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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Jesse Cliffe + +Author: Mary Russell Mitford + +Release Date: October 2, 2007 [EBook #22839] +Last Updated: January 9, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JESSE CLIFFE *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + JESSE CLIFFE. + </h1> + <h2> + By Mary Russell Mitford<br /><br /><br /> + </h2> + <p> + Living as we do in the midst of rivers, water in all its forms, except + indeed that of the trackless and mighty ocean, is familiar to our little + inland county. The slow majestic Thames, the swift and wandering Kennett, + the clear and brimming Loddon, all lend life and verdure to our rich and + fertile valleys. Of the great river of England—whose course from its + earliest source, near Cirencester, to where it rolls calm, equable, and + full, through the magnificent bridges of our splendid metropolis, giving + and reflecting beauty,* presents so grand an image of power in repose—it + is not now my purpose to speak; nor am I about to expatiate on that still + nearer and dearer stream, the pellucid Loddon,—although to be rowed + by one dear and near friend up those transparent and meandering waters, + from where they sweep at their extremest breadth under the lime-crowned + terraces of the Old Park at Aberleigh, to the pastoral meadows of + Sandford, through which the narrowed current wanders so brightly—now + impeded by beds of white water-lilies, or feathery-blossomed bulrushes, or + golden flags—now overhung by thickets of the rich wayfaring tree, + with its wealth of glorious berries, redder and more transparent than + rubies—now spanned from side to side by the fantastic branches of + some aged oak;—although to be rowed along that clear stream, has + long been amongst the choicest of my summer pleasures, so exquisite is the + scenery, so perfect and so unbroken the solitude. Even the shy and + foreign-looking kingfisher, most gorgeous of English birds, who, like the + wild Indian retiring before the foot of man, has nearly deserted our + populous and cultivated country, knows and loves the lovely valley of the + Loddon. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * There is nothing finer in London than the view from + Waterloo-bridge on a July evening, whether coloured by the + gorgeous hues of the setting sun reflected on the water in + tenfold glory, or illuminated by a thousand twinkling lights + from lamps, and boats, and houses, mingling with the mild + beams of the rising moon. The calm and glassy river, gay + with unnumbered vessels; the magnificent buildings which + line its shores; the combination of all that is loveliest in + art or in nature, with all that is most animating in motion + and in life, produce a picture gratifying alike to the eye + and to the heart—and the more exhilarating, or rather + perhaps the more soothing, because, for London, so + singularly peaceful and quiet. It is like some gorgeous town + in fairyland, astir with busy and happy creatures, the hum + of whose voices comes floating from the craft upon the + river, or the quays by the water side. Life is there, and + sound and motion; but blessedly free from the jostling of + the streets, the rattling of the pavement, the crowd, the + confusion, the tumult, and the din of the work-a-day world. + There is nothing in the great city like the scene from + Waterloo bridge at sunset. I see it in my mind's eye at this + instant. +</pre> + <p> + It is not, however, of the Loddon that I am now to speak. The scene of my + little story belongs to a spot quite as solitary, but far less beautiful, + on the banks of the Kennett, which, a few miles before its junction with + the Thames, passes through a tract of wild, marshy country—water-meadows + at once drained and fertilised by artificial irrigation, and totally + unmixed with arable land; so that the fields being for the most part too + wet to admit the feeding of cattle, divided by deep ditches, undotted by + timber, unchequered by cottages, and untraversed by roads, convey in their + monotonous expanse (except perhaps at the gay season of haymaking) a + feeling of dreariness and desolation, singularly contrasted with the + picturesque and varied scenery, rich, glowing, sunny, bland, of the + equally solitary Loddon meadows. + </p> + <p> + A large portion of these English prairies, comprising a farm called the + Moors, was, at the time of which I write, in the occupation of a wealthy + yeoman named John Cobbam, who, the absentee tenant of an absentee + landlord, resided upon a small property of his own about two miles + distant, leaving the large deserted house, and dilapidated outbuildings, + to sink into gradual decay. Barns half unthatched, tumble-down + cart-houses, palings rotting to pieces, and pigsties in ruins, + contributed, together with a grand collection of substantial and dingy + ricks of fine old hay—that most valuable but most gloomy looking + species of agricultural property—to the general aspect of desolation + by which the place was distinguished. One solitary old labourer, a dreary + bachelor, inhabited, it is true, a corner of the old roomy house, + calculated for the convenient accommodation of the patriarchal family of + sons and daughters, men-servants and maid-servants, of which a farmer's + household consisted in former days; and one open window, (the remainder + were bricked up to avoid taxes,) occasionally a door ajar, and still more + rarely a thin wreath of smoke ascending from one of the cold + dismal-looking chimneys, gave token that the place was not wholly + abandoned. But the uncultivated garden, the grass growing in the bricked + court, the pond green with duckweed, and the absence of all living things, + cows, horses, pigs, turkeys, geese, or chickens—and still more of + those talking, as well as living things, women and children—all + impressed on the beholder that strange sensation of melancholy which few + can have failed to experience at the sight of an uninhabited human + habitation. The one solitary inmate failed to relieve the pressing sense + of solitude. Nothing but the ringing sound of female voices, the pleasant + and familiar noise of domestic animals, could have done that; and nothing + approaching to noise was ever heard in the Moors. It was a silence that + might be felt. + </p> + <p> + The house itself was approached through a long, narrow lane, leading from + a wild and watery common; a lane so deeply excavated between the adjoining + hedge-rows, that