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scream is heard； and some young girl falls senseless on the floor。
There is a momentary rustle； but it is only for a moment … all eyes
are turned towards the preacher。 He pauses； passes his
handkerchief across his face； and looks complacently round。 His
voice resumes its natural tone； as with mock humility he offers up
a thanksgiving for having been successful in his efforts； and
having been permitted to rescue one sinner from the path of evil。
He sinks back into his seat； exhausted with the violence of his
ravings； the girl is removed； a hymn is sung； a petition for some
measure for securing the better observance of the Sabbath； which
has been prepared by the good man； is read； and his worshipping
admirers struggle who shall be the first to sign it。
But the morning service has concluded； and the streets are again
crowded with people。 Long rows of cleanly…dressed charity
children； preceded by a portly beadle and a withered schoolmaster；
are returning to their welcome dinner； and it is evident； from the
number of men with beer…trays who are running from house to house；
that no inconsiderable portion of the population are about to take
theirs at this early hour。 The bakers' shops in the humbler
suburbs especially； are filled with men； women； and children； each
anxiously waiting for the Sunday dinner。 Look at the group of
children who surround that working man who has just emerged from
the baker's shop at the corner of the street； with the reeking
dish； in which a diminutive joint of mutton simmers above a vast
heap of half…browned potatoes。 How the young rogues clap their
hands； and dance round their father； for very joy at the prospect
of the feast： and how anxiously the youngest and chubbiest of the
lot； lingers on tiptoe by his side； trying to get a peep into the
interior of the dish。 They turn up the street； and the chubby…
faced boy trots on as fast as his little legs will carry him； to
herald the approach of the dinner to 'Mother' who is standing with
a baby in her arms on the doorstep； and who seems almost as pleased
with the whole scene as the children themselves； whereupon 'baby'
not precisely understanding the importance of the business in hand；
but clearly perceiving that it is something unusually lively； kicks
and crows most lustily； to the unspeakable delight of all the
children and both the parents： and the dinner is borne into the
house amidst a shouting of small voices； and jumping of fat legs；
which would fill Sir Andrew Agnew with astonishment； as well it
might； seeing that Baronets； generally speaking； eat pretty
comfortable dinners all the week through； and cannot be expected to
understand what people feel； who only have a meat dinner on one day
out of every seven。
The bakings being all duly consigned to their respective owners；
and the beer…man having gone his rounds； the church bells ring for
afternoon service； the shops are again closed； and the streets are
more than ever thronged with people； some who have not been to
church in the morning； going to it now； others who have been to
church； going out for a walk； and others … let us admit the full
measure of their guilt … going for a walk； who have not been to
church at all。 I am afraid the smart servant of all work； who has
been loitering at the corner of the square for the last ten
minutes； is one of the latter class。 She is evidently waiting for
somebody； and though she may have made up her mind to go to church
with him one of these mornings； I don't think they have any such
intention on this particular afternoon。 Here he is； at last。 The
white trousers； blue coat； and yellow waistcoat … and more
especially that cock of the hat … indicate； as surely as inanimate
objects can； that Chalk Farm and not the parish church； is their
destination。 The girl colours up； and puts out her hand with a
very awkward affectation of indifference。 He gives it a gallant
squeeze； and away they walk； arm in arm； the girl just looking back
towards her 'place' with an air of conscious self…importance； and
nodding to her fellow…servant who has gone up to the two…pair…of…
stairs window； to take a full view of 'Mary's young man；' which
being communicated to William； he takes off his hat to the fellow…
servant： a proceeding which affords unmitigated satisfaction to
all parties； and impels the fellow…servant to inform Miss Emily
confidentially； in the course of the evening； 'that the young man
as Mary keeps company with； is one of the most genteelest young men
as ever she see。'
The two young people who have just crossed the road； and are
following this happy couple down the street； are a fair specimen of
another class of Sunday … pleasurers。 There is a dapper smartness；
struggling through very limited means； about the young man； which
induces one to set him down at once as a junior clerk to a
tradesman or attorney。 The girl no one could possibly mistake。
You may tell a young woman in the employment of a large dress…
maker； at any time； by a certain neatness of cheap finery and
humble following of fashion； which pervade her whole attire； but
unfortunately there are other tokens not to be misunderstood … the
pale face with its hectic bloom； the slight distortion of form
which no artifice of dress can wholly conceal； the unhealthy stoop；
and the short cough … the effects of hard work and close
application to a sedentary employment； upon a tender frame。 They
turn towards the fields。 The girl's countenance brightens； and an
unwonted glow rises in her face。 They are going to Hampstead or
Highgate； to spend their holiday afternoon in some place where they
can see the sky； the fields； and trees； and breathe for an hour or
two the pure air； which so seldom plays upon that poor girl's form；
or exhilarates her spirits。
I would to God； that the iron…hearted man who would deprive such
people as these of their only pleasures； could feel the sinking of
heart and soul； the wasting exhaustion of mind and body； the utter
prostration of present strength and future hope； attendant upon
that incessant toil which lasts from day to day； and from month to
month； that toil which is too often protracted until the silence of
midnight； and resumed with the first stir of morning。 How
marvellously would his ardent zeal for other men's souls； diminish
after a short probation； and how enlightened and comprehensive
would his views of the real object and meaning of the institution
of the Sabbath become！
The afternoon is far advanced … the parks and public drives are
crowded。 Carriages； gigs； phaetons； stanhopes； and vehicles of
every description； glide smoothly on。 The promenades are filled
with loungers on foot； and the road is thronged with loungers on
horseback。 Persons of every class are crowded together； here； in
one dense mass。 The plebeian； who takes his pleasure on no day but
Sunday； jostles the patrician； who takes his； from year's end to
year'