Memoirs of Carwin the Biloquist (A Fragment)

e carried in a dog. There is no doubt that the animal affixes distinct ideas to sounds. What are the possible limits of his vocabulary no one can tell. In conversing with my dog I did not us

ted my hand to my forehead he trotted composedly behind. By one motion I could make him bark; by another I could reduce him to silen

ger would appear indifferent or casual, it was easy to produce a beli

exhibited on the spot. Much surprise was excited by the readiness with which he appeared to comprehend sentences of considerable abstraction and complexity, though, he in reality, attended to nothing but the movements of hand or fingers with which

rly distinguished English words. A dialogue began between the animal and his master, which was maintained, on the part of the former, with great vivacity and spirit. In this dialogue t

ations of philosophers we proceeded to the creations of the poet. Some maintained the justness of Shakspear's delineations of aerial beings, while others denied it. By no violent transition, Ariel and his songs were introduced,

the company, and carefully noted every thing. The track which the conversation had taken, su

strain was wafted to our ears from another quarter. The spot where we sat was e

every eye was cast up in expectation of beholding a face among the pendant clusters. The strain was easily recogniz

wslips be

t's back

mmer mer

val of silence was succeded by an earnest discussion of the cause of this prodigy. One supposition only could be adopted, which was, that the strain was u

ceived information that my aunt was suddenly taken sick, and that her life was in imminent

and was deeply affected by this event: I will own, however, that my grief was lessened by reflecting on the consequences of her death, with reg

artizan, lived apart from her: I had no reason to suspect the woman's sincerity and disinterestedness; but my aunt w

exasperated by my opposition and surmises, and vigorously enforced her title. In a week after the decease of my kinswom

for the future; I hated manual labour, or any task of which the object was gain. To be guided in my choice of occupations by any

ge of some lucrative art, the acquisition would demand time, and, meanwhile, I was absolutely destitute of support. My fathe

his reverse of fortune, continually occupied my thoughts; I estranged myself from

ge. He was from Ireland; was a man of some rank and apparently rich: I had met with him before, but in mixed companies, where lit

y walk and entered into conversation. It was easy to advert to the occasion on which we had last met, and to the mysterious incident whic

guess, and could not discover, by the tokens which he suffered to appear, that his suspicions glanced at me. He expatiated with great profoundness and fertility of ideas, on the uses to which a faculty like this might be employed. No m

hough vague ideas of the importance of this art could not fail to be occasionally suggested: I ventured to inquire

from a quarter where no attendant form could be seen would, in most cases, be ascribed to supernal agency, and a command imposed on them, in this manner, would be obeyed with religious scrupulousness. Thus men might be imperiously directed in the disposal of their industry, their proper

ation was filled with the images suggested by this conversation. The hopelessness of better fortune, which I had lately harboured, now gave place to cheering confidence. Those motives of rectitude which should deter me

coming to the city. I was not surprised, therefore, that it had once been made, but merely that it had never been cancelled or superseded by a later

n spells and apparitions, was of the most lively kind. Could not her conscience be awakened by a voice from the grave! Lonely and at midnight, my a

ntended to cancel the old one, but this act might, by her own weakness, or by the artifices of her servant, be delaye

r to accumulate as ever. In their hands, money was inert and sterile, or it served to foster their vices. To take it from them would, therefore, be a benefit both to them and to myself; not even an imaginary injury

cy would have been detected in the sequel, and my scheme have been productive of nothing but confusion a

was at first oppressed with the sense of my own inferiority in age, knowledge and rank. Hence arose numberless reserves and incapacitating diffidences; but these were speedily dissipated by the fascinations of this man's address. His superiority was only rendered, by time, more conspicuous, but this superiority, by appearing neve