in winter it was little better than a water-course; and + beyond the barns and stables, where even that apology for a road + terminated, lay the extensive tract of low, level, marshy ground from + whence the farm derived its title; a series of flat, productive + water-meadows, surrounded partly by thick coppices, partly by the winding + Kennett, and divided by deep and broad ditches; a few pollard willows, so + old that the trunk was, in some, riven asunder, whilst in others nothing + but the mere shell remained, together with here and there a stunted thorn, + alone relieving the monotony of the surface. + </p> + <p> + The only regular inhabitant of this dreary scene was, as I have before + said, the old labourer, Daniel Thorpe, who slept in one corner of the + house, partly to prevent its total dilapidation, and to preserve the + valuable hayricks and the tumble-down farm buildings from the pillage to + which unprotected property is necessarily exposed, and partly to keep in + repair the long line of boundary fence, to clean the graffages, clear out + the moat-like ditches, and see that the hollow-sounding wooden bridges + which formed the sole communication by which the hay wagons could pass to + and from the distant meadows, were in proper order to sustain their + ponderous annual load. Daniel Thorpe was the only accredited unfeathered + biped who figured in the parish books as occupant of The Moors; + nevertheless that swampy district could boast of one other irregular and + forbidden but most pertinacious inhabitant—and that inhabitant was + our hero, Jesse Cliffe. + </p> + <p> + Jesse Cliffe was a lad some fifteen or sixteen years of age—there or + thereabout; for with the exact date of his birth, although from + circumstances most easily ascertained, even the assistant-overseer did not + take the trouble to make himself acquainted. He was a parish child born in + the workhouse, the offspring of a half-witted orphan girl and a sturdy + vagrant, partly tinker, partly ballad-singer, who took good care to + disappear before the strong arm of justice, in the shape of a tardy + warrant and a halting constable, could contrive to intercept his flight. + He joined, it was said, a tribe of gipsies, to whom he was suspected to + have all along belonged; and who vanishing at the same time, accompanied + by half the linen and poultry of the neighbourhood, were never heard of in + our parts again; whilst the poor girl whom he had seduced and abandoned, + with sense enough to feel her misery, although hardly sufficient to be + responsible for the sin, fretted, moaned, and pined—losing, she + hardly knew how, the half-unconscious light-heartedness which had almost + seemed a compensation for her deficiency of intellect, and with that + light-heartedness losing also her bodily strength, her flesh, her colour, + and her appetite, until, about a twelvemonth after the birth of her boy, + she fell into a decline and died. + </p> + <p> + Poor Jesse, born and reared in the workhouse, soon began to evince + symptoms of the peculiarities of both his parents. Half-witted like his + mother, wild and roving as his father—it was found impossible to + check his propensity to an out-of-door life. + </p> + <p> + From the moment, postponed as long as possible in such establishments, in + which he doffed the petticoat—a moment, by the way, in which the + obstinate and masterful spirit of the ungentle sex often begins to show + itself in nurseries of a far more polished description;—from that + moment may Jesse's wanderings be said to commence. Disobedience lurked in + the habit masculine. The wilful urchin stood, like some dandy apprentice, + contemplating his brown sturdy legs, as they stuck out from his new + trowsers, already (such was the economy of the tailor employed on the + occasion) "a world too <i>short</i>," and the first use he made of those + useful supporters was to run away. So little did any one really care for + the poor child, that not being missed till night-fall, or sought after + till the next morning, he had strayed far enough, when, at last picked up, + and identified by the parish mark on his new jacket, to be half frozen, + (it was mid-winter when his first elopement happened,) half-starved, + half-drowned, and more than half-dead of fatigue and exhaustion. "It will + be a lesson!" said the moralising matron of the workhouse, as, after a + sound scolding, she fed the little culprit and put him to bed. "It will be + a lesson to the rover!" And so it proved; for, after being recruited by a + few days' nursing, he again ran away, in a different direction. + </p> + <p> + When recovered the second time, he was whipped as well as fed—another + lesson which only made the stubborn recusant run the faster. Then, upon + his next return, they shut him up in a dark den appropriately called the + black-hole, a restraint which, of course, increased his zest for light and + liberty, and in the first moment of freedom—a moment greatly + accelerated by his own strenuous efforts in the shape of squalling, + bawling, roaring, and stamping, unparalleled and insupportable, even in + that mansion of din—in the very instant of freedom he was off again; + he ran away from work; he ran away from school; certain to be immersed in + his dismal dungeon as soon as he could be recaught; so that his whole + childhood became a series of alternate imprisonments and escapes. + </p> + <p> + That he should be so often lost was, considering his propensities and the + proverbial cunning of his caste, not, perhaps, very remarkable. But the + number of times and the variety of ways, in which, in spite of the little + trouble taken in searching for him, he was sent back to the place from + whence he came, was really something wonderful. If any creature in the + world had cared a straw for the poor child, he must have been lost over + and over: nobody did care for him, and he was as sure to turn up as a bad + guinea. He has been cried like <i>Found</i> Goods in Belford Market: + advertised like a strayed donkey in the <i>H——shire Courant</i>; + put for safe keeping into compters, cages, roundhouses, and bridewells: + passed, by different constables, through half the parishes in the county; + and so frequently and minutely described in handbills and the <i>Hue and + Cry</i>, that by the time he was twelve years old, his stature, features, + and complexion were as well known to the rural police as those of some + great state criminal. In a word, "the lad <i>would</i> live;" and the + Aberleigh