Thomas Hickes

“ Anyone [Pg 334] who can persuade two hundred and fifty keen-eyed Lawrenceville boys to pay one dollar apiece for silver gilt scrap-iron souvenirs worth eleven cents apiece because they may or may not be genuine bits of a stolen clapper—anyone who can do that is needed in the commercial development of our country."
"Doctor, do you—do you call this justice?" said Hickey, with tears in his voice.
"No," said the Doctor, frankly, "I call it a display of force. You see, Hicks, you've beaten us at every point, and so all we can do is to let you go." ”

“ THE MARTYRDOM OF WILLIAM HICKS
Hickey had now reached the height of his fame. Intoxicated by success, he forgot all prudence, or rather his revolt became an appetite that demanded constant feeding. He no longer concealed his past exploits, he even went so far as to announce the escapades he planned.
"You are running your head into the noose, Hickey, my boy," said Macnooder, sadly; "every master in the school has got his eye on you." ”

“ Tom’s fame being spread abroad in the country, there was not a man durst give Tom an angry word for he was something foolhardy, and he did not care what he did at them; so that those that knew him would not in the least displease him. But at length there was a brewer at Lyn, that wanted a good lusty man to carry his beer in the marsh and to Wisbech; so hearing of Tom went to hire him, but Tom seemed coy and would not be his man, until his mother and friends did perswade him, and his master intreated him ”

“ I'll notify Hickey. You don't mind fighting by lamplight?"
"Huh!"
"Of course, we'll fight under the auspices of the Sporting Club, with a ring and sponges and that sort of thing," said the Gutter Pup cheerfully. "You'll like it. It's a secret organisation and it's a [Pg 143] great honour to belong. Hickey, at the Dickinson, got it up. He's president, and referees. I'm the official timekeeper, but that don't matter. They'll arrange for seconds and all that sort of thing, and Doc Macnooder is always there for medical assistance. You're sure the lights won't bother you?" ”

“ HICKMAN, FRANCIS (fl. 1690) , scholar, born about 1663, was fourth son of Sir William Hickman, bart., of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, by Elizabeth, daughter of John Nevile of Mattersey, Nottingham. He became a king's scholar at Westminster School in 1676, and proceeded in 1681 to Christ Church, Oxford. ”

“ Tom’s mother being dead, and he left alone in a large and spacious house, he found himself strange and uncouth, therefore he began to consider with himself that it would not be amiss to seek out for a wife; and hearing of a young rich widow, not far from Cambridge, to her he went, and made his addresses: and at the first coming she seem’d to shew him much favour and countenance; but between this and his coming again, she had given some entertainment to a more genteel and airy spark, who happened likewise to come while honest Tom was there the second time ”

“ The first time that his strength was known was by his mothers going to a rich farmer’s house (she being but a poor woman) to desire a buttle of straw to shift herself and her son Thomas. The farmer being an honest charitable man, bid her take what she would. She going home to her son Tom, said, I pray thee go to such a place and fetch me a buttle of straw, I have asked him leave. He swore a great oath he would not go: nay, prithee, Tom go, said his old mother. He swore again he would not go, unless she would borrow him a cart rope. ”

“ You're not superstitious, are you?"
"Sure, I'm not," retorted Legs, who received the skeleton in his arms with a shiver that raised the goose-flesh from his crown to his heels.
"Come on," said Hickey in a whisper; "softly now."
"What's that?" exclaimed Legs, drawing in his breath.
"That's nothing," said Macnooder loftily; "all buildings creak at night." ”

“ Hickey standing by my bedside in a red coat with a tall glass in his hand.
"It's nine o'clock," he said. "I'm just after waking Flurry Knox. There wasn't one stirring in the hotel till I went down and pulled the 'boots' from under the kitchen table! It's well for us the meet's in the town; and, by-the-bye, your grey horse has four legs on him the size of bolsters this morning; he won't be fit to go out, I'm afraid. Drink this anyway, you're in the want of it."
Dr. Hickey's eyelids were rather pink, but his hand was as steady as a rock. The whisky-and-soda was singularly untempting. ”

