SKETCHES BY BOZ.

ILLl1S'rB.&.TlVB OF
EVERY -DAY LIFE AND EVERY -DAY
PEOPLE.
WITH A FllONTl8PIECE BY GEOllGE CllUIK8HANK.
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8XBTCHES BY BOZ.
J4re. ,Joluuion Parker in the chair. to
conaider of the beet means of recover-
ing the ground they had lost in the
favour of the parish. What could be
done I Another meeting I Alas !
who was to attend it t The Missionary
would not do twice; and the slaves
were emancipated. A bold step mm
be tsken. The parish must be
astonished in some way or other; but
no one was able to suaaest what the
step should be. At length. a very
old lady was heard to mumble. in
indistinct tones, "Exeter Hall" A
sudden light broke in upon the meet-
ing. It was unanimously resolved.
that a deputstion of old ladies should
wait upon a celebrated orator implor-
ing his assistsnce, and the favour of a
speech; aud that the deputstion should
also wait on two or three other imbe-
cile olcl women. not resident in the
pariah. and ena-t their attendance
The application was su-rul. the
meeting was held; the orator (an
Irishman) came. He talked of green
isles-other shoree-vast Atlantic-
bosom of the deep-Christian charity
-blood and extermination-mercy in
hearta-arms in h a n ~ t a r s and
hom_household gada. He wiped
his eyes, he blew his nose, and he
quoted Latin. The elfeet was tre.
mendo_the Latin was a decided
hit Nobody knew exactly what it
was about, but every body knew it
must be alfecting. because even the
orator was overcome. The popularity
of the distribution society among the
ladies of our parish is unprecedented ;
and the child's examination is going
fast to decay.
CHAPTER VII.
oua lIBX'r-DOOa IIBIGBBOUB.
W B are very fond of speculating as
we walk through a street, on the cha-
racter and pUl'llUits of the people who
inhabit it ; and nothing so materially
assists us in these speculations as the
appearance of the house doors. The
various expressions of the human
countenance alford a beautiful and
interesting study ; but there is some-
thing in the physiognomy of street-
door knockers. almost as character-
istic. and nearly as infa1lible. When-
ever we visit a man for the first time.
we contemplate the featUres of his
knocker with the greatest curiosity.
for we well know. that between the
man and his knocker. there will inevit-
ably be a greater or less degree' of
reaemblance and sympathy.
For instsnce, there is one descrip-
tion of knocker that used to be com-
mon enough. but which is fast passing
away-a large round one. with the
jolly face of a convivial lion smiling
blandly at you, as you twist the sides
of your hair into a curl. or pull up
your shirt-collar while you are wait-
ing for the door to be opened; we
never saw that knocker on the door of
a churlish man-so far as our ex-
perienoe is concerned, it invariably
bespoke hospitality and another bottle.
No man ever saw this knocker on
the door of a small attorney or bill-
broker; they Always patronise the
other lion ; a heavy ferocious-looking
fellow, with a countenance expressive
of savage stupidity-a sort of grand
master among the knockers, and a great
favourite with the selfish and brutal.
Then there is a little pert
Egyptian knocker, with a long thin
face, a pinched n{" nose. and a very
sharp chin; he 18 most in vogne
with your government-office people,
in light drabs and stsrched cravats ;
little spare priggish men. who are
perfectly satisfied with theu own opi-
nions, and consider themselves of
paramonnt importance.
We were greatly lroubled a few
years ago, by the innovation of a new
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OUR NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOUR. 25
kind Imoeker, an1 face at viaiOD&l")', that it had neYer for one
all, compoaecl of .. '_th, depending instant entered our imagination.
&om .. hand or BJDaIl trancbecm. A We I&Ulltered moodily from the
liUle trouble and aUie.D.tion, howeYel', and bent our stepa
euabled 118 overcome this diftlculty, Square, then jm bulldin,.
aud l'eCODcile the new II78tem WIllI our utonilhment and mdignatiOD
oar lavourite th8Ol')'. You will in- find that bella were Iut becoming
variably find thiB knocker on the the rule, and knockers the exception I
dOOl'B of cold and formal people, who Our theory trembled beneath the
always uk you why )'OU _'I come, abock. We hastened home; aDd
and never 8&y do. lancyiDg we f_w in the sWift l!ro-
Every body knows the brus knocker greas of even., its entire abolition,
is common to 81lburban vi1Iu, and reBOlved from day forward
extensive boarding - eehooIs; aDd vat our spsculatiODs on our next-
baYing noticed this gen1lll _ have door neighbours in penon. The houee
reeapitala.ted all the ours on the left hand WIllI
II1d IItronSly-defined species. uninhabited, and _ had, therefore,
Some pbrenologilts a8hm, that the plenty of leisure observe our
agitation of .. maD'1 brain by next-door neighbours on the other Bide.
puaione, prodUC811 correeponding de- The hODIIB without the knocker WIllI
1II1opmeDta in the form of hie sImIl. in the occupation of a city clerk, and
Do IIOt us be underlltood u pullhing there WIllI a neatl,-written bill in the
oar theory to the leogth parlour window mtimatiDg that Jodg-
that aD)' alteration in a _'I diIpoIi- ings for a liDgle gentleman were be
&ion woald producv .. visible el'ect let within.
011 the feUure of hielmocker. Our ItWllllaneat,dnllliUlehouae,oD the
poei.tion merely i.e, that in such 10_, 1Ihad)' Bide of the _y, with new, Dar-
the magnesiam which mm em be- row ftoorcloth in the p&IIIIIIge, and new,
a man and hie knocker, woald narrow It&ir-earpeta up the firIt
induce the man remove, aDd _k ftoor. The paper WIllI new, and the
IIOIIIe knocker more congenial hie paint WIllI new, and the furniture W&I
altered feelingB. If you ever lind.. new; and all three, paper, and
IlIAD changing hie habitation without furniture, bespoke the limited meana
filly reuoD&ble pretes.t, depend upon of the tenant. There was a little red
it, although he _)' Dot be aware and black carpet in the drawing-room,
of the fact himself, it iB because he with a border of ftooring all the
and hiB knocker are at variaDce. way round ; a few ltamed chairs aDd
This iB a new th8Ol')', but _ venture a pembroke table. A pink shell WIllI
to lannch nevertheleas, u being dilpIayed on each of the little Bide-
quite u ingeniODl and infallible u boards, which, with the addition of a
many thCRlll&lld of the learned lpeeD- tea-tra)' and caddr," few more aheIle
Iationa which are danr broached for ou the _telpiece, and three pea-
public good and private fortune- cock's feathers tastefally
making. above them, completed the decorative
EDtertaining these feelings on the furniture of the apartment.
IIIbject of knockers, it will be readil)' ThiB WIllI the room destined for the
imagined with what coDllterD&tion _ receptiOD of the single gentleman
viewed the entire removal of the during the day, and a little b&ck room
bocker from the door of the next on the lime ftoor WIllI assigned u hiB
hcuee to thl one _ lived in, some aleepiDg apartment by night.
1ime ago, and the IUbstitution of a The biIf had not been long in the
bell ThiI wu .. cablmity we had window, when a stout good-humoured
DeVer anticipated. The bare idea of lookiDg gentleman, of about five-and-
filly bod)' being alIle 8ld.It without a thirty, u a candidate for
bOeker, appeared IQ wild IDd the tenanc)'. Terms were IOOD ar-
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26 . SEBTCDB8 BY JIOZ.
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w&up'1ae iJat*ed .... aop. 1RitiDp, ..a trr V.,..
........ __ tallellbJetopt
tmae,.- cImreh; Mldwbell DIIyW-..lrz-_e-mr,
lie !lid ....... io ..... ta-, .. ftI- pIIIae"" aettled ia I..don ;
....... Ia" a!iIC of tile bec&_ is atrcried. beIMr of
local as he iD*-Ied tD'" 2S'-' h- -- boy, &lid ,.niT.
--Ilia ... te tile -' ....,.., widl tile D&tm'8ol cilWiN til
-g 6em. we a I*- _ben tile)' hacI bem ia
. our neJd..door neighbour _ _ better circumatances, and where
perIeet\, happf. Be J.cI pa Iodpr ,"eli)' _luunra. They were p1'UIld
-lilt, of j_ hilt __ y of 1IIIIiea- .... &lid aboYe ze-
iDt-a.m-,weIl-diIpa.d-.wllo illeirwuta'" privati_ til
Uhone4pie&J, IIIIdloorad reUemeDt.........- How bitter dacI8e
Be took clown tile IIiIl widl a light __ AIIIl how haM
lieu&, .. pic&and in .......... worked io remove them, DO ODe ever
bg __ of q1Iie& s-Ja,-, OIl wIaich kDew bat tIIeDuelV8IL Night after
lie IIId Ilia Jodaer -W eubaDp BiFtt .... three, fwr Mara alter ..
