Jack Sheppard: A Romance, Vol. 3 (of 3)

th has become a man; the man has already begun to feel the advances of age. Beauty has bloomed and faded. Fresh flowers of loveliness have budded, expanded, died. The fashions of the day

e same. We, ourselves, are scarcel

ion in which, twelve years ago, we indulged? Where are the aspirations that fired us-the passions that consumed us then? Has our success in life been commensurate with our own desires-with the anticipations formed of us by others? Or, are we not blighted in heart, as i

history. At that time, we were beneath the sway of Anne: we are now at the commencement of the reign of Geor

rowth

at wi

narrative at the beg

ng in Wych Street, Drury Lane; and was about to enter his workshop, when, not hearing any sound of labour issue from within, he began to suspect that an apprentice, of whose habits of industry he entertained some doubt, was neglecting his

sill. Divers plans and figures were chalked upon the walls; and the spaces between them were filled up with an almanack for the year; a godly ballad, adorned with a rude wood-cut, purporting to be "The History of Chaste Susannah;" an old print of the Seven Golden Candlesticks; an abstract of the various Acts of Parliament against drinking, swearing, and all manner of profaneness; and a view of the interior of Doctor Daniel Burgess's Presbyterian meeting-house in Russell Court, with portraits of the reverend gentleman and the principal members of his flock. The floor was thickly strewn with sawdust and shavings; and across the room ran a long and wide bench, furnished at one end with a powerful vice; next to which three nails driven

Size -- M

ttired like men of their own day, or certain charity-children of ours; and the stripling in question was dressed in black plush breeches, and a gray drugget waistcoat, with immoderately long pockets, both of which were evidently the cast-off clothes of some one considerably

olution. In the end, resolution triumphed, as it was sure to do, over the weaker emotions, and he laughed at his fears. The only part of his otherwise-interesting countenance, to which one could decidedly object, was the mouth; a feature that, more than any other, is conceived to betray the animal propensities of the possessor. If this is true, it must be owned that the boy's mouth showed a strong tendency on his part to coarse indulgence. The eyes, too, though large and bright, and shaded by long lashes, seemed to betoken, as hazel eyes generally do in men, a faithless and uncertain disposition. The cheek-bones were prominent: the nose slightly depressed, with rather wide nostrils; the chin narrow, but well-formed; the forehead broad and lofty; and he possessed such an extraordinary flexibility

he boy resumed his task, chanting, as he plied his knife with

WGATE

u Val was in

name on the

who gazed on th

d your epitaph,

hisel so fi

sed the apprentice, retouching the le

ng'd, and the

me stone insc

e dubsman, with

our doom is t

hisel so fi

Jack. However, it don't signify. Nobody ever called me John, that I recollect. So I dar

dungeon lay

Whitney-a

ir names on th

ate of the

chisels so

the song speaks of, to swing on the Tyburn tree for my pains. No fear o' that.-Though if my name should become as famous as t

ighwaymen bli

chains in th

umber there '

s name on the

hisel so f

a few paces on the bench to examine his performance,-"that'll d

lly preserved by the subsequent owners of Mr. Wood's habitation i

p, and turn highwayman," cried Jack, as he

e down, sirrah, and I'll teach you how to deface my walls in future. Come down, I say, instantly,

ng dog?" continued the carpenter, cuffing him sou

Jack sullenly, "if yo

ears for a moment, and, looking at him steadfastly, said

n-pecked," retorted the l

Wood, reddening with anger. "Do you dare

l events," replied Jack coolly; "but, be tha

gible rascal, many a master would have taken you before a magistrate, and prayed for your solitary confinement in Bridewe

usting his hand into his pocket, as if in search of the k

nance, thought it advisable to postpone the execution of his threats to a more favo

I heard just now?" he demand

our street," replied J

nt haunt of reprobates and thieves," groaned Woo

degree of candour that astonished his master nearly as much as his confiden

ty houses for an apprentice to frequent! Why, the rascal you mention is a notorious house-breaker. He was tried at th

ster?" inquired Jack, altering his tone,

red Wood; "and, though he must be much changed b

r height, Sir,-with a yellow bear

ly to conceal a smile; "the descript

" stammer

a kind and encouraging tone. "If you've do

into tears; "for I'm afraid I've done very wrong. Do you

ou find it!"

in at the Lion! and who, though he slouched his hat over his eyes, a

t it?" inquired

give me a couple of guineas if I'd a

m me by your father, Jack. What he intended to do with it is of little consequence now. But before he suffered at

rrow, and if I don't entrap him in a snare from which, with all his cun

d's intention, doubtless, was to use you as far as he found necessary, and then to sell you. Let this be a caution to you in future-with whom, and about what you deal. We're told, that 'Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul.' Avoid taverns and bad company, and you may yet do well. You promise to become a first-rate workman. But you want one quality, without which all others are valueless. You want industry-you want steadiness. Idleness is the key of beggary, Jack.

ll!" implored Jack, seriously alarmed

away the cat; throw that measure of gin through the window; and tell me why you've not so much as touched the packing-case for Lady Tr

ood and a plane; "it isn't more than four o'clock. I'll engage to get

's a will there's a way. You can do anything you plea

better than he does," replied Jack, adroitly adjusting t

eplied Wood,

rved Jack, as he fastened another piece

ou, hitherto," answered Wood; "nor

ents," rejoined Jack, "But I won't compl

matter, father!" continued the new-comer, addressing Wood. "Has Jack displeased you? If so

answered Shep

he thief becomes hon

ack?" asked Thames

undertaken to finish this job by six o'clock, and

hat time, father," remonstrated Tha

e advantage of diligence at the proper season. Lost ground must be regained. I need sca

ich he felt might be construed into a

id; "and if I'd attended to his advice, the packin

d work as fast as you, I might afford to be as idle. See how he gets on, fa

casting a look of pride and affection at his adopted son, whose

ects they differed as materially. Jack could hardly be accounted good-looking: Thames, on the contrary, was one of the handsomest boys possible. Jack's complexion was that of a gipsy; Darrell's as fresh and bright as a rose. Jack's mouth was coarse and large; Darrell's small and exquisitely carved, with the short, proud upper lip, which belongs to the highest order of beauty. Jack's nose was broad and flat; Darrell's straight and fine as that of Antinous. The expression pervading the countenanc

the agility of an ape upon a sort of frame, contrived to sustain short spars and blocks of timber, began to search about for a piece of wood required in the work on which he was engaged. Being in

tnessed the occurrence; "that plank isn't

ended. Losing his presence of mind, Jack quitted his hold, and dropped upon the frame. The plank hung over his head. A m

t'll break my wrist. Down we come!" he exclaimed, letting go the plank, which

s the work

laughing at Jack, who limped towards t

d Sheppard, with af

declare I'm all in a cold sweat. How came you, Sir," he continued, addressing She

nterposed Thames; "he's been

more," returned Wood. "You hay'n't hurt your

at's all," answered Thames; "t

let your mother look at your wrist. She has an excellent remedy for a sprain. And

ith us?" said Thames. "H

uffering will do him good. I meant to give him a d

threw a vindictive glance at the carpenter,

day, and think no more about it. I

n't be easy till

e, and dreaded some further indiscretion on his part, "if you really wish to oblige

epend upon it," answered

work; while Wood and Thames quitt