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Show A gentleman is carrying on the streets a black thorn stick cut in Ireland one hundred and fifty years ago. He has the pedigree of the stick, there is no doubt about its antiquity. The stick is as straight as the top mast of a new ship, its handle is a natural crook, its thorns bristle like a porcupine; the only evidence of any bending to age is in the worn silver ferrule. A hundred and fifty years old. It was cut four years before Wolfe died, six years before George III ascended the throne, just when old Fritz of Prussia Prus-sia Avas carrying grandly on his seven years war, fifteen years before Napoleon and Wellington Avere born; four years before Nelson was born; twenty-four years before the great Chatham died. Louis XV was King of France, Ferdinand VI, Avas King of Spain, and Paul IV was Pope of Romo A long time ago. How many heads has that cane cracked? How many Avakes has it attended? at-tended? Still it is straight as a line and Its thorns bristle like the quills of a porcupine. |
