THE LORD MAYOR'S SHOW
ONE of the great events in the life of an English child is to be able to
go to London to the "Lord Mayor's Show," which takes place every year on
the 9th of November. Thousands of families from all over the country
come into London for that day, and bring the young folks.
Early in the morning of the great day, the Howard and Stamford families
had taken up their position at two of the big windows of a hotel, from
which a good view of the parade could be had. Eleanor and Clarence had
come up with the Howards, so you can fancy what a merry party it was.
All the children but Edith had seen it before, but they were just as
eager as if it were a brand-new sight. As for Edith, she kept her little
nose glued to the window-pane, and hardly winked her eyes for fear she
might miss something.
The "Lord Mayor's Show," like most customs in England, is of very
ancient origin. It has always been considered a great honour to be Lord
Mayor of London, and live in the Mansion House, as his home is called.
All children remember the story of Dick Whittington and his cat, and how
he heard the bells of London, which said to him that he would become
Lord Mayor of London; and I believe it is a true story, too, not about
the bells really talking to him, perhaps, but about the little country
boy who struggled on, and _did_ become the great Lord Mayor.
The Lord Mayor's rule only extends over what is called the "City," which
is now only a small part of big London. Long ago, when the office was
first created, what is now the "City" was all there was of London. It
was enclosed at that time by walls.
Well, times have changed! London has spread miles away on every side
from the "City," but the Lord Mayor of London still holds almost an
absolute sway over his part of London. Many of the old laws still exist;
such as the king cannot go into the "City" without the permission of the
Lord Mayor, who must meet him at the city boundary, and present a sword
which the king touches, and then he can pass in. Of course this is only
a form now, but it is still a picturesque ceremony which usually takes
place at Temple Bar on the Strand. Every year a new Lord Mayor is
chosen, and the "Show," which is a procession that passes through the
principal streets, is to celebrate his incoming.
Our little folks were becoming impatient, though it was amusing enough
to watch the vast crowd moved hither and thither by the good-natured
policemen.
Companies of strolling minstrels amused the waiting people, singing
songs and cracking jokes, while the vendors of the funny, coloured
programmes did a large business.
"I do believe they are coming at last." These words of Adelaide's
brought every head as far out of the windows as possible. Yes, there
were the gorgeous coaches of the Aldermen, but nothing to compare to the
one which followed,--the great, gilded coach of the Lord Mayor himself,
with the sword of state sticking out of the window, because it is too
big for the carriage. You never have seen, nor will ever see, anything
more splendid than the coachman to the Lord Mayor. We have to talk about
him first because he is seen first. He is a tremendous big fellow in red
plush knee-breeches, with a coat all gold braid and lace. White silk
stockings cover his portly calves, and his shoes sparkle with big
buckles; a three-cornered hat sits pompously on his big powdered wig,
and there is a bouquet in his coat, beside which a cabbage would look
small. Standing behind the carriage are two footmen, only a trifle less
magnificent.
The coachman so catches the young people's eyes they scarcely see the
Lord Mayor inside the gold coach, but he too is grand in his fine robe
of velvet and fur, and a magnificent golden chain about his neck.
Then come the various Guilds or Societies of the City of London. The
Guild of Clockmakers, and the Guild of Goldsmiths, the Guild of Tanners,
and many others. Then come soldiers and bands of music, and floats or
wagons on which are symbolic designs and tableaux.
The people cheer, and our little folks clap their hands, and think
nothing in the world could be so grand.
As Adelaide's mother once said to Edith, "You have only yet seen a very
small bit of London." There is, indeed, much more to be seen in this
great old city, and in England, for even if it is a very small country
it holds a great deal.
But we must for the present bid our little English cousins "good-bye"
and give some other little cousin a chance.
THE END.
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LIST OF TITLES
=Aunt Nabby's Children.= By Frances Hodges White.
=Child's Dream of a Star, The.= By Charles Dickens.
=Flight of Rosy Dawn, The.= By Pauline Bradford Mackie.
=Findelkind.= By Ouida.
