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Cooper, James Fenimore, 1789-1851

"The Spy"

For some time the housekeeper
was occupied in finding out the word Matthew, in which she had no sooner
succeeded than she pointed out the word, with great complacency, to the
attentive Caesar.
"Berry well, now look him t'rough," said the black, peeping over the
housekeeper's shoulder, as he held a long lank candle of yellow tallow,
in such a manner as to throw its feeble light on the volume.
"Yes, but I must begin with the very beginning of the book," replied the
other, turning the leaves carefully back, until, moving two at once,
she lighted upon a page covered with writing. "Here," said the
housekeeper, shaking with the eagerness of expectation, "here are the
very words themselves; now I would give the world itself to know whom he
has left the big silver shoe buckles to."
"Read 'em," said Caesar, laconically.
"And the black walnut drawers; for Harvey could never want furniture of
that quality, as long as he is a bachelor!"
"Why he no want 'em as well as he fader?"
"And the six silver tablespoons; Harvey always uses the iron!"
"P'r'ap he say, without so much talk," returned the sententious black,
pointing one of his crooked and dingy fingers at the open volume.
Thus repeatedly advised, and impelled by her own curiosity, Katy began
to read.


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