The Cricket on the Hearth: A Fairy Tale of Home

n the Story-books, for saying anything in this workaday world!-Caleb Plummer and his Blind Daughter lived all alone by themselves, in a lit

he street; but you might have knocked down Caleb Plummer's dwel

e been, no doubt, to commend its demolition as a vast improvement. It stuck to the premises of Gruff and Tacklet

er its crazy roof, the Gruff before last, had, in a small way, made toys for a generation of old

n enchanted home of Caleb's furnishing, where scarcity and shabbiness were not, and trouble never entered. Caleb was no sorcerer, but in the only magic

and true proportion of the dwelling, withering away. The Blind Girl never knew that ugly shapes of delf and earthenware were on the board; that sorrow and faintheartedness were in the house; that Caleb's scanty hairs were turning greyer and more grey, before her sightless face. The Blind Girl nev

ivation might be almost changed into a blessing, and the girl made happy by these little means. For all the Cricket tribe are potent Spirits, even though the people who hold converse with them do not know it (which is frequently the case); and there are

fitted on the most expensive scale, at a moment's notice, from whole shelves of chairs and tables, sofas, bedsteads, and upholstery. The nobility and gentry, and public in general, for whose accommodation these tenements were designed, lay, here and there, in baskets, staring straight up at the ceiling; but, in denoting their degrees in society, and confining them to their respective stations (which experience shows to be lamentably difficult in real life), the makers of these Dolls had far improved on Nature, who is often froward and perverse; for

e wheels went round, performed most doleful music. Many small fiddles, drums, and other instruments of torture; no end of cannon, shields, swords, spears, and guns. There were little tumblers in red breeches, incessantly swarming up high obstacles of red-tape, and coming down, head first, on the other side; and there were innumerable old gentlemen of respectable, not to say venerable, appearance, insanely flying over horizontal pegs, inserted, for the purpose, in their own street doors. There were beasts of all sorts; horses, in particular, of every breed, from the

work. The Blind Girl busy as a Doll's dressmaker; Caleb paintin

trivialities about him. But, trivial things, invented and pursued for bread, become very serious matters of fact; and, apart from this consideration, I am not at all prepared to say, myself, that if Caleb had been

ight, father, in your beautiful new

towards a clothes-line in the room, on which the sack-cloth

am you bough

aid Caleb. 'Quite a fashionabl

d from her work, and

r! What can be t

nd people say behind me, "Hal-loa! Here's a swell!" I don't know which way to look. And when the beggar wouldn't go away last night; and when I said I

How merry she was,

hands, 'as plainly, as if I had the eyes I n

blue,' s

radiant face; 'the colour I can just remember in the bless

the figure,'

'and in it, you, dear father, with your merry eye, your smiling fac

aid Caleb. 'I shall

l, pointing at him, in her glee. 'I know you, f

t. For years and years, he had never once crossed that threshold at his own slow pace, but with a footfall counterfeited for her

t himself and everything around him, for the love of his Blind Daughter. How could the little man be otherwise than bewilde

rth of halfpence is to sixpence. What a pity that the whole front of the house opens at once! If there was only a staircase in it, n

uite softly. You ar

of animation, 'what should tire me, Bert

, who were represented as in one eternal state of weariness from the waist upwards; and hummed a fragment of a song. It was a Bacchanalian song, something a

aid Tackleton, putting his head in

it. He hadn't what is generally t

'm glad you can. I hope you can afford to wo

e!' whispered Caleb. 'Such a man to joke! you'd think, if

irl smiled

' grumbled Tackleton. 'What about the owl that can't sing, and oughtn't

at this moment!' whispered Caleb

t-hearted with us!' cr

e you?' answered Tac

he founded the belief, I can't say whether c

how are you?' said Tackl

en you can wish me to be. As happy as you

Tackleton. 'No gleam

r cheek against it tenderly, before releasing it. There was such unspeakable affection and such fe

the matt

last night, and remembered it in my dreams. And when the

ngs, Bertha,' said poor Caleb, wit

lking, came into the room, I turned the little tree towards it, and blessed Heav

is breath. 'We shall arrive at the strait-wa

ly free agent, at that moment, required, on pain of death, to kick the Toy-merchant, or fall at his feet, according to his merits, I believe it would have been an even chance which course he would have taken. Yet, Caleb knew that with his own hands he h

suming, for the nonce, a lit

t to you! You needn't g

l you a secr

!' she answe

face! How adorned with l

's wife, pays her regular visit to you-makes her fantastic Pic-Nic here; an't i

d Bertha. 'Th

ackleton. 'I should li

ther!' cried the Blin

e fixed look of a sleep-walker; 'but I don't b

ittle more into company with May Fielding,' sai

the Blind Girl, s

! Married! Church, parson, clerk, beadle, glass-coach, bells, breakfast, bride-cake, favours, marrow-bones, cl

