Jacob Faithful Read online

  CHAPTER FIVE.

  MR. KNAPPS THINKS TO CATCH ME NAPPING, BUT THE PLOT IS DISCOVERED, ANDBARNABY BRACEGIRDLE IS OBLIGED TO LOOSEN HIS BRACES FOR THE SECOND TIMEON MY ACCOUNT--DRAWING CARICATURES ENDS IN DRAWING BLOOD--THE USHER ISUSHERED OUT OF THE SCHOOL, AND I AM NEARLY USHERED INTO THE NEXT WORLD,BUT INSTEAD OF BEING BOUND ON SO LONG A JOURNEY, I AM BOUND "'PRENTICETO A WATERMAN."

  Ignorant of what had passed, I slept soundly; and the next morning foundthe matron very grave with me, which I did not comprehend. The Dominiealso took no notice of my morning salute: but supposing him to be wraptin Euclid at the time, I thought little of it. The breakfast passedover, and the bell rang for school. We were all assembled; the Dominiewalked in with a very magisterial air, followed by Mr Knapps, who,instead of parting company when he arrived at his own desk, continuedhis course with the Dominie to his pulpit. We all knew that there wassomething in the wind; but of all, perhaps, I was the least alarmed.The Dominie unfolded his large handkerchief, waved it, and blew hisnose, and the school was into profound silence. "Jacob Faithful, drawnear," said he, in a tone which proved that the affair was serious. Idrew near, wondering. "Thou hast been accused by Mr Knapps ofcaricaturing, and holding up to the ridicule of the school, me--thymaster. Upon any other boy such disrespect should be visited severely;but from thee, Jacob, I must add in the words of Caesar, `_Et tuBrute_,' I expected, I had a right to expect, otherwise. _In se animiingrati crimen vitia omnia condit_. Thou understandest me, Jacob--guilty or not guilty?"

  "Not guilty, sir," replied I, firmly.

  "He pleadeth net guilty, Mr Knapps; proceed, then, to prove thycharge."

  Mr Knapps then went to his desk, and brought out the drawings withwhich he had been supplied by Barnaby Bracegirdle and the other boys."These drawings, sir, which you will please to look over, have all beengiven up to me as the performance of Jacob Faithful. At first I couldnot believe it to be true; but you will perceive, at once, that they areall by the same hand."

  "That I acknowledge," said the Dominie; "and all reflect upon my nose.It is true that my nose is of large dimensions, but it was the will ofHeaven that I should be so endowed; yet are the noses of these figureseven larger than mine own could warrant, if the limner were correct, andnot malicious. Still have they merit," continued the Dominie, lookingat some of them; and I heard a gentle _cluck, cluck_, in his throat, ashe laughed at his own mis-representations. "_Artis adumbratae meruitcum sedula laudem_, as Prudentius hath it. I have no time to finish thequotation."

  "Here is one drawing, sir," continued Mr Knapps, "which proves to methat Jacob Faithful is the party; in which you and Mrs Bately are shownup to ridicule. Who would have been aware that the candle went out inyour study, except Jacob Faithful?"

  "I perceive," replied the Dominie, looking at it through his spectacles,when put into his hand, "the arcana of the study have been violated."

  "But, sir," continued Mr Knapps, "here is a more convincing proof. Youobserve this caricature of yourself, with his own name put to it--hisown handwriting. I recognised it immediately; and happening to turnover his Cornelius Nepos, observed the first blank leaf torn out. Hereit is, sir, and you will observe that it fits on to the remainder of theleaf in the book exactly."

  "I perceive that it doth; and am grieved to find that such is the case.Jacob Faithful, thou are convicted of disrespect and of falsehood.Where is Simon Swapps?"

  "If you please, sir, may I not defend myself?" replied I. "Am I to beflogged unheard?"

  "Nay, that were an injustice," replied the Dominie; "but what defencecanst thou offer? _O puer infelix et sceleratus_!"

  "May I look at those caricatures, sir?" said I.

