His cheerful temper, agreeable person, and
well-cultivated mind, rendered him the life and soul of the Hall;
nothing went on well without him. His occupations were various--his
tasks never ended; he read prayers--instructed the young gentlemen--shot
game for the larder, and supplied the cook with fish--had the charge of
the garden and poultry-yard, and was inspector-general of the stables
and kennels; he carved at dinner--decanted the wine--mixed the punch,
and manufactured puns and jokes to amuse his saturnine brother. When the
dessert was removed he read the newspapers to the old Squire, until he
dosed in his easy chair; and when the sleepy fit was over, he played
with him at cribbage or back-gammon, until the tea equipage appeared.
Then, he was an admirable cook, and helped his sister-in-law, with whom
he was an especial favorite, to put up pickles and preserves, and prided
himself upon catsup and elderberry-wine. He had always some useful
receipt for the old ladies; some pretty pattern for embroidery, or copy
of amatory verses for the young, who never purchased a new dress without
duly consulting Mr. Alfred as to the fashion of the material and the
becomingness of the color. Besides all these useful accomplishments, he
visited the poor when they were sick, occasionally acting as their
medical and ghostly adviser, and would take infinite pains in carrying
about subscriptions for distressed individuals, whom he was unable to
assist out of his own scanty funds.
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