第88章 THE SKETCH BOOK(2)

Some hasten forth to meet friends; some with bundles and band-boxes tosecure places, and in the hurry of the moment can hardly take leave ofthe group that accompanies them. In the meantime, the coachman has aworld of small commissions to execute. Sometimes he delivers a hare orpheasant; sometimes jerks a small parcel or newspaper to the door of apublic house; and sometimes, with knowing leer and words of slyimport, hands to some half-blushing, half-laughing housemaid anodd-shaped billet-doux from some rustic admirer. As the coachrattles through the village, every one runs to the window, and youhave glances on every side of fresh country faces and bloominggiggling girls. At the corners are assembled juntos of villageidlers and wise men, who take their stations there for the importantpurpose of seeing company pass; but the sagest knot is generally atthe blacksmith's, to whom the passing of the coach is an eventfruitful of much speculation. The smith, with the horse's heel inhis lap, pauses as the vehicle whirls by; the cyclops round theanvil suspend their ringing hammers, and suffer the iron to grow cool;and the sooty spectre, in brown paper cap, laboring at the bellows,leans on the handle for a moment, and permits the asthmatic engineto heave a long-drawn sigh, while he glares through the murky smokeand sulphureous gleams of the smithy.

Perhaps the impending holiday might have given a more than usualanimation to the country, for it seemed to me as if everybody was ingood looks and good spirits. Game, poultry, and other luxuries ofthe table, were in brisk circulation in the villages; the grocers',butchers' and fruiterers' shops were thronged with customers. Thehousewives were stirring briskly about, putting their dwellings inorder; and the glossy branches of holly, with their bright-redberries, began to appear at the windows. The scene brought to mindan old writer's account of Christmas preparations:- "Now capons andhens, beside turkeys, geese, and ducks, with beef and mutton- must alldie- for in twelve days a multitude of people will not be fed with alittle. Now plums and spice, sugar and honey, square it among pies andbroth. Now or never must music be in tune, for the youth must danceand sing to get them a heat, while the aged sit by the fire. Thecountry maid leaves half her market, and must be sent again, if sheforgets a pack of cards on Christmas eve. Great is the contention ofholly and ivy, whether master or dame wears the breeches. Dice andcards benefit the butler; and if the cook do not lack wit, he willsweetly lick his fingers."I was roused from this fit of luxurious meditation, by a shoutfrom my little travelling companions. They had been looking out of thecoach windows for the last few miles, recognizing every tree andcottage as they approached home, and now there was a general burstof joy- "There's John! and there's old Carlo! and there's Bantam!"cried the happy little rogues, clapping their hands.

At the end of a lane there was an old sober-looking servant inlivery, waiting for them; he was accompanied by a superannuatedpointer, and by the redoubtable Bantam, a little old rat of a pony,with a shaggy mane and long rusty tail, who stood dozing quietly bythe road-side, little dreaming of the bustling times that awaited him.

I was pleased to see the fondness with which the little fellowsleaped about the steady old footman, and hugged the pointer; whowriggled his whole body for joy. But Bantam was the great object ofinterest; all wanted to mount at once, and it was with some difficultythat John arranged that they should ride by turns, and the eldestshould ride first.