Charcoal Sketches, Or, Scenes in a Metropolis

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Carey & Hart, 1844 - American wit and humor - 222 pages
 

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Page 63 - ... from the rapidity with which it hurries men to the end of their journey. Like many of the best-natured fellows in the world, Salix, by way of being a capital companion, and of not being different from others, had acquired rather a partiality for riding on this " railroad," and he agreed to keep his trigger eye on the dog. " That's right, Salix. I always knowed you were the best-natured fellow in the world.
Page 60 - ... if not into crimes. But as it is of advantage to others while inflicting injury upon its possessor, it has, by the common consent of mankind, received a fine name, which covers its follies and promotes its growth. This easiness of disposition, which is a compound of indolence, vanity, and irresolution, is known and applauded as " good-nature;" and, to have reached the superlative degree, so as to be called the " best-natured fellow in the world — almost too good-natured for his own good," is...
Page 84 - ... em to come and be took up. They'd feel like a bird when a snake is after it, and would walk up, and poke their coat-collars right into my fist.
Page 68 - I'm shelled out myself — first out of my shop by old venditioni exponas, at the State House — old fiery fash 'us to me directed. But they didn't direct him soon enough, for he only got the fixtures. The goods had gone out on a bust long before I busted. Next, I was shelled out of my boarding house ; and now," (with a lugubrious glance at his shirt and pantaloons,) " I'm nearly shelled out of my clothes.
Page 55 - I'm chock full of genius and running over ; for I hate all sorts of work myself, and all sorts of people mean enough to do it. I hate going to bed, and I hate getting up. My conduct is very eccentric and singular. I have the miserable melancholies all the time, and I'm pretty nearly always as cross as thunder, which is a sure sign. Genius is as tender as a skinned cat, and flies into a passion whenever you touch it. When I condescend to unbuzzum myself, for a little sympathy, to folks of ornery intellect...
Page 111 - Spooney ; you're little, black-muzzled, queer in the legs, and have got a cold ; nature and sleeping with the windows open have done wonders in making you fit for the hintellectuals, and you shall tip 'em the sentimental in Hamlet." Parts of this speech were not particularly gratifying to Spoon ; but, on the whole, it jumped with his desires, and the matter was clinched. Winkins trained him; taught him when and where to come the "hagony...
Page 110 - Blank verse, to be himpressive, must be t'rogged — it must be groaned, grunted, and gasped — bring it out like a three-pronged grinder, as if body and soul were parting. There's nothing like asthmatic elocution and spasmodic emphasis, for touching the sympathies and setting the feelings on edge. A terrier dog in a pucker is a good study for anger, and always let the spectators see that sorrow hurts you. There's another style of tragedy — the physical school — " " That must be a dose," ejaculated...
Page 68 - But, it was always so — when I was a little boy, they coaxed all my pennies out of me ; coaxed me to take all the jawings, and all the hidings, and to go first into all sorts of scrapes, and precious scrapings they used to be. I wonder if there isn't two kinds of people — one kind that's made to chaw up t'other kind, and t'other kind that's made to be chawed up by one kind ? — cat-kind of people, and mouse-kind of people ? I guess there is.
Page 63 - Salix was seen in front of a little grocery, the locale of which shall be nameless, sitting dejectedly upon a keg of mackerel, number 2. He had been " the best-natured fellow in the world," but, as the geologists say, he was in a state of transition, and was rapidly becoming up to trap. At all events, he had his nose to the grindstone, an operation which should make men keen.
Page 68 - Salix, pony up at the bar, and lend us a levy' — ' Salix always shells out like a gentleman.' Oh, to be sure ! and why not ? — now I'm shelled out myself — first out of my shop by old venditioni exponas, at the State House — old fiery fash 'us to me directed. But they didn't direct him soon enough, for he only got the fixtures. The goods had gone out on a bust long before...

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