Onedayabenevolentphysicianwhohadreadthebookshavingfoundastraypoodlesufferingfromabrokenleg，conveyedthepoorcreaturetohishome，andaftersettingandbandagingtheinjuredlimbgavethelittleoutcastitslibertyagain，andthoughtnomoreaboutthematter。
Buthowgreatwashissurprise，uponopeninghisdooronemorning，somedayslater，tofindthegratefulpoodlepatientlywaitingthere，andinitscompanyanotherstraydog，oneofwhoselegs，bysomeaccident，hadbeenbroken。Thekindphysicianatoncerelievedthedistressedanimal，nordidheforgettoadmiretheinscrutablegoodnessandmercyofGod，whohadbeenwillingtousesohumbleaninstrumentasthepooroutcastpoodlefortheinculcatingof，etc。，etc。，etc。
SEQUEL
Thenextmorningthebenevolentphysicianfoundthetwodogs，beamingwithgratitude，waitingathisdoor，andwiththemtwootherdogs-cripples。Thecrippleswerespeedilyhealed，andthefourwenttheirway，leavingthebenevolentphysicianmoreovercomebypiouswonderthanever。Thedaypassed，themorningcame。Thereatthedoorsatnowthefourreconstructeddogs，andwiththemfourothersrequiringreconstruction。Thisdayalsopassed，andanothermorningcame；andnowsixteendogs，eightofthemnewlycrippled，occupiedthesidewalk，andthepeopleweregoingaround。Bynoonthebrokenlegswereallset，butthepiouswonderinthegoodphysician'sbreastwasbeginningtogetmixedwithinvoluntaryprofanity。Thesunroseoncemore，andexhibitedthirty-twodogs，sixteenofthemwithbrokenlegs，occupyingthesidewalkandhalfofthestreet；thehumanspectatorstookuptherestoftheroom。Thecriesofthewounded，thesongsofthehealedbrutes，andthecommentsoftheonlookingcitizensmadegreatandinspiringcheer，buttrafficwasinterruptedinthatstreet。Thegoodphysicianhiredacoupleofassistantsurgeonsandgotthroughhisbenevolentworkbeforedark，firsttakingtheprecautiontocancelhischurch-membership，sothathemightexpresshimselfwiththelatitudewhichthecaserequired。
Butsomethingshavetheirlimits。Whenoncemorethemorningdawned，andthegoodphysicianlookedoutuponamassedandfar-reachingmultitudeofclamorousandbeseechingdogs，hesaid，"Imightaswellacknowledgeit，Ihavebeenfooledbythebooks；theyonlytelltheprettypartofthestory，andthenstop。Fetchmetheshotgun；thisthinghasgonealongfarenough。"
Heissuedforthwithhisweapon，andchancedtostepuponthetailoftheoriginalpoodle，whopromptlybithimintheleg。Nowthegreatandgoodworkwhichthispoodlehadbeenengagedinhadengenderedinhimsuchamightyandaugmentingenthusiasmastoturnhisweakheadatlastanddrivehimmad。Amonthlater，whenthebenevolentphysicianlayinthedeath-throesofhydrophobia，hecalledhisweepingfriendsabouthim，andsaid:
"Bewareofthebooks。Theytellbuthalfofthestory。Wheneverapoorwretchasksyouforhelp，andyoufeeladoubtastowhatresultmayflowfromyourbenevolence，giveyourselfthebenefitofthedoubtandkilltheapplicant。"
Andsosayingheturnedhisfacetothewallandgaveuptheghost。
THEBENEVOLENTAUTHOR
Apoorandyoungliterarybeginnerhadtriedinvaintogethismanuscriptsaccepted。Atlast，whenthehorrorsofstarvationwerestaringhimintheface，helaidhissadcasebeforeacelebratedauthor，beseechinghiscounselandassistance。Thisgenerousmanimmediatelyputasidehisownmattersandproceededtoperuseoneofthedespisedmanuscripts。Havingcompletedhiskindlytask，heshookthepooryoungmancordiallybythehand，saying，"Iperceivemeritinthis；comeagaintomeonMonday。"Atthetimespecified，thecelebratedauthor，withasweetsmile，butsayingnothing，spreadopenamagazinewhichwasdampfromthepress。Whatwasthepooryoungman'sastonishmenttodiscoverupontheprintedpagehisownarticle。"HowcanIever，"saidhe，fallinguponhiskneesandburstingintotears，"testifymygratitudeforthisnobleconduct!"
