The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club

d wounded the Pigeon; how the Dingley Dell Cricket Club played All–Muggleton, and how All–

n less than five minutes after he had been shown to his comfortable bedroom he fell into a sound and dreamless sleep, from which he was only awakened by the m

like this? Who could continue to exist where there are no cows but the cows on the chimney-pots; nothing redolent of Pan but pan-tiles; no crop but stone crop? Who could bear to drag out a life in such

e air around; the deep-green meadows shone in the morning dew that glistened on every leaf as it trembled in the gentle air; and the b

the sound tha

ked into the garden, and there saw Mr. Wardle. ‘How are you?’ said the good-humoured individual, out of breath with his own anticipations of pleasure.‘Beautiful morning, ain’t it? Glad to see you up so early. Make ha

t his companion was armed with a gun, and that ano

t, ‘are going out rook-shooting before br

l one,’ replied Mr. Pickwick, ‘bu

host, ‘I wish he’

he morning did not appear to be more than three pa

he’ll find me and Mr. Pickwick in the rookery

nd the host, carrying both guns like a second

king, in an avenue of trees. The information was unnecessary; for the incess

one gun on the ground

Winkle appeared in the distance. The fat boy, not being quite certain which gentleman he was directe

g Mr. Winkle; ‘a keen hand like you ought to have

gentleman nodded; and two ragged boys who had been marshalled to the spot under the direction of the infant Lambert, forthwith commenced climbing up two of the trees. ‘What are these lads for?’ inquired Mr. Pickwick abruptly. He was rather alarmed; for he was not quite certain but that the dist

inquired Mr

English, to fri

s that

re sat

ui

l. Shall

aid Mr. Winkle, gl

de, then.

ooks in violent conversation, flew out to ask what the matter was. The old

Joe,’ said the

stinct visions of rook-pie floated through his imagination.

the host, reloading hi

e damage from the heavy fall of rooks, which they felt quite certain would be occasioned by the devast

aid the ol

?’ inquired

kle, who was very pale — pr

of them miss fire before. Why, I don’t see anything of the cap.

Tupman looked out from behind a tree. The boy shouted; four birds flew out. Mr. Winkle fired. There was a scream as of an individual — not a r

icken beside him; how Mr. Tupman called distractedly upon some feminine Christian name, and then opened first one eye, and then the other, and then fell back and shut them both — all this would be as difficult to describe in d

ir breakfast. The spinster aunt appeared; she smiled, and beckoned them to walk quicker. ‘Twas

proache

spinster aunt heeded not the remark; she thought it applied to Mr. Pickwick. In h

s daughters. The little party had crowded so completely round Mr. Tupm

ightened,’ s

atter?’ screa

t with a little ac

eam, burst into an hysteric laugh, and f

ter over her,’ said

eon! Is he wounded? — Is he dead? — Is he — Ha, ha, ha!’ Here the spinster au

t to tears by this expression of sympathy with h

er aunt; and strong symptoms of fit num

dearest madam,’ said Mr. Tupman soothingl

culated the hysterical lady.

e roughly than was consistent with the poetic nature of the s

dded, in a whisper, ‘Oh, Miss Rachael!’ The agitated female advanced, and offered her arm. They turned

’ inquired the

nothing. I shall be better p

is organs of vision had been closed nearly

—‘Oh, say those words

ly you did not hear the

r, repeat them.’ ‘Hush!’ said the lady. ‘My brother.’ Mr. Tracy Tupman resumed

ppetites with countenances to which an expression of cheerfulness was again restored. Mr. Pickwick alone was silent and reserved. Doubt and distrust were exhibited in his

ied in the affirmative. He felt the delicacy

?’ inquired M

st; ‘but I have given it up now. I subsc

layed to-day, I belie

host. ‘Of course you

people do not endanger human life.’ Mr. Pickwick paused, and looked steadily on Mr. Winkle, who quailed beneath his leader’s searching glance.

me in better hands

ible,’ said M

r of the guests, under the guidance of Mr. Wardle, should proceed to the spot where was to be held that trial o

uggleton is a corporate town, with a mayor, burgesses, and freemen; and anybody who has consulted the addresses of the mayor to the freemen, or the freemen to the mayor, or both to the corporation, or all three to Parliament, will learn from thence what they ought to have known before, that Muggleton is an ancient and loyal borough, mingling a zealous advocacy of Christian principles with a devoted attachment to commerc

ency office, a corn-factor’s, a linen-draper’s, a saddler’s, a distiller’s, a grocer’s, and a shoe-shop — the last-mentioned warehouse being also appropriated to the diffusion of hats, bonnets, wearing apparel, cotton umbrellas, and useful knowledge. There was a red brick house with a small paved courtyard in front, which anybody might have known belonged to the attorney; and there was, moreover, another red brick house with Venetian blinds, and a large brass door-plate with a very legible announcement that it belonged to

