child lay dying; the roses had fled from his cheek, and the light from

his eye; and even as the sexton looked upon him with an interest he

had never felt or known before, he died. His young brothers and

sisters crowded round his little bed, and seized his tiny hand, so cold

and heavy; but they shrank back from its touch, and looked with awe

on his infant face; for calm and tranquil as it was, and sleeping in rest

and peace as the beautiful child seemed to be, they saw that he was

dead, and they knew that he was an angel looking down upon, and

blessing them, from a bright and happy Heaven.

'Again the light cloud passed across the picture, and again the subject

changed. The father and mother were old and helpless now, and the

number of those about them was diminished more than half; but

content and cheerfulness sat on every face, and beamed in every eye,

as they crowded round the fireside, and told and listened to old stories

of earlier and bygone days. Slowly and peacefully, the father sank into

the grave, and, soon after, the sharer of all his cares and troubles

followed him to a place of rest. The few who yet survived them,

kneeled by their tomb, and watered the green turf which covered it

with their tears; then rose, and turned away, sadly and mournfully,

but not with bitter cries, or despairing lamentations, for they knew

that they should one day meet again; and once more they mixed with

the busy world, and their content and cheerfulness were restored. The

cloud settled upon the picture, and concealed it from the sexton's

view.

‘What do you think of THAT?’ said the goblin, turning his large face

towards Gabriel Grub.

Gabriel murmured out something about its being very pretty, and

looked somewhat ashamed, as the goblin bent his fiery eyes upon

him.

‘

‘ You miserable man!’ said the goblin, in a tone of excessive contempt.

You!’ He appeared disposed to add more, but indignation choked his

utterance, so he lifted up one of his very pliable legs, and, flourishing

it above his head a little, to insure his aim, administered a good sound

kick to Gabriel Grub; immediately after which, all the goblins in

waiting crowded round the wretched sexton, and kicked him without

mercy, according to the established and invariable custom of courtiers

upon earth, who kick whom royalty kicks, and hug whom royalty

hugs.

'‘Show him some more!’ said the king of the goblins.

'At these words, the cloud was dispelled, and a rich and beautiful

landscape was disclosed to view - there is just such another, to this

day, within half a mile of the old abbey town. The sun shone from out

The Pickwick Papers