This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1866 edition. Excerpt: ..."thou art evidently disappointed, and I like the way thou essayest to be off without importuning me, therefore take these moulded tarts, and may they be a consolation to thee in thine adversity." As the worthy quaker said this, he opened a low drawer at the back of his counter, and taking therefrom a couple of ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1866 edition. Excerpt: ..."thou art evidently disappointed, and I like the way thou essayest to be off without importuning me, therefore take these moulded tarts, and may they be a consolation to thee in thine adversity." As the worthy quaker said this, he opened a low drawer at the back of his counter, and taking therefrom a couple of twopenny tarts, he placed them in my hand which I eagerly held out to him, and having resumed his seat and his paper, as I heartfully thanked him, I walked out of his door. Kind old Obediah! He knew not, nor cared to think, how much that simple act had touched my heart, and stamped that old brown, broad-brimmed hat, and that little tart shop indelibly in my memory and gratitude. Many a time I visited the latter afterwards, and many a sum I spent in it under very different circumstances from those which first introduced me to it; and even to this day, though occupied for a different purpose, and tenanted by others who probably know not who, or what was its former occupant, on whom the turf has now lain many a day, I never pass it without recalling the scene which I have now endeavoured to describe, kindly to my mind. I now joyfully, with the tarts in my hand, sought a quiet corner, removed from all shops, and where few passers-by were present, and there I gormandised the stale tarts that the good Quaker had bestowed upon me. They may have been a little moulded, as he hinted, but if so, the circumstance made little difference to me, for down my gullet they went with a relish that I do not remember fresher and even dearer sweets ever to have possessed since. My feast being finished, I now began to think of returning homewards; for I had by this time given up all hopes of obtaining employment in the way I had proposed to myself and...
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