Sketches by Boz - Penn State University

Sketches by Boznor is he so learned as the vestry-clerk, nor does he well,’ interrupts the overseer, taking a note of the address,‘I’ll send Simmons, the beadle, to-morrow morn-order things quite so much his own way as either ofthem. But his power is very great, notwithstanding; ing, to ascertain whether your story is correct; and ifand the dignity of his office is never impaired by the so, I suppose you must have an order into the House—absence of efforts on his part to maintain it. The beadle Simmons, go to this woman’s the first thing to-morrowof our parish is a splendid fellow. It is quite delightful morning, will you?’ Simmons bows assent, and ushersto hear him, as he explains the state of the existing the woman out. Her previous admiration of ‘the board’poor laws to the deaf old women in the board-room (who all sit behind great books, and with their hats on)passage on business nights; and to hear what he said to fades into nothing before her respect for her lacetrimmedconductor; and her account of what has passedthe senior churchwarden, and what the seniorchurchwarden said to him; and what ‘we’ (the beadle inside, increases—if that be possible—the marks of respect,shown by the assembled crowd, to that solemnand the other gentlemen) came to the determination ofdoing. A miserable-looking woman is called into the functionary. As to taking out a summons, it’s quite aboardroom, and represents a case of extreme destitution,affecting herself—a widow, with six small chil-parish. He knows all the titles of the Lord Mayor byhopeless case if Simmons attends it, on behalf of thedren. ‘Where do you live?’ inquires one of the overseers. heart; states the case without a single stammer: and it‘I rents a two-pair back, gentlemen, at Mrs. Brown’s, is even reported that on one occasion he ventured toNumber 3, Little King William’s-alley, which has lived make a joke, which the Lord Mayor’s head footman (whothere this fifteen year, and knows me to be very hardworkingand industrious, and when my poor husband friend, confidentially, was almost equal to one of Mr.happened to be present) afterwards told an intimatewas alive, gentlemen, as died in the hospital’—’Well, Hobler’s.4