  The Dominie handed them to me in silence. I looked them all over, andimmediately knew them to be drawn by Barnaby Bracegirdle. The lastparticularly struck me. I had felt confounded and frightened with thestrong evidence brought against me; but this re-assured me, and I spokeboldly. "These drawings are by Barnaby Bracegirdle, sir, and not by me.I never drew a caricature in my life."

  "So didst thou assert that thou couldst not draw, and afterwardsprovedst by thy pencil to the contrary, Jacob Faithful."

  "I knew not that I was able to draw when I said so; but I wished to drawwhen you supposed I was able--I did not like that you should give mecredit for what I could not do. It was to please you, sir, that I askedfor the pencil."

  "I wish it were as thou statest, Jacob--I wish from my inmost soul thatthou wert not guilty."

  "Will you ask Mr Knapps from whom he had these drawings, and at whattime? There are a great many of them."

  "Answer, Mr Knapps, to the questions of Jacob Faithful."

  "They have been given to me by the boys at different times during thislast month."

  "Well, Mr Knapps, point out the boys who gave them."

  Mr Knapps called out eight or ten boys, who came forward. "Did BarnabyBracegirdle give you none of them, Mr Knapps?" said I, perceiving thatBarnaby was not summoned.

  "No," replied Mr Knapps.

  "If you please, sir," said I to the Dominie, "with respect to the leafout of my Nepos, the Jacob Faithful was written on it by me on the daythat you gave it to me; but the _fecit_, and the caricature of yourself,is not mine. How it came there I don't know."

  "Thou hast disproved nothing, Jacob," replied the Dominie.

  "But I have proved something, sir. On what day was it that I asked youfor the pencil to draw with? Was it not on a Saturday?"

  "Last Saturday week, I think it was."

  "Well, then, sir, Mr Knapps told you the day before that I could draw?"

  "He did; and thou deniedst it."

  "How, then, does Mr Knapps account for not producing those caricaturesof mine, which he says he has collected for a whole month? Why didn'the give them to you before?"

  "Thou puttest it shrewdly," replied the Dominie. "Answer, Mr Knapps,why didst thou, for a fortnight at the least, conceal thy knowledge ofhis offence?"

  "I wished to have more proofs," replied the usher.

  "Thou hearest, Jacob Faithful."

  "Pray, sir, did you ever hear me speak of my poor mother but withkindness?"

  "Never, Jacob, thou hast ever appeared dutiful."

  "Please, sir, to call up John Williams."

  "John, Number 37, draw near."

  "Williams," said I, "did you not tell me that Barnaby Bracegirdle haddrawn my mother flaming at the mouth?"

  "Yes, I did."

  My indignation now found vent in a torrent of tears. "Now, sir," criedI, "if you believe that I drew the caricatures of you and Mrs Bately--did I draw this, which is by the same person?" And I handed up to theDominie the caricature of my mother, which Mr Knapps had inadvertentlyproduced at the bottom of the rest. Mr Knapps turned white as a sheet.

  The Dominie looked at the caricature, and was silent for some time. Atlast he turned to the usher.

  "From whom didst thou obtain this, Mr Knapps?"

  Mr Knapps replied in his confusion, "From Barnaby Bracegirdle."

  "It was but this moment thou didst state that thou hadst received nonefrom Barnaby Bracegirdle. Thou hast contradicted thyself, Mr Knapps.Jacob did not draw his mother; and the pencil is the same as that whichdrew the rest--ergo, he did not, I really believe, draw one of them._Ite procul fraudes_. God, I thank thee, that the innocent have beenprotected. Narrowly hast thou escaped these toils, O Jacob--_Cum populoet duce fraudulento_. And now for punishment. Barnaby Bracegirdle,thou gavest this caricature to Mr Knapps; from whence hadst thou it?Lie not."

  Barnaby turned red and white, and then acknowledged that the drawing washis own.

  "You boys," cried the Dominie, waving his rod which he had seized, "yougave these drawings to Mr Knapps; tell me from whom they came."

  The boys, frightened at the Dominie's looks, immediately replied in abreath, "From Barnaby Bracegirdle."

