the stage coach-第1部分

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SKETCH　BOOK

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　STAGE　COACH

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by　Washington　Irving



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Omne　bene

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Sine　poena

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Tempus　est　ludendi。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Venit　hora

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Absque　mora

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Libros　deponendi。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　OLD　HOLIDAY　SCHOOL　SONG。



　　IN　THE　preceding　paper　I　have　made　some　general　observations　on

the　Christmas　festivities　of　England；　and　am　tempted　to　illustrate

them　by　some　anecdotes　of　a　Christmas　passed　in　the　country；　in

perusing　which　I　would　most　courteously　invite　my　reader　to　lay

aside　the　austerity　of　wisdom；　and　to　put　on　that　genuine　holiday

spirit　which　is　tolerant　of　folly；　and　anxious　only　for　amusement。

　　In　the　course　of　a　December　tour　in　Yorkshire；　I　rode　for　a　long

distance　in　one　of　the　public　coaches；　on　the　day　preceding　Christmas。

The　coach　was　crowded；　both　inside　and　out；　with　passengers；　who；　by

their　talk；　seemed　principally　bound　to　the　mansions　of　relations　or

friends；　to　eat　the　Christmas　dinner。　It　was　loaded　also　with

hampers　of　game；　and　baskets　and　boxes　of　delicacies；　and　hares　hung

dangling　their　long　ears　about　the　coachman's　box；　presents　from

distant　friends　for　the　impending　feast。　I　had　three　fine　rosy…cheeked

boys　for　my　fellow…passengers　inside；　full　of　the　buxom　health　and

manly　spirit　which　I　have　observed　in　the　children　of　this　country。

They　were　returning　home　for　the　holidays　in　high　glee；　and

promising　themselves　a　world　of　enjoyment。　It　was　delightful　to　hear

the　gigantic　plans　of　the　little　rogues；　and　the　impracticable　feats

they　were　to　perform　during　their　six　weeks'　emancipation　from　the

abhorred　thraldom　of　book；　birch；　and　pedagogue。　They　were　full　of

anticipations　of　the　meeting　with　the　family　and　household；　down　to

the　very　cat　and　dog；　and　of　the　joy　they　were　to　give　their　little

sisters　by　the　presents　with　which　their　pockets　were　crammed；　but　the

meeting　to　which　they　seemed　to　look　forward　with　the　greatest

impatience　was　with　Bantam；　which　I　found　to　be　a　pony；　and；　according

to　their　talk；　possessed　of　more　virtues　than　any　steed　since　the　days

of　Bucephalus。　How　he　could　trot！　how　he　could　run！　and　then　such

leaps　as　he　would　take…　there　was　not　a　hedge　in　the　whole　country

that　he　could　not　clear。

　　They　were　under　the　particular　guardianship　of　the　coachman；　to

whom；　whenever　an　opportunity　presented；　they　addressed　a　host　of

questions；　and　pronounced　him　one　of　the　best　fellows　in　the　world。

Indeed；　I　could　not　but　notice　the　more　than　ordinary　air　of　bustle

and　importance　of　the　coachman；　who　wore　his　hat　a　little　on　one　side；

and　had　a　large　bunch　of　Christmas　greens　stuck　in　the　buttonhole　of

his　coat。　He　is　always　a　personage　full　of　mighty　care　and　business；

but　he　is　particularly　so　during　this　season；　having　so　many

commissions　to　execute　in　consequence　of　the　great　interchange　of

presents。　And　here；　perhaps；　it　may　not　be　unacceptable　to　my