Blind Girl, in a gentl

the party, and to bring May and her mother. I'll send in a little something or other, before

she a

turned away; and so stood, w

ton, looking at her; 'for you seem to hav

I'm here, I suppose,

t forget what I've

d Caleb. 'It's one of the fe

swans,' observed the Toy-merch

remark, with infinite contempt,

er downcast face, and it was very sad. Three or four times she shook her head, as if bewa

a waggon by the summary process of nailing the harness to the vital parts of their

he dark. I want my eyes,

e more yours than mine, Bertha, any hour in the fou

d the room

leb. 'No sooner said

me abo

walls; the bright flowers on the plates and dishes; the shining wood, where there are be

emselves. But nowhere else, were cheerfulness and neatness pos

e not so gallant as when you wear the h

t,' answered Caleb.

his side, and stealing one arm round his neck,

indeed. It was quite a rare thing to Ca

ker than mine. Her voice is sweet and musical, I

ll the room to equal it,'

neck, and from the arm that clung about him, cam

en fell back upon the song about the sparkling bow

never tired, you know, of hearing about

answered Caleb, '

Caleb, though his motives were so pure, could not endure to meet her face;

volent, kind, and tender. Honest and true, I am sure it is. The manly heart that tries to cloa

' added Caleb, in hi

ed the Blind Girl. 'He is

tly. 'He's a little older tha

and sorrow; to know no weariness in working for his sake; to watch him, tend him, sit beside his bed and talk to him awake, and pray for him

of it,'

d saying so, she laid her poor blind face on Caleb's shoulder, and so wept and

ap, and hustled off to bed; where he simmered (so to speak) between two blankets for the best part of an hour. From this state of inaction he was then recalled, shining very much and roaring violently, to partake of-well? I would rather say, if you'll permit me to speak generally-of a slight repast. After which, he went to sleep again. Mrs. Peerybingle took advantage of this interval, to make herself as smart in a small way as ever you saw anybody in all your life; and, during the same short truce, Miss Slowboy insinuated herself into a spencer of a fashion so surprising and ingenious, that it had no connection with herself, or anything else in the universe, but wa

little of John, if you think that was necessary. Before you could have seen him lift her from th

h rendered them singularly liable to be grazed; and that she never effected the smallest ascent or descent, without recording the circumstance

and things, and the bottles of Beer?' said Dot. 'If you

ier, 'to be talking about turning round, after ke

ld not think of going to Bertha's-I would not do it, John, on any accoun

dressed to the horse, wh

' said Mrs. Peery

ed John, 'when I begin to leave things be

without the Veal and Ham-Pie and things, and the bottles of Beer, for any money. Regularly once a fortnight ever since we have been marrie

instance,' said the Carrier: 'and

rning very red, 'don't talk abo

ved the Carrier. 'T

ly, and instan

aight along the road before them. 'I can't make h

m-I'm sure there

am glad you feel so certain of it, because it's a confirmation to me. It's curious that he should have

he rejoined in a low v

reat deal about myself, and a rare lot of questions he asked me. I gave him information about my having two beats, you know, in my business; one day to the right from our house and back again; another day to the left from our house and back again (for he's a stranger and don't know the names of places about here); and he s

ohn? I-I was li

he look of your face, that I had gone rambling on so long, as to set

'How are you!' and indeed it was very often nothing else, still, to give that back again in the right spirit of cordiality, required, not merely a nod and a smile, but as wholesome an action of the lungs withal, as a

he most of itself in the air, immediately withdrew into remote back settlements, without waiting for the honour of a nearer acquaintance. He had business everywhere; going down all the turnings, looking into all the wells, bolting in and out of all the cottages, dashing into the midst of all the Dame-Schools, fluttering all the pigeons,

ls, that it was as good as a play. Likewise, there were articles to carry, which required to be considered and discussed, and in reference to the adjustment and disposition of which, councils had to be holden by the Carrier and the senders: at which Boxer usually assisted, in short fits of the closest attention, and long fits of tearing round and round the assembled sages and barking himself hoarse. Of all these little incidents, Dot w