JaiuIl ei'rili'" an4 SanMr DigW, -w. we Mar die _1IiOUal
The aerioua man arrived, _ .. nkiar up of the -V fire,. or tile
.... _ te ani_from die -cry JaoIlcnr lIDel IIaIM&i6ecI COIIP. which
DeU B. '-ei. m- iIIdiIUed hiI beiIIIr.all .. wm aacl
1IIiri,- dayafterday,coulcf w._-,1IIiDl7
door ad ntinIl io reat.. tIIa& ..&aI!e 1uMl ... tha& 1IJIeU'thly
an aarlyhour. *"_ miPt ligIai in .... pWmiYe face, whidl ill the
be called p1Ulctaa1ly at teD o'clock next beacoB of bar ,.... ___
DIOrDiDg-not bef'on, .. he W88 much Actuated, we hope, by a higher feel-
faliauecI. ing than mere curiosity, we contrived
lie _ called, and did not lUl8Wer: to eatabliah, first an acquaintance. ancl
he 1181 caJJed agaiD. but there W88 no then a close intimacy, with the poor
reply. Oar next-door neighbour be- stranger&. Oar worat fears were re-
came alarmed. and burat the door aJiaed; the boy W88 sinking faat.
open. The serioua man had left the Through a part of the winter, and the
hOll8e m;yeterio1J8ly; carrying with him whole of the following spring and
the shirt, the prayer-book, a tea-1IpOOn, summer, his labours were unceasingly
and the bedclothea. prolonged: and the mother attempted
WhMher this OCClU'l"CD.ce, coupled' to procure needlework embroidery-
with the irreguIaritiea of his former anything for bread.
lodger, gave our next-door neighbour A few Bhillings now and then, were
an avenion to single gentlemen, we all she could earn. The boy worked
know not; we only know that the steadily on; dying by minutes. but
next bill which made its appearance in never once giving utterance to com-
the parlour window intimated gene- plaint or murmur.
rally, that there were furnished apart- One beautiful autumn evening we
menta to let on the first ftoor. The went to pay our customary visit to the
bill was BOOn removed. The new invalid. His little remaining strength
lodgers at first aitractec1 our curiosity. had been decreasing rapidly for two or
and afterwards excited our interest. three daYB preceding, and he was lying
They were alOUDg lad of eighteen on the sofa at the open window, gazing
or nineteen. an his mother, a lady of at the setting sun. His mother had
about fifty. or it might be leas. The been reading the Bible to him, for she
mother wore a widow's weeds, and the closed the book as we entered, and
was also clothed in deep mourn- advanoed to meet UB
mg. They were poor-very poor; I W88 telling William," she said,
for their only means of support arose that we must manage to take bim
froID the pittl,Jl.ce the boy earned, by into the country somewhere. SO that
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1
I
SKBTCHBS BY BOZ.
he -7 pi quite welL Be is DOt ill, The bo7 emilecl laDpIdly, hilt aD
1011 bow, bat he is Dot WI')' 1troDg, iDallllltaRilrwardahillfeatureuwolved
aDd baa exerted himaeIf too muCh iIlto the am_ eold, 101111D11 p.ze.
lately." Poor dUDg I The t.earI &bat "William, dear William I roue
Idreamed ihrough Iier ftDprII, as lib_ :rouneII, dear; dem" look at me 110,
tumecl Mid", as if to adjua& her ao. 10-pia7 dOll't I Ob, my God I whM
widow's cap, too p\alnlyllhowed bow shall I do ! U cried the widow, cIupiDg
f r a i ~ was the attempt to deceive her haads ill BgOIIy-" my dear boy I
henelf. he is d,yiDg I"
W _ at dOW'll br the heM of the The boy railed bimself by a violent
sofa, but aid DothiDg, for _ aw the ell'on, aDd folded hill hands top&her-
breMb of IiIe wu pusiDg pDtry but "Mother I dear, dear mother, bury
rapidly fl'om the )'01IIII Form before me ill the opeD 8a1d&--anywhere but
u. At 8VfIr1 reepira&iaa, hie ~ ill til.. dniadfal sR'eet.e. I 1Ib0Dld
baM more slowly. like to be where YOll __ my grave,
The boy placed one hand m 0Ul'II, but Dot ill theee abe Il1'Owdedll&reete ;
puped hill mother's arm with the they have killed me; Idee me again,
Other, drew her hutily towards him, mother; put Jour arm I'OUJId my
aad farveDtry ki.ea her cheek. There DeCk-"
.... a ..... H. II1IIIk beck UPOD hie H. fell bIIck, aad a etraDge expree-
pillow,aDd looked loug aDd eanaeetly Ilion stole upoD hill features; Dot of
ID hill mother's face. paiD or dag, but aD iIldeeeribabie
"William, William I" m_1U"IId fWDg of 8VW1 BDB aaa muecJe.
the modIaraReralOllgiDtenaI," doa'& '!'be boy .... a.d.
look at me -..peak to me, dear I"
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THE STREETS-MORNING.
SCENES.
CHAPTER I.
Tn appearance presented br the
8treets of London an hour before lIIID-
riae, on a summer's moming, is moat
striking _ to the few whose unfor-
tunate pIIl'IIUits of pleasure, or aeareelr
leas umortunate pursuits of hlllineu,
eause them to be well acquainted with
the _e. There is an air of cold,
solitary desolation about the noiseleu
B\reeta which we are aceuatomed to
Bee thronged at other times br a busr,
eagercrowd,and overthe quiet, closely-
shut buildings, which tbronghout the
day are swarming with life and bustle,
that is very impreuive.
The lim drunken man, who shall
fiud his war home before lIIID-light,
hIB jOlt ataggered heavilr along, roa.r-
ing out the burden of the drinking
BODg of the previoUl night: the last
houaeJesa vagrant whom pen1ll'1 and
police have left in the streets, hu
coiled up his clinr limbe in some
paved corner, to dream of food and
warmth. The drunken, the dissipated,
and the wretched have disappeared ;
the more sober and orderlr part of the
population have not ret awakened to
the labours of the dar, and the still-
uess of death is over the streets; ita
very hue seems to be imparted to
them, cold and lifeless u they look in
the grar. sombre light of daybreak.
The coach-stands in the larger tho-
roughfares are deserted: the night-
bousea are e1osed; and the chosen
promenades of profligate misery are
empty.
An occasional policeman mar alone
he _u at the street-comers, 1istJC8IIy
gaziug on the deserted proepect before
him ; and now and then a rakish-look-
ing eat rona IteaIthilr &CrOll the road
and descends his own area with u
much caution and B11Dess-bounding
first on the water-butt, then on the
dust-hole, and then alighting on the
ftag-aton_u if he were conscious
that his character depended on his gaI-
lsntrr of the preceding night escaping
public observation. A partiaIJr opened
bedroom-window here and there, be-
speaks the heat of the weather, and
die UDe&I1 slumbers of its occupant;
and the dim scantr Sicker of the rash-
light, throngh the window-blind, de-
notes the chamber of watching or
sickness. With these few exceptions,
the streets present no signs of life, nor
the hoU8el of habitation.
An hour We&l'II awar; the spires of
the churches and roofs of the principal
buildings are faintlr tinged with the
light of the rising lIIID ; and the streets,
by almost imperceptible degrees, begin
to resume their bnstle and animation.
Market-carta roll slowlr along: the
sleeP7 waggoner impatientlr urging on
his tired horses, or vainlr endeavoUl'-
ing to awaken the bor, who, luxurioualr
stretched on the top of the fruit-bas-
kets, forgets, in happr oblivion, his
long-cheriahed cnriositr to behold the
wonders of London.
Rough, sleepy-looking animals of
strange appearance,something between
ostlers and hackner-coachmen, begin
to take down the Ihutters of earl)'
public-houses; and little deal table8,
with the ordill&r1 preparatioDl for a
street breakfast, make their appearance
at the CIIItomar7 1ItMi0llll. Numbers
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of men md women (principally the
latter),ca.rrying upon their heads heavy
baskets of fruit, toil doWD the park side
of Piccadilly, on their way to Covent
Garden, and, following each other in
rapid succession, form a long Btrag-
gling line from thence to the tum of
the road at Knightsbridge. .
Here md there, a bricklayer's
bourer, with the day's dinner tied up
in a handkerchief, walks briskly to his
work, and occasionally a little knot of
three or four schoolboya on a atolen
bathing expedition rattle merrily over
the pavement, their boiat.erou mirth
eontraaCing forciblJ with the demelUl-
01)1' of the little aweep, who, bamg
knocked and ruag iill his arm ach-.
being interdieted by a merc:ul
legislature from his hmp
by calling out, sits patiently doWD on
the door-step until the houemaid -1
happen to awake.