overseers, who would doubtless have been far from inconsolable + if they had never happened to hear of him again, were reluctantly obliged + to make the best of their bargain. + </p> + <p> + Accordingly, they placed him as a sort of boy of all-work at "the shop" at + Hinton, where he remained, upon an accurate computation, somewhere about + seven hours; they then put him with a butcher at Langley, where he staid + about five hours and a-half, arriving at dusk, and escaping before + midnight: then with a baker at Belford, in which good town he sojourned + the (for him) unusual space of two nights and a day; and then they + apprenticed him to Master Samuel Goddard, an eminent dealer in cattle + leaving his new master to punish him according to law, provided he should + run away again. Run away of course he did; but as he had contrived to earn + for himself a comfortably bad character for stupidity and laziness, and as + he timed his evasion well—during the interval between the sale of a + bargain of Devonshire stots, and the purchase of a lot of Scotch kyloes, + when his services were little needed—and as Master Samuel Goddard + had too much to do and to think of, to waste his time and his trouble on a + search after a heavy-looking under-drover, with a considerable reputation + for laziness, Jesse, for the first time in his life, escaped his ordinary + penalties of pursuit and discovery—the parish officers contenting + themselves by notifying to Master Samuel Goddard, that they considered + their responsibility, legal as well as moral, completely transferred to + him in virtue of their indentures, and that whatever might be the future + destiny of his unlucky apprentice, whether frozen or famished, hanged or + drowned, the blame would rest with the cattle-dealer aforesaid, to whom + they resolved to refer all claims on their protection, whether advanced by + Jesse himself or by others. + </p> + <p> + Small intention had Jesse Cliffe to return to their protection or their + workhouse! The instinct of freedom was strong in the poor boy—quick + and strong as in the beast of the field, or the bird of the air. He betook + himself to the Moors (one of his earliest and favourite haunts) with a + vague assurance of safety in the deep solitude of those wide-spreading + meadows, and the close coppices that surrounded them: and at little more + than twelve years of age he began a course of lonely, half-savage, + self-dependent life, such as has been rarely heard of in this civilised + country. How he lived is to a certain point a mystery. Not by stealing. + That was agreed on all hands—except indeed, so far as a few roots of + turnips and potatoes, and a few ears of green corn, in their several + seasons, may be called theft. Ripe corn for his winter's hoard, he gleaned + after the fields were cleared, with a scrupulous honesty that might have + read a lesson to peasant children of a happier nurture. And they who had + opportunities to watch the process, said that it was curious to see him + bruise the grain between large stones, knead the rude flour with fair + water, mould his simple cakes, and then bake them in a primitive oven + formed by his own labour in a dry bank of the coppice, and heated by + rotten wood shaken from the tops of the trees, (which he climbed like a + squirrel,) and kindled by a flint and a piece of an old horse-shoe:—such + was his unsophisticated cookery! Nuts and berries from the woods; fish + from the Kennett—caught with such tackle as might be constructed of + a stick and a bit of packthread, with a strong pin or needle formed into a + hook; and perhaps an occasional rabbit or partridge, entrapped by some + such rough and inartificial contrivance, formed his principal support; a + modified, and, according to his vague notions of right and wrong, an + innocent form of poaching, since he sought only what was requisite for his + own consumption, and would have shunned as a sin the killing game to sell. + Money, indeed, he little needed. He formed his bed of fern or dead grass, + in the deepest recesses of the coppice—a natural shelter; and the + renewal of raiment, which warmth and decency demanded, he obtained by + emerging from his solitude, and joining such parties as a love of field + sports brought into his vicinity in the pursuit of game—an inspiring + combination of labour and diversion, which seemed to awaken something like + companionship and sympathy even in this wild boy of the Moors, one in + which his knowledge of the haunts and habits of wild animals, his + strength, activity, and actual insensibility to hardship or fatigue, + rendered his services of more than ordinary value. There was not so good a + hare-finder throughout that division of the county; and it was curious to + observe how completely his skill in sportmanship overcame the contempt + with which grooms and gamekeepers, to say nothing of their less fine and + more tolerant masters, were wont to regard poor Jesse's ragged garments, + the sunburnt hair and skin, the want of words to express even his simple + meaning, and most of all, the strange obliquity of taste which led him to + prefer Kennett water to Kennett ale. Sportsmanship, sheer sportsmanship, + carried him through all! + </p> + <p> + Jesse was, as I have said, the most popular hare-finder of the + country-side, and during the coursing season was brought by that good gift + into considerable communication with his fellow creatures: amongst the + rest with his involuntary landlord, John Cobham. + </p> + <p> + John Cobham was a fair specimen of an English yeoman of the old school—honest, + generous, brave, and kind; but in an equal degree, ignorant, obstinate and + prejudiced. His first impression respecting Jesse had been one of strong + dislike, fostered and cherished by the old labourer Daniel Thorpe, who, + accustomed for twenty years to reign sole sovereign of that unpeopled + territory, was as much startled at the sight of Jesse's wild, ragged + figure, and sunburnt face, as Robinson Crusoe when he first spied the + track of a human foot upon <i>his</i> desert island. It was natural that + old Daniel should feel his monarchy, or, more correctly speaking, his + vice-royalty, invaded and endangered; and at least equally natural that he + should communicate his alarm to his master, who sallied forth one November + morning to the Moors, fully prepared to drive the intruder from his + grounds, and resolved, if necessary, to lodge him in the County Bridewell + before night. + </p> + <p> + But the good farmer, who