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Marryat, Frederick, 1792-1848

"The Children of the New Forest"

What a beautiful boy
he is! I long to know his history. Sleep on, my poor fellow! it will
do you service."
Edward then returned to the other room, and recollected, or, rather,
was reminded, that he had had no supper, and it was now nearly dawn of
day. He looked into a cupboard and found plenty of provisions, and
some flasks of wine. "I have earned my supper," thought he, "and I
will not, therefore, deny myself." So ho brought out the viands and a
flask of wine, and made a hearty meal. "It is long since I have tasted
wine," thought he, "and it maybe long ere I drink it again. I have
little relish for it now: it is too fiery to the palate. I recollect,
when a child, how my father used to have me at the table, and give me
a stoup of claret, which I could hardly lift to my lips, to drink to
the health of the king." The memory of the king raised other thoughts
in Edward's mind, and he again sunk into one of his reveries, which
lasted till he fell into a slumber. When he woke up, it was at the
voice of the boy, who in his sleep had cried out "Father!" Edward
started up, and found that the sun was an hour high, and that he must
have slept some time. He gently opened the cottage door, looked at the
bodies of the two men, and then walked out to survey the locality of
the cottage, which he had but faintly made out during the night.


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