ThecelebratedauthorwastherenownedSnodgrass；thepooryoungbeginnerthusrescuedfromobscurityandstarvationwastheafterwardequallyrenownedSnagsby。Letthispleasingincidentadmonishustoturnacharitableeartoallbeginnersthatneedhelp。
SEQUEL
ThenextweekSnagsbywasbackwithfiverejectedmanuscripts。Thecelebratedauthorwasalittlesurprised，becauseinthebookstheyoungstrugglerhadneededbutonelift，apparently。However，heplowedthroughthesepapers，removingunnecessaryflowersanddiggingupsomeacresofadjectivestumps，andthensucceededingettingtwoofthearticlesaccepted。
Aweekorsodriftedby，andthegratefulSnagsbyarrivedwithanothercargo。Thecelebratedauthorhadfeltamightyglowofsatisfactionwithinhimselfthefirsttimehehadsuccessfullybefriendedthepooryoungstruggler，andhadcomparedhimselfwiththegenerouspeopleinthebookswithhighgratification；buthewasbeginningtosuspectnowthathehadstruckuponsomethingfreshinthenoble-episodeline。Hisenthusiasmtookachill。Still，hecouldnotbeartorepulsethisstrugglingyoungauthor，whoclungtohimwithsuchprettysimplicityandtrustfulness。
Well，theupshotofitallwasthatthecelebratedauthorpresentlyfoundhimselfpermanentlyfreightedwiththepooryoungbeginner。Allhismildeffortstounloadthiscargowentfornothing。Hehadtogivedailycounsel，dailyencouragement；hehadtokeeponprocuringmagazineacceptances，andthenrevampingthemanuscriptstomakethempresentable。
Whentheyoungaspirantgotastartatlast，herodeintosuddenfamebydescribingthecelebratedauthor'sprivatelifewithsuchacaustichumorandsuchminutenessofblisteringdetailthatthebooksoldaprodigiousedition，andbrokethecelebratedauthor'sheartwithmortification。
Withhislatestgasphesaid，"Alas，thebooksdeceivedme；theydonottellthewholestory。Bewareofthestrugglingyoungauthor，myfriends。
WhomGodseesfittostarve，letnotmanpresumptuouslyrescuetohisownundoing。"
THEGRATEFULHUSBAND
Onedayaladywasdrivingthroughtheprincipalstreetofagreatcitywithherlittleboy，whenthehorsestookfrightanddashedmadlyaway，hurlingthecoachmanfromhisboxandleavingtheoccupantsofthecarnageparalyzedwithterror。Butabraveyouthwhowasdrivingagrocery-wagonthrewhimselfbeforetheplunginganimals，andsucceededinarrestingtheirflightattheperilofhisown——[Thisisprobablyamisprint-M。T。]——Thegratefulladytookhisnumber，anduponarrivingatherhomesherelatedtheheroicacttoherhusbandwhohadreadthebooks，wholistenedwithstreamingeyestothemovingrecital，andwho，afterreturningthanks，inconjunctionwithhisrestoredlovedones，toHimwhosufferethnotevenasparrowtofalltothegroundunnoticed，sentforthebraveyoungperson，and，placingacheckforfivehundreddollarsinhishand，said，"Takethisasarewardforyournobleact，WilliamFerguson，andifeveryoushallneeda，friend，rememberthatThompsonMcSpaddenhasagratefulheart。"Letuslearnfromthisthatagooddeedcannotfailtobenefitthedoer，howeverhumblehemaybe。
SEQUEL
WilliamFergusoncalledthenextweekandaskedMr。McSpaddentousehisinfluencetogethimahigheremployment，hefeelingcapableofbetterthingsthandrivingagrocer'swagon。Mr。McSpaddengothimanunderclerkshipatagoodsalary。
PresentlyWilliamFerguson'smotherfellsick，andWilliam——Well，tocutthestoryshort，Mr。McSpaddenconsentedtotakeherintohishouse。
