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Feathertop: A Moralized Legend
NomatterwhatFeathertopsaid,hiswordsfounddepthandreverberationinherear;nomatterwhathedid,hisactionwasheroictohereye.AndbythistimeitistobesupposedtherewasablushonPolly’scheek,atendersmileabouthermouthandaliquidsoftnessinherglance;whilethestarkeptcoruscatingonFeathertop’sbreast,andthelittledemonscareeredwithmorefranticmerrimentthaneveraboutthecircumferenceofhispipebowl.OprettyPollyGookin,whyshouldtheseimpsrejoicesomadlythatasillymaiden’sheartwasabouttobegiventoashadow!Isitsounusualamisfortune,sorareatriumph?
ByandbyFeathertoppaused,andthrowinghimselfintoanimposingattitude,seemedtosummonthefairgirltosurveyhisfigureandresisthimlongerifshecould.Hisstar,hisembroidery,hisbucklesglowedatthatinstantwithunutterablesplendor;thepicturesquehuesofhisattiretookaricherdepthofcoloring;therewasagleamandpolishoverhiswholepresencebetokeningtheperfectwitcheryofwell-orderedmanners.Themaidenraisedhereyesandsufferedthemtolingeruponhercompanionwithabashfulandadmiringgaze.Then,asifdesirousofjudgingwhatvalueherownsimplecomelinessmighthavesidebysidewithsomuchbrilliancy,shecastaglancetowardsthefull-lengthlooking-glassinfrontofwhichtheyhappenedtobestanding.Itwasoneofthetruestplatesintheworldandincapableofflattery.
