A RURAL NOVEL. BY MARTIN FARQUHAR TUPPER, AUTHOR OF "PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY." NEW-YORK: WILEY AND PUTNAM, 161 BROADWAY. 1845. THE CROCK OF GOLD. CHAPTER I. The Laborer: and his dawning Discontent. ROGER ACTON Woke at five. It was a raw March morning, still dark and bitterly cold, whilst at gusty intervals the rain beat in against the crazy cottage-window. Nevertheless, from his poor pallet he must up and rouse himself, for it will be open weather by sunrise, and his work lies two miles off; Master Jennings is not the man to show him favor if he be late, and Roger cannot afford to lose an hour: so, he shook off the luxury of sleep, and rose again to toil with a weary effort. "Honest Roger," as the neighbors called him, was a fair specimen of a class which has been Britain's boast for ages, and may be still again, in measure, but at present that glory appears to be departing: a class much neglected, much enduring; thoroughly English,-just, industrious, and patient; true to the altar, and loyal to the throne; though haply shaken somewhat now from both those noble faiths,-warped in their principles, and blunted in their feelings, by lying doctrines and harsh economies; a class,—I hate the cold cant term,— -a race of honorable men, full of cares, pains, privations,—but of pleasures next to none; whose life at its most prosperous estate is Labor, and in death we count him happy who did not die a pauper. Through them, serfs of the soil, the earth yields indeed her increase, but it is for others; from the fields of plenty they glean a scanty |