The Maid of Sker

and have practice how to walk in them. Yet he was so caught with love of service, and of the Navy, and so mad about Nelson, that the General could not help himself; but let him go to sea again.

Nelson is afloat just now. The Crappos and the Dons appear to have made up their minds against us; and the former have the insolence to threaten a great invasion. If I only had two arms, I would leave my Polly to howl about me. As it is, they have turned me into a herring! Colonel Lougher has raised a regiment, and I am first drill-sergeant!

Our dear Maid of Sker would also give her beautiful son, only six months old, Bampfylde Lougher Bluett, to go to the wars, and to fight the French; if anyone could only show her the way to do without him. He cocks up his toes, in a manner which proves that his feet are meant for ratlines.

How the war is raging! I run to and fro, upon hearing of Felix Farley’s Journal, and am only fit to talk of it. Sir Philip comes down, with his best tobacco, whenever he stops at Candleston. And a craft has been built for me on purpose, by the old fellow at Appledore, and her name it is the Maid of Sker⁠—to dance across the Channel, whenever a one-armed man can navigate. Colonel Lougher, and even Lady Bluett, have such trust in me, that they cross if their dear Delushy seems to pine too much for her husband. And the Maid herself has brought her son, as proud as if he came out of a wreck, to exhibit him to Moxy, and Roger, and Bunny, and Stradling the clerk⁠—in a word, to all the parish, and the extra-parochial district.

Now I hope that nobody will ask me any more questions concerning anyone, male or female. If I cannot speak well of a person⁠—my rule is to be silent.

Hezekiah found his knavery altogether useless. He scraped himself home at last; and built a bellows-organ at Bridgend, with a seventy-four-gun crash to it. His reputation is therefore up⁠—especially since he rejoined the Church⁠—in all churches that can afford him. Yet he will not always own that I was his salvation. Hepzibah prophesies nothing, except that Polly’s little son, “David Llewellyn,” will do something wonderful, to keep the ancient name up.

It may be so. And I think that he will. But his father never did it. How many chances have I missed! How many times might I have advanced to stern respectability! Yet some folk will like me better, and I like myself no less, for not having feigned to be more than I am⁠—a poor frail fellow.

The children still come down to the well, with three of our Bunny’s foremost; they get between my knees, and open blue or brown eyes up at me. In spite of Roger Berkrolles nodding to instil more manners, some of the prettiest stroke my white beard, coaxing for a story. Then they push forward little Davy, thinking that I spoil him so, because of his decided genius giving such promise of bard-hood⁠—already it would do you good to hear him on the Jew’s harp. Nevertheless I answer firmly, nine times out of ten at least⁠—

“Little dears,” is all I say, “Captain Davy is getting old. It is hard to tell a tale, but easy to find fault with it. You tell me that my left arm will grow quite as long as my right one, if I only will shake it about, and keep a hollow sleeve on. My pets, when I get another arm, I will tell you another story.”

Endnotes

1. A clear and interesting account of this mighty sand-march may be found in a very learned paper by the Rev. H. H. Knight, B.D., formerly rector of Neath, Glamorgan; which paper, entitled “An Account of Newton-Nottage,” was reprinted at Tenby in 1853, from the Archaeologia Cambrensis. Considerable movements still occur, but of late years no very great advance. ↩

2. These fine fellows are talked of now as if we had found a novelty. They came through South Wales on a “starring” tour thirty years agone, and they seemed to be on their last legs then. Under the moon is there anything new? ↩

3. ? Diocesan. ↩

4. There are several entries of deaths from plague in parish registers of North Devon, circa 1790. Perhaps it was what they now call “black fever,” the most virulent form of typhus. ↩

5. That intelligent view still holds its own. A Devonshire farmer challenged me, the other day, to prove, “Whatt be the gude of the papper, whan any vule can rade un?”

   —⁠Ed. of M. of S.

   ↩

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The Maid of Sker
was published in 1872 by
R. D. Blackmore.

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