The Cricket on the Hearth: A Fairy Tale of Home

the end of time that she couldn't say which of them began it; but, I say the kettle did. I ought to know, I hope! The k

top of it, jerking away right and left with a scythe in front of a Moorish Palace, h

ess I were quite sure, on any account whatever. Nothing should induce me. But, this is a question of fact. And the fact is, that t

t word, but for this plain consideration-if I am to tell a story I must begin at the beg

skill, you must understand, between the kettle and the C

nd a good deal less, for they were tall and Mrs. Peerybingle was but short), she set the kettle on the fire. In doing which she lost her temper, or mislaid it for an instant; for, the water being uncomfortably cold, and in that slippy, slushy, sleety sort of state wherein it seems to penetrate

tle, on the hearth. It was quarrelsome, and hissed and spluttered morosely at the fire. To sum up all, the lid, resisting Mrs. Peerybingle's fingers, first of all turned topsy-turvy, and then, with an ingenious pertinacity deserving of a better cause, d

with an air of defiance, and cocking its spout pertly and mockingly at

ttle, laughing. Meantime, the jolly blaze uprose and fell, flashing and gleaming on the little Haymaker at the top of the Dutc

he clock was going to strike, were frightful to behold; and, when a Cuckoo looked out of a trap-door in the Palace, a

son; for these rattling, bony skeletons of clocks are very disconcerting in their operation, and I wonder very much how any set of men, but most of all how Dutchmen, can have had a liking to invent

indulge in short vocal snorts, which it checked in the bud, as if it hadn't quite made up its mind yet, to be good company. Now it was, that after two or three such vain attempts to st

cended a few feet, then hung about the chimney-corner as its own domestic Heaven, it trolled its song with that strong energy of cheerfulness, that its iron body hummed and stirred upon the fire; and the

and the rotten leaves are lying by the way; and, above, all is mist and darkness, and, below, all is mire and clay; and there's only one relief in all the sad and murky air; and I don't know that it is one, for it's nothing but a glare; of deep and angry crimson, where the sun and wind together; set a brand upon th

te to its size, as compared with the kettle; (size! you couldn't see it!) that if it had then and there burst itself like an overcharged gun, if it had fallen a v

through the house, and seemed to twinkle in the outer darkness like a star. There was an indescribable little trill and tremble in it, at its loudest, which suggested its being carried off its legs, and made to

verage crop of minutes; and looked out of the window, where she saw nothing, owing to the darkness, but her own face imaged in the glass. And my opinion is (and so would yours have been), that she might have looked a long way, and seen not

hum-m-m! Kettle not to be finished. Until at last they got so jumbled together, in the hurry-skurry, helter-skelter, of the match, that whether the kettle chirped and the Cricket hummed, or the Cricket chirped and the kettle hummed, or they both chirped and both hummed, it would have taken a clearer head than yours or mine to have decided with anything like certainty. But, of this, there is no doubt: that, the kettle and the Cricket, at one a

ng to the door, where, what with the wheels of a cart, the tramp of a horse, the voice of a man, the tearing in and out o

ms; and a pretty tolerable amount of pride she seemed to have in it, when she was drawn gently to the fire, by a sturdy figure of a man, much taller and

Mrs. P. 'What a state yo

ng in clots upon his eyelashes like candied thaw; and between th

rolled a shawl from about his throat; and warmed his ha

like it,' said Mrs. Peerybingle: pouting in a wa

a squeeze as his huge hand and arm could give. 'A dot and'-here he glanced at the baby-'a dot and carry-

rface, but so gentle at the core; so dull without, so quick within; so stolid, but so good! Oh Mother Nature, give thy children the true poetry of heart that hid itself in

ess, endeavouring to adapt his rude support to her slight need, and make his burly middle-age a leaning-staff not inappropriate to her blooming youth. It was pleasant to observe how Tilly Slowboy, waiting in the background for the baby, took special cognizance (though in her earliest teens) of this grouping; and stood with her mouth and eyes wide open, and her head thrust forward, taking it in as if it w

ohn? Don't he look pr

n. 'Very much so. He gene

! Good gra

g. 'I thought his eyes wa

ohn, how you

hed Carrier, 'is it? See how he's winking with both of 'em at once!

