Roundabout Papers - Penn State University

Roundabout Papersturn to him and say—”If it be well to be rememberedby a Minister, it is better still not to be forgotten byhim in a ‘hurly Burleigh!’” Can you laugh? Is not thejoke horribly pathetic from the poor dying lips? As dyingRobin Hood must fire a last shot with his bow—asone reads of Catholics on their death-beds putting on aCapuchin dress to go out of the world—here is poorHood at his last hour putting on his ghastly motley,and uttering one joke more.He dies, however, in dearest love and peace with hischildren, wife, friends; to the former especially his wholelife had been devoted, and every day showed his fidelity,simplicity, and affection. In going through the recordof his most pure, modest, honorable life, and living alongwith him, you come to trust him thoroughly, and feelthat here is a most loyal, affectionate, and upright soul,with whom you have been brought into communion.Can we say as much of the lives of all men of letters?Here is one at least without guile, without pretension,without scheming, of a pure life, to his family and littlemodest circle of friends tenderly devoted.And what a hard work, and what a slender reward! Inthe little domestic details with which the book abounds,what a simple life is shown to us! The most simple littlepleasures and amusements delight and occupy him. Youhave revels on shrimps; the good wife making the pie;details about the maid, and criticisms on her conduct;wonderful tricks played with the plum-pudding—all thepleasures centring round the little humble home. Oneof the first men of his time, he is appointed editor of aMagazine at a salary of 300L. per annum, signs himselfexultingly “Ed. N. M. M.,” and the family rejoice overthe income as over a fortune. He goes to a Greenwichdinner—what a feast and a rejoicing afterwards!—“Well, we drank ‘the Boz’ with a delectable clatter,which drew from him a good warm-hearted speech ….He looked very well, and had a younger brother alongwith him …. Then we had songs. Barham chanted aRobin Hood ballad, and Cruikshank sang a burlesqueballad of Lord H——; and somebody, unknown to me,gave a capital imitation of a French showman. Then we84