Habakkuk. One of these struck me
as perhaps the most presumptuous that I had ever heard. The speaker
said that the races of whom Mr. Habakkuk was a specimen, were in all
probability the lost ten tribes of Israel. I dared not contradict him
then, but I felt angry and injured at hearing the speaker jump to so
preposterous a conclusion upon such insufficient grounds. The
discovery of the ten tribes was mine, and mine only. I was still in
the very height of indignation, when there was a murmur of expectation
in the hall, and Mr. Habakkuk was brought forward. The reader may
judge of my surprise at finding that he was none other than my old
friend Chowbok!
My jaw dropped, and my eyes almost started out of my head with
astonishment. The poor fellow was dreadfully frightened, and the storm
of applause which greeted his introduction seemed only to add to his
confusion. I dare not trust myself to report his speech--indeed I could
hardly listen to it, for I was nearly choked with trying to suppress my
feelings. I am sure that I caught the words "Adelaide, the Queen
Dowager," and I thought that I heard "Mary Magdalene" shortly afterwards,
but I had then to leave the hall for fear of being turned out.
Pages:
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356