登陆注册
26280300000006

第6章 THE SKETCH BOOK

A SUNDAY IN LONDON*

by Washington Irving

* Part of a sketch omitted in the previous editions.

IN A preceding paper I have spoken of an English Sunday in thecountry, and its tranquillizing effect upon the landscape; but whereis its sacred influence more strikingly apparent than in the veryheart of that great Babel, London? On this sacred day, the giganticmonster is charmed into repose. The intolerable din and struggle ofthe week are at an end. The shops are shut. The fires of forges andmanufactories are extinguished; and the sun, no longer obscured bymurky clouds of smoke, pours down a sober, yellow radiance into thequiet streets. The few pedestrians we meet, instead of hurryingforward with anxious countenances, move leisurely along; their browsare smoothed from the wrinkles of business and care; they have puton their Sunday looks, and Sunday manners, with their Sundayclothes, and are cleansed in mind as well as in person.

And now the melodious clangor of bells from church towers summonstheir several flocks to the fold. Forth issues from his mansion thefamily of the decent tradesman, the small children in the advance;then the citizen and his comely spouse, followed by the grown-updaughters, with small morocco-bound prayer-books laid in the foldsof their pocket-handkerchiefs. The housemaid looks after them from thewindow, admiring the finery of the family, and receiving, perhaps, anod and smile from her young mistresses, at whose toilet she hasassisted.

Now rumbles along the carriage of some magnate of the city,peradventure an alderman or a sheriff; and now the patter of many feetannounces a procession of charity scholars, in uniforms of antiquecut, and each with a prayer-book under his arm.

The ringing of bells is at an end; the rumbling of the carriagehas ceased; the pattering of feet is heard no more; the flocks arefolded in ancient churches, cramped up in by-lanes and corners ofthe crowded city, where the vigilant beadle keeps watch, like theshepherd's dog, round the threshold of the sanctuary. For a time everything is hushed; but soon is heard the deep, pervading sound of theorgan, rolling and vibrating through the empty lanes and courts; andthe sweet chanting of the choir ****** them resound with melody andpraise. Never have I been more sensible of the sanctifying effect ofchurch music, than when I have heard it thus poured forth, like ariver of joy, through the inmost recesses of this great metropolis,elevating it, as it were, from all the sordid pollutions of theweek; and bearing the poor world-worn soul on a tide of triumphantharmony to heaven.

The morning service is at an end. The streets are again alive withthe congregations returning to their homes, but soon again relapseinto silence. Now comes on the Sunday dinner, which, to the citytradesman, is a meal of some importance. There is more leisure forsocial enjoyment at the board. Members of the family can now gathertogether, who are separated by the laborious occupations of theweek. A school-boy may be permitted on that day to come to thepaternal home; an old friend of the family takes his accustomed Sundayseat at the board, tells over his well-known stories, and rejoicesyoung and old with his well-known jokes.

On Sunday afternoon the city pours forth its legions to breathethe fresh air and enjoy the sunshine of the parks and ruralenvirons. Satirists may say what they please about the ruralenjoyments of a London citizen on Sunday, but to me there is somethingdelightful in beholding the poor prisoner of the crowded and dustycity enabled thus to come forth once a week and throw himself upon thegreen bosom of nature. He is like a child restored to the mother'sbreast; and they who first spread out these noble parks andmagnificent pleasure-grounds which surround this huge metropolis, havedone at least as much for its health and morality, as if they hadexpended the amount of cost in hospitals, prisons, and penitentiaries.

THE END

.

1819-20

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • EXO:少年时的记忆

    EXO:少年时的记忆

    少年时,你是我最好的玩伴,只是现在,你已经是闪耀的明星,而我,还有没有资格在你身边......
  • 学做一名合格的班主任

    学做一名合格的班主任

    本书从班主任的素质修养及学生的心理健康教育、思想品德教育和班级管理和班级活动的组织与设计等方面对班主任的工作艺术进行了系统阐释。
  • 异界骑士录

    异界骑士录

    一群少男少女,穿越到了异世,这突如其来的异端让人措手不及,但是总觉得是被卷进去了啊,话说,骑士是什么鬼?听着挺霸气的,就去考核吧,哎呀呀,怎么还有麻烦的任务。。。。。。
  • 珠云香

    珠云香

    从小到大我只做一个梦,很奇怪。当我第一次告诉娘亲时,她不以为意没有放在心上,笑着说我年纪小,思虑太过,才会做梦。“会早生华发的。”娘亲掐了下我的鼻尖,整了整我的衣襟,牵着我去给祖母请安。祖母的院子很大,也很远,要穿过府里的花园的长廊,从西厢这头走到东厢这头。在我的记忆里,每天天还未亮透,娘亲抱着我,母亲的大丫鬟流苏打着灯笼在前面,寂静的长廊里只有嗒嗒嗒走着的声音。清晨在我的印象里朦朦胧胧,用泛黄的纸扎的灯笼在眼前晃啊晃,忽明忽灭。长廊上的柱子沾着水汽,散发着奇怪又好闻的味道,我以为是一种木头的味道。娘亲告诉我,“那是被水汽侵蚀的味道。”
  • 如梦泣歌

    如梦泣歌

    心理学天才少女自己却患有心理疾病,或许只有对的时间对的人的出现才得以挽救吧。
  • 我们的底牌

    我们的底牌

    弋舟,1972年生,青年新锐作家。有长中短篇小说200余万字,见于《作家》《花城》《人民文学》《天涯》《青年文学》《上海文学》《大家》《中国作家》《山花》等文学刊物。著有长篇小说若干。
  • 网游之我只是个打铁的

    网游之我只是个打铁的

    一个毫不起眼的打铁职业,却成就主角的霸业,
  • 琉璃成殇滑夜落

    琉璃成殇滑夜落

    她,顾家大小姐顾若璃,拥有显赫的家室。可惜造化弄人,流离失所。经历一番一番的波折??她,顾家二小姐顾若馨,天生智力低下,只记得一个最疼爱自己姐姐,为她不惜倾尽所有,却想不来,一切只是场豪门盛宴??她遇到了命中注定的他,他遇到了一世纠缠不清的她??将会上演如何一段旷世奇缘呢
  • 傲娇王妃,带球跑

    傲娇王妃,带球跑

    花灯会?上一世的我就在今日遇见叶凡这个混蛋,什么一生一世一双人,什么不离不弃,我毁了容颜后,假意心系于我,私通孟柳,叫我烧院,偷宫印……这一世我再不会如此痴傻了!
  • 南翁梦录

    南翁梦录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。