what little complaints children are troubled with, John! You wouldn't so much as know their names, you stupid fellow.' And when

uch about it. I only know that I've been fighting pretty stiffly with the wind to

ss it, I could smother it with kissing it, I could! Hie then, good dog! Hie, Boxer, boy! Only let me make the tea first, John; and then I'll help you with the p

. 'I was very near it once. But I sho

ttle laugh you ever heard. 'What a dear old d

general, and must be impartially distributed, dashed in and out with bewildering inconstancy; now, describing a circle of short barks round the horse, where he was being rubbed down at the stable-door; now feigning to make savage rushes at his mistress, and facetiously bringing himself to sudden stops; now, eliciting a shriek from Tilly Slowboy, in the low nursing-chair near the fire, by the unex

house. 'And there's the old knuckle of ham; and there's the butter; and there's the crusty loaf, and al

d fall under the grate,

ccasions, of some flannel vestment of a singular structure; also for affording glimpses, in the region of the back, of a corset, or pair of stays, in colour a dead-green. Being always in a state of gaping admiration at everything, and absorbed, besides, in the perpetual contemplation of her mistress's perfections and the baby's, Miss Slowboy, in her little errors of judgment, may be said to have done equal honour to her head and to her heart; and though these did less honour to the baby's head, which they were the occasion

trenuous exertions to do nothing at all (for he carried it), would have amused you almost as much as it amused him. I

slow way. 'It's merrier th

It always has done so. To have a Cricket on the

head, that she was his Cricket in chief, and he quite agreed with her

night when you brought me home-when you brought me to my new home

membered. I sh

seemed to say, you would be kind and gentle with me, and would not expect (I had a fea

would have said No, no; he had had no such expectation; he had been quite con

I am sure, the best, the most considerate, the most affectionate of husbands

,' said the Carri

ou had lost me, dear; its Chirp, Chirp, Chirp upon the hearth, has seemed to tell me of another little voice, so sweet, so very dear to me, before whose coming sound my trouble vanished like a dream. And when I used to fear-I did fear once, John, I was very young you know-that ours might prove to be an ill-assorted marriage, I being such a child, and you

ight learn to love you? How you talk! I had learnt that, long bef

face, as if she would have told him something. Next moment she was down upon her

w; and though they give more trouble, perhaps, still they pay as well; so we have no reas

ohn said. '

box? Heart alive, Joh

t's my belief that if you was to pack a wedding-cake up in a tea-chest, or a turn-up bedstead, or a pickled salmon k

hundredweights!' cried Dot, making a gr

John? Where

g on the other s

! My Goodn

e thought it!'

g on the floor and shaking her head at him,

nod

through and through, in her abstraction. Miss Slowboy, in the mean time, who had a mechanical power of reproducing scraps of current conversation for the delectation of the baby, with all the sense struck out of them, and all the nouns changed i

!' said Dot. 'Why, she and I were

er, perhaps, as she was in that same school time. He looked

Why, how many years older than yo

er took in four, I wonder!' replied John, good-humouredly, as he drew a chair to the round ta

with her foot, and never once looked, though her eyes were cast down too, upon the dainty shoe she generally was so mindful of. Absorbed in thought, she stood there, heedless alike of the tea and John (although he called to her, and rapped the table with hi

mehow the room was not so cheerfu

r had devoted to the practical illustration of one part of his favourite sentiment-certainly enjoying what

his knife and fork, and taking a long breath. '

ld gen

saw him. I've very nearly remembered him, twice, since I came in; but he

side the door, whither he had hu

ing into contact as she crossed the doorway with an ancient Stranger, she instinctively made a charge or butt at him with the only offensive instrument within her reach. This instrument happening to be the baby, great commotion and alarm ensued, which the sagacity of Boxer rather tended to increase; for, t

had stood, bareheaded and motionless, in the centre of the room; 'that I have half a mind to ask you where the other six are-

ell defined for an old man, and dark, bright, penetrating eyes, looked roun

ll over. In his hand he held a great brown club or walking-stick; and striking this upo

