2017年05月

20130812085752526
Another portrait hangs amongst the many in my memory'spicture gallery. It is that of his successor to thevicarage, the chaplaincy, and the librarianship, at Holkham -Mr. Alexander Napier - at this time, and until his deathfifty years later, one of my closest and most cherishedfriends. Alexander Napier was the son of Macvey Napier,first editor of the 'Edinburgh Review.' Thus, associatedwith many eminent men of letters, he also did some goodliterary work of his own. He edited Isaac Barrow's works forthe University of Cambridge, also Boswell's 'Johnson,' andgave various other proofs of his talents and his scholarship.
He was the most delightful of companions; liberal-minded inthe highest degree; full of quaint humour and quick sympathy;an excellent parish priest, - looking upon Christianity as alife and not a dogma; beloved by all, for he had a kindthought and a kind word for every needy or sick being in hisparish.
With such qualities, the man always predominated over thepriest. Hence his large-hearted charity and indulgence forthe faults - nay, crimes - of others. Yet, if taken aback byan outrage, or an act of gross stupidity, which even theperpetrator himself had to suffer for, he would momentarilylose his patience, and rap out an  the straiter-laced gentlemen of his own cloth, or anoutsider who knew less of him than - the recording angel.
A fellow undergraduate of Napier's told me a characteristicanecdote of his impetuosity. Both were Trinity men, and hadbeen keeping high jinks at a supper party at Caius. Thefriend suddenly pointed to the clock, reminding Napier theyhad but five minutes to get into college before Trinity gateswere closed. 'D-n the clock!' shouted Napier, and snatchingup the sugar basin (it was not EAU SUCREE they weredrinking), incontinently flung it at the face of theoffending timepiece.
This youthful vivacity did not desert him in later years. Anold college friend - also a Scotchman - had become Bishop ofEdinburgh. Napier paid him a visit (he described it to mehimself). They talked of books, they talked of politics,they talked of English Bards and Scotch Reviewers, ofBrougham, Horner, Wilson, Macaulay, Jeffrey, of Carlyle'sdealings with Napier's father - 'Nosey,' as Carlyle callshim. They chatted into the small hours of the night, as booncompanions, and as what Bacon calls 'full' men, are wont.
The claret, once so famous in the 'land of cakes,' had givenplace to toddy; its flow was in due measure to the flow ofsoul. But all that ends is short - the old friends had spenttheir last evening together. Yes, their last, perhaps. Itwas bed-time, and quoth Napier to his lordship, 'I tell youwhat it is, Bishop, I am na fou', but I'll be hanged if Ihaven't got two left legs.'

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“Of what have Alipay hong kongI thought?” she asked John. And he immediately untied the handkerchief, and was himself quite frightened when he saw the ugly magician's head. All present shuddered , for it was terrible to look upon ; but the princess sat just like a statue, and could not utter a single word. At length she stood up, and gave John her hand, for he had guessed correctly. She did not look at any one, only sighed aloud, and said, “Now you are my lord!----this evening we will hold our wedding.”
“I like that” cried the old king. “So I would have it. ”
All present cried , “ Hurrah ! ” The soldiers ' band played music in the streets, the bells rang, and the cakewomen took off the black crape from their sugar pigs , for joy now reigned everywhere; three oxen roasted whole, and stuffed with ducks and fowls, were placed in the middle of the market , that everyone might cut himself a slice ; the fountains ran with the best wine; and whoever bought a penny cake at a baker's got six buns into the bargain, and the buns had raisins in them.
In the evening the whole town was illuminated; the soldiers fired off the cannon, and the boys let off crackers; and there was eating and drinking, clinking of glasses, and dancing, in the palace. All the noble gentlemen and pretty ladies danced with each other, and one could hear, a long, distance off , how they sang----
Here are many pretty girls , who all love to dance ;
See , they whirl like spinning-wheels ,  .
Turn , my pretty maiden , do , till the sole falls from your Academic alliance shoe .
But still the princess was a witch, and did not like John. This had been expected by the travelling companion; and so he gave John three feathers out of the swan' s wings , and a little bottle with a few drops in it, and told John that he must put a large tub of water before the princess' s bed; and when the princess was about to get into bed, he should give her a little push , so that she should fall into the tub; and then he must dip her three times, after he had put in the feathers and poured in the drops; she would then lose her magic qualities, and love him very much.
John did all that the travelling companion had advised him to do. The princess screamed out loudly while he dipped her in the tub, and struggled under his hands in the form of a great coal-black swan with fiery eyes . When she came up the second time above the water, the swan was white, with the exception of a black ring round her neck . John let the water close for the third time over the bird, and in the same moment it was again changed to the beautiful princess Neo skin lab. She was more beautiful even than before, and thanked him, with tears in her lovely eyes , that he had freed her from the magic spell .

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