one hand and two in the other and they, finding themselves descending, fluttered out their pinions instinctively. 6. The boy, too, had on a carter's frock, secured round the neck, which, filling with air from beneath, buoyed him up like a balloon, and he descended smoothly to the ground; when, looking up, he exclaimed to his companion, "Now you shall have none!" and ran away, sound in every limb, to the astonishment of the inhabitants, who, with inconceivable horror, had witnessed his descent. CHAPTER XXXIII. TO A SNOW-BIRD. 1. LITTLE "chipping," "chipping" bird, When the chilling north winds blow, 2. Dost thou love this frosty air? Dost thou love the trees all bare? Dost thou keep thee snug and warm? 3. Much I fear thy tiny feet Suffer in this driving sleet; "Chipping,' 4. Hark! dost hear the northern blast, 5. "No!" methinks I hear thee say; Need not fear; He hears us cry. 6. "When the raging tempests blow, When the restless winds are still, CHAPTER XXXIV. THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM. 1. It was a summer evening, Old Kaspar's work was done, And by him sported on the green 2. She saw her brother Peterkin He came to ask what he had found, That was so large, and smooth, and round. 3. Old Kaspar took it from the boy, Who stood expectant by; And when the old man shook his head, And with a natural sigh, ""Tis some poor fellow's skull," said he, "Who fell in the great victory." 5. "Now tell us what 't was all about," And little Wilhelmine looks up And what they killed each other for." 6. "It was the English," Kaspar cried, 7. "My father lived at Blenheim then, They burned his dwelling to the ground, So with his wife and child he fled, 8. "With fire and sword the country round Was wasted far and wide, And many a hapless mother, then, And many an infant, died; But things like these, you know, must be 9. "They say it was a shocking sight, After the field was won; For many thousand bodies here Lay rotting in the sun; But things like that, you know, must be 10. "Great praise the Duke of Marlb'ro' won, And our good Prince Eugene." "Why, 't was a very wicked thing!" Said little Wilhelmine. "Nay, nay, my little girl," quoth he, 11. "And everybody praised the duke Who such a fight did win." Quoth little Peterkin. 'Why, that I cannot tell," said he, CHAPTER XXXV. CHARLES II. AND WILLIAM PENN. Charles. WELL, friend William! I have sold you a noble province in North America; but still I suppose you have no thoughts of going thither yourself. Penn. Yes, I have, I assure thee, friend Charles; and I am just come to bid thee farewell. Char. What! venture yourself among the savages of North America! Why, man, what security have you that you will not be in their war-kettle in two hours after setting foot on their shores ? Penn. The best security in the world. Char. I doubt that, friend William; I have no idea of any security against those cannibals, but in a regiment of good soldiers, with their muskets and bayonets. And mind I tell you beforehand, that, with all my good will for you and your family, to whom I am under obligations, I will not send a single soldier with you. Penn. I want none of thy soldiers, Charles; I depend on something better than thy soldiers. Char. Ah! and what may that be? Penn. Why, I depend upon themselves—on the workings of their own hearts- on their notions of justice—on their moral sense. Char. A fine thing, this same moral sense, no doubt; but I fear you will not find much of it among the Indians of North America. Penn. And why not among them, as well as others? Char. Because, if they had possessed any, they would not have treated my subjects so barbarously as they have done. Penn. That is no proof to the contrary, friend Charles. Thy subjects were the aggressors. When thy subjects first went to North America, they found these poor people the fondest and kindest creatures in the world. Every day they would watch for them to come ashore, and hasten to meet them, and feast them on the best fish, and venison, and corn, which was all that they had. In return for this hospitality of the savages, as we call them, thy subjects, termed Christians, seized on their country and rich hunting grounds, for farms for themselves! Now, is it to be wondered at, that these much injured people should have been driven to desperation by such injustice; and that, burning with revenge, they should have committed some excesses? Char. Well, then, I hope you will not complain when they come to treat you in the same manner. Penn. I am not afraid of it. Char. Ah! how will you avoid it? You mean to get their hunting grounds too, I suppose? Penn. Yes, but not by driving these poor people away from them. Char. No, indeed! How, then, will you get the lands? Penn. I mean to buy their lands of them. Char. Buy their lands of them! Why, man, you have already bought them of me. Penn. Yes, I know I have, and at a dear rate, too; but I did it only to get thy good will, not that I thought thou hadst any right to their lands. Char. How, man! no right to their lands! |