Covent Garden lIIIIZ'ket,and the ave-
nues leading to it, &1'8 ihroDged with
carts of all IKIl1B, sizes, and
tiona, from the heavy InmberiDg wag-
with its four stou horaes, tID the
Jingling COBtermonger's cart with ita
consumptive donkey. The puement
is already strewed with decayed cab-
bage-leaves, broken hayhane!., aDd all
the indescribable litter of a vegetable
market; men are shouting. carts back-
ing. horses neighing, boys figlating.
basket-women taJking, piemen Up&-
tiating on the e:r.ceJJence of their pastr)',
md donkeys braying. Thelllllllld a huIa-
dred other sounds fonn a compound
discordant enough to a Londoner's ears,
md remarkably disagreeable to thOllll
of country gentlemen who are aleeping
a& the Hummums for the firBt time.
Another hour away, md the
day begins in goOd earnest. The ser-
VIIIlt of all work, who, under the plea
of aleeping very soundly, has utterlJ
disregarded " Miuis'a" riDging for half
aD hour previously, is warned by:Mas-
ter (whom Hisais has aeut up in his
drapery to the Ianding.place for that
purpoae), that it 's half-past aix, where-
Dpon she awakes all of .. sudden, with
well-reigned aatoaishment, an.d goes
dOWD ataira very wishing, wGile
she strikes a light, that the prineip1e
of spontaneoDB combDStion would os-
tend itself to coals md kitchen range.
When the fire is lighted, she opens the
street-door to take in the milk, when,
by the moat siagulal" coincidence in
the world, she diseovera that the aer-
YIIIIt next door has jDBt taken in her
milk too, md that Mr. Todd's YODDg
mID. over the way, is, by m equally
extraordinary chance, faking doWD his
IDIIIIter's shutters. The inevitable con-
sequence ill, that she jUBt steps, milk-
jug in hand, as far as next door, just
to .. y " gOlli 1IMIl'Iling." to Betsy Clark,
an.d thai lIr. Todcl's )'OIIIlI mID. j1lll&
.JIII over the _y to _y " good mom-
ing" to botll of 'em ; IIII.d as the afore.
aid Mr. Todcl's )'UDIIg mID. is IIl.moa
as good-lookiDg an.d fueimMing l1li the
baker himIelI, the OOIl-u.aquicldy
becomes very mel. probably
would becoae more so, if Betsy Clark'.
Misaia, who alW&ya will be. foUowia'
her about, didn't give III!. aDgI')' tap at
her bedroom window, OD. which Mr.
Todd's )'ODDg mID. tries to wbiatle
coolly, as be goes back to his shop
much futer than be came from it;
an.d the two girla :nan back to their
respective pI-. and sIIut their &tree&-
doora with 1IIU'pl'isinC::-' each of
them poking their out of the
front parlOlll'-window, a minute after-
ward., however, osteDal'bly with the
view of looking at the mail which j1l8l;
then pasaeB by, but really for the pur-
pose of eatchiDg mother glimpse of
Mr. Todd's Y01lD6 man, who being foad
of mails, blA more of females, takes a
short look at the mails, md a long look
at the girls, maela to the aat.is&cRon of
all pariieB COJlC8I'IlIId..
The mail itself goes an to the coach-
oiioe in due course, aa4 the paaaeDgers
who are going out by the early coach,
Blare with BBtoaiahmeut at the pIIIIII8Il-
gera who are coming in by the early
cos.cb, who look bbw aDd dismIIl, aDd
111'8 IWidently under the inaaeuee ot
that odcl feeling producecl. by travelling.
which makes the eventa of lesterds.y
morning seem &8 if t1Iey bad luIppened.
at least. six months ago, 8Ild induce8
people to with eGII8iderable
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11
pm, whether the fritarIa ........ _ .... .....
Iiou they took. leIwa of a CortI1ipi with a pair of _ .. _'t nn -1
before, baTe akerecl amch IIiaae tIuIy witJa DO V1IIl;" aeoualMion au.-
left them. The coach-oli.ce i .. ll alive, Uoatably fIaDCled 4IIl lad, ..mg that a
&ad the eoaches whiell an jlI8t. piDf t.cbey bow.
Old, are lUl'rOlIIIded by the a-d to nail as an, "_pt, .... the
or .TeWli aad who _ to caIaaIaa iD &uat of die nail
CODsider. H_yea knows wh.1,iJIat aMi "-.t _ ..... h l'UJl lIMk'uda. ..
quite iDlfC!Uible AAY __ ........ The IIhopil are IIIIW -pew,
mach WIthout __ u- .. d 8IIIl IIhop-
peDD)'Worih of 0IUIpII, peaIaWe, meR.... buily eappcl in eIeuiuc
pocke$.book. a -J. IIQd deeJWts the wiaclo_ fer the day-
pencil-aaee, a piece itt .... The bUera' aIlopa in to_ are filled
IIIIIAIl series of earicaQlna. wi&b aenaa. aad chilcbea WllitiDg for
Half an hour more, aad the IUD the drawing of the first batch of rolla
clarta his bright rays cheerfully down -&11 operation which was performed
the .till half-empty slireeW, &lid shines afull hour ago in the suburbs; for the
with II1IIlcient force to rouse the dismaJ. early clerk population of Somers &I1d
Iazin_ of the apprentice, who pausea Camden toWDB, Islington, &I1d Penton.
erery other minute from his task of YiUe, are fast pouring into the city, or
lWeeping out the Bhop &I1d watering directing their stepll towards Chancery-
the pavement in front of it. to tell ... &Dd the InnI of Court. Middle-
another apprentice similarlyemployed, aged men, whose salaries haTe by no
how It. it will lie to-day, or to...... __ mer-d In the _e propor-
wi&b m. rigJIS haDd his e:r-. tioD .. their familiea, plod steadily
ADd m. left -tiD OB die along, with DO object in
gaziDg a& ihe .. Wfm4er:' 01' the 'riew lint the eoautiDg-h_; Imow-
.. TaIly.lIo," 01' the Niand," or_ iDs by sipt Ihnost everybody they
other Iaat eoaeb. till it .. oai of aipt, JDIIet or fmIri&ke, for die)" have seeD.
when he _ ... the them evvy morniDf (Sundays ex-
the pau.gen en the oaBde fIl tbiI cepQId) dviIIg the lui &weIlt7 years,
lilt -a. and t.UW.rt& of the old red llat 8pIIIIIdns to DO _. If they de
lIrick bo.. "4owa ia the -*rT,- happeD to overiake personal _
where lie __ to aebool: the m--. quaiII..... they jnat exchange a
fI the milk Mel __ .... dUck __ lmrried sahatatioJl, aad keep walking
IIld 1IlI'8piDp, fadiJJ iJ,tto DOtbing lie- on either IIy his aide, eI' in front of
fore the .... t reeelledioa of tile 1Iia, .. laia rMe ef walkillg may chanee
P'IlID &eId the boys ....t. te pIaJ m, to be. All to stopping to shake hands,
and the peen pond lae,.. -t far .. i9 take the friend's arm, they seem.
pi'enming to WI Do, .. 0" to think tha& .. it is not intladed in
1ICheoJbo, ____ alazy, the)' have DO right to de
CahI, with tnmb aad NIId-bo_ it. s.an oftloe lada in large hats.
between the driven' Iep ... CI1ltIia. who are -.Ie men before ihey are
die aproa, ra&iIe hri8kl,11P _ __ 110,., Jmrrr aleng ia pairs, with their
e streea em their _y to the COIIICbo Int -* caref1llly bruhed, &I1d the
4_ or wharfs; ad
l
.. 111 tl'ouI!en of IMt S1lII4ay pleuti-
the cab-dri_ &Dd baem81''wmeu. f1Illy besmeared with duat and ink.
wao _ on tlte at.ad polialt lIP the It mdently requi_ oonsiderable
arJIIIDeDtal pan of their 4iDsr vehiclel IIlfJIItIII IIb'DggIe te avoid inftllting
-the former wondering laow people .... of the day'. dianer-momy in the
CUI prefer " the. wild beut eari-.ns p1ll'CbaM of the sale tuta 80 tempt-
er hiilllJ,libllUB, to a ripr cab with a iDgIy expoRd in d1lR1 tins at the
flat trotter," and tile latter admiring paatry-eeok'. doors; bat a conscious-
how people C&Il trnat their necks Into _ of their own importaDce &I1d the
ClIIIl ol. "tIMa ClUJ cabs, wilen diey of __ ahillinp widt
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82 SKETCHES BY BOZ.
the prospect of an early riee &0 eight, if they couldn't clean a window it
eomea to their aid, and they &ClCOrd- their lives depended on it; the e&rta
ingly put their bate a little more on have diappea.red from Co_t Garden;
one Bide, IDd look nnder the bonnets the waggoD8l'8 have returned, IDd the
of aU the millinera' IDd 1lfaymt.kerB' repaired to their ordi-
apprentieee they meet-poor girle 1- nary" lleata .. in the snburbe; c1erka
the hardest worked, the worst paid, are at their ofBcee, and gigs, cab ..
