192 THE LAST OF THE PIG-TAILS. 



of the industrious bee ; and they, too, seemed to enjoy the pleasures 

 of life to the utmost ; every countenance seemed ha])py as the parties 

 lounged listlesly in the streets on their way to church. The bell had 

 ceased tolling, when Richard, dressed to his hearts content, sporting 

 his new tie, issued from his house, in that classical spot in Hull — 

 the Land-of-Green-Ginger, and walked to church. He had always 

 been remarked as a notable man ; but the extreme care in dressing 

 this moniing had finished him off as an exquisite, and exclamations 

 of surprise and admiration fell upon his ear as the passers by noticed 

 him. Every one seemed struck with his peculiar appearance, and 

 for some time could not divine what could make him look so remarka- 

 bly elegant ; but the keen eye of a barber at once detected the cause 

 and explained the reason. The whole town seemed taken by 

 surprise ; and the very fanes of the church which that day seemed 

 also affected by the sultriness of the weather, and were basking in the 

 sun, and pointing to all quarters of the compass, spun round with 

 astonishment ; 'as for the clock, why so great was its surprise, that 

 the third hand was pulled up in a trice, the second's hand in a second, 

 and in less than a minute, the minute hand was also still with admi- 

 ration. To this day, 1844, this clock has not recovered from its 

 shock. 



We are soiTy to say that his entry into church had the effect of 

 drawing off the attention of the audience from their devotional duties 

 for a time to him, but we ought to excuse the frailties of our fellow 

 creatures in this instance, as they had all been taken by surprise. 

 Richard saw none of his fellow-townsmen or women, save one and 

 that one the girl of his heart, whose eye caught his on his entrance 

 and earned a healing balm to his heart. The angel on whom he had 

 fixed his hopes smiled graciously on him as he passed her pew. The 

 object of his choice had chosen him also, and well might he inwardly 

 ejaculate as he did, after the manner of the great Julius, — not any 

 of the modern Julius Caesar's, " I came — she saw — I conquered." 

 Soon as service was over he joined his lady-love, proposed and was 

 accepted, indeed, how could she refuse when he was the leading man 

 in Hull. From that time he and his Q were paramount here, the 

 new tie had settled the love affair. He married and now thought 

 that every thing would run smoothly with him. Short sighted man 

 his good fortune was his downfall, he fancied that he alone, while 



