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Article THE MAJOR IN THE BLACK-HOLE. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Major In The Black-Hole.
After a further vain endeavour to comfort the mourner , the maid was summoned to the assistance of Mrs . Major Dragonfly , ancl Mrs . Crossbone , marvelling at the inordinate grief of her friend , departed . Another and another comforter approached Mrs . Major Dragonfly ; she was , strange to say , deaf , ancl , stranger still , dumb to all they said . The grief of Mrs . Major Dragonfly became town-talk—the astonishment and wonder of her circle .
"Would the infatuated woman weep herself to death ? Hacl she no fortitude ? Had she no regard for her health ? Was every widowevery woman who had suffered losses to he shamed by the inordinate sorrow of Mrs . Major Dragonfly ?" The affair became a matter for the intervention of the Church . Fortunate was it for the case of Mrs . Major Dragonfly that the Rev . Dr . Hippocrasin the lenitude of his charity and goodnessdetermined
, p , upon visiting her . He—excellent man!—came , armed to the teeth with precepts against the sinfulness of outrageous grief—of its very wickedness , of its utter folly . The Reverend Doctor Hippocras was shewn up to Mrs . Major Dragonfly . " I take the double privilege afforded me hy my profession , and of some knowled ge of the captive major " , —
Mrs . Major Dragonfly gently passed her handkerchief across her eyes . " Of the captive major , " continued the Reverend Doctor Hippocras , " to intrude a visit upon his amiable lady . " This said , the Reverend Doctor Hippocras drew a chair , ancl sat close to Mrs . Major Dragonfly . " In this sublunary world , madam , '' said the doctor , " in this brief passage—this place of trial and affliction—it would be to take a foolish , nay , a criminal estimate of our own merits , did any of us suppose that we were to be exempt from those cares which are intended as the lot of all . "
Mis . Major Dragonfly , by a most graceful inclination of the head , allowed the truth of the assertion . The Reverend Doctor Hippocras , taking his lawn handkerchief at a guinea per yard from his pocket , and therewith wi ping his purpurea ! forehead , repeated the latter part of his first sentence . "Misery , madam , " said the doctor , with his hands upon the knees of his glossy silk breeches ; " misery is the lot of all : we are here , madam , but as
pilgrims—wretched pilgrims , "" Mr . Dragonfly , "—( he was the Major ' s nephew)—said a servant who entered , " wishes to know , sir , if when you leave , you could put him down in your carriage ?" " Any where , with the greatest pleasure , " said the Reverend Doctor Hippocras , who immediately took up his thread of comfoit . "Yes , madam , we are all wretched , miserable pilgrims , doomed to walk our
weary journey through this flint-strewn world . But , madam , need I tell you what should be our staff ?—Resignation , madam , resignation . " Mrs . Major Dragonfly shook her head , and again from her eyes the shower began to fall . " Madam , I must take the liberty of telling you , " said the animated Doctor Hippocras , " that this grief betrays a wicked weakness . " Mrs . Major Dragonfly wept on . " That these tears are so many minor sins . What ! have you no hope—none of seeing that excellent man , your husband , return to his country and friends ? "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Major In The Black-Hole.
After a further vain endeavour to comfort the mourner , the maid was summoned to the assistance of Mrs . Major Dragonfly , ancl Mrs . Crossbone , marvelling at the inordinate grief of her friend , departed . Another and another comforter approached Mrs . Major Dragonfly ; she was , strange to say , deaf , ancl , stranger still , dumb to all they said . The grief of Mrs . Major Dragonfly became town-talk—the astonishment and wonder of her circle .
"Would the infatuated woman weep herself to death ? Hacl she no fortitude ? Had she no regard for her health ? Was every widowevery woman who had suffered losses to he shamed by the inordinate sorrow of Mrs . Major Dragonfly ?" The affair became a matter for the intervention of the Church . Fortunate was it for the case of Mrs . Major Dragonfly that the Rev . Dr . Hippocrasin the lenitude of his charity and goodnessdetermined
, p , upon visiting her . He—excellent man!—came , armed to the teeth with precepts against the sinfulness of outrageous grief—of its very wickedness , of its utter folly . The Reverend Doctor Hippocras was shewn up to Mrs . Major Dragonfly . " I take the double privilege afforded me hy my profession , and of some knowled ge of the captive major " , —
Mrs . Major Dragonfly gently passed her handkerchief across her eyes . " Of the captive major , " continued the Reverend Doctor Hippocras , " to intrude a visit upon his amiable lady . " This said , the Reverend Doctor Hippocras drew a chair , ancl sat close to Mrs . Major Dragonfly . " In this sublunary world , madam , '' said the doctor , " in this brief passage—this place of trial and affliction—it would be to take a foolish , nay , a criminal estimate of our own merits , did any of us suppose that we were to be exempt from those cares which are intended as the lot of all . "
Mis . Major Dragonfly , by a most graceful inclination of the head , allowed the truth of the assertion . The Reverend Doctor Hippocras , taking his lawn handkerchief at a guinea per yard from his pocket , and therewith wi ping his purpurea ! forehead , repeated the latter part of his first sentence . "Misery , madam , " said the doctor , with his hands upon the knees of his glossy silk breeches ; " misery is the lot of all : we are here , madam , but as
pilgrims—wretched pilgrims , "" Mr . Dragonfly , "—( he was the Major ' s nephew)—said a servant who entered , " wishes to know , sir , if when you leave , you could put him down in your carriage ?" " Any where , with the greatest pleasure , " said the Reverend Doctor Hippocras , who immediately took up his thread of comfoit . "Yes , madam , we are all wretched , miserable pilgrims , doomed to walk our
weary journey through this flint-strewn world . But , madam , need I tell you what should be our staff ?—Resignation , madam , resignation . " Mrs . Major Dragonfly shook her head , and again from her eyes the shower began to fall . " Madam , I must take the liberty of telling you , " said the animated Doctor Hippocras , " that this grief betrays a wicked weakness . " Mrs . Major Dragonfly wept on . " That these tears are so many minor sins . What ! have you no hope—none of seeing that excellent man , your husband , return to his country and friends ? "