'That's the way I found him, sitting by the road

n the open

t dusk. "Carriage Paid," he said; and gave me e

ng, John,

e was only go

t till called for,' said the St

e pockets, and a book from another, and leisurely began to r

perplexity. The Stranger raised his head; and

hter, my g

return

said the

' roar

the Stranger. 'Su

ading. But, before he could have read two

y, y

ent to an answer in the affirmative,

ir

y!' roa

ery you

ine-ly! Considered, by the doctor, a remarkably beautiful chi-ild! Equal to the general run of children at five

soned, held up the Baby before him as a stubborn and triumphant fact; while Tilly Slowboy, with a melodious cry of 'Ketcher, Ketcher'-

ugh,' said John. 'There's somebo

a cheerful word or two with the Carrier, though he was no great talker himself. Being opened, it gave admission to a little, meagre, thoughtful, dingy-faced man, who seemed to have made himself a great-coat from the sack-cl

ening, Mum. Good evening, Tilly. Good evening, Unbe

'I am sure you need only look at the

only look at you for

seemed to be always projecting itself into some other time and place, no

aleb. 'Or at Tilly, as far as th

, Caleb?' aske

Arks at present. I could have wished to improve upon the Family, but I don't see how it's to be done at the price. It would be a satisfaction to one's mind, to make it clearer whi

oat he had taken off; and brought out, carefull

it with great care. 'Not so much

ghtened, as he took

the Carrier. 'Very d

to me, whatever it cost,' returned t

plied the Carrier

spelling out the direction. '"With Cash."

ier, looking over his shoulder

the Golden South Americas had lived, John. You loved him like a son; didn't you? You needn't say you did. I know, of course. "Caleb Plu

or could be!' cr

that she should never see the Dolls-and them a-staring at her, so

id John, 'if you inqu

rved the little man. 'It's your kind

said the Carrie

little while. 'To be sure. That's what I came for; but my head's

the Carrier. 'He's

oad going home, and it was ten to one he'd take me up. I had better go, by the bye.-You c

b! what a

ere's a small order just come in, for barking dogs; and I should wish to go

mplied the approach of some new visitor, Caleb, postponing his study from the life to a more convenient season, shouldered

ice to you. More of my service to your pretty wife. Handsomer every day! Better too,

nts, Mr. Tackleton,' said Dot, not with the bes

all abou

f to believe it,

rd struggle

er

rsuit of toy-making, he was a domestic Ogre, who had been living on children all his life, and was their implacable enemy. He despised all toys; wouldn't have bought one for the world; delighted, in his malice, to insinuate grim expressions into the faces of brown-paper farmers who drove pigs to market, bellmen who advertised lost lawyers' consciences, movable old ladies who darned stockings or carved pies; and other like samples of his stock in trade. In appalling masks; hideous, hairy, red-eyed Jacks in Boxes; Vampire Kites; demoniacal Tumblers who wouldn't lie down, and were perpetually flying forward, to stare infants out of countenance; his soul perfectly revelled. They were his only relief, and safe

which reached down to the calves of his legs, there was buttoned up to the chin an uncommonly pleasant fellow; and that he was about

arried. In spite of all this, he was going to be marr

t jerked over the bridge of his nose, and his hands tucked down into the bottoms of his pockets, and his whole sarcastic ill-conditioned self

