Reader, be my companion in one scene more, and my story is done.
A month or two ago there was a grand merrymaking at the house of one
Charles Newcome, Esquire, late captain in her Majesty's army, to
celebrate the tenth birthday of his son, Master Thomas James Newcome.
The company was mostly juvenile, and included, of course, the gallant
captain's two little girls and his younger son, that most terrible of
all Turks, Charlie the younger. Then there were all the little boys and
girls living in the square, and many others from a distance, and one or
two big boys and girls, and one or two young gentlemen who stroked their
chins as if something was to be felt there, and one or two young ladies
who would not take twice of sponge-cake, for fear of looking as if they
were hungry. But besides these there were a few grown-up people
present, whom I must not forget to name. Naturally the gallant captain
was one, and the gallant captain's lady was another; and then there were
the last-named lady's two brothers there, one a clergyman called the
Reverend James Halliday, and the other (and elder) Mr Joseph Halliday,
a civil engineer with a ferocious pair of whiskers. And, to complete
the party, there was present a grave, anxious-looking gentleman by the
name of Mr Drift, a surgeon.
These all sat apart and looked on while the young folk enjoyed
themselves. And how the young folk did enjoy themselves that night!
What shouting and laughter there was, what a jingling of the piano, what
hiding in corners, what romping on the stair case! And the round games,
and the charades, and the family posts! Oh dear me, I'm an old watch,
and I've gone through a good many noisy scenes, but I never remember
such a racket as this.
And how the young folk besieged the elder and compelled them to join in
the fun. There was papa down on his hands and knees with half-a-dozen
youngsters on his back. And there was Uncle Joseph performing tricks of
conjuring before a select audience; and Mr Drift telling stories to
another; and as for the reverend Uncle Jim, he was made blind man, and
had his long coat-tails pulled; and, strange to say, he never caught
anybody all the time. And then the supper! who shall describe that? the
clattering of dishes, the rattle of knives and forks, the banging of
crackers, the peals of laughter, and the cross-fire of chaff.
Alas! all good things must come to an end, and so did this party. One
by one the little guests said good-bye, and after they had gone the
little family of children and elders was left alone. Though it was past
eleven, the little urchin Charlie insisted on clambering on to Mr
Drift's knee, to hear one last story, and the little girls besieged
their uncles, and put their arms round their necks, and besought their
intercession with mamma to gain them another half-hour's respite down
stairs.
"Charlie," said Tom Drift, "this little fellow is worrying me for a
story. Suppose you tell one."
"Oh yes," shouted that small chorus. "Oh yes! papa, please tell us a
story?"
"Hear, hear!" said Uncle Joe.
"Fire away," said Uncle Jim.
"Remember, it must be quite a short one, Charles," said mamma.
Charlie Newcome the elder looked puzzled for a minute, and fidgeted
uncomfortably in his seat.