A FIRST GLIMPSE OF ENGLAND.
Queenstown was soon a thing of the past, and when they went to their
rooms the packing was finished, so that the next morning all the time
could be spent upon the deck until they landed.
It was a clear, bright morning, but very cold and windy, when the
steamer was left to take the tug. On leaving the tug, Alice and Nellie
were very careful to each put her left foot first on the dock, as they
had been told it would bring them good luck.
There was not much to interest our party in Liverpool except the docks,
which of course Alice had been told were the finest in the world. After
leaving the Custom House they were driven to the North Western Hotel,
and the ladies and two girls waited in the parlor in front of an
enormous soft-coal fire, while Mr. Ford and Mr. Winter went into the
station, which joins the hotel, and engaged a compartment for London.
Opposite the hotel they could see St. George's Hall, with its two
statues in front, one of Queen Victoria and the other of her husband,
Prince Albert, when they were young.
Suddenly a noise of horses being rapidly driven was heard, and the girls
ran to the window just in time to see the high sheriff's carriage of
state being driven to the hotel to take him away to open court. It was
very elegant, with its satin linings and the four beautiful horses.
The footmen stood up at the back of the carriage, holding themselves on
by leather straps. Four men in uniform stood in the street and blew on
trumpets until the sheriff was out of sight.
The girls thought it very interesting, but Mrs. Winter said, "A
sheriff's position in England must be very different from that in
America, where they usually go about in the quietest manner possible."
Mr. Winter and Mr. Ford came in and told them it was time to get some
lunch. A very nice one they had, and Alice was particularly interested
in the table on wheels, with the joints of meat on it, which was pushed
about to each person to select the cut of meat he liked.
Mr. Ford advised their going to the Hotel Victoria in London, as he had
tried many others and liked that one the best; so they had telegraphed
for rooms before starting on the two o'clock train. All the party were
in good spirits, and glad to be on dry land.
Mrs. Winter and Alice did not like the carriage, as it is called in
England, as well as the drawing-room car at home, but enjoyed every
moment of the journey.
England is like a large garden, every portion being under cultivation;
the fields are so green and full of large, beautiful sheep grazing
everywhere.
"O mamma, how much more lovely the hedges are than our fences and walls
at home!" said Alice.
"Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Winter. "I have always heard they were lovely,
but I did not think they would add so much to the beauties of the
landscape."
Harrow, with its school on the hill, was passed, and caused some
interest to the girls. London was reached before they realized it, and
they were driven to the Hotel Victoria in two four-wheeled cabs called
"growlers"--why, they did not know, unless people "growl" at their
lack of comfort in every way; no springs, narrow, high seats, generally
dirty, and a worn-out old horse, whipped the most of the time by a very
poor driver.
Their rooms were ready for them, and glad enough they were to get their
dinner and go to bed to get rested for the following days, to which the
Winters were looking forward with great interest.
[Illustration: NELSON COLUMN.]