Мхи старої садиби

           Thathemightnotlackreadymoney,shegavehimacopperfarthingofBirminghammanufacture,beingallthecoinshehadabouther,andlikewiseagreatdealofbrass,whichsheappliedtohisforehead,thusmakingityellowerthanever.

           "Withthatbrassalone,"quothMotherRigby,"thoucanstpaythywayallovertheearth.Kissme,prettydarling!Ihavedonemybestforthee."

           Furthermore,thattheadventurermightlacknopossibleadvantagetowardsafairstartinlife,thisexcellentolddamegavehimatokenbywhichhewastointroducehimselftoacertainmagistrate,memberofthecouncil,merchant,andelderofthechurch(thefourcapacitiesconstitutingbutoneman),whostoodattheheadofsocietyintheneighboringmetropolis.Thetokenwasneithermorenorlessthanasingleword,whichMotherRigbywhisperedtothescarecrow,andwhichthescarecrowwastowhispertothemerchant.

           "Goutyastheoldfellowis,he’llrunthyerrandsforthee,whenoncethouhastgivenhimthatwordinhisear,"saidtheoldwitch."MotherRigbyknowstheworshipfulJusticeGookin,andtheworshipfulJusticeknowsMotherRigby!"

           Herethewitchthrustherwrinkledfaceclosetothepuppet’s,chucklingirrepressibly,andfidgetingallthroughhersystem,withdelightattheideawhichshemeanttocommunicate.

           "TheworshipfulMasterGookin,"whisperedshe,"hathacomelymaidentohisdaughter.Andharkye,mypet!Thouhastafairoutside,andaprettywitenoughofthineown.Yea,aprettywitenough!Thouwiltthinkbetterofitwhenthouhastseenmoreofotherpeople’swits.