But sturdy Peter faced the matter out;

So they dismiss'd him, saying at the time:

"Keep fast your hatchway, when you've boys who climb

This allhis fears the verdict set aside,

And at the slave shop Peter still applied.

Then came a boy of of manners soft and mild,-
Our seamen's wives with grief beheld the child;
Passive ne labor'd till his slender frame

Bent with his loads and he at length was lame.(1) "At length he too disappeared, no more is known, the rest we must suppose," probability was that he died through Grimes' cruelty.

Homes.

Crabbe does not always paint such scenes of misery. His England was darkest England; yet there are some scenes less back than those we have just read.

We find pictures of English homes which be long to people of all ranks. First the cot of the industrious swain, entwined with woodbine. Inside the walls are

hung with pictures of Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette,

(1) Borough Letter, pp. 41-44.·

Charles I., Godiva, the stoutest ox in England fed, the boldest Jew White chapel bred, etc. Of books there is the Bible, bought by sixpence weekly saved, Bunyan's famed Pilgrim, Hermit Quarll, the Wandering Jew, Thumb the Great and Hick a thrift the strong. (1) A house in town inhabited by not very respectable people, is thus described:

Well as I might the parlour I perused:

The shutters helf unclosed, the curtains fell

Half down, and rested on the window-sill,

And thus, confusedly, made the room half visible:

Late as it was the little parlour bore

Some tell-tale tokens of the night before;

There were strange sights and scents about the room

Of food high season'd and of strong perfume

Two unmatch'd sufas ample rents disclos'd

Carpet and curtains were alike decay'd;

A large old mirror with once-gilded frame,
Reflected prints that I forbear to name,

Such as a youth might purchase-, but, in truth,
Not a sedate or sober minded youth;

(1) Parish Register, Crabbe II. 143-7.

1

The

cinders yet were sleeping in the grate,

Warm from the fire continued large and late,

As left by caseless folk, in their neglected state;

The chairs in haste seem'd whirl'd about the room,
As when the sons of riot hurry home. (1)

The parlours of these two maiden ladies one fancies are typical of many in England. They are totally unlike the room just noticed. There all was disorder, here all is order.

Within that fair apartment guests might see

The comforts cull'd for wealth by vanity;
Around the room an Indian paper blazed,

With lively tint, and figures boldly raised;
Silky and soft. Upon the floor below,

Th' elastic carpet rose with crimson glow;

All things around implied both cost and care,

What met the eye was elegant or rare;

Some curious trifles around the room were laid,

By hope presented to the wealthy maid;

Within a costly case of varnished wood,

In level rows, her polished volumes stood; (1) Crabbe VI. 151.