Beforelongsheyearnedforthesocietyofheryoungerchildren；soMaryandJuliawereadmittedalso，andlittleJimmy，theirbrother。Jimmyhadapocketknife，andhewanderedintothedrawing-roomwithitoneday，alone，andreducedtenthousanddollars'worthoffurnituretoanindeterminablevalueinratherlessthanthree-quartersofanhour。
Adayortwolaterhefelldown-stairsandbrokehisneck，andseventeenofhisfamily'srelativescametothehousetoattendthefuneral。Thismadethemacquainted，andtheykeptthekitchenoccupiedafterthat，andlikewisekepttheMcSpaddensbusyhunting-upsituationsofvarioussortsforthem，andhuntingupmorewhentheyworetheseout。Theoldwomandrankagooddealandsworeagooddeal；butthegratefulMcSpaddensknewitwastheirdutytoreformher，consideringwhathersonhaddoneforthem，sotheyclavenoblytotheirgeneroustask。Williamcameoftenandgotdecreasingsumsofmoney，andaskedforhigherandmorelucrativeemployments——whichthegratefulMcSpaddenmoreorlesspromptlyprocuredforhim。McSpaddenconsentedalso，aftersomedemur，tofitWilliamforcollege；butwhenthefirstvacationcameandtheherorequestedtobesenttoEuropeforhishealth，thepersecutedMcSpaddenroseagainstthetyrantandrevolted。Heplainlyandsquarelyrefused。WilliamFerguson'smotherwassoastoundedthatshelethergin-bottledrop，andherprofanelipsrefusedtodotheiroffice。Whensherecoveredshesaidinahalf-gasp，"Isthisyourgratitude？Wherewouldyourwifeandboybenow，butformyson？"
Williamsaid，"Isthisyourgratitude？DidIsaveyourwife'slifeornot？Tellmethat!"
Sevenrelationsswarmedinfromthekitchenandeachsaid，"Andthisishisgratitude!"
William'ssistersstared，bewildered，andsaid，"Andthisishisgrat——"
butwereinterruptedbytheirmother，whoburstintotearsandexclaimed，"TothinkthatmysaintedlittleJimmythrewawayhislifeintheserviceofsuchareptile!"
ThenthepluckoftherevolutionaryMcSpaddenrosetotheoccasion，andherepliedwithfervor，"Outofmyhouse，thewholebeggarlytribeofyou!Iwasbeguiledbythebooks，butshallneverbebeguiledagain——onceissufficientforme。"AndturningtoWilliamheshouted，"Yes，youdidsavemy，wife'slife，andthenextmanthatdoesitshalldieinhistracks!"
Notbeingaclergyman，Iplacemytextattheendofmysermoninsteadofatthebeginning。Hereitis，fromMr。NoahBrooks'sRecollectionsofPresidentLincolninScribnersMonthly:
J。H。Hackett，inhispartofFalstaff，wasanactorwhogaveMr。
Lincolngreatdelight。Withhisusualdesiretosignifytoothershissenseofobligation，Mr。Lincolnwroteageniallittlenotetotheactorexpressinghispleasureatwitnessinghisperformance。
Mr。Hackett，inreply，sentabookofsomesort；perhapsitwasoneofhisownauthorship。HealsowroteseveralnotestothePresident。Onenight，quitelate，whentheepisodehadpassedoutofmymind，IwenttothewhiteHouseinanswertoamessage。
PassingintothePresident'soffice，Inoticed，tomysurprise，Hackettsittingintheanteroomasifwaitingforanaudience。ThePresidentaskedmeifanyonewasoutside。Onbeingtold，hesaid，halfsadly，"Oh，Ican'tseehim，Ican'tseehim；Iwasinhopeshehadgoneaway。"Thenheadded，"Nowthisjustillustratesthedifficultyofhavingpleasantfriendsandacquaintancesinthisplace。YouknowhowIlikedHackettasanactor，andhowIwrotetotellhimso。Hesentmethatbook，andthereIthoughtthematterwouldend。Heisamasterofhisplaceintheprofession，I
suppose，andwellfixedinit；butjustbecausewehadalittlefriendlycorrespondence，suchasanytwomenmighthave，hewantssomething。Whatdoyousupposehewants？"Icouldnotguess，andMr。Lincolnadded，"well，hewantstobeconsultoLondon。Oh，dear!"
