------"Are we not here now;" continued the corporal, "and are we not"--(dropping his hat plump upon the ground--and pausing, before he pronounced the word)-- "gone! in a moment?" The descent of the hat was as if a heavy lump of clay had been kneeded into the crown of it. ----Nothing could have expressed the sentiment of mortality, of which it was the type and fore-runner, like it, --his hand seemed to vanish from under it, --it fell dead, --the corporal's eye fixed upon it, as upon a corpse, --and _Susannah_ burst into a flood of tears.
Now --Ten thousand, and ten thousand times ten thousand (for matter and motion are infinite) are the ways by which a hat may be dropped upon the ground, without any effect. ----Had he flung it, or thrown it, or cast it, or skimmed it, or squirted it, or let it slip or fall in any possible direction under heaven, --or in the best direction that could be given to it, --had he dropped it like a goose--like a puppy--like an ass--or in doing it, or even after he had done, had he looked like a fool--like a ninny--like a nincompoop--it had fail'd, and the effect upon the heart had been lost.
Ye who govern this mighty world and its mighty concerns with the _engines_ of eloquence, --who heat it, and cool it, and melt it, and mollify it, ----and then harden it again to _your purpose_----
Ye who wind and turn the passions with this great windlass, and, having done it, lead the owners of them, whither ye think meet--
Ye, lastly, who drive----and why not, Ye also who are driven, like turkeys to market with a stick and a red clout--meditate--meditate, I beseech you, upon _Trim's_ hat.
'Are we not here now;' said he, 'and are we not' (dropping his hat plump upon the ground) 'gone! in a moment?'
The hat descended as if it held a lump of clay. Nothing could have expressed the sentiment of mortality like it; - it fell dead. The corporal's eye fixed upon it, as upon a corpse, and Susannah burst into tears.
Now - a hat may be dropped in ten thousand ways, without any effect. Had he flung it, or thrown it, or skimmed it, or had he dropped it like a goose - like a nincompoop - it would have failed, and its effect have been lost.
Ye who govern this mighty world with the engines of eloquence - who heat it, and cool it, and melt it, and mollify it-
Ye who wind and turn the passions with this great windlass-
Ye who drive - and why not Ye also who are driven, like turkeys to market with a stick - meditate, I beseech you, upon Trim's hat.