chanced to be a keen sportsman, and to be + followed that day by a favourite greyhound, was so dulcified by the manner + in which the delinquent started a hare at the very moment of Venus's + passing, and still more by the culprit's keen enjoyment of a capital + single-handed course, (in which Venus had even excelled herself,) that he + could not find in his heart to take any harsh measures against him, for + that day at least, more especially as Venus seemed to have taken a fancy + to the lad—so his expulsion was postponed to another season; and + before that season arrived, poor Jesse had secured the goodwill of an + advocate far more powerful than Venus—an advocate who, contrasted + with himself, looked like Ariel by the side of Caliban, or Titania + watching over Bottom the Weaver. + </p> + <p> + John Cobham had married late in life, and had been left, after seven years + of happy wedlock, a widower with five children. In his family he may be + said to have been singularly fortunate, and singularly unfortunate. + Promising in no common degree, his sons and daughters, inheriting their + mother's fragile constitution as well as her amiable character, fell + victims one after another to the flattering and fatal disease which had + carried her off in the prime of life; one of them only, the eldest son, + leaving any issue; and his little girl, an orphan, (for her mother had + died in bringing her into the world,) was now the only hope and comfort of + her doting grandfather, and of a maiden sister who lived with him as + housekeeper, and, having officiated as head-nurse in a nobleman's family, + was well calculated to bring up a delicate child. + </p> + <p> + And delicate in all that the word conveys of beauty—delicate as the + Virgins of Guido, or the Angels of Correggio, as the valley lily or the + maiden rose—was at eight years old, the little charmer, Phoebe + Cobham. But it was a delicacy so blended with activity and power, so light + and airy, and buoyant and spirited, that the admiration which it awakened + was wholly unmingled with fear. Fair, blooming, polished, and pure, her + complexion had at once the colouring and the texture of a flower-leaf; and + her regular and lovely features—the red smiling lips, the clear blue + eyes, the curling golden hair, and the round yet slender figure—formed + a most rare combination of childish beauty. The expression, too, at once + gentle and lively, the sweet and joyous temper, the quick intellect, and + the affectionate heart, rendered little Phoebe one of the most attractive + children that the imagination can picture. Her grandfather idolised her; + taking her with him in his walks, never weary of carrying her when her own + little feet were tired—and it was wonderful how many miles those + tiny feet, aided by the gay and buoyant spirit, would compass in the + course of the day; and so bent upon keeping her constantly with him, and + constantly in the open air, (which he justly considered the best means of + warding off the approach of that disease which had proved so fatal to his + family,) that he even had a pad constructed, and took her out before him + on horseback. + </p> + <p> + A strange contrast formed the old farmer, so gruff and bluff-looking—with + his stout square figure, his weather-beaten face, short grey hair, and + dark bushy eyebrows—to the slight and graceful child, her + aristocratic beauty set off by exactly the same style of paraphernalia + that had adorned the young Lady Janes and Lady Marys, Mrs. Dorothy's + former charge, and her habitual grace of demeanour adding fresh elegance + to the most studied elegancies of the toilet! A strange contrast!—but + one which seemed as nothing compared with that which was soon to follow: + for Phoebe, happening to be with her grandfather and her great friend and + playmate Venus, a jet-black greyhound of the very highest breed, whose + fine limbed and shining beauty was almost as elegant and aristocratic as + that of Phoebe herself;—the little damsel, happening to be with her + grandfather when, instigated by Daniel Thorpe's grumbling accusation of + broken fences and I know not what, he was a second time upon the point of + warning poor Jesse off the ground—was so moved by the culprit's + tattered attire and helpless condition, as he stood twirling, between his + long lean fingers, the remains of what had once been a hat, that she + interceded most warmly in his behalf. + </p> + <p> + "Don't turn him off the Moors, grandpapa," said Phoebe, "pray don't! Never + mind old Daniel! I'm sure he'll do no harm;—will you, Jesse? Venus + likes him, grandpapa; see how she puts her pretty nose into his hand; and + Venus never likes bad people. How often I have heard you say that. And <i>I</i> + like him, poor fellow! He looks so thin and so pitiful. Do let him stay, + dear grandpapa!" + </p> + <p> + And John Cobham sat down on the bank, and took the pitying child in his + arms, and kissed and blessed her, and said, that, since she wished it, + Jesse <i>should</i> stay; adding, in a sort of soliloquy, that he hoped + she never would ask him to do what was wrong, for he could refuse her + nothing. + </p> + <p> + And Jesse—what did he say to these, the first words of kindness that + he had ever heard from human lips? or rather, what did he feel? for beyond + a muttered "Thankye," speak he could not, But gratitude worked strongly in + the poor boy's heart: gratitude!—so new, so overpowering, and + inspired by one so sweet, so lovely, so gentle as his protectress, as far + as he was concerned, all-powerful; and yet a mere infant whom he might + protect as well as serve! It was a strange mixture of feelings, all good, + and all delightful; a stirring of impulses, a quickening of affections, a + striking of chords never touched before. Substitute the sacred innocence + of childhood for the equally sacred power of virgin purity, and his + feelings of affectionate reverence, of devoted service and submission, + much resembled those entertained by the Satyr towards "the holy + shepherdess," in Fletcher's exquisite drama.* + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + <i>Our</i> + + "Rough thing, who never knew + Manners nor smooth humanity," +</pre> + <p> + could not have spoken nor have thought such words as those of the satyr; + but so far as our English climate and his unfruitful territory might + permit, he put much of the poetry into action. Sluggish of intellect, and + uncouth of demeanour, as the poor lad seemed, it was quite wonderful how + quickly he discovered the several ways in which he might best please and + gratify his youthful benefactress. