The Caxtons, Complete

gate. Mrs. Primmins herself ran out to welcome me; and I had scarcely escaped

dined two hours ago at Dr. Herman's, she led me gently across the garden towards the arbor. "Y

? I had never heard that he had a brother, so litt

ve I then an Uncle Caxton

were not such good friends as they ought to have been, and the Captain

eir dessert; and those gentlemen were my father, Uncle Jack, Mr. Squills, and-tall, lean, buttoned-to-the-chin-an erec

oulder and pronounced me "wonderfully grown;" my new-found relative had with great dignity said, "Nephew, your hand, sir,-I am Captain de Caxton;" and even the tame duck had taken her beak from her wing and rubbed it gently

turned to the shelter of the roof-tree to become myself one of its supports. I was at last a man, privileged to aid or solace those dear ones who had ministered, as yet without return, to me. That is a very strange crisis in our life when we come home for good. Home seems a different thing; before, one has been but a sort of guest after all, only we

ly believe he read all that was passing in mine as easily as if it had been Greek. He stole his arm gently round my waist and wh

in, very formally, "Mr. Jack, if I

deed," crie

iliarity that does me honor. I was about to s

h he had been preparing with great attention, composed of sherry and lemon-juice-"far fro

nineteenth century," quoth Uncle Jack, "

on, sir-

so many years, and with such distinction, in his Majesty's service, and should now be only a captain on half-pay. This, I

ck pushed on before my father could get rea

dertake to say that I could put the army upon a very different footing. If the poorer and more meritorious gentlemen, like Captain de Caxton, would, as I was just observing, but unite in a grand anti-aristoc

, "there is something gra

monarchies but one fountain of honor. It would be an interfere

"it would still be to the sovereign

Sir, he does not buy from me the medal I won at Waterloo. He is a rich man, and I am a poor man; he is called-colonel, because he paid money for the name. That pleases him; well and good. It would not please me; I had rather remain a capta

stared very hard at the grim veteran, and said nothing. The pause was awkward; Mr. Squills b

d of command, on the day of the Grand Review!" So saying, the Captain leisurely unbuttoned his coat, and detaching from a piece of striped ribbon

und, without a word

n his head,-a very ridiculous head-gear we should now call it. An American Indian prefers a decoration of human scalps, which, I apprehend, we should all agree (save and except Mr. Squills, who is accustomed to such things) to be a very disgusting addition to one's pe

ange in the matter. It is as plain as a pike-staff

like to hear what you have to say upon honor