THE HULL 



LITERARY & PHILOSOPHICAL MISCELLANY. 



No. VI. MARCH. Vol. I. 



TOM BELLAMY'S ADVENTURE. 



" Why, Harry, is it true," exclaimed my friend, Tom Bellamy, 

 as we sat enjoying our cigars and grog, over a cheerful fire, one 

 winter's eve, **that you, my poor friend, are going to sacrifice your- 

 self a victim to matrimony ? Have not the fearful examples which 

 you have seen, heard, and read of, warned you from such a per- 

 nicious course ? Oh ! Harry, Harry, * my soul grieves over you.' " 

 Here Tom made one of the most fearful countenances I had ever 

 heheld, resembling most of all one of those fancy portraits seen on 

 door knockers, in violent convulsions. Seeing Tom's visage, I set 

 up a roar of laughter. " Yes," said he, " you may laugh ; but I 

 pity you for laughing at your impending fate, knowing not its 

 horrors ; and reminding me forcibly of a lamb led to the slaughter, 

 sporting and gambolling on the road. Ah ! I see," said Tom, " I 

 had better cease moralizing, as your eyes are getting moist." 

 " Which, being translated," said I, " means, I suppose, tliat I have 

 a drop in my eye." " No, no," said Tom, " quite wrong there, my 

 boy ; but have you ever heard of my first attempt to commit matri- 

 mony. Bless you, I had quite a providential escape. Oh dear ! 

 it nearly gives me the ague to talk of it." " Why Tom," said I, 

 I never heard of it ; favour me with your early suflferings." " Well," 

 said Tom, " I will ; only let us first light another cigar, and get a 

 fresh glass of grog, or I shall not be able to relate it to you." 



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