He has even, in the fullness
of his heart, offered to give up the school-house to them; though it
would leave him once more adrift in the wide world.
THE HISTORIAN.
_Hermione_. Pray you sit by us,
And tell's a tale.
_Mamilius_. Merry or sad shall't be?
_Hermione_. As merry as you will.
_Mamilius_. A sad tale's best for winter.
I have one of sprites and goblins.
_Hermione_. Let's have that, sir.
--_Winter's Tale_.
As this is a story-telling age, I have been tempted occasionally to
give the reader one of the many tales that are served up with supper
at the Hall. I might, indeed, have furnished a series almost equal in
number to the Arabian Nights; but some were rather hackneyed and
tedious; others I did not feel warranted in betraying into print; and
many more were of the old general's relating, and turned principally
upon tiger-hunting, elephant-riding, and Seringapatam; enlivened by
the wonderful deeds of Tippoo Saib, and the excellent jokes of Major
Pendergast.
I had all along maintained a quiet post at a corner of the table,
where I had been able to indulge my humour undisturbed: listening
attentively when the story was very good, and dozing a little when it
was rather dull, which I consider the perfection of auditorship.
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