Iwillobserve，inconclusion，thattheWilliamFergusonincidentoccurred，andwithinmypersonalknowledge——thoughIhavechangedthenatureofthedetails，tokeepWilliamfromrecognizinghimselfinit。
AllthereadersofthisarticlehaveinsomesweetandgushinghouroftheirlivesplayedtheroleofMagnanimous-Incidenthero。IwishIknewhowmanythereareamongthemwhoarewillingtotalkaboutthatepisodeandliketoberemindedoftheconsequencesthatflowedfromit。
PUNCH，BROTHERS，PUNCH
Willthereaderpleasetocasthiseyeoverthefollowinglines，andseeifhecandiscoveranythingharmfulinthem？
Conductor，whenyoureceiveafare，Punchinthepresenceofthepassenjare!
Abluetripslipforaneight-centfare，Abufftripslipforasix-centfare，Apinktripslipforathree-cent，fare，Punchinthepresenceofthepassenjare!
CHORUS
Punch，brothers!punchwithcare!
Punchinthepresenceofthepassenjare!
Icameacrossthesejinglingrhymesinanewspaper，alittlewhileago，andreadthemacoupleoftimes。Theytookinstantandentirepossessionofme。Allthroughbreakfasttheywentwaltzingthroughmybrain；andwhen，atlast，Irolledupmynapkin，IcouldnottellwhetherIhadeatenanythingornot。Ihadcarefullylaidoutmyday'sworkthedaybefore——thrillingtragedyinthenovelwhichIamwriting。Iwenttomydentobeginmydeedofblood。Itookupmypen，butallIcouldgetittosaywas，"Punchinthepresenceofthepassenjare。"Ifoughthardforanhour，butitwasuseless。Myheadkepthumming，"Abluetripslipforaneight-centfare，abufftripslipforasix-centfare，"andsoonandsoon，withoutpeaceorrespite。Theday'sworkwasruined——Icouldseethatplainlyenough。Igaveupanddrifteddown-town，andpresentlydiscoveredthatmyfeetwerekeepingtimetothatrelentlessjingle。
WhenIcouldstanditnolongerIalteredmystep。Butitdidnogood；
thoserhymesaccommodatedthemselvestothenewstepandwentonharassingmejustasbefore。Ireturnedhome，andsufferedalltheafternoon；sufferedallthroughanunconsciousandunrefreshingdinner；
suffered，andcried，andjingledallthroughtheevening；wenttobedandrolled，tossed，andjingledrightalong，thesameasever；gotupatmidnightfrantic，andtriedtoread；buttherewasnothingvisibleuponthewhirlingpageexcept"Punch!punchinthepresenceofthepassenjare。"BysunriseIwasoutofmymind，andeverybodymarveledandwasdistressedattheidioticburdenofmyravings——"'Punch!oh，punch!
punchinthepresenceofthepassenjare!"
Twodayslater，onSaturdaymorning，Iarose，atotteringwreck，andwentforthtofulfilanengagementwithavaluedfriend，theRev。Mr——，towalktotheTalcottTower，tenmilesdistant。Hestaredatme，butaskednoquestions。Westarted。Mr——talked，talked，talkedasishiswont。Isaidnothing；Iheardnothing。Attheendofamile，Mr——said"Mark，areyousick？Ineversawamanlooksohaggardandwornandabsent-minded。Saysomething，do!"
