The Comic Almanack, Volume 1: An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales, Humerous Poetry, Quips, and OdditiesThackeray, William Makepeace
Philosophy
The Comic Almanack, Volume 1: An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales, Humerous Poetry, Quips, and Oddities
Thackeray, William Makepeace
Almanacs, English -- England -- London; English wit and humor
"He's won! he's won!" says Jemmy, waving her handkerchief; Jemimarann
fainted, Lady Blanche screamed, and I felt so sick that I thought I
should drop. All the company were in an uproar; only the Baron looked
calm, and bowed very gracefully, and kissed his hand to Jemmy; when, all
of a sudden, a Jewish-looking man, springing over the barrier, and
followed by three more, rushed towards the Baron. "Keep the gate, Bob!"
he holloas out. "Baron, I arrest you, at the suit of Samuel Levison,
for——"
But he never said for what; shouting out, "Aha!" and "_Sapprrrristie!_"
and I don't know what, his Excellency drew his sword, dug his spurs into
his horse, and was over the poor bailiff and off before another word: he
had threatened to run through one of the bailiff's followers, Mr.
Stubbs, only that gentleman made way for him; and when we took up the
bailiff, and brought him round by the aid of a little brandy-and-water,
he told us all. "I had writ againsht him, Mishter Coxsh, but I didn't
vant to shpoil shport; and, beshidesh, I didn't know him until dey
knocked off his shteel cap!"
Here was a pretty business!
SEPTEMBER. [1840.
[Illustration:
_A line engraving of Her Majesty._
]
OUT-RIDERS TO THE QUEEN.
I'll have an excursion, a bit of desertion, September diversion, and
where shall I go? If pleasure you mean, sir, at Windsor's the Queen,
sir, I'd have you go in, sir, and see all the show.—At once, gay of
heart, then for Windsor I start, and at Paddington see me _in train_ to
depart; and as steam's all the go, as you very well know, if we go
_slow_ to Windsor, we'll go _quick_ to _Slough_.—The engine's a great
'un (at desperate rate on, 'twill speed us nor heed us, while we laugh
and scoff), all happy go merry, like gunpowder, werry, as soon _as it's
fired_ the train _will go off_!—How rapid our pace is! I swear all the
places, like horses at races, do seem to fly by! Oh! how precious quick
now, and see if you're sick now, there's _Ealing_ to cure you, so
physic's my eye! See old Mr. Zitters, who dotes upon bitters, and, in
the West Indies, put _wormwood_ in shrubs: behold him alight now, to get
appetite now (still bitters for ever!) at famed _Wormwood Scrubs_.—
Here's Hanwell, where Smilem now weeps in th' Asylum; through
_moonshine_ and _credit_ his trade cut its stick; woe followed his
laughter, his wits they went after; a lunatic victim to _Luna_ and
_tick_!—Well now we're at Slough, and no farther need go, our
_raillery's_ over, the train has cried "_wo!_"—But the "bus," out and
in, stows away thick and thin; dirt and clean, fat and lean, there for
Windsor they pack; the sorry nags speed, very sorry indeed, with a whip
at the flank and a load at the back.—Now all in a bustle, we rush to the
Castle, and here comes the Queen ever smiling and gay, Hurrah! and God
save her! she could not look braver; but those jockies in livery, pray
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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