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MY GREAT AUNT POLLY' S ELOPEMENT. 107
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Babl Dear Y Be Reader Declared .—The By ...
ancient metropolis , next to his Grace the Archbishop . But then , the townsfolk were not unwilling to exalt a bourgeoise maiden , and I
cannot at this remote epoch decide upon the rival claims . I can only depose to having seen a picture of Pollytaken two years
, before her mother ' s death , in which a pair of bright eyes , of a bluish grey , were set off by a quantity of rich dark brown hair , cut quite
straight over the forehead , after the manner which we now imagine to be inherent in charity-boys , but falling in long tresses down each
side of the face on to the shoulders . This was the chevelure of little girls at that time , and very pretty and demure it looked . As Polly
also inherited a nice little fortune from her mother , added to the savings of her fatherwho doted on this child of his old age _» there
, was ample reason for the exceeding commotion which her advent caused in the family of Mr . Zephaniah Dever .
Tuesday came ;—the apple-room was changed into a charming little bedroom -with a little white bed , and a little table , and four
little chairs of black and yellow pattern , and the very smallest _sjDindleshanks of legs on which a table and chairs could _jDossibly get along ,
spiritually or materially ; a mirror in a carved oaken frame , with , a glass whichif possiblewould distort even the sweet face of Miss
Polly ; and , four little paintings , of Arcadian innocence , Damon and Ghloe sheepishly tending their flocks , which ., however , caused my
great-grandmother some scruples before she could resolve to allow them to adorn the young maiden ' s chamber" for" said she" Madam
Clorinda was ever of a strict mind , and , hath , , doubtless , , kept her daughter from any vain commerce with those frivolous creatures to
whom my dear Mr . Dever is a blessed exception ; and were it not that the rain last winter hath somewhat stained the wallI would
, not willingly have left these silly stories here . " To neutralize their effects , my great-grandmother placed by the mirror two brown
volumes of ' Sermons addressed to Young Women , ' by the Reverend Joshua Wrightof Porkertonwhich sermons , it were needless to
observe , had never , been pub , licly delivered to " my dear brethren , " but had been privately compiled in his study under the advices
of his maiden sister , and were prodigies of discretion and composition .
"Well , Tuesday came , and my great-grandfather had been down to the Cat and Fiddleand had there ordered a room for John Chisel ton
Esquire . He patronised , this tavern in preference to the new inn , , the landlord having been an early friend and a late boon companion ,
and at six o'clock he stood at the door , under the sign , ( on which a cadaverous grimalkin was represented playing the fiddle , bon gre
mal gre , to a company of mice jollily dancing a jig , ) and looking anxiously up the street for the first sign of the Flying Post ,
which was due at that hour from York , and ought to bring the lovely heiress and his _co-exectitor to the market-town of Burchester .
But half-past six struck heavily from the great square church tower ,
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My Great Aunt Polly' S Elopement. 107
MY GREAT AUNT POLLY ' S ELOPEMENT . 107
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), April 1, 1858, page 107, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01041858/page/35/
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