Chapter Children in the Wood to Chrisom Child of C by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Children in the Wood to Chrisom Child

Children in the Wood, the little son (three years old) and younger daughter (Jane), left by a Norfolk gentleman on his death-bed to the care of his deceased wife’s brother. Thee boy was to have £300 a year on coming of age, and the girl £500 as a wedding portion; but if the children died in their minority the money was to go to the uncle. The uncle, in order to secure to secure the property, hired two ruffians to murder the children, but one of them relented and killed his companion; then, instead of murdering the babes, left them in Wayland (Wailing) Wood, where they gathered blackberries, but died at night with cold and terror. All things went ill with the uncle, who perished in gaol, and the ruffian, after a lapse of seven years, confessed the whole villainy.—Percy: Reliques, III. ii. 18.

Children of the Mist, one of the branches of the MacGregors, a wild race of Scotch Highlanders, who had a skirmish with the soldiers in pursuit of Dalgetty and M‘Eagh among the rocks (ch. 14).—Sir W. Scott: Legend of Montrose (time, Charles I.).

Chillip (Dr.), a physician who attended Mrs. Copperfield at the birth of David.

He was the meekest of his set, the mildest of little men.—Dickens: David Copperfield, i. (1849).

Chillon (Prisoner of), François de Bonnivard, of Lunes, the Genevise patriot (1496–1570) who opposed the enterprises of Charles III. (the duke-bishop of Savoy) against the independence of Geneva, and was cast by him into the prison of Chillon, where he was confined for six years. Lord Byron makes him one of six brothers, all of whom were victims of the duke-bishop; one was burnt at the stake, and three were imprisoned at Chillon. Two of the prisoners died, but François was set at liberty by the people of Berne.—Byron: Prisoner of Chillon (1816).

Chilminar, the city of “forty pillars,” built by the genii for a lurking-place to hide themselves in. Balbec was also built by the genii.

Chimène (La Belle) or Ximena, daughter of count Lozano de Gormaz, wife of the Cid. After the Cid’s death she defended Valentia from the Moors with great bravery, but without success. Corneille and Guilhem de Cantro have introduced her in their tragedies, but the rôle they represent her to have taken is wholly imaginary.

Chimes (The), a Christmas story by Dickens (1844). It is about some bells which rang the old year out and the new year in. Trotty Veck is a little old London ticket-porter and messenger. He hears the Christmas chimes, and receives from them both comfort and encouragement.

China, a corruption of Tsina, the territory of Tsin. The dynasty of Tsin (B.C. 256-202) takes the same position in Chinese history as that of the Normans (founded by William the Conqueror) does in English history. The founder of the Tsin dynasty built the Great Wall, divided the empire into thirty-six provinces, and made roads or canals in every direction, so that virtually the empire begins with this dynasty.

Chinaman (John), a man of China.

Chindasuintho , king of Spain, father of Theodofred, and grand-father of Roderick last of the Gothickings.—Southey: Roderick, etc. (1814).

Chinese Philosopher (A). Oliver Goldsmith, in the Citizen of the World, calls his book “Letters from a Chinese Philosopher residing in London to his friends in the East” (1759).

Chinese Tales, translated into French prose by Gueulette, in 1723. The French tales have been translated into English.

Chingachcook, the Indian chief, called in French Le Gros Serpent. Fenimore Cooper has introduced this chief in four of his novels, The Last of the Mohicans, The Pathfinder, The Deerslayer, and The Pioneer.