 | The works of Washington Irving |  |
THE HISTORIAN.
Pray you sit by us,
And tell's a tale.
Mamilius.
Merry or sad shall't be?
Hermione.
As merry as you will.
Mamilius.
A sad tale's best for winter.
I have one of sprites and goblins.
Hermione.
Let's have that, sir,
Winter's Tale.
As this is a story-telling age, I have
been tempted occasionally to give the
reader one of the many tales that are
served up with supper at the Hall. I might,
indeed, have furnished a series almost
equal in number to the Arabian Nights;
but some were rather hackneyed and
tedious; others I did not feel warranted
in betraying into print; and many more
were of the old general's relating, and
turned principally upon tiger-hunting,
elephant-riding, and Seringapatam, enlivened
by the wonderful deeds of Tippoo
Saib, and the excellent jokes of Major
Pendergast.
I had all along maintained a quiet post
at a corner of the table, where I had
been able to indulge my humour undisturbed;
listening attentively when the
story was very good, and