It was well for Martin Rattler, on that great day, that the formation of the ground favoured him. The spot on which the fight took place was uneven, and covered with little hillocks and hollows, over which Bob Croaker stumbled, and into which he fell,being a clumsy boy on his legsand did himself considerable damage; while Martin, who was firmly knit and active as a kitten, scarcely ever fell, or, if he did, sprang up again like an India-rubber ball. Fair-play was embedded deep in the centre of Martins heart, so that he scorned to hit his adversary when he was down or in the act of rising; but the thought of the fate that awaited the white kitten if he were conquered, acted like lightning in his veins, and scarcely had Bob time to double his fists after a fall, when he was knocked back again into the hollow, out of which he had risen. There were no rounds in this fight; no pausing to recover breath. Martins anger rose with every blow, whether given or received; and although he was knocked down flat four or five times, he rose again, and without a seconds delay rushed headlong at his enemy. Feeling that he was too little and light to make much impression on Bob Croaker by means of mere blows, he endeavoured as much as possible to throw his weight against him at each assault; but Bob stood his ground well, and after a time seemed even to be recovering strength a little.
Suddenly he made a rush at Martin, and, dealing him a successful blow on the forehead, knocked him down; at the same time he himself tripped over a molehill and fell upon his face. Both were on their legs in an instant. Martin grew desperate. The white, kitten swimming for its life seemed to rise before him, and new energy was infused into his frame. He retreated a step or two, and then darted forward like an arrow from a bow. Uttering a loud cry, he sprang completely in the air and plungedhead and fists together, as if he were taking a diveinto Bob Croakers bosom! The effect was tremendous. Bob went down like a shock of grain before the sickle; and having, in their prolonged movements, approached close to the brink of the stream, both he and Martin went with a sounding splash into the deep pool and disappeared. It was but for a moment, however. Martins head emerged first, with eyes and mouth distended to the utmost. Instantly, on finding bottom, he turned to deal his opponent another blow; but it was not needed. When Bob Croakers head rose to the surface there was no motion in the features, and the eyes were closed. The intended blow was changed into a friendly grasp; and, exerting himself to the utmost, Martin dragged his insensible school fellow to the bank, where, in a few minutes, he recovered sufficiently to declare in a sulky tone that he would fight no more!
Bob Croaker, said Martin, holding out his hand, Im sorry weve had to fight. I wouldnt have done it, but to save my kitten. You compelled me to do it, you know that. Come, lets be friends again.
Bob made no reply, but slowly and with some difficulty put on his vest and jacket.
Im sure, continued Martin, theres no reason in bearing me ill-will. Ive done nothing unfair, and Im very sorry weve had to fight. Wont you shake hands?
Bob was silent.
Come, some, Bob! cried several of the bigger boys, dont be sulky, man; shake hands and be friends. Martin has licked you this time, and youll lick him next time, no doubt, and thats all about it.
Arrah, then, yere out there, intirely. Bob Croakerll niver lick Martin Rattler though he wos to live to the age of the great MThuselah! said a deep-toned voice close to the spot where the fight had taken place.
All eyes were instantly turned in the direction whence it proceeded, and the boys now became aware, for the first time, that the combat had been witnessed by a sailor, who, with a smile of approval beaming on his good-humoured countenance, sat under the shade of a neighbouring tree smoking a pipe of that excessive shortness and blackness that seems to be peculiarly beloved by Irishmen in the humbler ranks of life. The man was very, tall and broad-shouldered, and carried himself with a free-and-easy swagger, as he rose and approached the group of boys.
Hell niver bate ye, Martin, avic, as long as theres two timbers of ye houldin togither. The seaman patted Martin on the head as he spoke; and, turning to Bob Croaker, continued:
Ye ought to be proud, ye spalpeen, o bein wopped by sich a young hero as this. Come here and shake hands with him: dye hear? Troth an its besmearin ye with too much honour that same. There, thatll do. Dont say yere sorry now, for its lies yed be tellin if ye did. Come along, Martin, an Ill convarse with ye as ye go home. Yell be a man yet, as sure as my name is Barney OFlannagan.
Martin took the white kitten in his arms and thrust its wet little body into his equally wet bosom, where the warmth began soon to exercise a soothing influence on the kittens depressed spirits, so that, ere long, it began to purr. He then walked with the sailor towards the village, with his face black and blue, and swelled, and covered with blood, while Bob Croaker and his companions returned to the school.