r she deemed sitting in a cart, on any terms, to be the highest point of human joys; the crowning circumstance of earthly hopes. Not the Baby, I'll be sworn; fo

ntion of the unexpected shapes in which the trees themselves came starting out of the mist, and glided into it again. The hedges were tangled and bare, and waved a multitude of blighted garlands in the wind; but there was no discouragement in this. It was agreeable to contemplate; for it made the fireside warmer in possession, and the summer greener in expectancy. The river looked chill

of the smoke 'getting up her nose,' Miss Slowboy choked-she could do anything of that sort, on the smallest provocation-and woke the Baby, who wouldn't go to sleep again. But, Boxer, who was in advance some quarter of a mile or

ariably. What experience he could ever have had of blind people or blind dogs, I don't know. He had never lived with a blind master; nor had Mr. Boxer the elder, nor Mrs. Boxer, nor any of his respectable family on either side, ever been visited with blindness, that I

of having once been better off, or of labouring under an impression that she might have been, if something had happened which never did happen, and seemed to have never been particularly likely to come to pass-but it's all the same-was very g

ed Dot, running up to meet her

ally was, if you'll believe me, quite a pleasant sight to see them embra

rdly to deserve the high opinion you have had of it. Now, this was not at all the case, either with Dot or May; for May's face set off Dot's, and Dot's face set off May's, so naturall

alled them; which were chiefly nuts and oranges, and cakes, and such small deer. When the repast was set forth on the board, flanked by Caleb's contribution, which was a great wooden bowl of smoking potatoes (he was prohibited, by solemn compact, from producing any other viands), Tacklet

re of the bottom of the table. Miss Slowboy was isolated, for the time being, from every article of f

all in full action) showed especial interest in the party, pausing occasionally before leaping, as if they were listening to the conversation, a

n couldn't get on at all; and the more cheerful his intended bride became in Dot's society, the less he liked it, though he had brought them together for that purpose.

at changes! To talk of those merry

arly old, at any time;

re,' returned Dot. 'He adds twenty yea

' John

ow,' said Dot, laughing. 'But she can't be much les

m, that laugh though. And he looked as if h

choose. I don't know how young, and how handsome, and how gay, and how lively, mine was not to be! An

for the colour flushed into her

ht how things would come about. I never fixed on John I'm sure; I never so much as thought of him. And if

he certainly didn't say no,

ybingle laughed too, in his ordinary good-natured and contente

hat. You couldn't resist us, you see,' s

r gay young br

mong us at this moment, would not believe we were the same creatures; would not believe that what t

aimed the Carrie

or he merely interfered, as he supposed, to shield old Tackleton; but it proved effectual, for she stopped, and said no more. There was an uncommon agita

ackleton she said, That he was in a moral point of view an undeniable individual, and That he was in an eligible point of view a son-in-law to be desired, no one in their senses could doubt. (She was very emphatic here.) With regard to the family into which he was so soon about, after some solicitation, to be admitted, she believed Mr. Tackleton knew that, although reduced in purse, it had some pretensions to gentility; and if certain circumstances, not wholly unconnected, she would go so far as to say, with the Indigo Trade, but to which she would not more particularly refer, had happened differently, it might perhaps have been in possession of wealth. She then remarked that she would not allude to the past, and would not mention

he conversation, and diverted the general attention to the Veal and Ham-Pie, the cold mutton, the potatoes, and the tart. In order that the bottled beer mi

ive miles farther on; and when he returned in the evening, he called for Dot, and took another rest on his

ur to the toast. One of these was Dot, too flushed and discomposed to adapt herself to any small occ

pulling on his dreadnought coat. 'I sha

John,' retu

me unconscious manner; for he stood observing Bertha with a

eposited asleep (and strange to say, without damage) in a little cot of Bertha's furnishing; 'good bye! Time will come, I suppose, when you'll t

ohn!' she sa

arrier, clapping his soundin

orgot the

ch a wonder ever heard

it directly. I

ugh to have come out easily, I am sure), and bungled terribly. The filling of the pipe and lighting it, those little offices in which I have commended her discretion, were vilely done, from first to last. During the whole process, Tackleton stoo

afternoon!' said John. 'I could have d

oxer, and the old horse, and the cart, making lively music down the road. What time the d

anged you are, my darling, in a few hours-since this mor

e Blind Girl, bursting into t

across his eyes be

py you have been, Bertha! How good,

dear father! Always so mindfu

uch perplexed to

my poor dear,' he faltered,

might know what it is I treasure up,' she laid her hands upon her breast, 'and hold here! That I might be sure and have it right! And sometimes (but then I was a child) I have wept in my prayers at night, to thi

