Chapter Scriptores post Bedam to Sea of S by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Scriptores post Bedam to Sea

Scriptores post Bedam, William of Malmesbury, Henry of Huntingdon, Roger de Hoveden, Ethelwerd, Ingulphus of Croyland.

Scripture. Parson Adams’s wife said to her husband that in her opinion “it was blasphemous to talk of Scriptures out of church.”—Fielding: Joseph Andrews.

A great impression in my youth
Was made by Mrs. Adams, where she cries,
“That Scriptures out of church are blasphemous.”
   —Byron: Don Juan, xiii. 96 (1824).

Scroggen, a poor hack author, celebrated by Goldsmith in his Description of an Author’s Bedchamber.

Scroggens (Giles), a peasant, who courted Molly Brown, but died just before the wedding day. Molly cried and cried for him, till she cried herself asleep. Fancying that she saw Giles Scroggens’s ghost standing at her bedside, she exclaimed in terror, “What do you want?” “You for to come for to go along with me,” replied the ghost. “I ben’t dead, you fool!” said Molly; but the ghost rejoined, “Why, that’s no rule.” Then, clasping her round the waist, he exclaimed, “Come, come with me, ere morning beam.” “I won’t!” shrieked Molly, and woke to find “ ’twas nothing but a dream.”—A Comic Ballad.

Scroggs (Sir William), one of the judges.—Sir W. Scott: Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Scrooge (Ebenezer), partner, executor, and heir of old Jacob Marley, stock-broker. When first introduced, he is “a squeezing, grasping, covetous old hunks, sharp and hard as a flint;” without one particle of sympathy, loving no one, and by none beloved. One Christmas Day, Ebenezer Scrooge sees three ghosts: The Ghost of Christmas Past; the Ghost of Christmas Present; and the Ghost of Christmas To-come. The first takes him back to his young life, shows him what Christmas was to him when a schoolboy, and when he was an apprentice; reminds him of his courting a young girl, whom he forsook as he grew rich; and shows him that sweetheart of his young days married to another, and the mother of a happy family. The second ghost shows him the joyous home of his clerk Bob Cratchit, who has nine people to keep on 15s. a week, and yet could find wherewithal to make merry on this day; it also shows him the family of his nephew, and of others. The third ghost shows him what would be his lot if he died as he then was, the prey of harpies, the jest of his friends on ’Change, the world’s uncared-for waif. These visions wholly change his nature, and he becomes benevolent, charitable, and cheerful, loving all, and by all beloved.—Dickens: A Christmas Carol (in five staves, 1843).

Scrow, the clerk of lawyer Glossin.—Sir W. Scott: Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Scrub, a man-of-all-work to lady Bountiful. He describes his duties thus—

Of a Monday I drive the coach, of a Tuesday I drive the plough, on Wednesday I follow the hounds, on Thursday I dun the tenants, on Friday I go to market, on Saturday I draw warrants, and on Sunday I draw beer.—Farquhar: The Beaux’ Stratagem, iii. 4(1707).

One day, when Weston [1727–1776] was announced to play “Scrub,” he sent to request a loan of money from Garrick, which was refused; whereupon Weston did not put in his appearance in the green-room. So Garrick came to the foot-lights and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Weston being taken suddenly ill, he is not capable of appearing before you this evening, and so with your permission I will perform the part of ‘Scrub’ in his stead.” Weston, who was in the gallery with a sham bailiff, now hallooed out, “I am here, but the bailiff won’t let me come!” The audience roared with laughter, clamoured for Weston, insisted he should play “Scrub,” and the manager was obliged to advance the loan and release the debtor.—Spirit of the Public Journals (1825).