The distance to Martins residence was not great, but it was sufficient to enable the voluble Irishman to recount a series of the most wonderful adventures and stories of foreign lands; that set Martins heart on fire with desire to go to sea; a desire which was by no means new to him, and which recurred violently every time he paid a visit to the small sea-port of Bilton, which lay about five miles to the southward of his native village. Moreover, Barney suggested that it was time Martin should be doing for himself (he was now ten years old), and said that if he would join his ship, he could get him a berth, for he was much in want of an active lad to help him with the coppers. But Martin Rattler sighed deeply, and said that, although his heart was set upon going to sea, he did not see how it was to be managed, for his aunt would not let him go.
Before they separated, however, it was arranged that Martin should pay the sailors ship a visit, when he would hear a good deal more about foreign lands; and that, in the meantime, he should make another attempt to induce Aunt Dorothy Grumbit to give her consent to his going to sea.
Chapter Four
A Lesson to all Stocking-KnittersMartins Prospects begin to open up
In the small sea-port of Bilton, before mentioned, there dwelt an old and wealthy merchant and ship-owner, who devoted a small portion of his time to business, and a very large portion of it to what is usually termed doing good. This old gentleman was short, and stout, and rosy, and bald, and active, and sharp as a needle.
In the short time that Mr Arthur Jollyboy devoted to business, he accomplished as much as most men do in the course of a long day. There was not a benevolent society in the town, of which Arthur Jollyboy, Esquire, of the Old Hulk (as he styled his cottage), was not a member, director, secretary, and treasurer, all in one, and all at once! If it had been possible for man be ubiquitous, Mr Jollyboy would have been so naturally; or, if not naturally, he would have made himself so by force of will. Yet he made no talk about it. His step was quiet, though quick; and his voice was gentle, though rapid; and he was chiefly famous for talking little and doing much.
Some time after the opening of our tale, Mr Jollyboy had received information of Mrs Grumbits stocking movement. That same afternoon he put on his broad-brimmed white hat and, walking out to the village in which she lived, called upon the vicar, who was a particular and intimate friend of his. Having ascertained from the vicar that Mrs Grumbit would not accept of charity, he said abruptly,And why notis she too proud?
Chapter Four
A Lesson to all Stocking-KnittersMartins Prospects begin to open up
In the small sea-port of Bilton, before mentioned, there dwelt an old and wealthy merchant and ship-owner, who devoted a small portion of his time to business, and a very large portion of it to what is usually termed doing good. This old gentleman was short, and stout, and rosy, and bald, and active, and sharp as a needle.
In the short time that Mr Arthur Jollyboy devoted to business, he accomplished as much as most men do in the course of a long day. There was not a benevolent society in the town, of which Arthur Jollyboy, Esquire, of the Old Hulk (as he styled his cottage), was not a member, director, secretary, and treasurer, all in one, and all at once! If it had been possible for man be ubiquitous, Mr Jollyboy would have been so naturally; or, if not naturally, he would have made himself so by force of will. Yet he made no talk about it. His step was quiet, though quick; and his voice was gentle, though rapid; and he was chiefly famous for talking little and doing much.
Some time after the opening of our tale, Mr Jollyboy had received information of Mrs Grumbits stocking movement. That same afternoon he put on his broad-brimmed white hat and, walking out to the village in which she lived, called upon the vicar, who was a particular and intimate friend of his. Having ascertained from the vicar that Mrs Grumbit would not accept of charity, he said abruptly,And why notis she too proud?
By no means, replied the vicar. She says that she would think shame to take money from friends as long as she can work, because every penny that she would thus get would be so much less to go to the helpless poor; of whom, she says, with much truth, there are enough and to spare. And I quite agree with her as regards her principle; but it does not apply fully to her, for she cannot work so as to procure a sufficient livelihood without injury to her health.
Is she clever? inquired Mr Jollyboy.
Why, no, not particularly. In fact, she does not often exert her reasoning faculties, except in the common-place matters of ordinary and every-day routine.
Then shes cleverer than most people, said Mr Jollyboy, shortly. Is she obstinate?
No, not in the least, returned the vicar with a puzzled smile.
Ah, well, good-bye, good-bye; thats all I want to know.