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * That matchless Pastoral, "The Faithful Shepherdess," is + so much less known than talked of, that subjoin the passage + in question. One more beauti can hardly be found in the + wide range of English poetry. + + <i>Satyr</i>. Through yon same bending plain That flings his + arms down to the main; And through these thick woods, have I + run, Whose depths have never kiss'd the sun; Since the lusty + Spring began, All to please my master, Pan, Have I trotted + without rest To get him fruit; for at a feast He entertains, + this coming night, His paramour, the Syrinx bright. + + [<i>He sees Clorin and stands amazed</i>. + + But behold a fairer sight! + By that heavenly form of thine, + Brightest fair, thou art divine, + Sprung from great, immortal race + Of the Gods; for in thy face + Shines more awful majesty, + Than dull, weak mortality + Dare with misty eyes behold + And live! Therefore on this mould + Slowly do I bend my knee, + In worship of thy deity. + Deign it, goddess, from my hand + To receive whate'er this land, + From her fertile womb doth send + Of her choice fruits; and but lend + Belief to that the Satyr tells: + Fairer by the famous wells + To this present day ne'er grew, + Never better nor more true. + Here be grapes whose lusty blood + Is the learned poet's good; + Sweeter yet did never crown + The head of Bacchus; nuts more brown + Than the squirrel whose teeth crack 'em. + Deign, oh fairest fair, to take 'em! + For these black-eyed Dryope + Hath often times commanded me, + With my clasped knee to climb; + See how well the lusty time + Hath deck'd their rising cheeks in red, + Such as on your lips is spread. + Here be berries for a queen, + Some be red, and some be green; + These are of that luscious sweet, + The great god Pan himself doth eat; + All these, and what the woods can yield, + The hanging mountain, or the field, + I freely offer, and ere long + Will bring you more, more sweet and strong; + Till when, humbly leave I take, + Lest the great Pan do awake, + That sleeping lies in a deep glade, + Under a broad beech's shade. + I must go,—I must run + Swifter than the fiery sun. + + <i>Clorin</i>. And all my fears go with thee! + What greatness or what private hidden power + Is there in me to draw submission + From this rude man and beast? sure I am mortal; + The daughter of a shepherd; he was mortal, + And she that bore me mortal: Prick my hand + And it will bleed; a fever shakes me, and + The self-same wind that makes the young lambs shrink + Makes me a-cold. My fear says I am mortal. + Yet I hare heard (my mother told it me, + And now I do believe it) if I keep + My virgin flower uncropt, pure, chaste, and fair, + No goblin, wood-god, fairy, elf, or fiend, + Satyr, or other power, that haunts the groves, + Shall hurt my body, or by vain illusion + Draw me to wander after idle fires, + Or voices calling me in dead of night + To make me follow, and so tempt me on + Through mire and standing pools to find my swain + Else why should this rough thing, who never knew + Manners nor smooth humanity, whose herds + Are rougher than himself, and more misshapen, + Thus mildly kneel to me? &c. &c. + + <i>Beaumont and Fletcher's Works</i>, + (Seward's edition,) vol. iii. p. 117—121. + + How we track Milton's exquisite Comus in this no less + exquisite pastoral Drama! and the imitation is so beautiful, + that the perception of the plagiarism rather increases than + diminishes the pleasure with which we read either + deathless work. Republican although he were, the great poet + sits a throned king upon Parnassus, privileged to cull + flowers where he listeth in right of his immortal laurel- + crown. +</pre> + <p> + Phoebe loved flowers; and from the earliest tuft of violets ensconced + under the sunny southern hedge, to the last lingering sprig of woodbine + shaded by some time-hallowed oak, the blossoms of the meadow and the + coppice were laid under contribution for her posies. + </p> + <p> + Phoebe had her own little garden; and to fill that garden, Jesse was never + weary of seeking after the roots of such wild plants as he himself thought + pretty, or such as he found (one can hardly tell how) were considered by + better judges to be worthy of a place in the parterre. The different + orchises, for instance, the white and lilac primrose, the golden oxslip, + the lily of the valley, the chequered fritillary, which blows so freely + along the banks of the Kennett, and the purple campanula which covers with + equal profusion the meadows of the Thames, all found their way to Phoebe's + flower-plats. He brought her in summer evenings glow-worms enough to form + a constellation on the grass; and would spend half a July day in chasing + for her some glorious insect, dragon-fly, or bee-bird, or golden beetle, + or gorgeous butterfly. He not only bestowed upon her sloes, and + dew-berries, and hazel-nuts "brown as the squirrel whose teeth crack 'em," + but caught for her the squirrel itself. He brought her a whole litter of + dormice, and tamed for her diversion a young magpie, whose first effort at + flattery was "Pretty Phoebe!" + </p> + <p> + But his greatest present of all, most prized both by donor and receiver, + (albeit her tender heart smote her as she accepted it, and she made her + faithful slave promise most faithfully to take nests no more,) was a grand + string of birds' eggs, long enough to hang in festoons round, and round, + and round her play-room, and sufficiently various and beautiful to gratify + more fastidious eyes than those of our little heroine. + </p> + <p> + To collect this rope of variously-tinted beads—a natural rosary—he + had sought the mossy and hair-lined nest of the hedge-sparrow for her + turquoise-like rounds; had scrambled up the chimney-corner to bear away + those pearls of the land, the small white eggs of the house-martin; had + found deposited in an old magpie's nest the ovals of the sparrow-hawk, red + and smooth as the finest coral; had dived into the ground-mansion of the + skylark for her lilac-tinted shells, and groped amongst the bushes for the + rosy-tinted ones of the woodlark; climbed the tallest trees for the + sea-green eggs of the rooks; had pilfered the spotted treasures from the + snug dwelling which the wren constructed in the eaves; and, worst of all—I + hardly like to write it, I hardly care to think, that Jesse could have + committed such an outrage,—saddest