ill again,'

ith me, if I am wicked!' said the Blind Girl. '

st eyes overflow; she was so earnest and pa

cannot hold it closed and shut with

tated, and said,

ly towards her, touched her on the arm. The Blind G

said Bertha. 'Read it with your beautiful ey

Bertha

sightless face, down which the tears were

n when we two were children, or when Bertha was as much a child as ever blindness can be! Every blessing on your head! Light upon your happy course! Not the less, my dear May;' and she drew towards her, in a closer grasp; 'not the less, my bird, because, to-day, the knowledge that you are to be His wife has

ingled supplication and love. Sinking lower and lower down, as she proceeded in her strange confess

one blow with the truth, 'have I deceived her

er you may learn to hate her, in good time-it was well for all of them, I say, that she was there: or where this would have ende

eady; and how good it is of her to mind us,' said the cheery little woman, kissing her upon the forehead.

and his Bertha away, that they might comfort and console each other, as she knew they only could, she presently came bouncing back,-the saying is, as fresh as any

ave it in my lap, here's Mrs. Fielding, Tilly, will tell me all about the management of Babie

and furthermore, of two or three people having been talking together at a distance, for two minutes, leaving her to her own resources; was quite enough to have put her on her dignity, and the bewailment of that mysterious convulsion in the Indigo trade, for four-and-twenty hours. But this becoming deference to her experience, on the part of the young mother, was so

ways, found it a very short afternoon. Then, as it grew dark, and as it was a solemn part of this Institution of the Pic-Nic that she should perform all Bertha's household tasks, she trimmed the fire, and swept the hearth, and set the tea-board out, and drew the curtain, and lighted a candle. Then she played an air or two on a rude kin

t, poor fellow, being anxious and remorseful for his daughter. It was touching to see him sitting idle on his working-stool

se in putting it off-when the time drew nigh for expecting the Carrier's return in every sound of distant wheels, her manner changed again, her colour cam

a dog. The gradual approach of all the soun

hat!' cried Bert

the portal, with his brown face ruddy as a win

id Bertha. 'The man'

d the Carrier, laughing. 'Come along

and as he spoke, the de

en't seen him once, Caleb,' said the Carri

hn, and take i

hn. 'I have reasonable good lungs, but he tries 'em, I can te

bout his lungs, he added in his natural tone, 'A chair in the chimney-corner, and leave to

n a low voice, to describe their visitor. When he had done so (truly now; with scrupulous fidelity), she move

good fellow that he was, and fo

ling her with his rough arm, as she stood, removed from

man. She looked down

d the Carrier. 'Talked of nothing else, the whole way

ohn,' she said, with an uneasy glance

k shawl, off with the heavy wrappers! and a cosy half-hour by the fire! My humble service, Mistress. A game at crib

his shoulder at his hand, and advise him on some knotty point. But his adversary being a rigid disciplinarian, and subject to an occasional weakness in respect of pegging more than she was entitled to, required such vigilance on

isturb you-but a

' returned the Carr

Tackleton. 'Co

made the other rise immediately, and a

m sorry for this. I am indeed. I have been afr

the Carrier, with

w you, if you'l

into Tackleton's own counting-house, where there was a glass window, commanding the ware-room, which was closed for the night. There

'Can you bear to look throug

returned

ence. It's of no use. It's dangerous too. You're a stro

oiled a step as if he had been struck. In o

th! Oh truthful Crick

he bent his head to whisper in her ear; and suffering him to clasp her round the waist, as they moved slowly down the dim wooden gallery towards the door by which they had entered it. He saw them stop

g it immediately again, he spread it out before the eyes of Tackleton (for he was tender of he

with his horse and parcels, when she cam

Good night, May! G

rting? Could she venture to reveal her face to them without a b

e crossed and re-crossed Tackleton

ng its hearts almost to breaking; and did its fathers dec

Good night, Mr. Tackleton. Wh

e horse's head,' said Tacklet

ohn. Walk?

little nurse being in their places, the old horse moved off. Boxer, the unconscious Boxer, running on b

the fire beside his daughter; anxious and remorseful at the core; and still saying in his wist

eyes and nostrils, the old gentlemen at the street-doors, standing half doubled up upon their failing knees and ankles, the wry-faced nut-crackers, the very Beasts upon their way into the Ark, in