Mr Jollyboy rose, and, hurrying through the village, tapped at the cottage door, and was soon closeted with Mrs Dorothy Grumbit. In the course of half an hour, Mr Jollyboy drew from Mrs Grumbit as much about her private affairs as he could, without appearing rude. But he found the old lady very close and sensitive on that point. Not so, however, when he got her upon the subject of her nephew. She had enough, and more than enough, to say about him. It is true she began by remarking, sadly, that he was a very bad boy; but, as she continued to talk about him, she somehow or other gave her visitor the impression that he was a very good boy! They had a wonderfully long and confidential talk about Martin, during which Mr Jollyboy struck Mrs Grumbit nearly dumb with horror by stating positively that he would do for the boy,he would send him to sea! Then, seeing that he had hit the wrongest possible nail on the head, he said that he would make the lad a clerk in his office, where he would be sure to rise to a place of trust; whereat Mrs Grumbit danced, if we may so speak, into herself for joy.
And now, maam, about these stockings. I want two thousand pairs as soon as I can get them!
Sir? said Mrs Grumbit.
Of course, not for my own use, maam; nor for the use of my family, for I have no family; and if I had, that would be an unnecessarily large supply. The fact is, Mrs Grumbit, I am a merchant and I send very large supplies of home-made articles to foreign lands, and two thousand pairs of socks are a mere driblet. Of course I do not expect you to make them all for me, but I wish you to make as many pairs as you can.
I shall be very happy began Mrs Grumbit.
But, Mrs Grumbit, there is a peculiar formation which I require in my socks that will give you extra trouble, I fear; but I must have it, whatever the additional expense may be. What is your charge for the pair you are now making?
Three shillings, said Mrs Grumbit.
Ah! very good. Now, take up the wires if you please, maam, and do what I tell you. Now, drop that stitch,good; and take up this one,capital; and pull this one across that way,so; and that one across this way,exactly. Now, what is the result?
The result was a complicated knot; and Mrs Grumbit, after staring a few seconds at the old gentleman in surprise, said so, and begged to know what use it was of.
Oh, never mind, never mind. We merchants have strange fancies, and foreigners have curious tastes now and then. Please to make all my socks with a hitch like that in them all round, just above the ankle. It will form an ornamental ring. Im sorry to put you to the trouble, but of course I pay extra for fancy-work. Will six shillings a-pair do for these?
My dear sir, said Mrs Grumbit, it is no additional
Well, well, never mind, said Mr Jollyboy. Two thousand pairs, remember, as soon as possible,close knitted, plain stitch, rather coarse worsted; and dont forget the hitch, Mrs Grumbit, dont forget the hitch.
Ah! reader, there are many Mrs Grumbits in this world, requiring hitches to be made in their stockings!
At this moment the door burst open. Mrs Dorothy Grumbit uttered a piercing scream, Mr Jollyboy dropped his spectacles and sat down on his hat and Martin Rattler stood before them with the white kitten in his arms.
For a few seconds there was a dead silence, while an expression of puzzled disappointment passed over Mr Jollyboys ruddy countenance. At last he said
Is this, madam, the nephew who, you told me a little ago, is not addicted to fighting?
Yes, answered the old lady faintly, and covering her eyes with her hands, that is Martin.
If my aunt told you that, sir, she told you the truth, said Martin, setting down the blood-stained white kitten, which forthwith began to stretch its limbs and lick itself dry. I dont ever fight if I can help it but I couldnt help it to-day.
With a great deal of energy, and a revival of much of his former indignation, when he spoke of the kittens sufferings, Martin recounted all the circumstances of the fight; during the recital of which Mrs Dorothy Grumbit took his hand in hers and patted it, gazing the while into his swelled visage, and weeping plentifully, but very silently. When he had finished, Mr Jollyboy shook hands with him, and said he was a trump, at the same time recommending him to go and wash his face. Then he whispered a few words in Mrs Grumbits ear, which seemed to give that excellent lady much pleasure; after which he endeavoured to straighten his crushed hat; in which attempt he failed, took his leave, promised to call again very soon, and went back to the Old Hulkchuckling.
Chapter Five
Martin, being Willing to go to Sea, goes to Sea against his Will
Four years rolled away, casting chequered light and shadow over the little village of Ashford in their silent passage,whitening the forelocks of the aged, and strengthening the muscles of the young. Death, too, touched a hearth here and there, and carried desolation to a home; for four years cannot wing their flight without enforcing on us the lessonwhich we are so often taught and yet take so long to learnthat this is not our rest,that here we have no abiding city. Did we but ponder this lesson more frequently and earnestly, instead of making us sad, it would nerve our hearts and hands to fight and work more diligently,to work in the cause of our Redeemer,the only cause that is worth the life-long energy of immortal beings,the great cause that includes all others; and it would teach us to remember that our little day of opportunity will soon be spent and that the night is at hand in which no man can work.