l– Muggletonians, were amusing themselves with a majestic air by throwing the ball carelessly from hand to hand; and several other gentlemen dressed like them, in straw hats, flannel

ending forward of the flannel jackets, followed his introduction of his guests as gentlemen from London, who were ex

ry stout gentleman, whose body and legs looked like half a gigant

other stout gentleman, who strongly resembled t

good,’ said

e — it’s the best place in the whole field;’ and the c

first object that met his eyes was his green-coated friend of the Rochester coach, holding forth, to the no small delight and edificati

ckwick by the hand, dragged him to a seat with his usual impetuosity, talking all the wh

rounds of beef — bullocks; mustard — cart-loads; glorious day —

Mr. Snodgrass also complied with the directions of their

riend of mine,’ s

ed Mr. Wardle’s hand with all the fervour of a close intimacy of many years, and then stepped back a pace or two as if

surprise. ‘Come,’ replied the stranger —‘stopping at Crown — Crown at Muggleton — met a party — fla

ntracted an acquaintance with the All–Muggletons, which he had converted, by a process peculiar to himself, into that extent of good-fellowship on which a general i

pitched to bowl against the redoubtable Dumkins, and Mr. Struggles was selected to do the same kind office for the hitherto unconquered Podder. Several players were stationed, to ‘look out,’ in different parts of the field, and each fixed himself into the proper attitud

ensued. Mr. Luffey retired a few paces behind the wicket of the passive Podder, and applied the ball to his rig

e stump of the wicket. The wary Dumkins was on the alert: it fell upon the tip of the bat, and boun

and bowled till their arms ached; but Dumkins and Podder remained unconquered. Did an elderly gentleman essay to stop the progress of the ball, it rolled between his legs or slipped between his fingers. Did a slim gentleman try to catch it, it struck him on the nose, and bounded pleasantly off with redoubled violence, while the slim gentleman’s eyes filled with water, and his form writhed with anguish. Was it thrown straight up to the wicket, Dumkins had reached it before the ball. In short, when Du

ve been highly gratifying to the party concerned; while at every bad attempt at a catch, and every failure to stop the ball, he launched his personal displeasure at the head of the devoted individual in such denunciations as —‘Ah, ah! —

rable,’ said the stranger, as both sides crowde

‘Played it! Think I have — thousands of times — not here — West Indies — exciting thing — h

ent in; kept in — heat intense — natives all fainted — taken away — fresh half-dozen ordered — fainted also — Blazo bowling — supported by two natives — couldn’t bowl me out — fainted too — cleared away the colonel — wouldn’t give in — faithfu

t’s-his-name, Sir?’ inq

la

r gentleman.’

s,

n a brown jug, but whether to hide his emotion or imbibe its contents, we cannot distinctly affirm. We only know that he paused suddenly, drew

pe you and your friends will join us.’ ‘Of course,’ said Mr. Wardle, ‘a

, taking the hint at once. ‘Jingle — Al

Alfred Jingle, drawing one arm through Mr. Pickwick’s, and another through Mr.

e room this morning — fowls and pies, and all that sort of

nots of twos and threes; and within a quarter of an hour were all seated in the great room of th

ry of which item of confusion, the facetious Mr. Jingle lent the aid of half-a-dozen ordinary men at least. When everybody had eaten as much as possible, the cloth was removed, bottles, glasses, and dessert were placed

who remained very quiet; occasionally looking round him when the conversation slackened, as if he contemplated putting in something very weighty; and now and then

Luf

profound stillness as the in

ir

you, Sir, if you will entreat th

e remainder of the company; and the glasses having been filled, the vice-pr

Sta

ur worthy chairman, because our worthy chairman is in some measure — I may say in a great deg

r forget that Dingley Dell can boast a Luffey and a Struggles. (Vociferous cheering.) Let me not be considered as wishing to detract from the merits of the former gentlemen. Sir, I envy them the luxury of their own feelings on this occasion. (Cheers.) Every gentleman who hears me, is probably acquainted with the reply made by an individual, who — to use an ordinary figure of speech —“hung out” in a tub, to the emperor Alexander:—“if I were not Diogenes,” said he, “I would be Alexander.” I can well imagine these gentlemen to say, “If I were not Dumkins I would be Luffey; if I were not Podder I would be Struggles.” (Enthusiasm.) But, gentlemen of Muggleton, is it in cricket al

le intermission during the remainder of the evening. Other toasts were drunk. Mr. Luffey and Mr. Struggles, Mr. Pickwick and M

nformation, had not the burning eloquence of the words or the feverish influence of the wine made that gentleman’s hand so extremely unsteady, as to render his writing nearly unintelligible, and his style wholly so. By dint of patient investigation, we have been enabled to trace some characters bearing a faint resemblance to the names of the speakers; and we can only discern an entry of a song (supposed to have been sung by Mr. Jingle),

twelve o’clock that night, the convocation of worthies of Dingley Dell and Muggleton were

go home ti

o home til

o home til

ight doth

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