 | Life and sayings of Mrs. Partington and others
of the family |  |
NAVES OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE.
“Well,” said Mrs. Partington, as Ike read the paragraph
from the Post that the decorators were at work
on the two naves of the Crystal Palace. She paused at
the “well” before she went further into it, and Ike
stopped reading to hear what she had to say, and chewed
up a part of the paper into spit-balls, which he amused
himself with by throwing at the old white-pine dresser in
the corner. “Well,” said she, — this is the same well we
left some time since, — “I am glad they are taking time
by the fire-lock and looking arter the knaves aforehand.
Knaves in the Christian parish, indeed! But they will
get in, the best that can be done. There 's many a one,
I dessay, in all parishes that has a sanctuary in his face,
but with the cloak of hypocrisy in his heart. Read on,
Isaac.”
And the old lady looked up at the black-framed
ancient picture of Susannah and the elders, and patted
her box reflectively.
| Life and sayings of Mrs. Partington and others
of the family | |