210 MY APPRENTICESHIP. 



impression in the proper quarter. But I was most anxious that others 

 should not see it ; and was therefore obliged to be most circumspect ; 

 for old Von Tromp was quite a devil when he became passionate, and 

 on several occasions he had some kind of fits after these violent passions. 

 He used to become rigid and blue in the face ; and then an old German 

 butler, who had lived with him for years, was accustomed to rub him 

 with brandy, and put salt into his mouth ; and I believe he used to 

 swear at him in German. I was sadly afraid that my attachment to 

 Miss Von Tromp might be betrayed ; and I well knew that there would 

 then soon be an end to the affair. My hopes would assuredly be crushed, 

 if the fact should ever reach the ears of the old German. 



I had the pleasure of overtaking Miss Von Tromp one day, riding out 

 on her little poney, when, to my infinite delight, I discovered that I was 

 right in my conjectures with regard to her predilection. After much 

 interesting conversation, it was agreed that Miss Von Trump should 

 visit and relieve the poor of the village, among whom my business prin- 

 cipally lay. I was to send her a list of those poor persons who were ill 

 and in distress, and I advised her to visit them after breakfast. 



There was one thing I never liked during my apprenticeship. As 

 soon as I was about eighteen years of age, my master always appointed 

 me his deputy at funerals ; and in the country it is the custom to make 

 the medical man head the procession. Often and often have I, to my 

 great annoyance, had to walk with solemn step, and rueful face, before 

 the melancholy pageant, and to brave the sarcastic remarks of the village 

 wags. Sometimes a most expressive look from some friend, and a 

 whisper loud enough to be* heard, " Aye, aye, you are taking home 

 your work," would be darted at me from some corner. Besides, on 

 these occasions, I used occasionally to meet Miss Von Tromp; and the 

 situation by no means told to my advantage. 



My attention to this young lady now began to be observed by several 

 persons in the village, and, indeed, her partiality for me had not escaped 

 observation, insomuch that I was now and then joked on the subject. 

 At length I began to think that it was high time for me to act, for if 

 once the affair reached the ears of the old gentleman, there would then 

 be little chance of my being able to carry my plans into execution. 

 Under this impression I had determined upon the very first occasion, to 

 propose a trip to Gretna Green. I took every opportunity of seeking 

 a personal meeting with her, but by some unlucky accident, always in 

 vain ; I, therefore, determined to write to her, and fix the manner of 

 our departure. I found that in order that we might meet, she fancied, 

 or, had I not better say she feigned, that she was not quite well ; and 

 Mr. Grubbins, who was at home when the message arrived, as ill-luck 

 would have it, said he would attend himself upon the young lady. 

 I felt assured, from several circumstances, that our attachment had 

 become known at head-quarters, at least that there was a suspicion of 

 such a thing, for I had noticed that the last Sunday at church, as we 

 passed through the church-yard, the old German looked at me as black 

 as thunder, I thought at the very time, that the great blow must be 

 struck, before another week had passed over our heads. I, without 

 delay, consulted with a friend of mine, and he kindly lent me that, 

 which gives wings to love and sinews to war, so that one great end was 

 provided for. But how was I to inform the young lady of my plans ? 



Miss Von Tromp, a little while before this period, had again sprained 