  "Then, Barnaby Bracegirdle, from whom didst thou receive them?" inquiredthe Dominie. Barnaby was dumb
founded.

  "Tell the truth; didst thou not draw them thyself, since thou didst notreceive them from other people?"

  Barnaby fell upon his knees, and related the whole circumstances,particularly the way in which the Cornelius Nepos had been obtainedthrough the medium of Mr Knapps. The indignation of the Dominie wasnow beyond all bounds. I never had seen him so moved before. Heappeared to rise at least a foot more in stature, his eyes sparkled, hisgreat nose turned red, his nostrils dilated, and his mouth was more thanhalf open, to give vent to the ponderous breathing from his chest. Hiswhole appearance was withering to the culprits.

  "For thee, thou base, degraded, empty-headed, and venomous littleabortion of a man, I have no words to signify my contempt. By thegovernors of this charity I leave thy conduct to be judged; but untilthey meet, thou shalt not pollute and contaminate the air of this schoolby thy presence. If thou hast one spark of good feeling in thy pettyframe, beg pardon of this poor boy, whom thou wouldst have ruined by thytreachery. If not, hasten to depart, lest in my wrath I apply to theteacher the punishment intended for the scholar, but of which thou artmore deserving than even Barnaby Bracegirdle."

  Mr Knapps said nothing, hastened out of the school, and that eveningquitted his domicile. When the governors met he was expelled withignominy. "Simon Swapps, hoist up Barnaby Bracegirdle." Moststrenuously and most indefatigably was the birch applied to Barnaby, asecond time, through me. Barnaby howled and kicked, howled and kicked,and kicked again. At last the Dominie was tired. "_Consonat omne nemusstrepitu_" (for _nemus_ read schoolroom), exclaimed the Dominie, layingdown the rod, and pulling out his handkerchief to wipe his face."_Calcitrat, ardescunt germani coede bimembres_, that last quotation ishappy." [cluck, cluck.] He then blew his nose, addressed the boys in along oration--paid me a handsome compliment upon my able defence--provedto all those who chose to listen to him that innocence would alwaysconfound guilt--intimated to Barnaby that he must leave the school, andthen finding himself worn out with exhaustion, gave the boys a holiday,that they might reflect upon what had passed, and which they dulyprofited by in playing at marbles and peg in the ring. He thendismissed the school, took me by the hand, and led me into his study,where he gave vent to his strong and affectionate feelings towards me,until the matron came to tell us that dinner was ready.

  After this everything went on well. The Dominie's kindness andattention were unremitting, and no one ever thought of caballing againstme. My progress became most rapid; I had conquered Virgil, takenTacitus by storm, and was reading the Odes of Horace. I had passedtriumphantly through decimals, and was busily employed in mensuration ofsolids, when one evening I was seized with a giddiness in my head. Icomplained to the matron; she felt my hands, pronounced me feverish, andordered me to bed. I passed a restless night the next morning Iattempted to rise, but a heavy burning ball rolled as it were in myhead, and I fell back on my pillow. The matron came, was alarmed at mystate, and sent for the surgeon, who pronounced that I had caught thetyphus fever, then raging through the vicinity. This was the first timein my life that I had known a day's sickness--it was a lesson I had yetto learn. The surgeon bled me, and giving directions to the matron,promised to call again. In a few hours I was quite delirious--my sensesran wild. One moment I thought I was with little Sarah Drummond,walking in green fields, holding her by the hand. I turned round, andshe was no longer there, but I was in the lighter, and my hand graspedthe cinders of my mother; my father stood before me, again jumpedoverboard and disappeared; again the dark black column ascended from thecabin, and I was prostrate on the deck. Then I was once more alone onthe placid and noble Thames, the moon shining bright, and the sweep inmy hand, tiding up the reach, and admiring the foliage which hung indark shadows over the banks. I saw the slopes of green, so pure and sofresh by that sweet light, and in the distance counted the numerousspires of the great monster city, and beheld the various bridgesspanning over the water. The faint ripple of the tide was harmony, thereflection of the moon, beauty; I felt happiness in my heart; I was nolonger the charity-boy, but the pilot of the barge. Then, as I wouldsurvey the scene, there was something that invariably presented itselfbetween my eyes and the object of my scrutiny; whichever way I looked,it stood in my way, and I could not remove it. It was like a cloud, yettransparent, and with a certain undefined shape. I tried for some time,but in vain, to decipher it, but could not. At last it appeared tocohere into a form--it was the Dominie's great nose, magnified into thatof the Scripture, "As the tower which looketh towards Damascus." Mytemples throbbed with agony--I burned all over. I had no exact notionsof death in bed, except that of my poor mother, and I thought that I wasto die like her; the horrible fear seized me that all this burning wasbut prefatory to bursting out into flame and consuming into ashes. Thedread hung about my young heart and turned that to ice, while the restof my body was on fire. This was my last recollection, and then all wasblank. For many days I lay unconscious of either pain or existence:when I awoke from my stupor, my wandering senses gradually returning, Iopened my eyes, and dimly perceived something before me that cut acrossmy vision in a diagonal line. As the mist cleared away, and I recoveredmyself, I made out that it was the nose of Dominie Dobiensis, who waskneeling at the bed-side, his nose adumbrating the coverlid of my bed,his spectacles dimmed with tears, and his long grey locks falling oneach side, and shadowing his eyes. I was not frightened, but I was tooweak to stir or speak. His prayer-book was in his hand, and he stillremained on his knees. He had been praying for me. Supposing me stillinsensible, he broke out in the following soliloquy:--

