登陆注册
4807800000048

第48章

GREENWICH FAIR

If the Parks be 'the lungs of London,' we wonder what Greenwich Fair is - a periodical breaking out, we suppose, a sort of spring-rash: a three days' fever, which cools the blood for six months afterwards, and at the expiration of which London is restored to its old habits of plodding industry, as suddenly and completely as if nothing had ever happened to disturb them.

In our earlier days, we were a constant frequenter of Greenwich Fair, for years. We have proceeded to, and returned from it, in almost every description of vehicle. We cannot conscientiously deny the charge of having once made the passage in a spring-van, accompanied by thirteen gentlemen, fourteen ladies, an unlimited number of children, and a barrel of beer; and we have a vague recollection of having, in later days, found ourself the eighth outside, on the top of a hackney-coach, at something past four o'clock in the morning, with a rather confused idea of our own name, or place of residence. We have grown older since then, and quiet, and steady: liking nothing better than to spend our Easter, and all our other holidays, in some quiet nook, with people of whom we shall never tire; but we think we still remember something of Greenwich Fair, and of those who resort to it. At all events we will try.

The road to Greenwich during the whole of Easter Monday, is in a state of perpetual bustle and noise. Cabs, hackney-coaches, 'shay'

carts, coal-waggons, stages, omnibuses, sociables, gigs, donkey-chaises - all crammed with people (for the question never is, what the horse can draw, but what the vehicle will hold), roll along at their utmost speed; the dust flies in clouds, ginger-beer corks go off in volleys, the balcony of every public-house is crowded with people, smoking and drinking, half the private houses are turned into tea-shops, fiddles are in great request, every little fruit-shop displays its stall of gilt gingerbread and penny toys;turnpike men are in despair; horses won't go on, and wheels will come off; ladies in 'carawans' scream with fright at every fresh concussion, and their admirers find it necessary to sit remarkably close to them, by way of encouragement; servants-of-all-work, who are not allowed to have followers, and have got a holiday for the day, make the most of their time with the faithful admirer who waits for a stolen interview at the corner of the street every night, when they go to fetch the beer - apprentices grow sentimental, and straw-bonnet makers kind. Everybody is anxious to get on, and actuated by the common wish to be at the fair, or in the park, as soon as possible.

Pedestrians linger in groups at the roadside, unable to resist the allurements of the stout proprietress of the 'Jack-in-the-box, three shies a penny,' or the more splendid offers of the man with three thimbles and a pea on a little round board, who astonishes the bewildered crowd with some such address as, 'Here's the sort o'

game to make you laugh seven years arter you're dead, and turn ev'ry air on your ed gray vith delight! Three thimbles and vun little pea - with a vun, two, three, and a two, three, vun: catch him who can, look on, keep your eyes open, and niver say die! niver mind the change, and the expense: all fair and above board: them as don't play can't vin, and luck attend the ryal sportsman! Bet any gen'lm'n any sum of money, from harf-a-crown up to a suverin, as he doesn't name the thimble as kivers the pea!' Here some greenhorn whispers his friend that he distinctly saw the pea roll under the middle thimble - an impression which is immediately confirmed by a gentleman in top-boots, who is standing by, and who, in a low tone, regrets his own inability to bet, in consequence of having unfortunately left his purse at home, but strongly urges the stranger not to neglect such a golden opportunity. The 'plant' is successful, the bet is made, the stranger of course loses: and the gentleman with the thimbles consoles him, as he pockets the money, with an assurance that it's 'all the fortin of war! this time Ivin, next time you vin: niver mind the loss of two bob and a bender! Do it up in a small parcel, and break out in a fresh place. Here's the sort o' game,' &c. - and the eloquent harangue, with such variations as the speaker's exuberant fancy suggests, is again repeated to the gaping crowd, reinforced by the accession of several new-comers.

The chief place of resort in the daytime, after the public-houses, is the park, in which the principal amusement is to drag young ladies up the steep hill which leads to the Observatory, and then drag them down again, at the very top of their speed, greatly to the derangement of their curls and bonnet-caps, and much to the edification of lookers-on from below. 'Kiss in the Ring,' and 'Threading my Grandmother's Needle,' too, are sports which receive their full share of patronage. Love-sick swains, under the influence of gin-and-water, and the tender passion, become violently affectionate: and the fair objects of their regard enhance the value of stolen kisses, by a vast deal of struggling, and holding down of heads, and cries of 'Oh! Ha' done, then, George - Oh, do tickle him for me, Mary - Well, I never!' and similar Lucretian ejaculations. Little old men and women, with a small basket under one arm, and a wine-glass, without a foot, in the other hand, tender 'a drop o' the right sort' to the different groups; and young ladies, who are persuaded to indulge in a drop of the aforesaid right sort, display a pleasing degree of reluctance to taste it, and cough afterwards with great propriety.