untravelled　readers；　to　have　a　sketch　that　may　serve　as　a　general

representation　of　this　very　numerous　and　important　class　of

functionaries；　who　have　a　dress；　a　manner；　a　language；　an　air；

peculiar　to　themselves；　and　prevalent　throughout　the　fraternity；　so

that；　wherever　an　English　stage　coachman　may　be　seen；　he　cannot　be

mistaken　for　one　of　any　other　craft　or　mystery。

　　He　has　commonly　a　broad；　full　face；　curiously　mottled　with　red；　as

if　the　blood　had　been　forced　by　hard　feeding　into　every　vessel　of

the　skin；　he　is　swelled　into　jolly　dimensions　by　frequent　potations　of

malt　liquors；　and　his　bulk　is　still　further　increased　by　a

multiplicity　of　coats；　in　which　he　is　buried　like　a　cauliflower；　the

upper　one　reaching　to　his　heels。　He　wears　a　broad…brimmed；　low…crowned

hat；　a　huge　roll　of　colored　handkerchief　about　his　neck；　knowingly

knotted　and　tucked　in　at　the　bosom；　and　has　in　summer　time　a　large

bouquet　of　flowers　in　his　button…hole；　the　present；　most　probably；

of　some　enamored　country　lass。　His　waistcoat　is　commonly　of　some

bright　color；　striped；　and　his　small　clothes　extend　far　below　the

knees；　to　meet　a　pair　of　jockey　boots　which　reach　about　half　way　up

his　legs。

　　All　this　costume　is　maintained　with　much　precision；　he　has　a　pride

in　having　his　clothes　of　excellent　materials；　and；　notwithstanding　the

seeming　grossness　of　his　appearance；　there　is　still　discernible　that

neatness　and　propriety　of　person；　which　is　almost　inherent　in　an

Englishman。　He　enjoys　great　consequence　and　consideration　along　the

road；　has　frequent　conferences　with　the　village　housewives；　who　look

upon　him　as　a　man　of　great　trust　and　dependence；　and　he　seems　to

have　a　good　understanding　with　every　bright…eyed　country　lass。　The

moment　he　arrives　where　the　horses　are　to　be　changed；　he　throws　down

the　reins　with　something　of　an　air；　and　abandons　the　cattle　to　the

care　of　the　hostler；　his　duty　being　merely　to　drive　from　one　stage

to　another。　When　off　the　box；　his　hands　are　thrust　into　the　pockets　of

his　great　coat；　and　he　rolls　about　the　inn　yard　with　an　air　of　the

most　absolute　lordliness。　Here　he　is　generally　surrounded　by　an

admiring　throng　of　hostlers；　stable…boys；　shoeblacks；　and　those

nameless　hangers…on；　that　infest　inns　and　taverns；　and　run　errands；

and　do　all　kind　of　odd　jobs；　for　the　privilege　of　battening　on　the

drippings　of　the　kitchen　and　the　leakage　of　the　tap…room。　These　all

look　up　to　him　as　to　an　oracle；　treasure　up　his　cant　phrases；　echo　his

opinions　about　horses　and　other　topics　of　jockey　lore；　and；　above　all；

endeavor　to　imitate　his　air　and　carriage。　Every　ragamuffin　that　has

a　coat　to　his　back；　thrusts　his　hands　in　the　pockets；　rolls　in　his

gait；　talks　slang；　and　is　an　embryo　Coachey。

　　Perhaps　it　might　be　owing　to　the　pleasing　serenity　that　reigned　in

my　own　mind；　that　I　fancied　I　saw　cheerfulness　in　every　countenance

throughout　the　journey。　A　stage　coach；　however；　carries　animation

always　with　it；　and　puts　the　world　in　motion　as　it　whirls　along。　The

horn；　sounded　at　the　entrance　of　a　village；　produces　a　general　bustle。

Some　hasten　forth　to　meet　friends；　some　with　bundles　and　band…boxes　to

secure　places；　and　in　the　hurry　of　the　moment　can　hardly　take　leave　of

the　group　that　accompanies　them。　In　the　meantime；　the　coachman　has　a

world　of　small　commissions　to　execute。　Sometimes　he　delivers　a　hare　or

