A Leaf from Brown’s Sketch Book.
COMPANY ON BOARD THE RHINE BOAT.
AMONGST THEM WAS A TRAVELLING TUTOR, AND THREE YOUNG GENTLEMEN, HIS PUPILS. HE STOOD IN THE MIDST OF THEM SMILING BLANDLY, AN OPEN VOLUME IN HIS HAND, (PROBABLY A CLASSIC AUTHOR,) BETWEEN WHICH, AND HIS PUPILS, AND THE SCENERY, HE DIVIDED HIS ATTENTION IN ABOUT EQUAL PARTS. THERE WAS A SPECIMEN OF THE ENGLISH GRUMBLER, BIG, BURLY, AND AS IF IN DANGER OF CHOKING FROM THE TIGHTNESS OF HIS CRAVAT. EVERY ONE KNOWS HIM, HIS PLEASANT WAYS, AND HIS CONSTANT FLOW OF GOOD HUMOUR AND CHEERFULNESS; THAT IS HE, SITTING TO THE RIGHT. THERE WERE BESIDES, NUMEROUS YOUNG GENTLEMEN FROM THE UNIVERSITIES, FROM THE ARMY, FROM THE BAR, ALL WITH MORE OR LESS HAIR ON THEIR UPPER LIPS; AND THERE WAS A CAVALRY OFFICER OF THE RUSSIAN GUARD, AND A PROFESSOR, ON HIS WAY TO HEIDELBERG, AND LOOSE, DISHEVELLED, HAIRY, SMOKY YOUNG GERMANS, WITH LONG BEARDS, AND LONGER PIPES. AND THERE WAS A BRITISH NOBLEMAN, AND A BRITISH ALDERMAN, AND A BRITISH ALDERWOMAN; AND THERE WERE BRITISH LADIES WHOM I CAN’T DESCRIBE, BECAUSE THEY WORE THOSE “UGLY” THINGS WHICH PREVENT THEM BEING SEEN; INTELLIGENT YOUNG AMERICANS ON THEIR WAY ALL OVER THE WORLD; NUNS, WITH THEIR QUIET, HAPPY FACES; RED REPUBLICANS FROM FRANKFORT, AND SNOBS FROM LONDON.
THE GREAT BRITON.
AS HE STOOD CONTEMPLATING THE RHINE-LAND, WONDERING IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO LIVE IN THAT COUNTRY; AND CONSIDERING (SUPPOSING HE HAD ONE OF THOSE CASTLES, NOW) HOW MANY THOUSANDS A-YEAR ONE COULD DO IT WITH. THE SCENERY WOULD DO; AND WITH ENGLISH INSTITUTIONS IT MIGHT BE MADE A GOOD THING OF.
N.B. —HE LITTLE THINKS WHAT BROWN IS DOING.
EVEN THE NUN WAS NOT SAFE FROM BROWN. HE IS HERE SEEN TAKING HER OFF, IN A RAPID ACT OF SKETCHING.