Drearily，withoutenthusiasm，Isaid:"Punchbrothers，punchwithcare!
Punchinthepresenceothepassenjare!"
Myfriendeyedmeblankly，lookedperplexed，theysaid:
"IdonotthinkIgetyourdrift，Mark。Thendoesnotseemtobeanyrelevancyinwhatyouhavesaid，certainlynothingsad；andyet——maybeitwasthewayyousaidthewords——Ineverheardanythingthatsoundedsopathetic。Whatis——"
ButIheardnomore。Iwasalreadyfarawaywithmypitiless，heartbreaking"bluetripslipforaneight-centfare，bufftripslipforasix-centfare，pinktripslipforathree-centfare；punchinthepresenceofthepassenjare。"Idonotknowwhatoccurredduringtheotherninemiles。However，allofasuddenMr——laidhishandonmyshoulderandshouted:
"Oh，wakeup!wakeup!wakeup!Don'tsleepallday!HereweareattheTower，man!Ihavetalkedmyselfdeafanddumbandblind，andnevergotaresponse。Justlookatthismagnificentautumnlandscape!Lookatit!lookatit!Feastyoureyeonit!Youhavetraveled；youhaveseenboasterlandscapeselsewhere。Come，now，deliveranhonestopinion。
Whatdoyousaytothis？"
Isighedwearily；andmurmured:
"Abufftripslipforasix-centfare，apinktripslipforathree-centfare，punchinthepresenceofthpassenjare。"
Rev。Mr——stoodthere，verygrave，fullofconcern，apparently，andlookedlongatme；thenhesaid:
"Mark，thereissomethingaboutthisthatIcannotunderstand。Thoseareaboutthesamewordsyousaidbefore；theredoesnotseemtobeanythinginthem，andyettheynearlybreakmyheartwhenyousaythem。Punchinthe——howisittheygo？"
Ibeganatthebeginningandrepeatedallthelines。
Myfriend'sfacelightedwithinterest。Hesaid:
"Why，whatacaptivatingjingleitis!Itisalmostmusic。Itflowsalongsonicely。Ihavenearlycaughttherhymesmyself。Saythemoverjustoncemore，andthenI'llhavethem，sure。"
Isaidthemover。ThenMr——saidthem。Hemadeonelittlemistake，whichIcorrected。Thenexttimeandthenexthegotthemright。Nowagreatburdenseemedtotumblefrommyshoulders。Thattorturingjingledepartedoutofmybrain，andagratefulsenseofrestandpeacedescendeduponme。Iwaslight-heartedenoughtosing；andI
didsingforhalfanhour，straightalong，aswewentjogginghomeward。
Thenmyfreedtonguefoundblessedspeechagain，andthepenttalkofmanyawearyhourbegantogushandflow。Itflowedonandon，joyously，jubilantly，untilthefountainwasemptyanddry。AsIwrungmyfriend'shandatparting，Isaid:
"Haven'twehadaroyalgoodtime!ButnowIremember，youhaven'tsaidawordfortwohours。Come，come，outwithsomething!"
TheRev。Mr——turnedalack-lustereyeuponme，drewadeepsigh，andsaid，withoutanimation，withoutapparentconsciousness:
"Punch，brothers，punchwithcare!Punchinthepresenceofthepassenjare!"
ApangshotthroughmeasIsaidtomyself，"Poorfellow，poorfellow!