IDd too often, the worst UIed claM or omnibnaea. and aaddle-bol'llello are
the community. eonveyiDg their masters to the lIIDIe
Eleven o'clock, IDd .. _ Bet of deatiuation. The streeta are thronged
people fiU the etreeta. The goods in with .. vat conconrae of people, gal
the sbop-windo.. are invitingly Ill'- IDd shabby, rich IDd poor, idle IDd
ranged ; the ahopmen in their white indnatriou; UJ.d we !lome to the heat,
neckerchiefs UJ.d spruce -ts, look 88 bnatie, IDd activity of NOON.
CHAPTER n.
TIIB IITJlBImI--JlIGII'l'.
BUT the streets of Londou. to be eereuned out "Muffins I" with aU
beheld in the very height of their her might. than Mrs. Walker,at No. S,
glory,lhould be _n on a dark, dnll, putl her head ont of the parlour-
murky winter', nigbt. when there is window,lDd __ "Muftinal"too;
just enongh damp gently steeling IDd Mrs. Walker hu scarcel:r got the
down to make the greaa:r, words out of her Iipa. than Mrs. Pep-
without cleanalng It of lDy or ita low. over the -y. lets Iooee Master
inlpuritiee; and wben tile heavy lazy Peplow. who darts down the street,
mist, which bangs over every object, with .. velocity which nothing but
makes the rs:lamps look brighter, bnttered mutliua in p8l'8pective eould
IDd tile brilliantly-lighted shops more poIIibly inspire, IDd drags the bot
splendid. from tile contrast they pre- back by mam foree, whereupon Mrs.
eent to the ciartme. &l'OIllld. AU the M.acldin and Mrs. Walker, just to
people who are at home on BUell .. .ve the boy trouble. IDd to .y a ,..
night 88 thia, aeem dispoaed to make neighbourly worela to Mrs. Peplow at
themselves 88 nag and eomCortable 88 the same time, run over the _ylDd
pouible; IDd the paaeengere in the buy their uudBna at )Irs. Peplow's
atreeta have excellent I'8IIIIOn to mvy door, when it appears from the volun-
the (ortunate individuals who are tary statement of Mrs. Walker, that
_ted by their own &reaides. her "kittle's jist .. biling, IDd the
III the larger IDd better kind of cu!!, UJ.d _ read:rlaid, .. ud that,
streets, dining-parlour curtaina are 88 It WIllI snell .. wretclled night ont o'
closely drawn. Idtcllen fires bIaae doora. she 'd made up her mind to
brightly up. IDd .volll')' stelDls of have .. nice hot comfortable cup 0'
hot dinners aalute the n08triJe of the ___ determination at b:r the
hungry wayfarer.88 he plods wearily moat IIiagular coincidence, the other
by the area railinga. In the suburba. two ladies had llimultaneonaly arriTed.
the muffin-boy rings his way down After a little conversation IlbcJm
the little street, mnch more Blowly the wretcllednesa of the weather IDd
than be is wont to do; (or Mrs. the marita of tea, with a digreuion
Macklin, of No. 4, hu no aooner relative to the viciousness of bo1l 88
opened her little Itref.t-door. UJ.d .. rnIe, and the amiability of Muter
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THE STREETS-NIGHT.
Peplow as an excepticm, Mrs. Walker
&eel her husband coming down the
street; and as he must want his tea,
poor man, after his dirty wa1k from
the Docks, she instantlyl'DD8 &Ill'08II,
muf11118 in hand, and Mrs. Macldin
does the 1181D8, and after a few words
10 Mrs. Walker, they all pop into their
little hoWMlB, and slam their little
8treet-doore, which are not opened
again for the remainder of the even-
ing, except to the nine o'clock" beer,"
whocomes ronnd with a lantern in front
of his tray, and says, as he lends Mrs.
Walker "Y esterda1's 'TiBer," that
he's blessed if he can hardly hold the
pot, much leBS feel the paper, for it's
one of the bitterest nights he ever felt,
'capt the night when the man was
frozen to dea.th in the Brick-field.
After a little prophetic converaa-
bon with the policeman at the street-
corner, touching a probable change in
the weather, and the setting-in of a
hard frost, the nine o'clock beer
reiurna to hia master's house, and
employs himself for the remainder of
the evening, in I1811iduoualy stirring
the tap-room fire, and deferentialll
taking part in the conversation of the
worthiea IIIIII8Dlbled round it.
The streets in the vicinitl of the
Marsh-gate and Victoria Theatre pre-
sent an appearance of dirt and dis-
comfort on such a night, which the
groupe who lounge about them in no
degree tend 10 diminish. Even the
little block.tiD temple sacred to baked
potatoes, surmounted bl a splendid
design in variegated lamps, looks less
gay than 11IIUaI; and as to the kidney-
pie stand, its gIOI'1 has quite departed.
The _die in the transparent lamp,
manufaetllred of oil-peper,embellished
with "charaetera," baa been blown
out fIft:r times, 80 the kidney-pie
merchant, tired with running back-
warda and forwards to the next wine-
vault&, to get a light, baa given up the
idea of illunlination in despair, and the
cnly signs of his "whereabout," are
the bright svarks, of which a long irre-
gular b'ain 18 whirled down the street
every time he opeDa his portable oven
tohAnd a hot kidney-pie to a customer.
No.l1/i.
Flat fish, oyater, and ltui.t venders
linger hopeleU1y in the kennel, in vain
endeavouring to attract. customers;
and the ragged bo18 who usuaIll dis-
port themselves about the streets,
atand crouched in little bote in some
projecting doorway, or under the can-
vas blind of the cheeaemonger's, where '
great flaring gas-light&, unsbaded by
any glase, display huge piles of bright
red, and pale yellow cheeses, mingled
with little five-penny dabs of dingy
baccm, varioua tubs of weekly Doraet,
and cloudy roUs of "beat fresh."
Here they amuse themselves with
theatrical couverse, arising out of
their last half-price viait to tbe Vic-
toria gallery, admire the terrific com-
bat, which is nightll encored, and
on the inimitable manner in
which Bill can "come the
double monkey,' or go througb the
m;rsterioUB involutioDB of a &ailor's
hornpipe.
It is nearly eleven o clock, and tbe
cold thin raiD which has been drizzliDg
80 loug, is beginning to pour down in
good earneat; the baked-potato man
baa departed-the kidney-pie man hIlII
just wa1ked away with his warehOWlO
on his arm-the cheeaemonger has
drawn in his blind, and the boya have
diaperaed. The constant clicking of
pattens on the aIippy and uneven
pavement, and the rustling of umbrel-
las, as the wind blowa against the
shop-windows, bear testimony to the
inclemency of the night; and the
policeman, with his oilskin cape but-
toned closely round him, seems as he
holds his bat on his head, and turns
round to avoid the gust of wind and
rain whicb drives againat him at the
atreet-corner, to be very far from con-
gratulating himself on the prospect
before him.
