burlesques-第23章
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maker and the weapon。 〃One; two; THREE;〃 cried O'Tool; and the two
pistols went off at that instant; and uttering a terrific curse;
the Lifeguardsman;' &c。A sentence of this nature from your pen;
my dear Snooks; would; I should think; bring a case of pistols and
a double…barrelled gun to your lodgings; and; though heaven forbid
you should use such weapons; you might sell them; you know; and we
could make merry with the proceeds。
〃If my hint is of any use to you; it is quite at your service; dear
Snooks; and should anything come of it; I hope you will remember
your friend。〃
THE DIARY OF C。 JEAMES DE LA PLUCHE; ESQ。;
WITH HIS LETTERS。
A LUCKY SPECULATOR。
〃Considerable sensation has been excited in the upper and lower
circles in the West End; by a startling piece of good fortune which
has befallen James Plush; Esq。; lately footman in a respected
family in Berkeley Square。
〃One day last week; Mr。 James waited upon his master; who is a
banker in the City; and after a little blushing and hesitation;
said he had saved a little money in service; was anxious to retire;
and to invest his savings to advantage。
〃His master (we believe we may mention; without offending delicacy;
the well…known name of Sir George Flimsy; of the house of Flimsy;
Diddler; and Flash;) smilingly asked Mr。 James what was the amount
of his savings; wondering considerably how; out of an income of
thirty guineasthe main part of which he spent in bouquets; silk
stockings; and perfumeryMr。 Plush could have managed to lay by
anything。
〃Mr。 Plush; with some hesitation; said he had been SPECULATING IN
RAILROADS; and stated his winnings to have been thirty thousand
pounds。 He had commenced his speculations with twenty; borrowed
from a fellow…servant。 He had dated his letters from the house in
Berkeley Square; and humbly begged pardon of his master for not
having instructed the Railway Secretaries who answered his
applications to apply at the area…bell。
〃Sir George; who was at breakfast; instantly rose; and shook Mr。 P。
by the hand; Lady Flimsy begged him to be seated; and partake of
the breakfast which he had laid on the table; and has subsequently
invited him to her grand dejeuner at Richmond; where it was
observed that Miss Emily Flimsy; her beautiful and accomplished
seventh daughter; paid the lucky gentleman MARKED ATTENTION。
〃We hear it stated that Mr。 P。 is of a very ancient family (Hugo de
la Pluche came over with the Conqueror); and the new brougham which
he has started bears the ancient coat of his race。
〃He has taken apartments in the Albany; and is a director of
thirty…three railroads。 He proposes to stand for Parliament at the
next general election on decidedly conservative principles; which
have always been the politics of his family。
〃Report says; that even in his humble capacity Miss Emily Flimsy
had remarked his high demeanor。 Well; 'None but the brave;' say
we; 'deserve the fair。'〃Morning Paper。
This announcement will explain the following lines; which have been
put into our box* with a West End post…mark。 If; as we believe;
they are written by the young woman from whom the Millionnaire
borrowed the sum on which he raised his fortune; what heart will
not melt with sympathy at her tale; and pity the sorrows which she
expresses in such artless language?
If it be not too late; if wealth have not rendered its possessor
callous; if poor Maryanne BE STILL ALIVE; we trust; we trust; Mr。
Plush will do her justice。
* The letter…box of Mr。 Punch; in whose columns these papers were
first published。
〃JEAMES OF BUCKLEY SQUARE。
〃A HELIGY。
〃Come all ye gents vot cleans the plate;
Come all ye ladies maids so fair
Vile I a story vill relate
Of cruel Jeames of Buckley Square。
A tighter lad; it is confest;
Neer valked with powder in his air;
Or vore a nosegay in his breast;
Than andsum Jeames of Buckley Square。
〃O Evns! it vas the best of sights;
Behind his Master's coach and pair;
To see our Jeames in red plush tights;
A driving hoff from Buckley Square。
He vel became his hagwilletts;
He cocked his at with SUCH a hair;
His calves and viskers VAS such pets;
That hall loved Jeames of Buckley Square。
〃He pleased the hup…stairs folks as vell;
And o! I vithered vith despair;
Missis VOULD ring the parler bell;
And call up Jeames in Buckley Square。
Both beer and sperrits he abhord;
(Sperrits and beer I can't a bear;)
You would have thought he vas a lord
Down in our All in Buckley Square。
〃Last year he visper'd 'Mary Ann;
Ven I've an under'd pound to spare;
To take a public is my plan;
And leave this hojous Buckley Square。'
O how my gentle heart did bound;
To think that I his name should bear。
'Dear Jeames。' says I; 'I've twenty pound;
And gev them him in Buckley Square。
〃Our master vas a City gent;
His name's in railroads everywhere;
And lord; vot lots of letters vent
Betwigst his brokers and Buckley Square:
My Jeames it was the letters took;
And read them all; (I think it's fair;)
And took a leaf from Master's book;
As HOTHERS do in Buckley Square。
Encouraged with my twenty pound;
Of which poor I was unavare;
He wrote the Companies all round;
And signed hisself from Buckley Square。
And how John Porter used to grin;
As day by day; share after share;
Came railvay letters pouring in;
'J。 Plush; Esquire; in Buckley Square。'
〃Our servants' All was in a rage
Scrip; stock; curves; gradients; bull and bear;
Vith butler; coachman; groom and page;
Vas all the talk in Buckley Square。
But O! imagine vot I felt
Last Vensday veek as ever were;
I gits a letter; which I spelt
'Miss M。 A。 Hoggins; Buckley Square。'
〃He sent me back my money true
He sent me back my lock of air;
And said; 'My dear; I bid ajew
To Mary Hann and Buckley Square。
Think not to marry; foolish Hann;
With people who your betters are;
James Plush is now a gentleman;
And youa cook in Buckley Square。
〃'I've thirty thousand guineas won;
In six short months; by genus rare;
You little thought what Jeames was on;
Poor Mary Hann; in Buckley Square。
I've thirty thousand guineas net;
Powder and plush I scorn to vear;
And so; Miss Mary Hann; forget
For hever Jeames; of Buckley Square。'〃
。 。 。 。 。 。
The rest of the MS。 is illegible; being literally washed away in a
flood of tears。
A LETTER FROM 〃JEAMES; OF BUCKLEY SQUARE。〃
〃ALBANY; LETTER X。 August 10; 1845。
〃SIR;Has a reglar suscriber to your emusing paper; I beg leaf to
state that I should never have done so; had I supposed that it was
your abbit to igspose the mistaries of privit life; and to hinjer
the delligit feelings of umble individyouals like myself; who have
NO IDEER of being made the subject of newspaper criticism。
〃I elude; sir; to the unjustafiable use which has been made of my
name in your Journal; where both my muccantile speclations and the
HINMOST PASHSN OF MY ART have been brot forrards in a ridicklus way
for the public emusemint。
〃What call; sir; has the public to inquire into the suckmstansies
of my engagements with Miss Mary Hann Oggins; or to meddle with
their rupsher? Why am I to be maid the hobjick of your REDICULE IN
A DOGGRIL BALLIT impewted to her? I say IMPEWTED; because; in MY
time at least; Mary Hann could only sign her + mark (ha