hehasgotit，now。"
IdidnotseeMr——fortwoorthreedaysafterthat。Then，onTuesdayevening，hestaggeredintomypresenceandsankdejectedlyintoaseat。Hewaspale，worn；hewasawreck。Heliftedhisfadedeyestomyfaceandsaid:
"Ah，Mark，itwasaruinousinvestmentthatImadeinthoseheartlessrhymes。Theyhaveriddenmelikeanightmare，dayandnight，hourafterhour，tothisverymoment。SinceIsawyouIhavesufferedthetormentsofthelost。SaturdayeveningIhadasuddencall，bytelegraph，andtookthenighttrainforBoston。TheoccasionwasthedeathofavaluedoldfriendwhohadrequestedthatIshouldpreachhisfuneralsermon。
Itookmyseatinthecarsandsetmyselftoframingthediscourse。ButInevergotbeyondtheopeningparagraph；forthenthetrainstartedandthecar-wheelsbegantheir'clack，clack-clack-clack-clack!clack-clack!——
clack-clack-clack!'andrightawaythoseodiousrhymesfittedthemselvestothataccompaniment。ForanhourIsatthereandsetasyllableofthoserhymestoeveryseparateanddistinctclackthecar-wheelsmade。Why，Iwasasfaggedout，then，asifIhadbeenchoppingwoodallday。Myskullwassplittingwithheadache。ItseemedtomethatImustgomadifIsatthereanylonger；soIundressedandwenttobed。Istretchedmyselfoutinmyberth，and——well，youknowwhattheresultwas。Thethingwentrightalong，justthesame。
'Clack-clackclack，abluetripslip，clack-clack-clack，foraneightcentfare；clack-clack-clack，abufftripslip，clackclack-clack，forasix-centfare，andsoon，andsoon，andsoonpunchinthepresenceofthepassenjare!'Sleep？Notasinglewink!IwasalmostalunaticwhenIgottoBoston。Don'taskmeaboutthefuneral。IdidthebestI
could，buteverysolemnindividualsentencewasmeshedandtangledandwoveninandoutwith'Punch，brothers，punchwithcare，punchinthepresenceofthepassenjare。'Andthemostdistressingthingwasthatmydeliverydroppedintotheundulatingrhythmofthosepulsingrhymes，andIcouldactuallycatchabsent-mindedpeoplenoddingtimetotheswingofitwiththeirstupidheads。And，Mark，youmaybelieveitornot，butbeforeIgotthroughtheentireassemblagewereplacidlybobbingtheirheadsinsolemnunison，mourners，undertaker，andall。ThemomentIhadfinished，Ifledtotheanteroominastateborderingonfrenzy。Ofcourseitwouldbemylucktofindasorrowingandagedmaidenauntofthedeceasedthere，whohadarrivedfromSpringfieldtoolatetogetintothechurch。Shebegantosob，andsaid:
"'Oh，oh，heisgone，heisgone，andIdidn'tseehimbeforehedied!'
"'Yes!'Isaid，'heisgone，heisgone，heisgone——oh，willthissufferingnevercease!'
"'Youlovedhim，then!Oh，youtoolovedhim!'
"'Lovedhim!Lovedwho？'
"'Why，mypoorGeorge!mypoornephew!'
"'Oh——him!Yes——oh，yes，yes。Certainly——certainly。Punch——punch——oh，thismiserywillkillme!'
"'Blessyou!blessyou，sir，forthesesweetwords!I，too，sufferinthisdearloss。Wereyoupresentduringhislastmoments？'
"'Yes。I——whoselastmoments？'
"'His。Thedeardeparted's。'
"'Yes!Oh，yes——yes——yes!Isupposeso，Ithinkso，Idon'tknow!Oh，certainly——IwasthereIwasthere!'
"'Oh，whataprivilege!whatapreciousprivilege!Andhislastwords——
oh，tellme，tellmehislastwords!Whatdidhesay？'
"'Hesaid——hesaid-oh，myhead，myhead，myhead!Hesaid——hesaid——heneversaidanythingbutPunch，punch，punchinthepresenceofthepassenjare!Oh，leaveme，madam!Inthenameofallthatisgenerous，leavemetomymadness，mymisery，mydespair!——abufftripslipforasix-centfare，apinktripslipforathree-centfare——endu——rancecannofur——thergo!——PUNCHinthepresenceofthepassenjare!"