=Fairy of the Rhone, The.= By A. Comyns Carr.
=Gatty and I.= By Frances E. Crompton.
=Helena's Wonderworld.= By Frances Hodges White.
=Jerry's Reward.= By Evelyn Snead Barnett.
=La Belle Nivernaise.= By Alphonse Daudet.
=Little King Davie.= By Nellie Hellis.
=Little Peterkin Vandike.= By Charles Stuart Pratt.
=Little Professor, The.= By Ida Horton Cash.
=Peggy's Trial.= By Mary Knight Potter.
=Prince Yellowtop.= By Kate Whiting Patch.
=Provence Rose, A.= By Ouida.
=Seventh Daughter, A.= By Grace Wickham Curran.
=Sleeping Beauty, The.= By Martha Baker Dunn.
=Small, Small Child, A.= By E. Livingston Prescott.
=Susanne.= By Frances J. Delano.
=Water People, The.= By Charles Lee Sleight.
=Young Archer, The.= By Charles E. Brimblecom.
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=The Little Colonel.= (Trade Mark.)
The scene of this story is laid in Kentucky. Its heroine is a small
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resemblance to an old-school Southern gentleman, whose fine estate and
old family are famous in the region.
=The Giant Scissors.=
This is the story of Joyce and of her adventures in France. Joyce is a
great friend of the Little Colonel, and in later volumes shares with her
the delightful experiences of the "House Party" and the "Holidays."
=Two Little Knights of Kentucky.=
WHO WERE THE LITTLE COLONEL'S NEIGHBORS.
In this volume the Little Colonel returns to us like an old friend, but
with added grace and charm. She is not, however, the central figure of
the story, that place being taken by the "two little knights."
=Mildred's Inheritance.=
A delightful little story of a lonely English girl who comes to America
and is befriended by a sympathetic American family who are attracted by
her beautiful speaking voice. By means of this one gift she is enabled
to help a school-girl who has temporarily lost the use of her eyes, and
thus finally her life becomes a busy happy one.
=Cicely and Other Stories for Girls.=
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of the issue of this volume for young people.
=Aunt 'Liza's Hero and Other Stories.=
A collection of six bright little stories, which will appeal to all boys
and most girls.
=Big Brother.=
A story of two boys. The devotion and care of Steven, himself a small
boy, for his baby brother, is the theme of the simple tale.
=Ole Mammy's Torment.=
"Ole Mammy's Torment" has been fitly called "a classic of Southern
life." It relates the haps and mishaps of a small negro lad, and tells
how he was led by love and kindness to a knowledge of the right.
=The Story of Dago.=
In this story Mrs. Johnston relates the story of Dago, a pet monkey,
owned jointly by two brothers. Dago tells his own story, and the account
of his haps and mishaps is both interesting and amusing.
=The Quilt That Jack Built.=
A pleasant little story of a boy's labor of love, and how it changed the
course of his life many years after it was accomplished.
=Flip's Islands of Providence.=
A story of a boy's life battle, his early defeat, and his final triumph,
well worth the reading.
_By EDITH ROBINSON_
=A Little Puritan's First Christmas.=
A Story of Colonial times in Boston, telling how Christmas was invented
by Betty Sewall, a typical child of the Puritans, aided by her brother
Sam.
=A Little Daughter of Liberty.=
The author introduces this story as follows:
"One ride is memorable in the early history of the American Revolution,
the well-known ride of Paul Revere. Equally deserving of commendation is
another ride,--the ride of Anthony Severn,--which was no less historic
in its action or memorable in its consequences."
=A Loyal Little Maid.=
A delightful and interesting story of Revolutionary days, in which the
child heroine, Betsey Schuyler, renders important services to George
Washington.
=A Little Puritan Rebel.=
This is an historical tale of a real girl, during the time when the
gallant Sir Harry Vane was governor of Massachusetts.
=A Little Puritan Pioneer.=
The scene of this story is laid in the Puritan settlement at
Charlestown.