  "_Naviculator larvus pallidus_--how beautiful even in death! My poorlighter-boy, that hath mastered the rudiments, and triumphed over theAccidence--but to die! _Levior puer_, a puerile conceit, yet I love it,as I do thee. How my heart bleeds for thee! The icy breath of deathhath whitened thee, as the hoar-frost whitens the autumnal rose. Whywert thou transplanted from thine own element? Young prince of thestream--lord of the lighter--`_Ratis rex et magister_'--heir apparent tothe tiller--betrothed to the sweep--wedded to the deck--how art thoulaid low! Where is the blooming cheek, ruddy with the browning air?where the bright and swimming eye? Alas where? `_Tum breviter diraemortis aperta via est_,' as sweet Tibullus hath it;" and the Dominiesobbed anew. "Had this stroke fallen upon me, the aged, the ridiculed,the little regarded, the ripe one for the sickle, it would have beenwell--yet fain would I have instructed thee still more before I quittedthe scene--fain have left thee the mantle of learning. Thou knowest,Lord, that I walk wearily, as in the desert, that I am heavily burdened,and that my infirmities are many. Must I then mourn over thee, thoupromising one--must I say with the epigrammatist--

  "`Hoc jacet in tumulo, raptus puerilibus annis, Jacob Faithful domini cura, doloroque sui?'

  "True, most true. Thou hast quitted the element thou so joyouslycontrolledst, thou hast come upon the terra firma for thy grave?

  "`Sis licet inde sibi tellus placata, levisque, Artifices levior non potes esse manu.'

  "Earth, lay light upon the lighter-boy--the lotus, the water-lily, thathath been cast on shore to die. Hadst thou lived, Jacob, I would havetaught thee the Humanities; we would have conferred pleasantly together.I would have poured out my learning to thee, my Absalom, my son!"

  He rose and stood over me; the tears coursed down his long nose fromboth his eyes, and from the point of it poured out like a littlerain-gutter upon the coverlid. I understood not all his words, but Iunderstood the spirit of them--it was love. I feebly stretched forth myarms, and articulated "Dominie!"

  The old man clasped his hands, looked upwards, and said, "O God, I thankthee--he will live. Hush, hush, my sweet one, thou must not prate;" andhe retired on tiptoe, and I heard him mutter triumphantly, as he walkedaway, "He called me `Dominie!'"

