DICKORY CRONKE(迪克雷·克龙克)

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DICKORY CRONKE

By Daniel Defoe

DICKORY CRONKE

PREFACE

The formality of a preface to this little book might have been very well

omitted, if it were not to gratify the curiosity of some inquisitive people,

who, I foresee, will be apt to make objections against the reality of the

narrative.

Indeed the public has too often been imposed upon by fictitious stories,

and some of a very late date, so that I think myself obliged by the usual

respect which is paid to candid and impartial readers, to acquaint them, by

way of introduction, with what they are to expect, and what they may

depend upon, and yet with this caution too, that it is an indication of ill

nature or ill manners, if not both, to pry into a secret that is industriously

concealed.

However, that there may be nothing wanting on my part, I do hereby

assure the reader, that the papers from whence the following sheets were

extracted, are now in town, in the custody of a person of unquestionable

reputation, who, I will be bold to say, will not only be ready, but proud, to

produce them upon a good occasion, and that I think is as much

satisfaction as the nature of this case requires.

As to the performance, it can signify little now to make an apology

upon that account, any farther than this, that if the reader pleases he may

take notice that what he has now before him was collected from a large

bundle of papers, most of which were writ in shorthand, and very ill-

digested. However, this may be relied upon, that though the language is

something altered, and now and then a word thrown in to help the

expression, yet strict care has been taken to speak the author's mind, and

keep as close as possible to the meaning of the original. For the design, I

think there is nothing need be said in vindication of that. Here is a dumb

philosopher introduced to a wicked and degenerate generation, as a proper

emblem of virtue and morality; and if the world could be persuaded to

look upon him with candour and impartiality, and then to copy after him,

the editor has gained his end, and would think himself sufficiently

DICKORY CRONKE

recompensed for his present trouble.

DICKORY CRONKE

PART I

Among the many strange and surprising events that help to fill the

accounts of this last century, I know none that merit more an entire credit,

or are more fit to be preserved and handed to posterity than those I am

now going to lay before the public.

Dickory Cronke, the subject of the following narrative, was born at a

little hamlet, near St. Columb, in Cornwall, on the 29th of May, 1660,

being the day and year in which King Charles the Second was restored.

His parents were of mean extraction, but honest, industrious people, and

well beloved in their neighbourhood. His father's chief business was to

work at the tin mines; his mother stayed at home to look after the children,

of which they had several living at the same time. Our Dickory was the

youngest, and being but a sickly child, had always a double portion of her

care and tenderness.

It was upwards of three years before it was discovered that he was

born dumb, the knowledge of which at first gave his mother great

uneasiness, but finding soon after that he had his hearing, and all his other

senses to the greatest perfection, her grief began to abate, and she resolved

to have him brought up as well as their circumstances and his capacity

would permit.

As he grew, notwithstanding his want of speech, he every day gave

some instance of a ready genius, and a genius much superior to the

country children, insomuch that several gentlemen in the neighbourhood

took particular notice of him, and would often call him Restoration Dick,

and give him money, &c.

When he came to be eight years of age, his mother agreed with a

person in the next village, to teach him to read and write, both which, in a

very short time, he acquired to such perfection, especially the latter, that

he not only taught his own brothers and sisters, but likewise several young

men and women in the neighbourhood, which often brought him in small

sums, which he always laid out in such necessaries as he stood most in

need of.

DICKORY CRONKE

In this state he continued till he was about twenty, and then he began

to reflect how scandalous it was for a young man of his age and

circumstances to live idle at home, and so resolves to go with his father to

the mines, to try if he could get something towards the support of himself

and the family; but being of a tender constitution, and often sick, he soon

perceived that sort of business was too hard for him, so was forced to

return home and continue in his former station; upon which he grew

exceeding melancholy, which his mother observing, she comforted him in

the best manner she could, telling him that if it should please God to take

her away, she had something left in store for him, which would preserve

him against public want.

This kind assurance from a mother whom he so dearly loved gave him

some, though not an entire satisfaction; however, he resolves to acquiesce

under it till Providence should order something for him more to his

content and advantage, which, in a short time happened according to his

wish. The manner was thus:-

One Mr. Owen Parry, a Welsh gentleman of good repute, coming from

Bristol to Padstow, a little seaport in the county of Cornwall, near the

place where Dickory dwelt, and hearing much of this dumb man's

perfections, would needs have him sent for; and finding, by his significant

gestures and all outward appearances that he much exceeded the character

that the country gave of him, took a mighty liking to him, insomuch that

he told him, if he would go with him into Pembrokeshire, he would be

kind to him, and take care of him as long as he lived.

This kind and unexpected offer was so welcome to poor Dickory, that

without any farther consideration, he got a pen and ink and writ a note,

and in a very handsome and submissive manner returned him thanks for

his favour, assuring him he would do his best to continue and improve it;

and that he would be ready to wait upon him whenever he should be

pleased to command.

To shorten the account as much as possible, all things were concluded

to their mutual satisfaction, and in about a fortnight's time they set forward

for Wales, where Dickory, notwithstanding his dumbness, behaved himself

with so much diligence and affability, that he not only gained the love of

DICKORY CRONKE

the family where he lived, but of everybody round him.

In this station he continued till the death of his master, which happened

about twenty years afterwards; in all which time, as has been confirmed by

several of the family, he was never observed to be any ways disguised by

drinking, or to be guilty of any of the follies and irregularities incident to

servants in gentlemen's houses. On the contrary, when he had any spare

time, his constant custom was to retire with some good book into a private

place within call, and there employ himself in reading, and then writing

down his observations upon what he read.

After the death of his master, whose loss afflicted him to the last

degree, one Mrs. Mary Mordant, a gentlewoman of great virtue and piety,

and a very good fortune, took him into her service, and carried him with

her, first to Bath, and then to Bristol, where, after a lingering distemper,

which continued for about four years, she died likewise.

Upon the loss of his mistress, Dickory grew again exceeding

melancholy and disconsolate; at length, reflecting that death is but a

common debt which all mortals owe to nature, and must be paid sooner or

later, he became a little better satisfied, and so determines to get together

what he had saved in his service, and then to return to his native country,

and there finish his life in privacy and retirement.

Having been, as has been mentioned, about twenty-four years a

servant, and having, in the interim, received two legacies, viz., one of

thirty pounds, left him by his master, and another of fifteen pounds by his

mistress, and being always very frugal, he had got by him in the whole

upwards of sixty pounds. This, thinks he, with prudent management, will

be enough to support me as long as I live, and so I'll e'en lay aside all

thoughts of future business, and make the best of my way to Cornwall, and

there find out some safe and solitary retreat, where I may have liberty to

meditate and make my melancholy observations upon the several

occurrences of human life.

This resolution prevailed so far, that no time was let slip to get

everything in readiness to go with the first ship. As to his money, he

always kept that locked up by him, unless he sometimes lent it to a friend

without interest, for he had a mortal hatred to all sorts of usury or

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DICKORYCRONKE1DICKORYCRONKEByDanielDefoeDICKORYCRONKE2PREFACETheformalityofaprefacetothislittlebookmighthavebeenverywellomitted,ifitwerenottogratifythecuriosityofsomeinquisitivepeople,who,Iforesee,willbeapttomakeobjectionsagainsttherealityofthenarrative.Indeedthepublichastoooftenbeenimposeduponbyfic...

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