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Feathertop: A Moralized Legend
"Whathasgonewrong?"demandedthewitch."Didyondersnifflinghypocritethrustmydarlingfromhisdoor?Thevillain!I’llsettwentyfiendstotormenthimtillheoffertheehisdaughteronhisbendedknees!"
"No,mother,"saidFeathertopdespondingly;"itwasnotthat."
"Didthegirlscornmypreciousone?"askedMotherRigby,herfierceeyesglowingliketwocoalsofTophet."I’llcoverherfacewithpimples!Hernoseshallbeasredasthecoalinthypipe!Herfrontteethshalldropout!Inaweekhencesheshallnotbeworththyhaving!"
"Letheralone,mother,"answeredpoorFeathertop;"thegirlwashalfwon;andmethinksakissfromhersweetlipsmighthavemademealtogetherhuman.But,"headded,afterabriefpauseandthenahowlofself-contempt,"I’veseenmyself,mother!I’veseenmyselfforthewretched,ragged,emptythingIam!I’llexistnolonger!"
Snatchingthepipefromhismouth,heflungitwithallhismightagainstthechimney,andatthesameinstantsankuponthefloor,amedleyofstrawandtatteredgarments,withsomesticksprotrudingfromtheheap,andashrivelledpumpkininthemidst.Theeyeholeswerenowlustreless;buttherudely-carvedgap,thatjustbeforehadbeenamouthstillseemedtotwistitselfintoadespairinggrin,andwassofarhuman.
"Poorfellow!"quothMotherRigby,witharuefulglanceattherelicsofherill-fatedcontrivance