last day of the first month in the year

d one eye nearly shut; and that the one eye nearly shu

ay!' said Tackleton,

ding-day too,' exc

on. 'Odd! You're just su

o be described. What next? His imagination would compass the p

Carrier with his elbow, and taking him a little apart. 'Yo

e boat?' inquir

ackleton, with another nudge. 'Come an

, astonished at this

ay of receiving an invitation. Why, for pl

ever sociable,' said

'Why, then, the truth is you have a-what tea-drinking people call a sort of a c

r,' interposed John. 'Wh

ur company will produce a favourable effect on Mrs. Tackleton that will be. And, though I don't think your good lady's very friendly to me, in this matter, still she can't h

goes) at home,' said John. 'We have made the promise to

y don't you kill that Cricket? I would! I always do. I hate their n

r Crickets, e

hey're quiet and contented, and couldn't be better off. I know their way. Whatever one woman says, another woman is determined to clinch, always. There's that spirit of emulation among 'em, sir, tha

y she don't, then?

on, with a short, shar

twinkled upon him over the turned-up collar of the cape, which was within an ace of poking it out, he felt it

ou're joking,'

rift of his meaning, eyed him in such a serious manne

eton to wit:' 'I have the humour, sir, to marry a young wife, and a pretty wife:' here he rapped his little finger, to express the Br

g her dimpled chin upon her hand, and watching the bright blaze. The Carri

n; 'and that, as I am not a man of sentiment, is quite eno

'that I should chuck any man out

ity of assent. 'To be sure! Doubtless you would. Of co

table and uncertain, in spite of himself.

ty, I see. You won't give us to-morrow evening? Well! Next day you go out visiting, I know. I'll meet

vessel. She had risen from her seat, and stood like one transfixed by terror and surprise. The Stranger ha

rier. 'Mary! Darling

ke-box, in the first imperfect recovery of his suspended presence of mind

pporting her in his arms. 'Are yo

nd, she covered her face with her apron, and wept bitterly. And then she laughed again, and then she cried again, and then she said

,' she said. 'I'm

hy turn her face towards the strange old gentlem

ething coming suddenly before my eyes-I don't

e eye all round the room. 'I wonder where it's gone, and what i

e, in all my life. A beautiful figure for a nut-cracker; quite a new m

nough,' sai

odel! Unscrew his head to put the matches in; turn him heels up'ards for the

on. 'Nothing in him at all! Come! Br

aid the little woman, waving hi

care how you carry that box, Caleb. Let it fall, and I'll murder

om, he went out at the door; followed by

aged in soothing and tending her, that he had scarcely been conscious of the

you see,' said John. 'I mu

,' he touched his ears and shook his head, 'renders almost indispensable, not having arrived, I fear there must be some mistake. The bad night which made the s

ried Dot. 'Ye

, surprised by the rap

ct; but, still I'm

interrupted.

stone deaf,

tainly. Yes! certainly! I'll mak

, and the agitation of her manner, were so strange that

Baby; 'and did its hair grow brown and curly, when its caps was li

self mentally repeating even these absurd words, many times. So many times that he got them by heart, and was still conning them over and over, like a lesson, when Tilly, af

ng by the fires. What frightened Dot, I wo

ad that painful sense, himself, of being a man of slow perception, that a broken hint was always worrying to him. He certainly had no intention in his mind of linking an

n, Dot-quite well again, she said, quite well again-arranged the great chair in the chimney-corner for

think she must have had a kind of notion th

o, affect to think that there was really something in the tube, and blow a dozen times, and hold it to her eye like a telescope, with a most provoking twist in her capital little face, as she looked down it, was quite a brillian

again, acknowledged it! The little Mower on the clock, in his unheeded work, acknowledged it! T

ading of his own rough image; newly-married Dots, alighting at the door, and taking wondering possession of the household keys; motherly little Dots, attended by fictitious Slowboys, bearing babies to be christened; matronly Dots, still young and blooming, watching Dots of daughters, as they danced at rustic balls; fat Dots, encircled and beset by troops of rosy grandchildren; withered Dots, who leaned on sticks, and tottered as they crept along. Old Carriers too, appeared, with blin

er stool, and which remained there, singly and alone? Why did it linger still, so ne

for it in all your husband's visions;