and worst of all, in the very + midst of that varied garland might be seen the brown and dusky egg, as + little showy as its quaker-like plumage, the dark brown egg, from which + should have issued that "angel of the air," the songstress, famous in + every land, the unparagoned nightingale. It is but just towards Jesse to + add, that he took the nest in a mistake, and was quite unconscious of the + mischief he had done until it was too late to repair it. + </p> + <p> + Of course these gifts were not only graciously accepted, but duly + returned; cakes, apples, tarts, and gingerbread, halfpence in profusion, + and now and then a new shilling, or a bright sixpence—all, in short, + that poor Phoebe had to bestow, she showered upon her uncouth favourite, + and she would fain have amended his condition by more substantial + benefits: but authoritative as she was with her grandfather in other + instances, in this alone her usual powers of persuasion utterly failed. + Whether infected by old Daniel's dislike, (and be it observed, an + unfounded prejudice, that sort of prejudice for which he who entertains it + does not pretend to account even to himself is unluckily not only one of + the most contagious feelings in the world, but one of the most + invincible:) whether Farmer Cobham were inoculated with old Daniel's + hatred of Jesse, or had taken that very virulent disease the natural way, + nothing could exceed the bitterness of the aversion which gradually grew + up in his mind towards the poor lad. + </p> + <p> + That Venus liked him, and Phoebe liked him, added strength to the feeling. + He would have been ashamed to confess himself jealous of their good-will + towards such an object, and yet most certainly jealous he was. He did not + drive him from his shelter in the Moors, because he had unwarily passed + his word—his word, which, with yeomanly pride, John Cobham held + sacred as his bond—to let him remain until he committed some + offence; but, for this offence, both he and Daniel watched and waited with + an impatience and irritability which contrasted strangely with the + honourable self-restraint that withheld him from direct abuse of his + power. + </p> + <p> + For a long time, Daniel and his master waited in vain. Jesse, whom they + had entertained some vague hope of chasing away by angry looks and + scornful words, had been so much accustomed all his life long to taunts + and contumely, that it was a great while before he became conscious of + their unkindness; and when at last it forced itself upon his attention, he + shrank away crouching and cowering, and buried himself in the closest + recesses of the coppice, until the footstep of the reviler had passed by. + One look at his sweet little friend repaid him twenty-fold; and although + farmer Cobham had really worked himself into believing that there was + danger in allowing the beautiful child to approach poor Jesse, and had + therefore on different pretexts forbidden her visits to the Moors, she did + yet happen in her various walks to encounter that devoted adherent oftener + than would be believed possible by any one who has not been led to remark, + how often in this best of all possible worlds, an earnest and innocent + wish does as it were fulfil itself. + </p> + <p> + At last, however, a wish of a very different nature came to pass. Daniel + Thorpe detected Jesse in an actual offence against that fertile source of + crime and misery, the game laws. + </p> + <p> + Thus the affair happened. + </p> + <p> + During many weeks, the neighbourhood had been infested by a gang of bold, + sturdy pilferers, roving vagabonds, begging by day, stealing and poaching + by night—who had committed such extensive devastations amongst the + poultry and linen of the village, as well as the game in the preserves, + that the whole population was upon the alert; and the lonely coppices of + the Moors rendering that spot one peculiarly likely to attract the + attention of the gang, old Daniel, reinforced by a stout lad as a sort of + extra-guard, kept a most jealous watch over his territory. + </p> + <p> + Perambulating the outside of the wood one evening at sunset, he heard the + cry of a hare; and climbing over the fence, had the unexpected pleasure of + seeing our friend Jesse in the act of taking a leveret still alive from + the wire. "So, so, master Jesse! thou be'st turned poacher, be'st thou?" + ejaculated Daniel, with a malicious chuckle, seizing, at one fell grip, + the hare and the lad. + </p> + <p> + "Miss Phoebe!" ejaculated Jesse, submitting himself to the old man's + grasp, but struggling to retain the leveret; "Miss Phoebe!" + </p> + <p> + "Miss Phoebe, indeed!" responded Daniel; "she saved thee once, my lad, but + thy time's come now. What do'st thee want of the leveret, mon? Do'st not + thee know that 'tis part of the evidence against thee? Well, he may carry + that whilst I carry the snare. Master'll be main glad to see un. He always + suspected the chap. And for the matter of that so did I. Miss Phoebe, + indeed! Come along, my mon, I warrant thou hast seen thy last o' Miss + Phoebe. Come on wi' thee." + </p> + <p> + And Jesse was hurried as fast as Daniel's legs would carry him to the + presence of Farmer Cobham. + </p> + <p> + On entering the house (not the old deserted homestead of the Moors, but + the comfortable dwelling-house at Aberleigh) Jesse delivered the panting, + trembling leveret to the first person he met, with no other explanation + than might be comprised in the words, "Miss Phoebe!" and followed Daniel + quietly to the hall. + </p> + <p> + "Poaching, was he? Taking the hare from the wire? And you saw him? You can + swear to the fact?" quoth John Cobham, rubbing his hands with unusual + glee. "Well, now we shall be fairly rid of the fellow! Take him to the + Chequers for the night, Daniel, and get another man beside yourself to sit + up with him. It's too late to disturb Sir Robert this evening. To-morrow + morning we'll take him to the Hall. See that the constable's ready by nine + o'clock. No doubt but Sir Robert will commit him to the county bridewell." