Page:History of the sleeping beauty in the wood.pdf/23

23 servant, and it will be your part to use him well. Henceforward he shall be called Charles! and, wife, whenever you are asked by any of the neighbouring children why Worthy’s name is changed to Charles, tell the story of the two boys: they will then see how< differently it fares between a liar and a boy who tells truth.”

SOLEMN PROHIBITION

M W R, writer to the signet, Edinburgh, by way of protecting his property from midnight marauders, published thothe [sic] following handbill:—“Thou not steal! All persons whom it may concern are desired to take notice that steel traps, of thothe [sic] largest size, for catching breakers of the eighth commandment, are overyevery [sic] night placed in the garden of St. Bernard’s between Stockbridge and the Water of Leith, on the north side of the water; that spring-guns are set to rake the walls with shot upon tho touch of a wire, and that a tent, having in it an armed watchman, is pitched in the middle, with orders to fire without mercy. If therefore, any evil-disposed person or persons shall attempt to break into the grounds of St. Bernard’s, their blood be upon their own heads !—Amen.”

This soemedseemed [sic] very well for some time; but, at length, a suspicion arose that the arrangements were all of a fictitious nature, and the boys and blackguards of the city began to pick up their scattered courage. On learning that such was the state of matters, Mr. Ross adoptodadopted [sic] the strangest expedient that could perhaps have entered the head of a country gentleman. He procured a limb of a corpse from the Royal Infirmary, dressed it in a stocking, shoe and buckle, and sent it through the streets of the city with the public crier, proclaiming that it had been found last night in the grounds at St. Bernard’s, and that it would be restored to the owner on being properly vouched. The garden of St. Bernard’s was no more broken.