=A Little Puritan Bound Girl.=
A story of Boston in Puritan days, which is of great interest to
youthful readers.
=A Little Puritan Cavalier.=
The story of a "Little Puritan Cavalier" who tried with all his boyish
enthusiasm to emulate the spirit and ideals of the dead Crusaders.
=A Puritan Knight Errant.=
The story tells of a young lad in Colonial times who endeavored to carry
out the high ideals of the knights of olden days.
_By OUIDA_ (_Louise de la Ramée_)
=A Dog Of Flanders:= A CHRISTMAS STORY.
Too well and favorably known to require description.
=The Nurnberg Stove.=
This beautiful story has never before been published at a popular price.
_By FRANCES MARGARET FOX_
=The Little Giant's Neighbours.=
A charming nature story of a "little giant" whose neighbours were the
creatures of the field and garden.
=Farmer Brown and the Birds.=
A little story which teaches children that the birds are man's best
friends.
=Betty of Old Mackinaw.=
A charming story of child-life, appealing especially to the little
readers who like stories of "real people."
=Brother Billy.=
The story of Betty's brother, and some further adventures of Betty
herself.
=Mother Nature's Little Ones.=
Curious little sketches describing the early lifetime, or "childhood,"
of the little creatures out-of-doors.
=How Christmas Came to the Mulvaneys.=
A bright, lifelike little story of a family of poor children, with an
unlimited capacity for fun and mischief. The wonderful never-to-be
forgotten Christmas that came to them is the climax of a series of
exciting incidents.
_By MISS MULOCK_
=The Little Lame Prince.=
A delightful story of a little boy who has many adventures by means of
the magic gifts of his fairy godmother.
=Adventures of a Brownie.=
The story of a household elf who torments the cook and gardener, but is
a constant joy and delight to the children who love and trust him.
=His Little Mother.=
Miss Mulock's short stories for children are a constant source of
delight to them and "His Little Mother," in this new and attractive
dress, will be welcomed by hosts of youthful readers.
=Little Sunshine's Holiday.=
An attractive story of a summer outing. "Little Sunshine" is another of
those beautiful child-characters for which Miss Mulock is so justly
famous.
_By MARSHALL SAUNDERS_
=For His Country.=
A sweet and graceful story of a little boy who loved his country;
written with that charm which has endeared Miss Saunders to hosts of
readers.
=Nita, the Story of an Irish Setter.=
In this touching little book, Miss Saunders shows how dear to her heart
are all of God's dumb creatures.
=Alpatok, the Story of an Eskimo Dog.=
Alpatok, an Eskimo dog from the far north, was stolen from his master
and left to starve in a strange city, but was befriended and cared for,
until he was able to return to his owner.
_By WILL ALLEN DROMGOOLE_
=The Farrier's Dog and His Fellow.=
This story, written by the gifted young Southern woman, will appeal to
all that is best in the natures of the many admirers of her graceful and
piquant style.
_The Fortunes of the Fellow._
Those who read and enjoyed the pathos and charm of "The Farrier's Dog
and His Fellow" will welcome the further account of the adventures of
Baydaw and the Fellow at the home of the kindly smith.
_The Best of Friends._
This continues the experiences of the Farrier's dog and his Fellow,
written in Miss Dromgoole's well-known charming style.
_Down in Dixie._
A fascinating story for boys and girls, of a family of Alabama children
who move to Florida and grow up in the South.
_By MARIAN W. WILDMAN_
=Loyalty Island.=
An account of the adventures of four children and their pet dog on an
island, and how they cleared their brother from the suspicion of
dishonesty.
=Theodore and Theodora.=
This is a story of the exploits and mishaps of two mischievous twins,
and continues the adventures of the interesting group of children in
"Loyalty Island."
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
Page 31, "desk" changed to "deck" (on deck; sometimes)
Ad page for Little Cousin Books at back of book, "Macdonald" changed to
"MacDonald" (By Elizabeth R. MacDonald)
End of Project Gutenberg's Our Little English Cousin, by Blanche McManus