The little chandler's ahop with the
cracked bell behind the door, whose
melancholy tinkling baa been regulated
by the demand for qusrterns of augar
and half -ounces of coffee, is shutting
up. The crowds which have been
paaBing to and fro during the wbole
day, are rapidly dwindling away; and
the noiae of shouting and quarrelling
D 3
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",
which issues from iIIe pnblie-houea, Tbemore III1I8ied pM'tion of the play-
almost the only souud that breaks going eommunity betake 1hemeehes
the melancholy stillne18 of th!! night. to some harmonic meeting. As a
There was another, bntit has ceaaed. matter of curioeity 'let us foBow fhem
That wretched WOIIllID. 'With the infant thither for a few momen1B.
in her arms, round whoae meagre In a lofty room of epacioaB 1Iimeo-
form the remnant of 'her own scanty llions, are'BStedilOlllO eighty Ol"'&han-
shawl is carefully wrapped,'baa been dred knocking JiCtIe .pewter
attempting to Bing some popnlarballad, lIlea8Uft8on the tables,and hllllDllermg
in the hope of wringing a few pence away. with the handles of Cheir:1miYes,
from the compassionate puaer-by. A as if they were so 1IIB1I!)' trunJG.maken.
brotallaugh at her weak voice is all They are applaudit!g a glee,WImih.has
she has gained. 'lhe teaft fallthiek just beeo ._eeat.ed'by the three .. pro-
and fast down her own pale face; the fessional gentlemen'" at 1I1e 'top of the
child is cold and hungry. and its low eentre lable, one of whom is in-the
half-stifled wailing adds to the misery chair-the Jitde pompous man with
of its wretohed mother, lIB she moans ihe bIild head just emergiDg from the
aloud, and sinks despairingly down, eoUar'Of hie gwen eost. The others
on a cold damp door-step. are asied on either side of him--6e
Singing I -How few of th_ "Who stoutman with -the small voice, and
pus meb a miserable ereatuft 1111 ibis, the tlJin.ofaeed daftman in black.
think of the anguish of heart, the The liUle 'III&Il in the chair is a' DlOIIt
sinking of soul and spirit, whieh 1I1e amnsingpe!llOll ..
very effort of singing prodUC88.1tit1ier ing grandeur, 'lmd .-a ",oloe !
mockery I neglect, and "'BaM I " 1181he young gentleman
starvation, faintly articulating the DellI.' us .with the blue iItoek foralbly
words of the joyous ditty, .. hat 'has remal'frsio Iii. CompaoiOll, "base! I
enlivened your hOUl'll of -feasting and bllieYe yon; 'he go down lower
merriment, God knows 'how often I than. _y man': 11_ BMDetimes tba&
It is no-eubject The weak you CIIi!tIt.r.Jiim." Amd..o.he doea..
tremulons voice tells a.fearful 1&le of To hear him zrowling away,'gradaalty
want and famishing; and the -feeble lower and l_er iown, till he -can't
singer of this l'O&ring song may:tarr" ,pt >back apin, -is 1he moat-iIeliptful
away, only-to die of cold and hunger. I tbingin the-wlJllld,.and .itois qnite im-
One o'clock! Parties ntuming poasilile toWimea unmoved 1he .im-
from the different iheIttNe foot it plelllliw aolllllllliiy :with 'Which he
through the muddy aR'oe8l; cabs, pours forth liia-aoal in'" Mr 'antB .in
hackney-coaches, carriages, -and ilia- the -'igWandB," or .. '!noMe old
atre omnib-,rollewiftly by-; ___ Beak:" The stoat 'IIHIll is also ad-
men with dim dirty lanterns in their dietedto _timen1ali*1. and 'WBriIlea
hands, and large bl'll8ll plates l1pon "Fly, fly fl'OlD. -the WOI'ld, IIJf 1Ieaay,
their breasts, who have been shouting with me," or some _h song, with
and mahing about for oibe last two lady.like iIWOeiDeI8, and in the JDOIIt
hours, retire to their aedut!tive tones imaginable.
to solace themaelvea with the creature give ,our mrd_. gen'l'm'n
comforts of pipes and purl; the half- -pray-give -your onlens,"......,a the
price pit and box frequenters of the pale-fnaed '1IIa.n 'With the red:heBd;
theatres throng to the different hOll!lell and demands -for ." goes" of gin and
of refreshment; IIld chop!l, kidneys, "goes" of bnmdy, and 'Pinia of 1Itout,
rabbits, oysters, stout, cigars, and 8Ild Cigars of peculiar mildnelll, are
"goes" innumerable, are served up vociferonsly -made from all perta of
amidst a noise and confusion of the POOm. The" profeeaional .gen-
ROoking, 1'UJIIling, knif'e-clattering, tlemen'" are -in the very height.of their
and waiter-chattering, perfectly in- glory, and bestow condeaceoding'lloda,
c1eecri.bable. or even a word or two of ftIlogDition
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THE STREETS-NIGHT. 31i
on die better Imown frequenters of some aspiring genius has volunteered
the . room, in the moat bland and a recitation,and failed dismally therein,
patronising manner poBBible. the litile pompous man gives another
That little round-faced man, with knoek, and 8&)'8," Gen'l'men, we will
the 8IIlaIl brown snrtout, white stock- attempt a glee, if you please." This
inga and shoes, is in the cromie line j announcement eaIls forth tumultuous
the miucl8ir o&e\f..denial,.aud.m.ent&I applanse. &II.d the ,_ enerptic
...n-of own wi&h .pirita ........
which he aeImowIedpB the Gall DC __ n .i&atrOl'da 6em, .by ImockiQg
the chair. is pariicnlarIy patifying. ODe or two P- oIF their ...
"Geu.!1'-,"..,. the JiUle pGlIlJI01III _ Imm_ dniae; IIIlt QUO whitlh
man,-.-Jiag &be W01'd wUh a frequently oacaaioH _ alight &1w.-
Jmoakof &be .pftllident'. lIammar GIl cation wbeo the ro.n. of ,paying.
the tIIIIl_" Gen'l'mea, allDw __ ill dam fIO1Ie pRe thmuah
claim Diend, Mr. h1.the waUeJ:.
SmugiD .will .oblip."-" lInvo I" JUre tt-,.., .CODiianed
shout the eompany; and Smugi.... unUl thRe or foor olalaak .in. .the
aftera.....ul.aable quantity of aough- 1IlCII!IIiDg.; and _wheBothey cIoee,
iDg by ..,..of syDUIhaoy. and a JIl4IIt fnsh.oDell opel! tG ., inquiei.tift
m.uus...mr or . 0, ",Jaiah .doN DDUIIII. :But _ a oflaU.or
g-.l dBJiabt, Iiup.a iIOIII, theJa, hDwav8l'..eIip.t,.woold.reqnire.a
with a fal-de-ral-tGJ.tIe.roJ..abarus M Yolume,.the.4lIIDiIIDiI.f1l which, how-
the end :of e."., nme, nuusb.-,... _ 'W0Idd be lit 'DD
than 'the .,,_.u.eJf. U dB '-wad _ .pI ..... we make AlII!' bo.w,
with IIIIIIoImW ..--, aad .after _ chQp.ille GDtIIia.
2
/
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r
SKETCHES BY BOZ.
CHAPTER III.
mops All THBI.
WHA'! inexhautl'ble food for speeu-
Iat.iou, do the IItreetB of London aft'ord I
We never were able to agree with
Sterne in pitying the JIIIIl who could
traYeI from Dan to Beersheba, and _y
that all ..... bIImm; we haTe nol; the
alightellfl commiseration for the man
who em take up his hat and mek, and
walk from Covent-garden to at. Paul's
churehyaN, and baCk into the bargain,
without deril'ing lOIDe am_t-
we bad almost uid instruction-from
hill perambuJatiou. And yet there are
IIICh beinga: we meet them. every day.
Large black stocb and Bght waist-
eoata, jet canee and diseoDtented coun-
tenaucee, are the ehancteristics of the
_; other people brash quickly by
you, steadily plodding on to Imsinees,
or cheerlully I'mIJliDg after pl8llllllre.
These men linger listlessly put, look-
ing as happy and auimated as a police-
man OR duty. Nothing _.tomake
an impreuion on their minds: nothing
.abort or being knocked down by a
porter, or ran over by a cab, will dis-
turb their equanimity. You will meet
them on a fine day in any of the leading
thoIoughfaree: peep throuJrh the win-
dow or a weet.end cigar-aliop in the
-mg, if you can manage to get a
glimpee between the blue curtains
which the vuJaar gaze, and
you _ them m their only enjoyment
or ulatenoe. There they are lounging
about, OR round tube and pipe-boxee,
in all the dignity or whiakent, and
gilt watch-gnardl; whispering IIOlt
nothinga to the young lady in amber,
with the large ear-ringa, who, as she
IlifB behind the counter in a blaze or
adoratiou and gaa-light, is the admi-
ration of aU the female aenanfB in the
neighbourhood, and the envy or every
mi11iner's apprentice within two milee
round.
One of our principal amusements is
to watch the gradual prograaa-the
rise 01' lall-or pariieuIar shops. We
haYe formed an intimate acquaintance
with seftl'al, in dift'erent parta of town,
and are perfectly acquainted with their
whole history. We could name oft'-
hand, twenty at leas&, which we are
quite aare have paid no taxes for the
last Bix ylllll'll. They are never in-
habited for more than two months
consecutively, and, we verily believe,
have witu-.i every refBil trade in
the directory.
There is one, wbose hiIdory is a
sample or the reat, in whose tate we
have taken especial interest, having
had the p18IIIIIIre or it ever
since it has been a shop. It 18 on the
Surrey aide of the water-a liUle dis-
tance beyond the KarBh-gate. It WIll
origiually a substantial, aoocl..Jooking
private bouse 1IDOIJIh; the landlord
got into diIBcnlties, die-house got into
Chancery, the tenant went away, and
the house went to min. At this
period our acquaintance with it c0m-
menced: the paint ..... all worn off;
the windows were bl'okeu, the area
..... green with neglect and the over-
flowinga or the water-butt; the butt
itselt was without a lid, and the street-
door ..... the very picture of misery.