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, grandpapa!" exclaimed Phoebe, darting into the room with the leveret + in her arms, and catching the last words. "Oh, grandpapa! poor Jesse!" + </p> + <p> + "Miss Phoebe!" ejaculated the culprit + </p> + <p> + "Oh, grandfather, it's all my fault," continued Phoebe; "and if anybody is + to go to prison, you ought to send me. I had been reading about Cowper's + hares, and I wanted a young hare to tame: I took a fancy for one, and told + poor Jesse! And to think of his going to prison for that!" + </p> + <p> + "And did you tell him to set a wire for the hare, Phoebe?" + </p> + <p> + "A wire! what does that mean?" said the bewildered child. "But I dare + say," added she, upon Farmer Cobham's explaining the nature of the snare, + "I dare say that the poachers set the wire, and that he only took up the + hare for me, to please my foolish fancy! Oh, grandpapa! Poor Jesse!" and + Phoebe cried as if her heart would break. + </p> + <p> + "God bless you, Miss Phoebe!" said Jesse. + </p> + <p> + "All this is nonsense!" exclaimed the unrelenting fanner. "Take the + prisoner to the Chequers, Daniel, and get another man to keep you company + in sitting up with him. Have as much strong beer as you like, and be sure + to bring him and the constable here by nine o'clock to-morrow morning." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, grandfather, you'll be sorry for this! I did not think you had been + so hard-hearted!" sobbed Phoebe. "You'll be very sorry for this." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, very sorry, that he will. God bless you, Miss Phoebe," said Jesse. + </p> + <p> + "What! does he threaten? Take him off, Daniel. And you, Phoebe, go to bed + and compose yourself. Heaven bless you, my darling!" said the fond + grandfather, smoothing her hair, as, the tears still chasing each other + down her cheeks, she stood leaning against his knee. "Go to bed and to + sleep, my precious! and you, Sally, bring me my pipe:" and wondering why + the fulfilment of a strong desire should not make him happier, the honest + farmer endeavoured to smoke away his cares. + </p> + <p> + In the meanwhile, old Daniel conducted Jesse to the Chequers, and having + lodged him safely in an upper room, sought out "an ancient, trusty, + drouthy crony," with whom he sate down to carouse in the same apartment + with his prisoner. It was a dark, cold, windy, October night, and the two + warders sate cosily by the fire, enjoying their gossip and their ale, + while the unlucky delinquent placed himself pensively by the window. About + midnight the two old men were startled by his flinging open the casement. + </p> + <p> + "Miss Phoebe! look! look!" + </p> + <p> + "What? where?" inquired Daniel. + </p> + <p> + "Miss Phoebe!" repeated the prisoner; and, looking in the direction to + which Jesse pointed, they saw the flames bursting from Farmer Cob-ham's + house. + </p> + <p> + In a very few seconds they had alarmed the family, and sprung forth in the + direction of the fire; the prisoner accompanying them, unnoticed in the + confusion. + </p> + <p> + "Luckily, master's always insured to the value of all he's worth, stock + and goods," quoth the prudent Daniel. + </p> + <p> + "Miss Phoebe!" exclaimed Jesse: and even as he spoke he burst in the door, + darted up the staircase, and returned with the trembling child in his + arms, followed by aunt Dorothy and the frightened servants. + </p> + <p> + "Grandpapa! dear grandpapa! where is grandpapa? Will no one save my dear + grand-papa?" cried Phoebe. + </p> + <p> + And placing the little girl at the side of her aunt, Jesse again mounted + the blazing staircase. For a few moments all gave him up for lost But he + returned, tottering under the weight of a man scarcely yet aroused from + heavy sleep, and half suffocated by the smoke and flames. + </p> + <p> + "Miss Phoebe! he's safe, Miss Phoebe!—Down, Venus, down—He's + safe, Miss Phoebe! And now, I sha'n't mind going to prison, 'cause when I + come back you'll be living at the <i>Moors</i>. Sha'n't you, Miss Phoebe? + And I shall see you every day!" + </p> + <p> + One part of this speech turned out true and another part false—no + uncommon fate, by the way, of prophetic speeches, even when uttered by + wiser persons than poor Jesse. Phoebe did come to live at the Moors, and + he did not go to prison. + </p> + <p> + On the contrary, so violent was the revulsion of feeling in the honest + hearts of the good yeoman, John Cobham, and his faithful servant, old + Daniel, and so deep the remorse which they both felt for their injustice + and unkindness towards the friendless lad, that there was considerable + danger of their falling into the opposite extreme, and ruining him by + sudden and excessive indulgence. Jesse, however, was not of a temperament + to be easily spoilt. He had been so long an outcast from human society + that he had become as wild and shy as his old companions of the fields and + the coppice, the beasts of the earth and the birds of the air. The hare + which he had himself given to Phoebe was easier to tame than Jesse Cliffe. + </p> + <p> + Gradually, very gradually, under the gentle influence of the gentle child, + this great feat was accomplished, almost as effectually, although by no + means so suddenly, as in the well-known case of Cymon and Iphigenia, the + most noted precedent upon record of the process of reaching the head + through the heart. Venus, and a beautiful Welsh pony called Taffy, which + her grandfather had recently purchased for her riding, had their share in + the good deed; these two favourites being placed by Phoebe's desire under + Jesse's sole charge and management; a measure which not only brought him + necessarily into something like intercourse with the other lads about the + yard, but ended in his conceiving so strong an attachment to the animals + of whom he had the care, that before the winter set in he had deserted his + old lair in the wood, and actually passed his nights in a vacant stall of + the small stable appropriated to their use. + </p> + <p> + From the moment that John Cobham detected such an approach to the habits + of civilised life as sleeping under a roof, he looked upon the wild son of + the Moors as virtually reclaimed, and so it proved. Every day he became + more and more like his fellow-men. He abandoned his primitive oven, and + bought his bread at the baker's. He accepted thankfully the decent + clothing necessary to his attending Miss Phoebe in her rides round the + country. He worked regularly and steadily at whatever labour was assigned + to him, receiving wages like the other farm servants; and finally it was + discovered that one of the first uses he made of these wages was to + purchase spelling-books and copy-books, and enter himself at an evening + school, where the opening difficulties being surmounted, his progress + astonished every body. + </p> + <p> + His chief fancy was for