from the heap, and a shriveled pumpkin in the midst. The eyeholes were now lusterless; but the rudely carved gap, that just before had been a 565 mouth, still seemed to twist itself into a despairing grin, and was so far human.

2

"Poor fellow!" quoth Mother Rigby, with a rueful glance at the relics of her ill fated contrivance. "My poor, dear, pretty Feathertop! There are 570 thousands upon thousands of coxcombs' and charlatans in the world, made up of just such a jumble of worn out, forgotten, and good for nothing trash as he was! Yet they live in fair repute, and never see themselves for what they are. And why should 575 my poor puppet be the only one to know himself and perish for it?"e

So saying, Mother Rigby put the stem between her lips. "Dickon!" cried she, in her high, sharp tone, "another coal for my pipe!"

NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.

QUESTIONS FOR STUDY

(a) Line 70. What does this mean?

Is

(b) Line 404. Why idle and aristocratic? there any necessary connection between them? (c) Line 577. What does Mother Rigby mean by this?

1 Coxcombs, fops.

2 Charlatans, tricksters. 'Puppet, something moved and controlled by another.

Just what is Hawthorne satirizing in this story? Has Hawthorne succeeded in making his story of an impossible creature interesting to those who do not believe in witches?

What are the three most important moments in the movement of the story?

Does the very first sentence seize your attention better than a description of the witch?

How far do "clothes make the man"?
Do you know any "tailor made men"?

A RILL FROM THE TOWN PUMP

In reading this sketch try to imagine yourself a town pump, giving water to those needing it and making observations on the different thirsty visitors, and other things.

(SCENE THE CORNER

OF TWO PRINCIPAL STREETS.1 THE TOWN PUMP TALKING THROUGH ITS NOSE.)

Noon, by the North clock! Noon, by the East! High noon, too, by these hot sunbeams which fall, scarcely aslope, upon my head, and almost make the water bubble and smoke in the trough under my nose. Truly, we public characters have a 5 tough time of it! And, among all the town officers, chosen at March meeting, where is he that sustains,

1 Essex and Washington streets, Salem, Massachusetts, where Hawthorne lived.

for a single year, the burden of such manifold duties as are imposed, in perpetuity,' upon the Town 10 Pump? The title of "town treasurer" is rightfully mine, as guardian of the best treasure that the town has. The overseers of the poor ought to make me their chairman, since I provide bountifully for the pauper, without expense to him that 15 pays taxes. I am at the head of the fire department, and one of the physicians to the board of health. As a keeper of the peace, all water drinkers will confess me equal to the constable. I perform some of the duties of the town clerk, by promul20 gating2 public notices, when they are posted on my front. To speak within bounds, I am the chief person of the municipality,3 and exhibit, moreover, an admirable pattern to my brother officers, by the cool, steady, upright, downright, and impartial dis25 charge of my business, and the constancy with which I stand to my post. Summer or winter, nobody seeks me in vain; for, all day long, I am seen at the busiest corner, just above the market, stretching out my arms to rich and poor alike; and 30 at night, I hold a lantern over my head, both to show where I am, and keep people out of the gutters. At this sultry noontide, I am cupbearer to the

1 In perpetuity, for all time.

4

2 Promulgating, making known. It was common to tack public notices on the pump.

9 Municipality, town or city.

4 Constancy, faithfulness.

parched populace, for whose benefit an iron goblet. is chained to my waist. Like a dram seller on the mall, at muster day, I cry aloud to all and sundry, 35 in my plainest accents, and at the very tiptop of my voice: "Here it is, gentlemen! Here is the good liquor! Walk up, walk up, gentlemen; walk up, walk up! Here is the superior stuff! Here is the unadulterated ale of father Adam1- better than 40 Cognac, Hollands, Jamaica, strong beer, or wine of any price; here it is, by the hogshead or the single glass, and not a cent to pay! Walk up, gentlemen; walk up, and help yourselves!"

3

It were a pity if all this outcry should draw no 45 customers. Here they come. A hot day, gentlemen! Quaff, and away again, so as to keep your-. selves in a nice cool sweat.

You, my friend, will need another cupful, to wash the dust out of your throat, if it be as thick there 50 as it is on your cowhide shoes. I see that you have trudged half a score of miles today; and, like a wise man, have passed by the taverns, and stopped at the running brooks and well curbs. Otherwise, betwixt heat without and fire within, 55 you would have been burned to a cinder, or melted down to nothing at all, in the fashion of a jellyfish. Drink, and make room for that other fellow, who seeks my aid to quench the fiery fever of last

1 Water is often called " Adam's Ale." 2 Cognac, brandy.

4

3 Hollands, gin.

Jamaica, rum.

60 night's potations, which he drained from no cup of mine.

Welcome, most rubicund1 sir! You and I have been great strangers, hitherto; nor, to confess the truth, will my nose be anxious for a closer intimacy, till the 65 fumes of your breath be a little less potent. Mercy on you, man! the water absolutely hisses down your red hot gullet, and is converted quite to steam in the miniature tophet2 which you mistake for a stomach. Fill again, and tell me, on the word of 70 an honest toper, did you ever, in cellar, tavern, or any kind of a dramshop, spend the price of your children's food for a swig half so delicious? Now, for the first time these ten years, you know the flavor of cold water. Goodby; and, whenever you 75 are thirsty, remember that I keep a constant supply at the old stand.

Who next? Oh, my little friend, you are let loose from school, and come hither to scrub your blooming face, and drown the memory of certain 80 taps of the ferule, and other schoolboy troubles, in a draught from the Town Pump. Take it, pure as the current of your young life.

Take it,

and may your heart and tongue never be scorched with a fiercer thirst than now!

85 There, my dear child, put down the cup, and yield your place to this elderly gentleman, who

1 Rubicund, ruddy, red faced.

2 Tophet, a place defiled by burning sacrifice to heathen gods.