  From that hour I rapidly recovered, and in three weeks was again at myduties. I was now within six months of being fourteen years old, andMr Drummond, who had occasionally calle
d to ascertain my progress, cameto confer with the Dominie upon my future prospects. "All that I can dofor him, Mr Dobbs," said my former master, "is to bind him apprenticeto serve his time on the River Thames, and that cannot be done until heis fourteen. Will the rules of the school permit his remaining?"

  "The regulations do not exactly, but I will," replied the Dominie. "Ihave asked nothing for my long services, and the governors will notrefuse me such a slight favour; should they, I will charge myself withhim, that he may not lose his precious time. What sayest thou, Jacob,dost thou feel inclined to return to thy father Thames?"

  I replied in the affirmative, for the recollections of my former lifewere those of independence and activity.

  "Thou hast decided well, Jacob--the tailor at his needle, the shoemakerat his last, the serving boy to an exacting mistress, and all thoseapprenticed to the various trades, have no time for improvement; butafloat there are moments of quiet and peace--the still night forreflection, the watch for meditation; and even the adverse wind or tideleaves moments of leisure which may be employed to advantage. Then wiltthou call to mind the stores of learning which I have laid up in thygarner, and wilt add to them by perseverance and industry. Thou hastyet six months to profit by, and, with the blessing of God, those sixmonths shall not be thrown away."

  Mr Drummond having received my consent to be bound apprentice, wishedme farewell, and departed. During the six months the Dominie pressed mehard, almost too hard, but I worked for _love_, and to please him I wasmost diligent. At last the time had flown away, the six months had morethan expired, and Mr Drummond made his appearance, with a servantcarrying a bundle under his arm. I slipped off my pepper-and-salt, myyellows and badge, dressed myself in a neat blue jacket and trousers,and with many exhortations from the Dominie, and kind wishes from thematron, I bade farewell to them and to the charity-school, and in anhour was once more under the roof of the kind Mrs Drummond.

  But how different were my sensations to those which oppressed me when Ihad before entered. I was no longer a little savage, uneducated andconfused in my ideas. On the contrary, I was full of imagination,confident in myself, and in my own powers, cultivated in mind, and proudof my success. The finer feelings of my nature had been called intoplay. I felt gratitude, humility, and love, at the same time that I wasaware of my own capabilities. In person I had much improved, as well asmuch increased in stature. I walked confident and elastic, joying inthe world, hoping, anticipating, and kindly disposed towards myfellow-creatures. I knew, I felt my improvement, my total change ofcharacter, and it was with sparkling eyes that I looked up at thewindow, where I saw Mrs Drummond and little Sarah watching my returnand reappearance after an absence of three years.

  Mrs Drummond had been prepared by her husband to find a great change;but still she looked for a second or two with wonder as I entered thedoor, with my hat in my hand, and paid my obeisance. She extended herhand to me, which I took respectfully.

  "I should not have known you, Jacob; you have grown quite a man," saidshe, smiling. Sarah held back, looking at me with pleased astonishment;but I went up to her, and she timidly accepted my hand. I had left heras my superior--I returned, and she soon perceived that I had alegitimate right to the command. It was some time before she wouldconverse, and much longer before she would become intimate; but when shedid so, it was no longer the little girl encouraging the untutored boyby kindness, or laughing at his absurdities, but looking up to him withrespect and affection, and taking his opinion as a guide for her own. Ihad gained the _power of knowledge_.

  By the regulations of the Waterman's Company, it is necessary that everyone who wishes to ply on the river on his own account should serve as anapprentice from the age of fourteen to twenty-one; at all events, hemust serve an apprenticeship for seven years, and be fourteen years oldbefore he signs the articles. This apprenticeship may be served in anydescription of vessel which sails or works on the river, whether it bebarge, lighter, fishing smack, or a boat of larger dimensions, and it isnot until that apprenticeship is served that he can work on his ownaccount, either in a wherry or any other craft. Mr Drummond offered toarticle me on board of one of his own lighters free of all expense,leaving me at liberty to change into any other vessel that I might thinkproper. I gratefully accepted the proposal, went with him to Watermen'sHall, signed the papers, and thus was, at the age of fourteen, "_Bound'prentice to a Waterman_."