Myfriend'shopelesseyesresteduponmineapregnantminute，andthenhesaidimpressively:
"Mark，youdonotsayanything。Youdonotoffermeanyhope。But，ahme，itisjustaswell——itisjustaswell。Youcouldnotdomeanygood。Thetimehaslonggonebywhenwordscouldcomfortme。Somethingtellsmethatmytongueisdoomedtowagforevertothejiggerofthatremorselessjingle，There——thereitiscomingonmeagain:abluetripslipforaneight-centfare，abufftripslipfora——"
Thusmurmuringfaintandfainter，myfriendsankintoapeacefultranceandforgothissufferingsinablessedrespite。
HowdidIfinallysavehimfromanasylum？Itookhimtoaneighboringuniversityandmadehimdischargetheburdenofhispersecutingrhymesintotheeagerearsofthepoor，unthinkingstudents。Howisitwiththem，now？Theresultistoosadtotell。WhydidIwritethisarticle？
Itwasforaworthy，evenanoble，purpose。Itwastowarnyou，reader，ifyoushouldcameacrossthosemercilessrhymes，toavoidthem——avoidthemasyouwouldapestilence。
THEGREATREVOLUTIONINPITCAIRN
Letmerefreshthereader'smemoryalittle。NearlyahundredyearsagothecrewoftheBritishshipbountymutinied，setthecaptainandhisofficersadriftupontheopensea，tookpossessionoftheship，andsailedsouthward。TheyprocuredwivesforthemselvesamongthenativesofTahiti，thenproceededtoalonelylittlerockinmid-Pacific，calledPitcairn'sIsland，wreckedthevessel，strippedherofeverythingthatmightbeusefultoanewcolony，andestablishedthemselvesonshore。
Pitcairn'sissofarremovedfromthetrackofcommercethatitwasmanyyearsbeforeanothervesseltouchedthere。Ithadalwaysbeenconsideredanuninhabitedisland；sowhenashipdidatlastdropitsanchorthere，in1808，thecaptainwasgreatlysurprisedtofindtheplacepeopled。
Althoughthemutineershadfoughtamongthemselves，andgraduallykilledeachotheroffuntilonlytwoorthreeoftheoriginalstockremained，thesetragedieshadnotoccurredbeforeanumberofchildrenhadbeenborn；soin1808theislandhadapopulationoftwenty-sevenpersons。
JohnAdams，thechiefmutineer，stillsurvived，andwastolivemanyyearsyet，asgovernorandpatriarchoftheflock。Frombeingmutineerandhomicide，hehadturnedChristianandteacher，andhisnationoftwenty-sevenpersonswasnowthepurestanddevoutestinChristendom。
AdamshadlongagohoistedtheBritishflagandconstitutedhisislandanappanageoftheBritishcrown。
To-daythepopulationnumbersninetypersons——sixteenmen，nineteenwomen，twenty-fiveboys，andthirtygirls——alldescendantsofthemutineers，allbearingthefamilynamesofthosemutineers，andallspeakingEnglish，andEnglishonly。Theislandstandshighupoutofthesea，andhasprecipitouswalls。Itisaboutthree-quartersofamilelong，andinplacesisasmuchashalfamilewide。Sucharablelandasitaffordsisheldbytheseveralfamilies，accordingtoadivisionmademanyyearsago。Thereissomelivestock——goats，pigs，chickens，andcats；butnodogs，andnolargeanimals。Thereisonechurch-buildingusedalsoasacapitol，aschoolhouse，andapubliclibrary。Thetitleofthegovernorhasbeen，foragenerationortwo，"MagistrateandChiefRuler，insubordinationtoherMajestytheQueenofGreatBritain。"Itwashisprovincetomakethelaws，aswellasexecutethem。Hisofficewaselective；everybodyoverseventeenyearsoldhadavote——nomatteraboutthesex。