“ In 1676, as private chaplain, he accompanied the duke of Lauderdale, the royal commissioner, to Scotland, and shortly afterwards received the degree of D.D. from St Andrews. In 1680 he became vicar of All Hallows, Barking, London; and after having been made chaplain to the king in 1681, he was in 1683 promoted to the deanery of Worcester. He opposed both James II.’s declaration of indulgence and Monmouth’s rising, and he tried in vain to save from death his nonconformist brother John Hickes (1633–1685) , one of the Sedgemoor refugees harboured by Alice Lisle. ”

“ In 1619, by order of the administrators of the Franciscans, he removed from Cologne to Rome, with the object of collaborating with his countryman, Luke Wadding, in the publication of the works of Duns Scotus and the ‘Annales Minorum.’ In 1639 the general assembly of the Franciscans at Rome appointed Hickey to the important post of diffinitor or sub-head of the order. Hickey projected publications on the history and hagiography of Ireland, for which his acquirements and knowledge of the Irish language rendered him specially qualified. ”

“ Directly under his eyes, carved on the wooden table, a name challenged him, standing out of the numerous initials—Guzzler Wilkins.
"I'll keep count," said Hickey. "Macnooder and Turkey, watch the pancakes."
"Regulation size, Conover," cried that cautious Red Dog; "no doubling now. All fair and above-board."
"All right, Hickey, all right," said Conover, leering wickedly from the door; "if that little grasshopper can do it, you get the cakes."
"Now, Hungry," said Turkey, clapping Smeed on the shoulder. "Here is where you get your [Pg 43] chance. Remember, Kid, old sport, it's for the Dickinson." ”

“ The visitor bowed with his usual air of pleasant acquiescence.
"I am aware," said Dr. Hicok, "that my selection would seem thoroughly commonplace to most people. Yet nobody knows better than you do, my dear sir, that the oldest questions are the newest. The same vitality which is so strong in them, as to raise them as soon as thought begins, is infinite, and maintains them as long as thought endures. Indeed, I may say to you frankly, that it is by no means on novelty, but rather on antiquity, that I rely."
The doctor's hearer bowed with an air of approving interest. ”

“ Aye says the tinker, I have been these three years and have had no combat with any man, and none durst make me answer; I think they be all cowards in this country except it be a man called Tom Hickathrift who killed a giant, him I would fain see to have a combat with him. Aye, said Tom, but methinks I might be master in your mouth; I am the man, what have you to say to me? ”

“ TOM HICKATHRIFT ADAPTED BY ERNEST RHYS
Long before William the Conqueror, there dwelt a man in the Isle of Ely, named Thomas Hickathrift, a poor laboring man, but so strong that he was able to do in one day [pg 365] the ordinary work of two. He had an only son, whom he christened Thomas, after his own name. The old man put his son to good learning, but he would take none, for he was none of the wisest, but something soft, and had no docility at all in him. God calling this good man, the father, to his rest, his mother, being tender of him, kept him by her hard labor as well as she could ”

“ HICKEY, THOMAS (fl. 1760–1790) , painter, was born in Dublin and studied in the Academy there. He visited Italy and studied at Rome, and on his return practised as a portrait-painter in London. In the Mansion House at Dublin there are portraits by him of George, first marquis Townshend (1769) , and of John, fourth duke of Bedford. In London there is at the Garrick Club a portrait of Mrs. Abington, and at the Magdalen Hospital a full-length portrait of Mr. Justice Park. Hickey's portrait of Daniel Race, chief cashier to the Bank of England (1772) , was engraved in mezzotint by J. Watson. ”

“ A man does all things better when he has a roll.
The currents of life had been flowing swiftly for Mr. Hickok. Two years before he was marshal of Hays, and had shot his way into the popular confidence. In an evil hour a trio of soldiers came over from the Fort, led by one Lanigan, and took drunken umbrage at Mr. Hickok’s hair. This rudeness touched Mr. Hickok tenderly, and in checking it he snuffed out those three as gallery Frenchmen snuff candles at ten paces. Since there arose carpers to say that Mr. Hickok went too far in these homicides, he laid down his trust and journeyed to Abilene. ”

“ I'm not afraid, only I don't stand one, two, three with the Doctor and you know it. I've flunked every recitation in Bible this month. What we want is the strongest pull—and Wash is the one. Why, the old man would feed out of Wash's hand."
Wash indignantly repelled the insinuation. Finally it was agreed that Crazy should state the facts, that Hickey should say, "Doctor, we feel strongly, very strongly, about this," and that Wash should then make the direct demand for the suspension for one month of the "sinker," and its future regulation to two appearances a week. ”

