the stage coach-µÚ1ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡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¡¡o