Chapter I: Front Matter

THE

COMPLETE PROSE WORKS

OF

MARTIN FARQUHAR TUPPER, ESQ.

COMPRISING

THE CROCK OF GOLD,

THE TWINS,

AN AUTHOR'S MIND,

HEART,

PROBABILITIES, ETC.

REVISED EXPRESSLY FOR THIS EDITION BY W. C. ARMSTRONG.

HARTFORD: PUBLISHED BY SILAS ANDRUS & SON 1851.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Transcriber's Note: Obvious printer errors have been corrected. This | |omnibus edition consists of four separately published works which | |contain many inconsistencies. These are as in the originals. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

PUBLISHERS' PREFACE.

Mr. Tupper has achieved a popularity for his works, which has rarely been enjoyed by any one at so early a period of life; he being now only between thirty-five and forty years of age. Where all are so intrinsically valuable, it is difficult to determine which particular work has contributed most to his rapid and enviable advancement; yet, were an award indispensable, we should feel constrained to make it in favour of his '_Proverbial Philosophy_.' It is one of those unique productions which commends itself to all classes of readers, and from the perusal of which _all_ cannot but derive substantial means of improvement. Familiar truths are so cogently treated therein, as to leave an indelible impression upon the mind, which could not, perhaps, have been so thoroughly made in any other manner; and the "thoughts and arguments" may be perused and rëperused with an advantage but few other writings are capable of yielding.

The rapid and extensive sale of several editions, issued in other places--some of them of rather an indifferent character, as regards mechanical execution--and the increasing demand still manifested for them, has induced the present publishers to collect the entire works of Mr. Tupper, and to stereotype them in a style worthy of their excellence. Each work has been thoroughly revised, and the errors which disfigure some other editions have been carefully corrected--an advantage readily appreciable by those who discriminate in their selections for the library or the centre-table.

* * * * *

THE

CROCK OF GOLD;

A RURAL NOVEL.

BY

MARTIN FARQUHAR TUPPER, ESQ., M.A.,

AUTHOR OF

"PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY."

* * * * *

CONTENTS.

CHAP. PAGE.

1. The Labourer; and his Dawning Discontent 11

2. The Family; the Home; and more Repinings 14

3. The Contract 17

4. The Lost Theft 21

5. The Inquest 23

6. The Bailiff; and a Bitter Trial 27

7. Wrongs and Ruin 32

8. The Covetous Dream 35

9. The Poacher 38

10. Ben Burke's Strange Adventure 41

11. Sleep 45

12. Love 48

13. The Discovery 52

14. Jonathan's Store 56

15. Another Discovery, and the Earnest of Good Things 58

16. How the Home was blessed thereby 62

17. Care 65

18. Investment 68

19. Calumny 72

20. The Bailiff's Visit 74

21. The Capture 77

22. The Aunt and her Nephew 80

23. Schemes 83

24. The Devil's Counsel 87

25. The Ambuscade 89

26. Preliminaries 92

27. Robbery 95

28. Murder 96

29. The Reward 97

30. Second Thoughts 100

31. Mammon; and Contentment 102

32. Next Morning 104

33. The Alarm 106

34. Doubts 108

35. Fears 109

36. Prison Comforts 111

37. Good Counsel 113

38. Experience 114

39. Jonathan's Troth 115

40. Suspicions 118

41. Grace's Alternative 119

42. The Dismissal 122

43. Simon alone 124

44. The Trial 127

45. Roger's Defence 129

46. The Witness 130

47. Mr. Sharp's Advocacy 133

48. Sentence and Death 140

49. Righteous Mammon 143

50. The Crock a Blessing 144

51. Popularity 147

52. Roger at the Swan 149

53. Roger's Triumph 151

54. Sir John's Parting Speech 152