The chief pastime 01 the children in
the vicinity bad been to _mble in a
body on the st.epe, aDd take it in turn
to knock loud douhle Imocka at the
door, to the great _tielactiou or the
neighbours generally, and especislly
of the nervous old lady next door
but one. Numerous complainfB were
made, and seTel'lll small una of
water discharged over the offenders,
but without effect. In this alafB of
things, the marine-store dealer at the
corner or the streBt, in the most
obliging manner took the knocker off,
and sold it: and the unfortunate hooM
looked more wretched than ever.
We deserted our friend lor a few
weeks. What WIll our surprise, on
our return, to find no trace of ita
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SHOPS AND THEIR TENANTS. 37
existence! In its plaee was a hand- self,.. they sat in tbe little parlour
some shop, Cut appl"OllChing to a state behind the shop; and we never paased
of completion, and on the abntters at night without seeing the eld_1Jirl
were 1arge bills, informing the public at work, either for them, or in making
that it would abortly be opened with some elegant little trifte for aale. We
"an e x t e D B i ~ stock of linen.drapery often thought, .. her pale face looked
IIIld haberdaabery." It opened in due more sad and peDBive in the dim
COUl'IIe; there was the DalDe of the candle-light, that it thoae thought-
proprietor "and Co." in gilt letters, leas females who interfere with the
almost too dazzling to look at. Such miserable market of poor Cl'MtureB
ribbons and Bbawls! and two such such .. theile, knew but one half of the
eiefl!Dt yODDg men behind the counter, misery they sull'er, and the bitter prj-
eaCh in a clean collar and white neck- vauons they endure, in their honour-
clotb, like the lover in a farce. As able attempts to earn a IICIlIIty subsist-
to the proprietor, he did nothing but ence, they would, perhaps, resign even
walk up and down the abop, and hand opportunities for the gratification of
seat.a to the ladies, and hold important vanity, and an immodest love of self-
COIIVersations with the handsomeat of diapl&y, rather than drive them to a
the young meu, who was shrewdly last dreadful resource, which it would
Inspected by the neighbours to be the abock the delicate feelings of these
" Co." We sawall this with sorrow; c1u&ritGblB ladies to hear DalDed.
we felt a fatal presentiment that the But we are forgetting the abop.
lhop WIllI doomed-and BO it WII8. Its Well, we contWued to watch it, and
decay was slow, but sure. Tickets every day abowed too clearly the in-
gradually appeared in the windows; creasing poverty of its inmates. The
then rolla of flaunel, with labela on children were elean, it is true, but
them, were stack outside the door; their clothee were threadbare and
then a bill was paated on the street- shabby; no tenant bad been procured
door, intimating that the first floor for the upper part of the house, from
was to let _furniahed; then one of the letting of which, a portion of the
the young men dissppearedaltogether, means of paying the rent was to bave
and the other took to a black necker- been derived, and a slow, wasting con-
chief, and the proprietor took to drink- sumption prevented the eldeetgirl from
ing. The abop became dirty, broken coutinuingherexertioDB. Quarter-day
panes of glR88 remained unmended, arrived. The landlord had BUffered
and the stock disappeared piecemeal. from the extravagance of his laat
At last the company's man came to tenant, and he had no compaBBion for
eat oft" the water, and then the linen- the struggles of his lI\lCCeIIIIor; he put
draper cut 011' himself, leaving tJle in an execution. As we passed one
landlord his compliments and the key. morning, the broker's men were re-
The next occupant was a fancy sta- moving the little furniture tbere was
tioner. The shop was more modeeCIy in the hoose, and a newly-posted bill
painted than before, still it was neat; informed us it was again "To Let."
bot IIOIQehow we always thOught, .. What became of the last tenant we
we paued, tthat it looked like a poor never could learn; we believe the girl
and struggling concern. We wished is past all suffering, and beyond all
the man well, bot we trembled for his .BOrroW. God help her! We hope
~ He was a widower evidenUy, abe is.
and had employment elsewhere, for he We were somewhat curions to ascer-
p8IBed DB every morning on his road tain what would be the next stage-for
to the city_ The busineas was carried that the plaee bad no chance of suc-
OD by his eldest daughter. Poor girl! ceediug now, was perfectly clear. The
she needed no sBBistance. We OCC&- bm WBB BOOn taken down, and some
sionally eaught a glimpse of two or alterations were being made in the
three children, in mourning like ber- interior of the shop. We were in A
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38
SKETCHES BY DOZ.
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LONDON BECBEATIONS. 55
grow moat valuable, for a tweIfth reflection as we walked homewards,
part or it.e worih. It was a good ape- upon the curious old 1"eClO1'CIs of likings
eulation-a very lllaCe one. The old IIIld dialikiuga; of jealousies BUd re-
maD stowed his ,ocket-book -runy veng.ee; of alfection defying the
in the breast 0 his greakoat, IIIld power of death, IIIld hatred pu1'8IlIlCl
hobbled away with a leer of triumph. beyond the grave, which these de-
That will had made him ten years contain; silent but etrilriDg
at the lowest computation. tokens, some of them, of excellence of
HAving CODIIIleDced our ob8erva- heart, aad noblen_ of 1IOIll; melBD
tioas, we should eertain1y have choly eumples, others, of the wors&
extended them to anot.her dozen or paasious of lmman nature. How many
people at least, had not a BUdden men as theyiay !!pe8Chles8 BUd help-
s1uU;ting up and puttiDg away of the less on the bed of death, would have
worm-eaten old books, warned us that given worlds but for the strength and
the time for closing the office had power to blot ont the silent evidence
arrived; and thus deprived DB of a of animosity and bitterneaa, which
nleasure, and spared our readera an now stands registered againat them in
imlietilla. Doctora' Commona I
We nat.ura1ly fell into a train of
CHAPTER IX.
LO!IDOJr llI:CJIlIMDOKS.
Tim wiah of peraOD8 in the humbler covered. to be in a 1anguiahing con-
w- of life, to ape the matIJIer8 IIIld dition: Thomson's great room, or
cuat.oma of those whom fortnDe has Johuon's nlll'ller1-ground is forthwith
pIaeed above them, is often the subject engaged, IIIld the aforeaa.id young
of remark, and not of ladies, from mere charity, eshibit
complaint. The inclination Ina)',1IIld themselves for three days, from twelve
no doubt does, exist to extent, to four, for the sma1l charge of one
amGIIII the small gentility-the would- ahil1ing per head! With the excep-
be aristocrat.e-of the Diddle c1asses. tiQlloftbesecla8llesofsociety,however,
TradMmen and. clerks, with fllllhiDnl.- and. a few weak and iDsifieant
ble novel.reading f'amilies, and cireu.. persons, we do not think the attempt
laiingliIJnry-lJllbscribing daushte1'l!, at imitation to which we have alluded,
get up small _mlllies in humble prevails in any great degree. The
imiiation of Almaek's. and promenade clift'erent charact.er of the recreations
the dingy "larae l'OODl" of some of different classes, has often alforded
_d-rate hotel with as much com- DB llmllllllment; BUd we lIave chosen.
p1aceu.q as the enviable few who are it for the aubject of onr present
privileged to exhibit their- msgniD- sketch, in the hope that it may poIIIIII8II
cence iD. that exclusive haunt of fashion some 8oIIl1l88IDOnt for our readers.
BUd foolery. Aspiring young ladies, If the regular City maD, who leaves
who read ftaming accounts of some Lloyd's at five o'clock, and drives
"fanq fair in high life," suddenly home to Hackney, Claptou, Stamford-
grow desperately charitable; visiODa hill, or elsewhere, CBD be said to have
of admiration and matrimony float any daily recreation beyond his dinner,
before their eyes; 10_ wODderfally itishiBprden. Heneverdoeamything
meritoriOll8 institution, whicb, hy the to it with his own hands ; but hie taIree
II&raIIp8t aocident in the world, has great pricle in it DGtwithstaDding; and
never been heard of before, is dis- if ;you are deeiroDB of paying. your
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addre.es to the )'01IIIgeat daqhter, be
IIII!e to be in npAl1'e8 with every
flower and ahmb it CIIIltaiu. If your
poverly of compel you. to
make any dietinction between the two,
we would ceria.iDly recommend your
bestowing more admintion on his
garden than his wine. He al_ye
takes a walk round it, befOl'e he atarte
for town in the morning, and is par.
ticularly anxious that the fish-pond
Ihould be kept specially neat. If you
call on him on Sunday in lIIlDID1er-time,
about an hour before dinner, you will
find him Bitting in an arm-ehair, on
the lawn behind the house, with a
straw hat on, reading a Sunday paper.
