The Complete Prose Works of Martin Farquhar Tupper

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The Complete Prose Works of Martin Farquhar?by Martin Farquhar Tupper

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Tupper, by Martin Farquhar Tupper This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. 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: The Complete Prose Works of Martin Farquhar Tupper
Author: Martin Farquhar Tupper
Editor: W. C. Armstrong
Release Date: February 16, 2007 [EBook #20610]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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THE
COMPLETE PROSE WORKS
OF
MARTIN FARQUHAR TUPPER, ESQ.
COMPRISING
THE CROCK OF GOLD,
THE TWINS,
AN AUTHOR'S MIND,
HEART,
PROBABILITIES, ETC.
REVISED EXPRESSLY FOR THIS EDITION BY W. C. ARMSTRONG.
HARTFORD: PUBLISHED BY SILAS ANDRUS & SON 1851.
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Transcriber's Note: Obvious printer errors have been corrected. This | |omnibus edition consists of four separately published works which | |contain many inconsistencies. These are as in the originals. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
PUBLISHERS' PREFACE.
Mr. Tupper has achieved a popularity for his works, which has rarely been enjoyed by any one at so early a period of life; he being now only between thirty-five and forty years of age. Where all are so intrinsically valuable, it is difficult to determine which particular work has contributed most to his rapid and enviable advancement; yet, were an award indispensable, we should feel constrained to make it in favour of his 'Proverbial Philosophy.' It is one of those unique productions which commends itself to all classes of readers, and from the perusal of which all cannot but derive substantial means of improvement. Familiar truths are so cogently treated therein, as to leave an indelible impression upon the mind, which could not, perhaps, have been so thoroughly made in any other manner; and the "thoughts and arguments" may be perused and r?perused with an advantage but few other writings are capable of yielding.
The rapid and extensive sale of several editions, issued in other places--some of them of rather an indifferent character, as regards mechanical execution--and the increasing demand still manifested for them, has induced the present publishers to collect the entire works of Mr. Tupper, and to stereotype them in a style worthy of their excellence. Each work has been thoroughly revised, and the errors which disfigure some other editions have been carefully corrected--an advantage readily appreciable by those who discriminate in their selections for the library or the centre-table.
* * * * *
THE
CROCK OF GOLD;
A RURAL NOVEL.
BY
MARTIN FARQUHAR TUPPER, ESQ., M.A.,
AUTHOR OF
"PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY."
* * * * *
CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE.
1. The Labourer; and his Dawning Discontent 11
2. The Family; the Home; and more Repinings 14
3. The Contract 17
4. The Lost Theft 21
5. The Inquest 23
6. The Bailiff; and a Bitter Trial 27
7. Wrongs and Ruin 32
8. The Covetous Dream 35
9. The Poacher 38
10. Ben Burke's Strange Adventure 41
11. Sleep 45
12. Love 48
13. The Discovery 52
14. Jonathan's Store 56
15. Another Discovery, and the Earnest of Good Things 58
16. How the Home was blessed thereby 62
17. Care 65
18. Investment 68
19. Calumny 72
20. The Bailiff's Visit 74
21. The Capture 77
22. The Aunt and her Nephew 80
23. Schemes 83
24. The Devil's Counsel 87
25. The Ambuscade 89
26. Preliminaries 92
27. Robbery 95
28. Murder 96
29. The Reward 97
30. Second Thoughts 100
31. Mammon; and Contentment 102
32. Next Morning 104
33. The Alarm 106
34. Doubts 108
35. Fears 109
36. Prison Comforts 111
37. Good Counsel 113
38. Experience 114
39. Jonathan's Troth 115
40. Suspicions 118
41. Grace's Alternative 119
42. The Dismissal 122
43. Simon alone 124
44. The Trial 127
45. Roger's Defence 129
46. The Witness 130
47. Mr. Sharp's Advocacy 133
48. Sentence and Death 140
49. Righteous Mammon 143
50. The Crock a Blessing 144
51. Popularity 147
52. Roger at the Swan 149
53. Roger's Triumph 151
54. Sir John's Parting Speech 152
CHAPTER I.
THE LABOURER; AND HIS DAWNING DISCONTENT.
Roger Acton woke at five. It was a raw March morning, still dark, and bitterly cold, while at gusty intervals the rain beat in against the crazy cottage-window. Nevertheless, from his poor pallet he must up and rouse himself, for it will be open weather by sunrise, and his work lies two miles off; Master Jennings is not the man to show him favour if he be late, and Roger cannot afford to lose an hour: so he shook off the luxury of sleep, and rose again to toil with weary effort.
"Honest Roger," as the neighbours called him, was a fair specimen of a class which has been Britain's boast for ages, and may be still again, in measure, but at present that glory appears to be departing: a class much neglected, much enduring; thoroughly English--just, industrious, and patient; true to the altar, and loyal to the throne; though haply shaken somewhat now from both those noble faiths--warped in their principles, and blunted in their feelings, by lying doctrines