The history of Henry Earl of Moreland / [Ed. by J.W].

  • Henry Brooke
Date:
[1813]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of Henry Earl of Moreland / [Ed. by J.W]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Bed time now approaching, and all being again settled, Harry, says my lord, you have been a very good boy to-day, and have joined with your companions in all their little plays; now, if you have any plays to shew them, I am sure they will have the good manners to do as you desire. What say you, Harry, have you any play to shew them? Yes, Sir, said Harry, I have many of them; there's first, leap frog, and thrush a thrush. To it, then, Harry, says my lord; and pray, all you little gentlemen, do you observe his directions. No sooner said than done. Harry took his companions, one by one, and, causing them to stoop, with their heads toward the ground in a long line, and at certain distances each before the other, he re- turned to the tail, and taking the advantage of a short run to quicken his motion, he laid his hands on the rump of the hindmost, and vault- ing lightly over him, he, with amazing rapidity, flew along the whole line, clearing a man at every motion, till he alighted before the fore- most, and down he popt in the posture of those behind. My lady, in utter astonishment, lifting up her hands and eyes, .ex- claimed, Oh the fine creature! Oh the graceful creature! if there was but a mind to match that body, there would not be such another boy in the universe. Lord Richard, being now the hindmost, was the next who adven- tured, and, with action enough, cleared his two first men; but then having lost the advantage of his run, and his foreman being of more than ordinary size, he first stuck upon his rump, and pitching thence, broke his forehead against the floor. He got up however with a pleasant countenance, and running along side the line, set himself in his former posture before his brother. The hindmost then, and then the next, and the next, and so onward took their turns, in succession, without any better success. The one bruised his shoulder, another sprained his finger, another bumpt his head, another broke his nose. So that, in less than five minutes, my lady had got an hospital of her own, though not altogether consisting of incurables. Now, spirits and vinegar, brown paper, black plaister, were called for in a hurry, and, the several stupes and dressings being skilfully applied, the children were ordered to their respective beds, and nurse was prevailed upon to continue with Harry, till he should be recon- ciled to his new friends and associates. Now Harry was become a favourite, especially among the servants, who, in a manner, adored him, since the adventure of the box and the hobgoblin. Ruflled linen, laced hat, silk stockings, <Src. had now been ordered
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