A short distance from him you will
most likely obeerve a handsome paro-
quet in a large bl'll8ll'wire cage ; ten
to one bllt the two eldest girls are
loitering in one of the Bide walka
accompanied by a couple of young
gentlemen, who are holding pat'II8Ols
over them-of coune only to the
II1lIl off-while the younger cIliJdren,
with the under nursery.maid, are
strolling listlessly about, in the shade.
Beyond these occasioDB, his delight in
his garden appears to arise mOl'e from
the COI1BCiOUBD_ of pclIII8IIIIion than
actual eujoyment of il When he
drins you down to dinner on a week
day, he is rather fatigued with the
occupations of the morning, and tolera-
bly Cll"OIIII into the bargain ; but when
the cloth is removed, and he has drank
three or four gla8ees of his favourite
port, he orders the French windows of
his dining.room (which of course look
into the garden) to be opened, and
throwing a Bilk handkerchief over his
head, and lsaning back in his arm-
chair, dllllC&Dts at conaiderable
uJ!O!l its beauty, and the coet of mam-
taining il This is to you-
who are a young friend of the family
-with a due BeIlse of the excellence
of the garden, and the wealth of its
owner ; and when he has exhausted
the BUbject, he goes to Blesp.
There is another and a very different
clIIII of men, whose recreation is their
garden. An individual of this cJus,
l'eIidea IIODle short distance from town
_y in the Hampstead-road, or tho
Kilburn-road, or any other road where
the houses are IIIJI&ll and neat, and
have little e1ips of back garden. He
and his wif'e-who is as clean and com
pact a little body as himself-have
occupied the lIaIlle house ever aiDce he
remed from buaineu twenty ye&l'B
ago. They have no family. They
once had a son, who died at about five
years old. The child's portrait hangs
over the mantelpiece in the baet Bitting-
room, and a little can he used to draw
about, is carefully preeerved as a relic.
In fine weather the old gentleman
is almost constantly in the garden;
and when it is too wet to go into it,
he will look out of the window at it,
by the hour together. He has always
something to do there, and lOU will
see him diainIr, lII1d sweepmg, and
cutting, anir plinting, with manifeBt
delight. In spring time, there is no
end to the sowing of aeecIa, and stick-
ing little bits of wood over them, with
labels, which look like epitapbB to their
memory"; and in the evening, when the
II1lIl has gone down, the peraeverance
with which he lugs a great _tering-
pot about is perfectly astonishing.
The ouly other recreation he has, is
the nllWllp&p81', which he every
day, from beginning to end, genanDy
re&ding the mOlt intereBting pieces of
intelligence to his wife, daring break-
fast. The old lsdy is very fond of
flowen, as the hyacinth-glasBes in the
parlour-window, and geranium-pots ill
the little front court, testify. She
tak8B great pride in the garden too :
and 'when one or the four frai,-f;re8B
produ_ rather a laraer gooaeberr7
than UBUal, it is carefully preeerved
under a win8j1asB on the aideboud,
for the edification of viBitorB, who are
duly informed that Mr. So-aDd-so
planted the tree which produced it,
with his own hands. On a 1IIlDID1er'B
evening, when the large _teriJJI'-pot
has been filled and emptied BOIDe loUr-
teen tim.., and the old couple have
quite exhausted themse1ns by V:otting
about, you will Bee them Bitting hap-
Jlily together in the little Bummer-
I1OUIIe, enjopng the calm and peace of
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LONDON RECREATIONS. 57
the twiJjsrht, and watehiDg the Bhadowa clotIur, in their hanc1s, chasing one
18 they tan upon the R&l'den. and gra- another on the grau in the mOlt
dually growing thioier aDd more playl'al and int8re8iing manner, with
IOmbre, obacnre the tinfa of their the Yiew of attracting ihe attention of
ga)'1lBt Bowen-no bad emblem of the the aforeeaicl gentlemen-hu.sband8 in
years that haTe silently rolled oYer perapect;i.ve ol'ilering bottles of ginger-
their heads, deadening in their 001ll'll8 beer lor the objectB of their afJ'eeticma,
the brightest hues of early hopes and with a lavish disregard of expense ;
feelings which have long since faded and the said objectB washing down
away. Thesearetheironlyreareations, huge qusntiti.es of "shrimps" and
and they require no more. They have .. winkles," with an equal ctisregard of i"
within themaelves, the materials of their own bodily health and subaequeJlC<"
oomfort and oontent; and the only comfort.-boya, with great Bilk hafa
anne&)' of each, is to die before the c., balanced on the top of their
other. smoking cigars, and trying to
This is no ideal sketch. There tiled look &8 if they liked them-gentlemen
to be many old people of this deearip- in pink IIhirta and blue waistcoats,
tion ; their n1llDbers may have dimi oceasiODally upaetiing eisner them-
niahed, and may decrease Btill more. Belvea, or somebody elIIe, with their
Whether the 001Il'II8 female education own DaDes.
has taken of late dar-whether the Some of the finery of these people
parauit of giddy frivolities, and empty provoke8 a smUe, but they are all
nothiDgB, has WIlded to mdlt women clean, and happy, and rliaposed to be
for dlat quiet domestic life, in which good-natured and 8OCiab1e. ThOllll two
they show far more beautifally than motherly.looking women in the smart
in the moat crowded is a who are chatting 80 oonfiden-
question we should feel little gratiftca- tially, inBerting a "ma'am" at every
tion in diacussing: we hops not. fourth word, scraped an acquaintance
Let us turn now, to another portion about a quarter of an hour ago: it
of the London popalation, whOllll originated in admiration of the little boy
-u.OIlB preaent about &8 Btrong a who belongs to one of them-that
contrast &8 DaD well be oonoeived-we diminutive specimen of mor&ality in
meaD the Sunday pleaaurers ; and let the tlJre&.oornered pink aatin hat with
us beg our readerB to imagine them- black feathers. The two men in the
Belvea Btationed by our aide in lOme blue coafa and drab trouaera, who are
well-known rural .. Tea-gardens." walking up and down, smoking their
The heat is intense this afternoOn, ripee, are their husbands. The party
and the people, of whom there are m the opposite box are a pretty fair
additional parties arriving every of the generality ot the
moment, lOOK &8 warm &8 the tables YJaitors. These are the father and
which have been painted,and mother, and old grandmether: a
have the appesrance of being red-hot. young man and woman, and an indi-
What a dust and noise! Men and vidual addressed by the euphonious
women-boys and girl&--aweethearta title of" Uncle Bill," who is eYi-
and married peopl_babiea in arma, dently the wit of the party. They
and children in chaiBea-pipeB and have lOme half-dozen Chilc&en with
ahrimpa-eigars and periwinkl_tea them, but it is scarcely n_ry to
and tollaeco. Gentlemen, in aIanning notice the fact, for that is a matter of
waiatooats, and steel watch-guards, OOurBe here. Every woman in "the
promeuading about, three abreast, garcieDB," who has been married for
wilh surprising dignity (or &8 the anr length of time, must have had
gentleman in the next box facetiously twins on two or three OecasiODB; it
observee, "autting ihnoommon fat I") is impossible to account lor the
-ladies, with great, long, white extent of juvenile popalation in any
pock&hanc1kefthiefa like IDDIIIl table- other -y.
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SHABBY-GENTEEL PEOPLE. 161
CHAPTER X.
IIJI.lBBY-omrrBm. PBOPLB.
TIIlIU are certain d88ClriptiOllll of "harmonic meeanga" at lOme fourth-
people who, oddly enough, appear to rate public-hollllll, or the purlieu or a
apper&ain exclusively to the metro- private theatre, are his chlllen haunll;
polis. You meet them, every day, in he entertains. rooted antipathy to any
die meets of London, but no one kind of work, and is on familiar terms
etel' eDCOWlters them elIIewhere; they with eeveral pantomime men at the
_m indigenoue to the BOil, and to large houees. But, if you _ hurrying
belong .. exclusively to Londou .. ill along a bye-atreet, keeping .. cloee ..
own smoke, or the dingy bricks and he can to the area-railinaa. a man 01
1IlOl'tar. We could illuetrate the about forty or fifty, clad in an old
l'IlIIW'k by. variety of examples, but, mety euit of threadbare black cloth
in oar present sketch, we will ouly which shines with coutant wear .. it
advert to one c1au .. a specimen- it had been beea-waxed-the troueen
that cluB which is soaptly aBel expree- tightly strapped down, partly for the
Bively designated .. "shabby-genteel." look of the thing and partly to keep
Now,shabbypaopIe,GodknoWl,may his old shoes from Blipping ofF at the
be foand any where, and gentesl paople hee1a,-if you ob8erYe, too, that his
are not articles of greater scarcity out yellowish-white neckerchief is care-
:' of London than in it l but this com- fully pinned up, to conceal the tattered
ponndofthetwo-thisshabby-gentility garment underneath, and that his
-is .. purely local .. the statue at hands are encased in the remain. 01
or the pump at Aldgate. an old pair of beaver glO'Rll, yon may
.. It is worthy of remark, too, that only I8t him down ... shabby-gentesl man.
