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Article THE MAJOR IN THE BLACK-HOLE. Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Major In The Black-Hole.
THE MAJOR IN THE BLACK-HOLE .
" IN the Black-Hole ! " exclaimed Tliomas , the old footman . " In the Black-Hole ! " cried the cook . " In thc Black-Hole ! " exclaimed the housemaid . The coachman shook his head , pulled out a blue-and-white pocket handkerchief , wiped his eyes , and with a new look of resignation , said" It ' s true as heaven—in the Black-Hole . " Compassionate reader—that best of officersthough most passionate
, of men , Major Dragonfly was prisoner at Calcutta—alas ! he was really one of the captives of the dread Black-Hole ! The fatal news flew from door to door , smiting the hearts of the Major ' s many friends , and prompting them to sweetest offices of comfort . Tiie Major had a wife , an excellent , exemplary lady— " Dear , dear , Mrs . Dragonfly ! what must be her situation now ! " Such were the thoughts—such were the words of good Mrs . Major Dragonfly ' s
fifty dear acquaintance . Coach after coach rolled to the door of Mrs . Major Dragonfly . The footman , as he touched the knocker , touched it with an instructed respect for the house of sorrow . There was no clamorous peal , making the very fare * jump at the fire-side ; but a knock that implied a tenderness , yea , a knock of eloquent compassion . The visitors moved silently as ghosts to the apartment of affliction .
Mrs . Crossbone , yet fresh in her weeds , was the first who approached the mourner . " Comfort , my dear friend—comfort yourself . I—I have heard it all , " said Mrs . Crossbone . " Dear , excellent major !" Mrs . Major Dragonfly burst into a new flood of tears . " I—I have had my trials , " said Mrs . Crossbone ; " but your husband is yet spared to you . Still , still there is hope for you ; whilst for me , left alone in this world 1 ancl yet—yet 1 have striven to bear my lot with
resignation . " To be sure Mr . ancl Mrs . Crossbone had , ten years since , on the lamented score of incompatibility of temper , signed a deed of separation . For ten years had they ceased to he one flesh , when the half of Mrs . Crossbone was , as in her first affliction she declared , wrenched from her . " My husband is lost to me for ever—your beloved major , though in captivity , still exists . " Mrs . Major Dragonfly was inconsolable .
" To be sure , my love , " said Mrs . Crossbone , " I hear the most terrible accounts of the horrid place ; notwithstanding , the major is an iron man . I hear that the prison where the wretches have put him is frightful—is really "Mrs . Major Dragonfly , speechless with her tears , wrung her hands in the face of her comforter . " Still , my dear , " said Mrs . Crossbone very blandly , " still we must recollect , my clear , that nothing ever hurt the major . " Mrs . Maior Dragonfly sobbed incessantly .
" And so , clear—clear Mrs . Dragonfly , don ' t give way to useless sorrow ; al ! will yet be well—the major will again be back among us . " Here , Mrs . Major Dragonfly , overcome by the prospect of felicity so flatteringly depicted hy her affectionate friend , rank hack in her chair and laughed hysterically . VOL . v . A A
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Major In The Black-Hole.
THE MAJOR IN THE BLACK-HOLE .
" IN the Black-Hole ! " exclaimed Tliomas , the old footman . " In the Black-Hole ! " cried the cook . " In thc Black-Hole ! " exclaimed the housemaid . The coachman shook his head , pulled out a blue-and-white pocket handkerchief , wiped his eyes , and with a new look of resignation , said" It ' s true as heaven—in the Black-Hole . " Compassionate reader—that best of officersthough most passionate
, of men , Major Dragonfly was prisoner at Calcutta—alas ! he was really one of the captives of the dread Black-Hole ! The fatal news flew from door to door , smiting the hearts of the Major ' s many friends , and prompting them to sweetest offices of comfort . Tiie Major had a wife , an excellent , exemplary lady— " Dear , dear , Mrs . Dragonfly ! what must be her situation now ! " Such were the thoughts—such were the words of good Mrs . Major Dragonfly ' s
fifty dear acquaintance . Coach after coach rolled to the door of Mrs . Major Dragonfly . The footman , as he touched the knocker , touched it with an instructed respect for the house of sorrow . There was no clamorous peal , making the very fare * jump at the fire-side ; but a knock that implied a tenderness , yea , a knock of eloquent compassion . The visitors moved silently as ghosts to the apartment of affliction .
Mrs . Crossbone , yet fresh in her weeds , was the first who approached the mourner . " Comfort , my dear friend—comfort yourself . I—I have heard it all , " said Mrs . Crossbone . " Dear , excellent major !" Mrs . Major Dragonfly burst into a new flood of tears . " I—I have had my trials , " said Mrs . Crossbone ; " but your husband is yet spared to you . Still , still there is hope for you ; whilst for me , left alone in this world 1 ancl yet—yet 1 have striven to bear my lot with
resignation . " To be sure Mr . ancl Mrs . Crossbone had , ten years since , on the lamented score of incompatibility of temper , signed a deed of separation . For ten years had they ceased to he one flesh , when the half of Mrs . Crossbone was , as in her first affliction she declared , wrenched from her . " My husband is lost to me for ever—your beloved major , though in captivity , still exists . " Mrs . Major Dragonfly was inconsolable .
" To be sure , my love , " said Mrs . Crossbone , " I hear the most terrible accounts of the horrid place ; notwithstanding , the major is an iron man . I hear that the prison where the wretches have put him is frightful—is really "Mrs . Major Dragonfly , speechless with her tears , wrung her hands in the face of her comforter . " Still , my dear , " said Mrs . Crossbone very blandly , " still we must recollect , my clear , that nothing ever hurt the major . " Mrs . Maior Dragonfly sobbed incessantly .
" And so , clear—clear Mrs . Dragonfly , don ' t give way to useless sorrow ; al ! will yet be well—the major will again be back among us . " Here , Mrs . Major Dragonfly , overcome by the prospect of felicity so flatteringly depicted hy her affectionate friend , rank hack in her chair and laughed hysterically . VOL . v . A A