Thesoleoccupationsofthepeoplewerefarmingandfishing；theirsolerecreation，religiousservices。Therehasneverbeenashopintheisland，noranymoney。Thehabitsanddressofthepeoplehavealwaysbeenprimitive，andtheirlawssimpletopuerility。TheyhavelivedinadeepSabbathtranquillity，farfromtheworldanditsambitionsandvexations，andneitherknowingnorcaringwhatwasgoingoninthemightyempiresthatliebeyondtheirlimitlessoceansolitudes。Onceinthreeorfouryearsashiptouchedthere，movedthemwithagednewsofbloodybattles，devastatingepidemics，fallenthrones，andruineddynasties，thentradedthemsomesoapandflannelforsomeyamsandbreadfruit，andsailedaway，leavingthemtoretireintotheirpeacefuldreamsandpiousdissipationsoncemore。
Onthe8thoflastSeptember，AdmiraldeHorsey，commander-in-chiefoftheBritishfleetinthePacific，visitedPitcairn'sIsland，andspeaksasfollowsinhisofficialreporttotheadmiralty:
Theyhavebeans，carrots，turnips，cabbages，andalittlemaize；
pineapples，figtrees，custard-apples，andoranges；lemons，andcocoanuts。Clothingisobtainedalonefrompassingships，inbarterforrefreshments。Therearenospringsontheisland，butasitrainsgenerallyonceamonththeyhaveplentyofwater，althoughattimesinformeryearstheyhavesufferedfromdrought。Noalcoholicliquors，exceptformedicinalpurposes，areused，andadrunkardisunknown……
Thenecessaryarticlesrequiredbytheislandersarebestshownbythosewefurnishedinbarterforrefreshments:namely，flannel，serge，drill，half-boots，combs，tobacco，andsoap。Theyalsostandmuchinneedofmapsandslatesfortheirschool，andtoolsofanykindaremostacceptable。IcausedthemtobesuppliedfromthepublicstoreswithaUnionjack:fordisplayonthearrivalofships，andapit-saw，ofwhichtheyweregreatlyinneed。This，I
trust，willmeettheapprovaloftheirlordships。IfthemunificentpeopleofEnglandwereonlyawareofthewantsofthismostdeservinglittlecolony，theywouldnotlonggounsupplied……
DivineserviceisheldeverySundayat10。30A。M。andat3P。M。，inthehousebuiltandusedbyJohnAdamsforthatpurposeuntilhediedin1829。ItisconductedstrictlyinaccordancewiththeliturgyoftheChurchofEngland，byMr。SimonYoung，theirselectedpastor，whoismuchrespected。ABibleclassisheldeveryWednesday，whenallwhoconvenientlycanattend。ThereisalsoageneralmeetingforprayeronthefirstFridayineverymonth。
Familyprayersaresaidineveryhousethefirstthinginthemorningandthelastthingintheevening，andnofoodispartakenofwithoutaskingGod'sblessingbeforeandafterward。Oftheseislanders'religiousattributesnoonecanspeakwithoutdeeprespect。ApeoplewhosegreatestpleasureandprivilegeistocommuneinprayerwiththeirGod，andtojoininhymnsofpraise，andwhoare，moreover，cheerful，diligent，andprobablyfreerfromvicethananyothercommunity，neednopriestamongthem。
NowIcometoasentenceintheadmiral'sreportwhichhedroppedcarelesslyfromhispen，nodoubt，andnevergavethematterasecondthought。Helittleimaginedwhatafreightoftragicprophecyitbore!
Thisisthesentence:
Onestranger，anAmerican，hassettledontheisland——adoubtfulacquisition。
Adoubtfulacquisition，indeed!CaptainOrmsby，intheAmericanshipHornet，touchedatPitcairn'snearlyfourmonthsaftertheadmiral'svisit，andfromthefactswhichhegatheredtherewenowknowallaboutthatAmerican。Letusputthesefactstogetherinhistoricalform。TheAmerican'snamewasButterworthStavely。Assoonashehadbecomewellacquaintedwithallthepeople——andthistookbutafewdays，ofcourse——hebegantoingratiatehimselfwiththembyalltheartshecouldcommand。Hebecameexceedinglypopular，andmuchlookedupto；foroneofthefirstthingshedidwastoforsakehisworldlywayoflife，andthrowallhisenergiesintoreligion。HewasalwaysreadinghisBible，orpraying，orsinginghymns，oraskingblessings。Inprayer，noonehadsuch"liberty"ashe，noonecouldpraysolongorsowell。