The Writing of the “Hambigoo-ous” Letter.

When Stephen Gaff approached his own cottage, he beheld¹ his wife belabouring the Bu’ster with both hands and tongue unmercifully. What special piece of mischief² Billy had been doing is not of much consequence. It is enough to state that he suddenly planted the heel of his naked foot somewhat effectively on his mother’s little toe, which chanced to be resting on a sharp stone at the moment, burst from her grasp, and rushed down the steep bank to the beach cheering, weeping, and laughing all at once, in a sort of hysterical³ triumph.

Mrs Gaff shouted at the top of her voice to the cherub⁴ to come back and get mauled; but the cherub declined the invitation until he heard his father’s voice, when he returned joyously⁵, and took shelter under his wing. Mrs Gaff, who could change at a moment’s notice from the extreme of anger to perfect quiescence⁶, contented⁷ herself with shaking her fist at the Bu’ster, and then relapsed from the condition of a fury into a quiet, good-looking dame⁸.

This appears to be the normal condition of fisher-folk, who would seem to require to make use of an excessive amount of moral and physical suasion in order suitably to impress their offspring.

“Now, Jess,” said Gaff, leading his son by the hand; “let’s set to work at once wi’ that there letter.”

“What’s all the hurry, Stephen?”

“I’ve just seed my old shipmate, Haco Barepoles, an’ it’s not unlikely he’ll be ready for sea day arter to-morrow; so the sooner we turn this little job out o’ hands the better. Come, Tottie, you’re a good girl; I see you’ve purvided the paper and ink. Get the table cleaned, lass, and you, Billy, come here.”

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