.. men are shabbJ-genteel; woman is A glance that face, and
always either dirty and alovenly in tile timoroue air of COIIIIIIlOue poverty, will
extreme, or neat and respectable, how- make your heart BDp-
poverty-stricken in appearance. posing that :you are neither. philoao-
very poor man, "who baa I88D nor a political economist.
better day.... .. the goes, is a We were once haunted by a shabby-
strange compound 01 dirty-alovenliD818 genteel man; he _ bodily preeent to
and wretched attempll ad.ded smart- our l8iliiii8 all day, and he w .. in our
DelIS. mind's eye all night. The man of
We will enlleavour to explain our whom Sir Walter Scott II))8&ks in hiB
conception of the term which forms Demouology, did not sulrer half the
die title of this paper. If:you meet a peraecutiou from his imaginary gen-
man, lounging up Drury-lane, or lean- tleman-usher in black velvet, that we
with hiB back against a post in suetained from our friend in quondam
LOng-acre, with his hands in the black cloth. He firet attraclsd our
pockets of pair of drab troueers notice, by Bitting opposite to us in the
pll!lltifully besprinkled with grease- reading-room at the British Mueeum;
SPOil: the troueers made "fflr1 fall and what made the man more remark-
Otel' the boots, and omamented with able was, that he always had before
two oorda down the onlside 01 eachleg him a couple of shabby-genteel book.
-wearing, also, what has been. brown -two old doga-eared folios, in mould,.
COBt with bright buttons, and a hat worm_ten coven, which had once
very much pinched up at the Bides, beensmarL He_in his chBir, ever,-
cocked over his right eya-don't pity morning, just .. the clock struck ten ;
him. He is qot shabby-genteel. The he _ always the las' to leave the
No. lOS. 11
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In
8lEBTClIES BY BOZ.
room in the afternoon; aDd when he gone aome strange metam.orphoIIiII, &lid
did, he quitted it with the air of a DIUI walked up the centre of the room wilb
who bew DOt where elle to go, for an air which mowed he WIllI full, eon-
warmth aDd quiet. There he, UIIed to __ of the improftlllent m biB
ait all day, as cloee to the table as poe- appearance. It WIllI very odd. His
Bible, in order to ooneeal the laok of cloth. - a fine, deep, glCl8B1 black j
buttons on hill coat: with hia old bat aDd yet they looked 1ike the DIlle
__ ally depoIited _ hia feet, where suit; DaY. there _ the very daraa
be..uIentlyftaHeredbimlelt it_ped with which old aoquaintllllee had made
oiIIIIrYatioll. us famillIIr. n.e hat, too-nobacly
, About two o'clock, 7011 would _ could mistake the shape of that hat,
himmuncbing a French roll or a penny with ita high' __ gradually mer.-
IoIIf ; not taking it boldly out of his ing in eireamference tow.d8 the t.op.
1ICIIlket _ ouce, like. man who Imew Lo. IIel'rice bad imparted to it a red-
hewuonlymakingalunch;bu*m-k- disb-bI'owa tint; bat, now, it was.
m, off Ii. bita in hia pocket, and blaok as the -*. The tnath fIasbed
eating them by lltealtb. lie bew too IIIIddenly upon _they bad beeII
well it 1I'I1II bill dinner. "reviftd." It is a deceitful
When we fInt aw thia objeet, that blaok and blue reviftl"; we haft
_ thought it qui. impaEble thae bill wMebed ifI8 eft'eata on maD)' a ababbJ
II&tire oould ever become WOI'IIII. We DIUI. It IIetray. illl vic:timl
even wenhofar, as to IIJIOcalate on the mto a tempmvy of jm.
pouibillty of bill mortAy appearing in portance: poaibly into the tNrehaR of
a, d_t lIIIOOJld-bUld lluil. We bew a new pair of glowe, or a cbeap tdock,
nothing about the matter j he grew or lIOIDe other article of dreeI.
more and mimi shabby.genteel every It ele'IUBe their Bplrita for a week,
day. The buttoue dropped off' hill only to them, if poIIIIible, below
-.u.eoo.t, one by OIle j then, he but- their original level. It _ 80 in thili
toned bis coat; IIIId when OIIe Bide of _; the tnmIIient dignity of the \JIIo
the ooat wu reduced to the ame OOD- happy maD decreued, in ellM& pl'UJlOl"
dition .. the wailtooat, he buttoned it don .. the .. revivEr" wore 0&:. TIle
_ on the othEr Bide. He looked Im_ of the unmentiollllbl-, and the
aomewhat betCer at the beginning of elboW!! of the ooM, aDd the _
the week thaD at the ooncluaion, generally,BOOn began topt aJarmi11111
the neok8ftlbief, though ,.,Oow, white. The hat "' .. 01108 more depe-
wunoiquitelOdingyjand,in themidlt Bited under the table, aDd ita cnrDIIr
of all thia wretcbedn-. be neYer ap- erept into his _t .. quietly .. _.
peal" without glo_ aDd........ Be 'l'here wu a week of
l'emained in thill IItate for a week or rain and mist. At illl expiration"
fowo. Ai length, one of the buttom on .. reviver " had entirely "fUIiabed, ud
the baak of the _t fell off, and then the lIhabby-genteei man nefti' afW.
the DIUI him.Jf dlaappeared, and we warda attempted to etfeet any imprClfto
thought be ... dead. ment in hia outwllrd. &ppeIIl'IUKlI!.
W. were maing at the __ table It would be ditBoalt to name.y
about a _k after his disappearance, pariiealar part of town as the priu.
UId .. CI1Il" eyw rested OIl hill ftCIIoDt eipal reaort of shabby-genteel mea.
chair, we feU iDto a train of We han met a gr.i _y penaas
meditation on the nbject of bill l'eUre- of thill deeeription in the ueigb\Joal'
ment from public life. We were won- bood of the innll of oouft. They f1111
daring whether he bad bung himllelf, or be met with, in Bolbonl, betweea
thrown bi_lf off a bridge-whetber and ten aDy momiDg; aad bIB
he really WIllI dead or had only been the curiosity to enter the &.bst
lIl'l"8IIted-when our oonjectarea _ Debtors' Court win obIene, both
luddenly Ht at relit by the entry of among apectatora and
the DIUI himHlf. He Irad una.... great ftl'iety of them. We n ....
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SHABBY-GBN'l'lIBL PEOPLE. 1&3
went on 'Chauge, by any chance, with- engraYlll', and lived in a damp back-
out seeing some shabby-genteel men, parlour in a new row of h01l8e8 at
and we have often wondered what Camden-town, half street, half brick-
earthly business they can have than. field, aomewhere near the canal. A
They will sit there, for hours, leaning shabby-genteel man may have no ae-
on great, dropsical, mildewed amlmd- capaaOB, or he may be a corn agent,
las, or eating Abernethy bieeuita. No- or a coal. agent, or a wine agent,
body ~ to them, nor they to any or a collector of debts, or a broker's
one. On ClODIIiden.tion, _ remember 1IBIiMant, or a broken-down attol'D81.
to haft -a-ny seen two ahabby.. He uury be a cia of the loweat de-
genteel men conversing topther on IIIlriptiOB, or a contributor to the ~
'Change, but our experi_ _ of the same grW. Whether 0111"
ustbat this ia an uncommoneiroam- readershavenotiaedth_men,intheir
atance, oeeasioned by the oft'er of a walb, ... often B& we have, we know
pinch or IIIIUff, or some BUeh eiYility. I not; this we kno_that the miserably
It would be a taU of equal cHflleolt,y, poor man (no matter wbet.hel'he owes
either to IIIII!ign any particular spot for hia dime_ to hi. own COBdue&, or
the rel!idenee of theae bei.. or to ihat of others) who feels hia poftriy
endeavour to-enumerate their genaral aod vainly Btrive& to eoneeal it, i. ODe
_pations. We were Dever engaged of'the molt pitiable objeeta in h_
in bwDnetII with more than one Bhabby- nature. Snell objlletl, with fewenep-
genteel man; aad he WIllI a dnmken tiOll8, are Bhabb)'-geDteeJ people.
112
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