Our heroes were ready at the appointed time to take the field with OLD ROSEBUD; the latter fox-hunter was in high glee with the excellence of the day’s sport, JERRY equally delighted, and TOM had just declared he had not been so pleased for a long time; but, unfortunately for him, in his bold endeavour to clear some high palings, his horse fell with him, and he was thrown some distance. On being raised from the ground, it was discovered that his neck was dislocated, and he expired instantly. Upon JERRY’S ascertaining the fate of the CORINTHIAN, his feelings were so completely overcome, that he fell down in a fit quite senseless.
To describe the wretched state of mind which JERRY suffered for several days, at the unexpected accident and melancholy death of his dearest friend in the world would have baffled the poet’s skill and the painter’s talents to pourtray--the shock was so sudden, and the loss to our hero so great, that it was impossible to have been otherwise; just at the moment when happiness appeared to be within his grasp, and he was also slowly recovering from the serious effects which the death of LOGIC had also made upon his feelings, to have met with such an immense blow--the death of CORINTHIAN TOM--shattered his nerves all to pieces, and anything in the shape of consolation appeared to him officious, troublesome, and unavailing! Ultimately, by the soothing attention of MISS ROSEBUD, the friendly interference of the old fox hunter, her father, the unremitting kindness of his parents, and the cheering, good advice of OLD JOLLYBOY, by degrees he was restored to a state of convalescence.
From “GAY to _grave_,” was now the reversed scene for the contemplation of our hero, and the old proverb verified to an awful extent, “that many things happen between the cup and the lip;” the _marriage rites_ were now suspended to make way for the performance of the burial service. The remains of the CORINTHIAN were conveyed to town with the utmost solemnity, and interred in the family vault, with all those obsequies due to his rank; and although JERRY remained extremely ill, and scarcely able to stand upon his legs, yet he was determined, at all hazards, to pay the last respect to his most valued friend and relative, CORINTHIAN TOM, by his appearance at the funeral in the character of chief mourner. JERRY did not quit the Metropolis until he had settled every thing to his satisfaction respecting the interment of the CORINTHIAN. Upon the return of JERRY to HAWTHORN HALL, several days elapsed before anything like pleasure occupied his mind; he positively refused to quit the house, and he also shunned the society of his acquaintances. “It requires no common fortitude,” observed JERRY, to OLD JOLLYBOY, “to bear up against the loss of two such invaluable friends as TOM and LOGIC, snatched, as it were, in an instant from me, when I stood most in need of their assistance, and to whom I am principally indebted for the knowledge of mankind which I now possess. In LOGIC, I have lost a model of experience, a fund of talent, and a heart overflowing with the milk of human kindness. By the death of TOM, I shall heavily miss that urbanity, discernment and liberality, which highly distinguishes the polished, and thorough-bred gentleman. I am now left to decide for myself; but, nevertheless, I hope I shall sincerely profit by their example. APPEARANCES, I am perfectly aware might be against both of their characters with the fastidious part of society, yet hypocrisy, cant, humbug, or dissimulation, never disgraced their conduct: a love of honour shone conspicuously throughout their actions, and, by an acknowledgment of their own errors, displayed a noble generosity towards the faults of others. They taught me not to spend time in regretting any mistakes that I had made, but to exert myself upon every occasion to repair them. This maxim shall be my guide through life--I will not repine, but struggle with fortitude against unavoidable calamities, and endeavour to make myself happy under all circumstances of my existences.”