{"id":"01KG8AKYGVM49CM45ME7TSXKAW","cid":"bafkreihgfmenmax4shkactqfdsuvgymyxpyg2a7dh7un6ib2kqcuo2mldy","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":10646,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:14.843Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 1","source_file":"01KG89J1GP71YDJ60P8SRH97MF","start_line":10582,"text":"CHAPTER LIII.\r\nTHE HORATII AND CURIATII\r\n\r\n\r\nWith a slight alteration, I might begin this chapter after the manner\r\nof Livy, in the 24th section of his first book:—“It _happened, that in\r\neach family were three twin brothers, between whom there was little\r\ndisparity in point of age or of strength.”_\r\n\r\nAmong the steerage passengers of the Highlander, were two women from\r\nArmagh, in Ireland, widows and sisters, who had each three twin sons,\r\nborn, as they said, on the same day.\r\n\r\nThey were ten years old. Each three of these six cousins were as like\r\nas the mutually reflected figures in a kaleidoscope; and like the forms\r\nseen in a kaleidoscope, together, as well as separately, they seemed to\r\nform a complete figure. But, though besides this fraternal likeness,\r\nall six boys bore a strong cousin-german resemblance to each other;\r\nyet, the O’Briens were in disposition quite the reverse of the\r\nO’Regans. The former were a timid, silent trio, who used to revolve\r\naround their mother’s waist, and seldom quit the maternal orbit;\r\nwhereas, the O’Regans were “broths of boys,” full of mischief and fun,\r\nand given to all manner of devilment, like the tails of the comets.\r\n\r\nEarly every morning, Mrs. O’Regan emerged from the steerage, driving\r\nher spirited twins before her, like a riotous herd of young steers; and\r\nmade her way to the capacious deck-tub, full of salt water, pumped up\r\nfrom the sea, for the purpose of washing down the ship. Three splashes,\r\nand the three boys were ducking and diving together in the brine; their\r\nmother engaged in _shampooing_ them, though it was haphazard sort of\r\nwork enough; a rub here, and a scrub there, as she could manage to\r\nfasten on a stray limb.\r\n\r\n“Pat, ye divil, hould still while I wash ye. Ah! but it’s you, Teddy,\r\nyou rogue. Arrah, now, Mike, ye spalpeen, don’t be mixing your legs up\r\nwith Pat’s.”\r\n\r\nThe little rascals, leaping and scrambling with delight, enjoyed the\r\nsport mightily; while this indefatigable, but merry matron, manipulated\r\nthem all over, as if it were a matter of conscience.\r\n\r\nMeanwhile, Mrs. O’Brien would be standing on the boatswain’s locker—or\r\nrope and tar-pot pantry in the vessel’s bows—with a large old quarto\r\nBible, black with age, laid before her between the knight-heads, and\r\nreading aloud to her three meek little lambs.\r\n\r\nThe sailors took much pleasure in the deck-tub performances of the\r\nO’Regans, and greatly admired them always for their archness and\r\nactivity; but the tranquil O’Briens they did not fancy so much. More\r\nespecially they disliked the grave matron herself; hooded in rusty\r\nblack; and they had a bitter grudge against her book. To that, and the\r\nincantations muttered over it, they ascribed the head winds that\r\nhaunted us; and Blunt, our Irish cockney, really believed that Mrs.\r\nO’Brien purposely came on deck every morning, in order to secure a foul\r\nwind for the next ensuing twenty-four hours.\r\n\r\nAt last, upon her coming forward one morning, Max the Dutchman accosted\r\nher, saying he was sorry for it, but if she went between the\r\nknight-heads again with her book, the crew would throw it overboard for\r\nher.\r\n\r\nNow, although contrasted in character, there existed a great warmth of\r\naffection between the two families of twins, which upon this occasion\r\nwas curiously manifested.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 1"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJT51J4PXNP87MVVCGB87","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1GP71YDJ60P8SRH97MF","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKYGQ2KNQSBEC2DCPM5TW","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:21.019Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:33.911Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}