“ Conover capitulated, the cakes were rejected.
"Don't be feazed by that," said Hickey, warningly to Smeed.
"I'm not," said Smeed.
[Pg 48]
"All ready," came Macnooder's cry.
"Ready here."
"Six pancakes!"
"Regulation size?"
"Regulation."
"Six it is," said Hickey, at the slate. "Six and twenty-seven is thirty-three."
"Wait a moment," sang out the Butcher. "He has only to eat thirty-two."
"That's so—take one off."
"Give him five, Hickey—five only."
"If Hungry says he can eat six," said Hickey, firmly, glancing at his protégé, "he can. We're out for big things. Can you do it, Hungry?" ”

“ Hickey, notify the orators to prepare the compressed arguments. The word is 'BIFF.'"
Hickey went tumbling upstairs; the Egghead delivered the new series.
WHY, FEDS, DON'T GET PEEVISH
THIS IS AN ORDERLY CAMPAIGN
A QUIET, ORDERLY CAMPAIGN
REMEMBER, WE MUST UPLIFT THE
NATION
Outside, the chorus of hoots and cat-calls gave way to a steady rhythmic chant:
GOO-GOOS, GOO-GOOS, GOO-GOOS!
"How unjust!" said Crazy, sadly. "We must clear ourselves; we must nail the lie—in a quiet, orderly way! Let her go, Egghead; Cheyenne, give Hickey the cue." ”

“ Hickey bowed again and raised his head cloaked in seriousness. A titter acclaimed him. He stopped and looked appealingly at the master.
"Go on, Hicks, go on," said Mr. Dater. "Do your best. At least, let us hear the words."
Another inspiration came to Hickey. "I don't think that this is quite regular, sir," he said aggressively. "I have always taken an interest in my work, and I don't see why I should be made to sacrifice a good mark." ”

“ Independence is better and more profitable; I appreciate your kind offer, I do appreciate it, Hickey, but I'm a Mugwump; I couldn't wear a dog-collar, I couldn't!"
"Sit down again, Crazy," said Hickey, persuasively; "sit down. It's a pleasure to talk with you. You're right; your independent and intelligent nature would be thrown away in a matter of books and figures. We've been looking round for a fearless, upright, popular and eloquent figure to stand for the Cleve, and, Crazy, we're just aching to have you step up into the frame." ”

“ Until night came again they must cling to the spur-top and manage to live in that hurricane of lead. He went down the line, calling each man by name, rousing them, like a prophet inspired. The fury of sacrifice seized them. They fought on, parched and bleeding, while the sun rose above them and slowly fell. A thousand lives; half that, and half that again. Five o'clock, and still two hours to go. He looked about him. Only a few hundred remained to meet the next charge. Red Dog and Ginger Pop were cold in death, Hickey was dying. ”

“ Tom Hickathrift, seeing this, gave the Lyon such a blow that it ended his life.
Now was his joy mingled with sorrow for tho’ he had cleared the Island of those ravenous savage beasts, yet his grief was intolerable for the loss of his old friend. Home he returned to his lady, where in token of Joy for the wonderful success which he had in his dangerous enterprizes, he made a very noble and splendid Feast, to which he invited most of his best Friends and Acquaintance, to whom he made the following Promise. ”

“ Listen."
"Legs is right," said Hickey in a whisper. "It's outside."
"Rats! it's nothing but Jimmy," said Macnooder with enforced calm. "Keep quiet until he passes on."
They stood breathless until the sounds of the watchman on his nightly rounds died away. Then they started on tiptoes up the first flight for the chapel, Macnooder leading with the lantern, Legs [Pg 109] next with the skeleton gingerly carried in his arms, Hickey bringing up the rear with the coil of rope.
"Here we are," said Macnooder at length. "Legs, you wait here,—see, that's where we're going to hoist him." ”

“ Butcher and Egghead have got to take two each—that would make sixteen. The other eight I can fill up with some harmless freaks: some will snap at anything."
That night at the supper-table Turkey had to face the music.
"You're a nice one, you are," said Hickey, starting in immediately, "you arch deceiver. You are a fine friend; I have my opinion of you. 'Handsome girl,' 'a wonder,' 'fine talker,' 'a screamer'—that's the sort of game you try on your friends, is it? ”