You may
possibly remember, sir, her allusion to the use of the needle."
"Aye," cried the delighted trooper, "to mend the peddler's breeches."
Katy drew up in evident displeasure, and prompt to vindicate her
character for more lofty acquirements, she said,--
"'Twas not a common use that I put that needle to--but one of much
greater virtue."
"Explain yourself, madam," said the surgeon impatiently, "that this
gentleman may see how little reason he has for exultation."
Thus solicited, Katy paused to collect sufficient eloquence to garnish
her narrative. The substance of her tale was, that a child who had been
placed by the guardians of the poor in the keeping of Harvey, had, in
the absence of its master, injured itself badly in the foot by a large
needle. The offending instrument had been carefully greased, wrapped in
woolen, and placed in a certain charmed nook of the chimney; while the
foot, from a fear of weakening the incantation, was left in a state of
nature. The arrival of the peddler had altered the whole of this
admirable treatment; and the consequences were expressed by Katy, as she
concluded her narrative, by saying,--
"'Twas no wonder the boy died of a lockjaw!"
Doctor Sitgreaves looked out of the window in admiration of the
brilliant morning, striving all he could to avoid the basilisk's eyes of
his comrade.
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