gardening. The love, and, to a certain point, the + knowledge of flowers which he had always evinced increased upon him every + day;—and happening to accompany Phoebe on one of her visits to the + young ladies at the Hall, who were much attached to the lovely little + girl, he saw Lady Mordaunt's French garden, and imitated it the next year + for his young mistress in wild flowers, after such a fashion as to excite + the wonder and admiration of all beholders. + </p> + <p> + From that moment Jesse's destiny was decided. Sir Robert's gardener, a + clever Scotchman, took great notice of him and offered to employ him at + the Hall; but the Moors had to poor Jesse a fascination which he could not + surmount. He felt that it would be easier to tear himself from the place + altogether, than to live in the neighbourhood and not there. Accordingly + he lingered on for a year or two, and then took a grateful leave of his + benefactors, and set forth to London with the avowed intention of seeking + employment in a great nursery-ground, to the proprietor of which he was + furnished with letters, not merely from his friend the gardener, but from + Sir Robert himself. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + N. B. It is recorded that on the night of Jesse's departure, + Venus refused her supper and Phoebe cried herself to sleep. +</pre> + <p> + Time wore on. Occasional tidings had reached the Moors of the prosperous + fortunes of the adventurer. He had been immediately engaged by the great + nurseryman to whom he was recommended, and so highly approved, that in + little more than two years he became foreman of the flower department; + another two years saw him chief manager of the garden; and now, at the end + of a somewhat longer period, there was a rumour of his having been taken + into the concern as acting partner; a rumour which received full + confirmation in a letter from himself, accompanying a magnificent present + of shrubs, plants, and flower-roots, amongst which were two Dahlias, + ticketed 'the Moors' and 'the Phoebe,' and announcing his intention of + visiting his best and earliest friends in the course of the ensuing + summer. + </p> + <p> + Still time wore on. It was full six months after this intimation, that on + a bright morning in October, John Cobham, with two or three visiters from + Belford, and his granddaughter Phoebe, now a lovely young woman, were + coursing on the Moors. The townspeople had boasted of their greyhounds, + and the old sportsman was in high spirits from having beaten them out of + the field. + </p> + <p> + "If that's your best dog," quoth John, "why, I'll be bound that our + Snowball would beat him with one of his legs tied up. Talk of running such + a cur as that against Snowball! Why there's Phoebe's pet Venus, Snowball's + great grandam, who was twelve years old last May, and has not seen a hare + these three seasons, shall give him the go-by in the first hundred yards. + Go and fetch Venus, Daniel! It will do her heart good to see a hare + again," added he, answering the looks rather than the words of his + granddaughter, for she had not spoken, "and I'll be bound to say she'll + beat him out of sight He won't come in for a turn." + </p> + <p> + Upon Venus's arrival, great admiration was expressed at her symmetry and + beauty; the grayness incident to her age having fallen upon her, as it + sometimes does upon black greyhounds, in the form of small white spots, so + that she appeared as if originally what the coursers call "ticked." She + was in excellent condition, and appeared to understand the design of the + meeting as well as any one present, and to be delighted to find herself + once more in the field of fame. Her competitor, a yellow dog called + Smoaker, was let loose, and the whole party awaited in eager expectation + of a hare. + </p> + <p> + "Soho!" cried John Cobham, and off the dogs sprang; Venus taking the turn, + as he had foretold, running as true as in her first season, doing all the + work, and killing the hare, after a course which, for any part Smoaker + took in it, might as well have been single-handed. + </p> + <p> + "Look how she's bringing the hare to my grandfather!" exclaimed Phoebe; + "she always brings her game!" + </p> + <p> + And with the hare in her mouth, carefully poised by the middle of the + back, she was slowly advancing towards her master, when a stranger, well + dressed and well mounted, who had joined the party unperceived during the + course, suddenly called "Venus!" + </p> + <p> + And Venus started, pricked up her ears as if to listen, and stood stock + still. + </p> + <p> + "Venus!" again cried the horseman. + </p> + <p> + And Venus, apparently recognising the voice, walked towards the stranger, + (who by this time had dismounted,) laid the hare down at his feet, and + then sprang up herself to meet and return his caresses. + </p> + <p> + "Jesse! It must be Jesse Cliffe!" said Phoebe, in a tone which wavered + between exclamation and interrogatory. + </p> + <p> + "It can be none other," responded her grandfather. "I'd trust Venus beyond + all the world in the matter of recognising an old friend, and we all know + that except her old master and her young mistress, she never cared a straw + for anybody but Jesse. It must be Jesse Cliffe, though to be sure he's so + altered that how the bitch could find him out, is beyond my comprehension. + It's remarkable," continued he in an under tone, walking away with Jesse + from the Belford party, "that we five (counting Venus and old Daniel) + should meet just on this very spot—isn't it? It looks as if we were + to come together. And if you have a fancy for Phoebe, as your friend Sir + Robert says you have, and if Phoebe retains her old fancy for you, (as I + partly believe maybe the case,) why my consent sha'nt be wanting. Don't + keep squeezing my hand, man, but go and find out what she thinks of the + matter." + </p> + <p> + Five minutes after this conversation Jesse and Phoebe were walking + together towards the house: what he said we have no business to inquire, + but if blushes may be trusted, of a certainty the little damsel did not + answer "No." + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Jesse Cliffe, by Mary Russell Mitford + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JESSE CLIFFE *** + +***** This file should be named 22839-h.htm or 22839-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/8/3/22839/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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