同类推荐
  • 佛说贫穷老公经之二

    佛说贫穷老公经之二

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 天香传

    天香传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 黄帝阴符经注

    黄帝阴符经注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 寓意编

    寓意编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 顿悟入道要门论

    顿悟入道要门论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 抢来的皇后

    抢来的皇后

    残暴而惨酷,毫无人性的乱世侫臣,挑起天下狼烟四起,百姓惨呼奔逃,不为王位,不为权贵,却只是为了满足他的杀虐!他在朝堂上仰天狂笑,谁敢或说一二?皇帝战栗着掩面而泣。红颜不笑强笑,纤腰舞得娇媚,素手执的是什么酒。一杯青酒下肚,他突然揽过她的腰,把酒哺入她的唇:“你要我死,我就死,可是我死也不会放过你!”轮回本当一切重新来过,为什么这孽情仍旧纠缠。她出身勋贵之门,又高高在上的皇后,他却成了平民中的贱民。那一天皇后亲自赈济饥民水粥为皇帝祈福,让他窥到了她的容颜,骨子里的暴戾突然被全部唤醒!他要她!为了她,他从军,将死人堆里一步步爬出来了,他成了人见人怕的“鬼将”,再一次成了人见人怕的侫臣,再入那金碧辉煌的九层高阙,含笑走进惊惶不安的她,眼里是势在必得的决心。他黜帝,霸后,夺政,她保帝,反击,护权。因为她是皇后,所以她必须要杀这个乱世之臣,可是面对他的一如始终的爱意,那负尽天下人也要爱她的勇气,让她如何下得了手?家国,天下,夫妻,帝后,君臣,一切的一切纠缠在爱恨中,何去何从?这冤孽,几时休!*******************************剧透:用力一挥,血光漫天,染红了那一天的白雪。她面色苍白,一步步走向皇帝,皇帝满意地看着她拖在地上的七尺青锋剑。“你杀了他?”她没有回答,木然地看着皇帝,咯啷一声,血剑坠地,她的泪水无声肆流。皇帝伸手向她:“过来,皇后。”*剧透,就是让你急个够!哈哈,桑陌不写悲剧哦!专訫独恋さ帮桑陌作了个视频,真是太感谢了!谢谢亲们的支持。谢谢给予票票的亲们。还有没给票票的亲们,如果觉得桑写得不好,你们要砸桑就砸吧,不过,最好是用你们的票票砸,猛砸,桑虽怕痛痛,不过,还是很开心滴。。。。
  • 腹黑男孩

    腹黑男孩

    殷娃,孤儿,十八岁,泰阳高中高二学生,成绩十分之差,差到一塌糊涂,凡是人见了都会汗颜!而且常常被人耻笑,因为名字取的不好!殷娃,淫娃!大家都直接叫她淫娃!可是殷娃她很正常,一点都不淫!不过她也不在意,人家要笑就让她们去笑,反正自己脸皮很厚。而又因为她的身高比一般女孩高挑,所以老师安排她坐在最后面,脸蛋又平平无奇,毫无特色可言,所以她没一个朋友,每天都独来独往,不过这样也好,她最喜欢安静……
  • 共和国传奇英雄:叶挺

    共和国传奇英雄:叶挺

    刘战英,1943年生,河北省高阳县人。国家一级作家。曾任中央军委空军文学艺术创作室副主任。1987年转业,任中国侨联机关刊物《海内与海外》杂志社主编。现任北京世界华人文化院院长兼书画艺术委员会主任。已出版包括长篇小说、传记、散文集等在内的20余部著作,逾500万字。
  • 蜩笑偶言

