The Cornhill Magazine (Vol. I, No. 3, March 1860)Various
History
The Cornhill Magazine (Vol. I, No. 3, March 1860)
Various
England -- Periodicals; English literature -- Periodicals; Short stories, English -- Periodicals
So there was the re-swathing against the cold to be done, and then our
grand team came creaking to the gate, and the dark figures poured out
into the snow again; our hands were shaken, and the cousins all kissed in
a cousinly way, as good-nights were said. Then Cousin Joseph lifted Sophy
into the wagon, and somebody else, who had been very constant all night
at Anne’s elbow, did the same kindness for her, and Cousin David, before
I was aware, had hold of me.
“Now, Miss Poppy, you’re going to give me a kiss, I know,” said he
persuasively, to which I responded, “No, I was not.” “Then I shan’t let
you go without;” and immediately he took unfair advantage of his strength
to the extortion of half-a-dozen, and then put me carefully into the
wagon.
“Are you cross, Poppy? If you don’t like to keep Cousin David’s kisses,
give him them back again,” said Sophy, and then foreman looked to see
that all was right, Long Tom cracked his whip, and away we went through
the dark and frosty morning. Three struck by Rookwood church clock just
as we passed it.
After a little gossip over the events of the evening, we began to be
drowsy, and dropt off, one by one, into the sound sleep of youth and
health, waking no more until Mr. Preston’s jolly voice greeted us from
his bedroom window, with “All safe and sound, lasses?” Then we were
bundled in-doors, and set down to hot coffee, and an early breakfast
by the kitchen fire, after which we pronounced ourselves as fresh as
daisies; had a good ducking, re-dressed, and were ready to help in
finishing off the great snow-man, when the boys came down. Ah! we can’t
dance six hours on end now, take a nap in a wagon, and make a snow-man
after it with unwearied zest! That trio under the tilt, that merry trio,
will never in this world meet again. Lively Sophy is under the sod, and
quiet Anne with father and mother, brothers, and husband, is far away
over the seas, leading a new life in a new country; and, as for Miss
Poppy, in recalling the merry days when she was young, she sees so many
shadows amongst the living figures, that if the winter wedding in the
wolds could come again, half the dancers on the floor would be only dim
and doleful ghosts,—’Tis a dozen years ago!
Student Life in Scotland.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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