Мхи старой усадьбы
Feathertop: A Moralized Legend
"Mypoor,dear,prettyFeathertop!Therearethousandsuponthousandsofcoxcombsandcharlatansintheworld,madeupofjustsuchajumbleofwornout,forgotten,andgood-for-nothingtrashashewas!Yettheyliveinfairrepute,andneverseethemselvesforwhattheyare.Andwhyshouldmypoorpuppetbetheonlyonetoknowhimselfandperishforit?"
Whilethusmuttering,thewitchhadfilledafreshpipeoftobacco,andheldthestembetweenherfingers,asdoubtfulwhethertothrustitintoherownmouthorFeathertop’s.
"PoorFeathertop!"shecontinued."Icouldeasilygivehimanotherchanceandsendhimforthagaintomorrow.Butno;hisfeelingsaretootender,hissensibilitiestoodeep.Heseemstohavetoomuchhearttobustleforhisownadvantageinsuchanemptyandheartlessworld.Well!well!I’llmakeascarecrowofhimafterall.’Tisaninnocentandusefulvocation,andwillsuitmydarlingwell;and,ifeachofhishumanbrethrenhadasfitaone,’twouldbethebetterformankind;andasforthispipeoftobacco,Ineeditmorethanhe."
SosayingMotherRigbyputthestembetweenherlips."Dickon!"criedshe,inherhigh,sharptone,"anothercoalformypipe!"