    蜩笑偶言

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 无盐丑女

    无盐丑女

    长孙容看到周围飘荡的一缕缕游魂,惊讶的睁大了双眼。天哪,这是哪里?怎么会出现这种鬼东东?抓来一个看着顺眼的,丢过去一记媚眼,娇滴滴的问道“请问,这里是哪里吖?”“阎王殿…”鬼被她吓的口吐白沫,就怕又升天一次。OMG,想她活了二十三年,做的好事可以按千计算,那她这么会出现在这里?难道,是老天嫉妒她太美了吗?还好,她有个小聪明,懂得魅惑这里的老大——阎王。然后,她重生了!只是,就不能让她正常一点的重生吗?怎么到了这个陌生的地方就是盖着大红的盖头?这也就算了,竟然还让她遇到了劫亲的。而那个打劫的人说什么?丑女?原来自己竟然变成了一个丑女,那她就更加的好奇,到底是谁有胆量娶自己这个丑女了。不过,丑女多作怪,看她如何玩转这个不存在的历史朝代!“皇上,您为什么和月妃都不穿衣服?”某女色迷迷的看着男人和女人光滑的身体。(当然是偷偷的看)某男和某女恨的牙痒。“漂亮姐姐,你用的是什么胭脂,为什么你的皮肤这样的光滑细嫩,我的就不可以?”某女一脸天真的看着她口中的那个漂亮姐姐!某男脸部肌肉抽搐不停,该死,这个丑女眼睛有问题吗?他是男人!“你跟着我干什么?”某女终于出了皇宫,没有想到,就被一个和尚跟上了。“阿弥陀佛,别人笑我忒疯癫,我笑他人看不穿,如今,贫僧也看不穿了!”和尚说了一句莫名其妙的话,但是,那句诗词,却让某女浑身一震!“虽然我长的很丑,但是,配你刚刚好,而且,我会很温柔的,一定不会让你感觉到痛苦!”一张很耐看的脸(呃,其实就是很丑,咱不好明说)的主人对着在他不远处的一个丑女开口。“我丑吗?”某女巧笑倩兮的上前,然后,出其不意的,一拳落在了丑男的鼻子上,顿时,鲜血喷洒当场!“看来你是真的喜欢我,看到我都流鼻血了!”丑男脸部在抽搐,然后,口吐白沫,直接晕倒!本文女主强大,腹黑,在皇宫中扮猪吃老虎,出了皇宫就恢复了自己的本色!文文前半部分是纯小白,中间有点偏正,后面也是小白,喜欢的亲们跳坑了~~文文没有华丽的词藻,有的是精彩搞笑的故事情节,可以让看的亲们都笑口常开,喜欢的亲们请收藏,很喜欢请推荐,非常喜欢请留言!月在这里谢谢大家了,群么么!强烈推荐好友NP文夜子翎《收了祸世相公们》友情链接月的好友的文,请喜欢的亲们捧场哦!《前妻魅惑》作者:沫筱然天使的《帅哥,我来自武侠时代》,古代女主VS妖孽男主,帅哥美男层出不穷
  • 佛说阿阇世王女阿术达菩萨经

    佛说阿阇世王女阿术达菩萨经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 武道妖尊

    武道妖尊

    十年之后,他又回来了。鸿蒙大陆,小小江湖,谁主沉浮?从萧扬重新现身,踏入故土的那一刻起,就注定了不平静。仇与恨,十年秋;恩和怨,几时休。术道虚无神王灭,天地洪荒又一周。叹无常,谁无常?永定山下无定河,唯自流。
  • 摄政王爷嚣张妃

    摄政王爷嚣张妃

    世人皆道,北冥摄政王面丑心黑、冷血残暴。却不知丑陋的面皮下隐藏着怎样的绝世风华,残暴的手段也不过是迷惑世人。世人又道:北冥云家大小姐,天生废材、痴傻疯癫。却不知痴傻是为保命,废材是遭暗害。当痴傻的她被赐婚,嫁与面丑的他。世人又皆道:域皇圣明!丑男配傻子,当真是天生一对!
  • 爱过头,难回首

    爱过头,难回首

    他听信家中佣人所言,认定她和父亲有不伦的奸情,为此残忍将她封入棺材,生生活埋。而她为了孩子,不惜做最卑贱的佣人,伺候自己丈夫和闺蜜的夜夜欢愉。那无望的煎熬,最终却只等到孩子的死讯……赫然回首,他才发现,那些本是仇恨的悲鸣,细听竟是爱情的声音。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 千载相逢

    千载相逢

    前世里刚跟搞外遇的丈夫离完婚的骨科女大夫,被自家医院门口的救护车给撞了个魂飞魄散。一觉醒来却变成了自己跟别人搞外遇然后被休,继而自杀不成的出墙女……--情节虚构,请勿模仿