Roundabout Papers - Penn State University

Thackerayshooters? I think we only had them on going home forholidays from private schools,—at public schools menare too dignified. And then came that glorious announcement,Wednesday, 27th, “Papa took us to the Pantomime;”or if not papa, perhaps you condescended to goto the pit, under charge of the footman.That was near the end of the year—and mamma gaveyou a new pocket-book, perhaps, with a little coin, Godbless her, in the pocket. And that pocket-book was fornext year, you know; and, in that pocket-book you hadto write down that sad day, Wednesday, January 24th,eighteen hundred and never mind what,—when Dr.Birch’s young friends were expected to re-assemble.Ah me! Every person who turns this page over has hisown little diary, in paper or ruled in his memory tablets,and in which are set down the transactions of thenow dying year. Boys and men, we have our calendar,mothers and maidens. For example, in your calendarpocket-book, my good Eliza, what a sad, sad day thatis—how fondly and bitterly remembered—when yourboy went off to his regiment, to India, to danger, tobattle perhaps. What a day was that last day at home,when the tall brother sat yet amongst the family, thelittle ones round about him wondering at saddle-boxes,uniforms, sword-cases, gun-cases, and other wondrousapparatus of war and travel which poured in and filledthe hall; the new dressing-case for the beard not yetgrown; the great sword-case at which little brother Tomlooks so admiringly! What a dinner that was, that lastdinner, when little and grown children assembled together,and all tried to be cheerful! What a night wasthat last night, when the young ones were at roost forthe last time together under the same roof, and themother lay alone in her chamber counting the fatal hoursas they tolled one after another, amidst her tears, herwatching, her fond prayers. What a night that was, andyet how quickly the melancholy dawn came! Only toosoon the sun rose over the houses. And now in a momentmore the city seemed to wake. The house beganto stir. The family gathers together for the last meal.For the last time in the midst of them the widow kneelsamongst her kneeling children, and falters a prayer in165