trifling business. I have a peculiar aversion to."

CHAP.

« ZurückWeiter »