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Tis made of fir-tree, said he, I smell the turpentine. Theres a pimple on it, said she. Tis a dead nose, replied the inn-keeper. Tis a live nose, and if I am alive myself, said the inn-keepers, wife, I will touch it. I have made a vow to saint Nicolas this day, said the stranger, that my nose shall not be touched tillHere the stranger suspending his voice, looked up.Till when? said she hastily. It never shall be touched, said he, clasping his hands and bringing them close to his breast, till that hourWhat hour? cried the inn keepers wife.Never!never! said the stranger, never till I am gotFor Heavens sake, into what place? said sheThe stranger rode away without saying a word. The stranger had not got half a league on his way towards Frankfort before all the city of Strasburg was in an uproar about his nose. The Compline bells were just ringing to call the Strasburgers to their devotions, and shut up the duties of the day in prayer:no soul in all Strasburg heard emthe city was like a swarm of beesmen, women, and children, (the Compline bells tinkling all the time) flying here and therein at one door, out at anotherthis way and that waylong ways and cross waysup one street, down another streetin at this alley, out of thatdid you see it? did you see it? did you see it? O! did you see it?who saw it? who did see it? for mercys sake, who saw it? Alack oday! I was at vespers!I was washing, I was starching, I was scouring, I was quiltingGod help me! I never saw itI never touchd it!would I had been a centinel, a bandy-leggd drummer, a trumpeter, a trumpeters wife, was the general cry and lamentation in every street and corner of Strasburg. Whilst all this confusion and disorder triumphed throughout the great city of Strasburg, was the courteous stranger going on as gently upon his mule in his way to Frankfort, as if he had no concern at all in the affair talking all the way he rode in broken sentences, sometimes to his mule sometimes to himselfsometimes to his Julia. O Julia, my lovely Julia!nay I cannot stop to let thee bite that thistle- -that ever the suspected tongue of a rival should have robbed me of enjoyment when I was upon the point of tasting it. Pugh!tis nothing but a thistlenever mind itthou shalt have a better supper at night. Banishd from my countrymy friendsfrom thee. Poor devil, thourt sadly tired with thy journey!comeget on a little fastertheres nothing in my cloak- bag but two shirtsa crimson-sattin pair of breeches, and a fringedDear Julia! But why to Frankfort?is it that there is a hand unfelt, which secretly is conducting me through these meanders and unsuspected tracts? Stumbling! by saint Nicolas! every stepwhy at this rate we shall be all night in getting in To happinessor am I to be the sport of fortune and slanderdestined to be driven forth unconvictedunhearduntouchdif so, why did I not stay at Strasburg, where justicebut I had sworn! Come, thou shalt drinkto St. NicolasO Julia!What dost thou prick up thy ears at?tis nothing but a man, &c. The stranger rode on communing in this manner with his mule and Juliatill he arrived at his inn, where, as soon as he arrived, he alightedsaw his mule, as he had promised it, taken good care oftook off his cloak-bag, with his crimson-sattin breeches, &c. in itcalled for an omelet to his supper, went to his bed about twelve oclock, and in five minutes fell fast asleep. |
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