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Article THE BRASS THUMB. ← Page 4 of 9 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Brass Thumb.
from time to time been fed with florins by Leuchidde ' s father , that theirs was indeed a glorious repletion , testifying to his liberality and affection for his daughter ; for these were to be her dowry . Humble and submissive had Hans , the lover , presented himself to his enslaverone briht Dutch afternoonwhen the
, g , sun shone as dazzlingly as one of the country ' s own brass saucepans . He had been accorded the privilege of sitting in her presence , a mark of high favour , and in the strength of the consequent comfort he had even ventured to speak of love . But Leuchidde was perverse this day , and took him short up with , —
" Love , master Hans , is a matter not lightly to be spoken of by either man or woman , —especially by man . I am aweary of Leyden , of my father , of everything , and of you , too , if you are anything . " "But , respected Leuchidde—" " I am not respected ! 'Tis plain I am not , " replied Leuchidde . " No wish of mine is regarded , —no desire is gratified . I could weep with vexation ! " " Thou shalt not weep , fair Leuchidde , " said Hans ,
tenderly , in his kindness searching in . his pocket for his pockethandkerchief for her . Leuchidde , however , was in one of her obstinate fits , and refused to be comforted , like Rachel of old . After many pros and cons , as to her even looking at him , she dismissed Hans , with an intimation that she had a desire which must
be gratified by any courageous man who would think of her . Strange enough this whim was , —strange , at least , it would have been , had Leuchidde not been a woman . You must know that Leuchidde sometimes , when she was in a studious mood , smoked a peculiar Persian tobacco of inexpressible delicacy . Not far off the church of St . Ignatius
was a grim statue of Piebaldus , —an old Gaulish worthy of rather uncertain descent . In those very dark ages , when there was no lamplight from literature , he had flourished , and his profession was a doublefaced one , that of half-priest , halfwarrior . His statue , or effigy , was set upon a high , ancient , grey pedestalwhich looked as if it had been chiselledwith a
, , bladebone , by Gog and Magog , during a misdirection of their faculties from two gallons of three-strike double-Dutch beer . Piebaldus , or St . Piebald , had a venerable beard of brass , and his hands , and feet , and mitre were of the same metal . A strange fancy had taken possession of Leuchidde ' s giddy head ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Brass Thumb.
from time to time been fed with florins by Leuchidde ' s father , that theirs was indeed a glorious repletion , testifying to his liberality and affection for his daughter ; for these were to be her dowry . Humble and submissive had Hans , the lover , presented himself to his enslaverone briht Dutch afternoonwhen the
, g , sun shone as dazzlingly as one of the country ' s own brass saucepans . He had been accorded the privilege of sitting in her presence , a mark of high favour , and in the strength of the consequent comfort he had even ventured to speak of love . But Leuchidde was perverse this day , and took him short up with , —
" Love , master Hans , is a matter not lightly to be spoken of by either man or woman , —especially by man . I am aweary of Leyden , of my father , of everything , and of you , too , if you are anything . " "But , respected Leuchidde—" " I am not respected ! 'Tis plain I am not , " replied Leuchidde . " No wish of mine is regarded , —no desire is gratified . I could weep with vexation ! " " Thou shalt not weep , fair Leuchidde , " said Hans ,
tenderly , in his kindness searching in . his pocket for his pockethandkerchief for her . Leuchidde , however , was in one of her obstinate fits , and refused to be comforted , like Rachel of old . After many pros and cons , as to her even looking at him , she dismissed Hans , with an intimation that she had a desire which must
be gratified by any courageous man who would think of her . Strange enough this whim was , —strange , at least , it would have been , had Leuchidde not been a woman . You must know that Leuchidde sometimes , when she was in a studious mood , smoked a peculiar Persian tobacco of inexpressible delicacy . Not far off the church of St . Ignatius
was a grim statue of Piebaldus , —an old Gaulish worthy of rather uncertain descent . In those very dark ages , when there was no lamplight from literature , he had flourished , and his profession was a doublefaced one , that of half-priest , halfwarrior . His statue , or effigy , was set upon a high , ancient , grey pedestalwhich looked as if it had been chiselledwith a
, , bladebone , by Gog and Magog , during a misdirection of their faculties from two gallons of three-strike double-Dutch beer . Piebaldus , or St . Piebald , had a venerable beard of brass , and his hands , and feet , and mitre were of the same metal . A strange fancy had taken possession of Leuchidde ' s giddy head ,