pheasant；　sometimes　jerks　a　small　parcel　or　newspaper　to　the　door　of　a

public　house；　and　sometimes；　with　knowing　leer　and　words　of　sly

import；　hands　to　some　half…blushing；　half…laughing　housemaid　an

odd…shaped　billet…doux　from　some　rustic　admirer。　As　the　coach

rattles　through　the　village；　every　one　runs　to　the　window；　and　you

have　glances　on　every　side　of　fresh　country　faces　and　blooming

giggling　girls。　At　the　corners　are　assembled　juntos　of　village

idlers　and　wise　men；　who　take　their　stations　there　for　the　important

purpose　of　seeing　company　pass；　but　the　sagest　knot　is　generally　at

the　blacksmith's；　to　whom　the　passing　of　the　coach　is　an　event

fruitful　of　much　speculation。　The　smith；　with　the　horse's　heel　in

his　lap；　pauses　as　the　vehicle　whirls　by；　the　cyclops　round　the

anvil　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　engine

to　heave　a　long…drawn　sigh；　while　he　glares　through　the　murky　smoke

and　sulphureous　gleams　of　the　smithy。

　　Perhaps　the　impending　holiday　might　have　given　a　more　than　usual

animation　to　the　country；　for　it　seemed　to　me　as　if　everybody　was　in

good　looks　and　good　spirits。　Game；　poultry；　and　other　luxuries　of

the　table；　were　in　brisk　circulation　in　the　villages；　the　grocers'；

butchers'　and　fruiterers'　shops　were　thronged　with　customers。　The

housewives　were　stirring　briskly　about；　putting　their　dwellings　in

order；　and　the　glossy　branches　of　holly；　with　their　bright…red

berries；　began　to　appear　at　the　windows。　The　scene　brought　to　mind

an　old　writer's　account　of　Christmas　preparations：…　〃Now　capons　and

hens；　beside　turkeys；　geese；　and　ducks；　with　beef　and　mutton…　must　all

die…　for　in　twelve　days　a　multitude　of　people　will　not　be　fed　with　a

little。　Now　plums　and　spice；　sugar　and　honey；　square　it　among　pies　and

broth。　Now　or　never　must　music　be　in　tune；　for　the　youth　must　dance

and　sing　to　get　them　a　heat；　while　the　aged　sit　by　the　fire。　The

country　maid　leaves　half　her　market；　and　must　be　sent　again；　if　she

forgets　a　pack　of　cards　on　Christmas　eve。　Great　is　the　contention　of

holly　and　ivy；　whether　master　or　dame　wears　the　breeches。　Dice　and

cards　benefit　the　butler；　and　if　the　cook　do　not　lack　wit；　he　will

sweetly　lick　his　fingers。〃

　　I　was　roused　from　this　fit　of　luxurious　meditation；　by　a　shout

from　my　little　travelling　companions。　They　had　been　looking　out　of　the

coach　windows　for　the　last　few　miles；　recognizing　every　tree　and

cottage　as　they　approached　home；　and　now　there　was　a　general　burst

of　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　in

livery；　waiting　for　them；　he　was　accompanied　by　a　superannuated

pointer；　and　by　the　redoubtable　Bantam；　a　little　old　rat　of　a　pony；

with　a　shaggy　mane　and　long　rusty　tail；　who　stood　dozing　quietly　by

the　road…side；　little　dreaming　of　the　bustling　times　that　awaited　him。

　　I　was　pleased　to　see　the　fondness　with　which　the　little　fellows

leaped　about　the　steady　old　footman；　and　hugged　the　pointer；　who

wriggled　his　whole　body　for　joy。　But　Bantam　was　the　great　object　of

interest；　all　wanted　to　mount　at　once；　and　it　was　with　some　difficulty

that　John　arranged　that　they　should　ride　by　turns；　and　the　eldest

should　ride　first。

　　Off　they　set　at　last；　one　on　the　pony；　with　the　dog　bounding　and

barking　before　him；　and　the　others　holding　John's　hands；　both

talking　at　once；　and　overpowering　him　with　questions　about　home；　and

wit