ADVENTURES OF A SIXPENCE IN GUERNSEY.
BY
A NATIVE.
SEELEY, JACKSON, AND HALLIDAY, FLEET STREET;
AND B. SEELEY, HANOVER STREET.
LONDON. MDCCCLVII.
Printed by G. Barclay, Castle St. Leicester Sq.
ADVENTURES OF A SIXPENCE IN GUERNSEY.
The breakfast was ready laid on the table, and a gentleman was standingby the fire waiting for the rest of the family, when the door burstopen, and two little girls ran in.
"A happy new year, papa!—a happy new year!" shouted each as she wascaught up to be kissed, and found herself on the floor once more after asudden whirl to the ceiling.
"Now catch," said their father, as he started aside and flung a sixpenceto each.
Of course they did not catch, for little girls have a strangepropensity for turning just the wrong way on such occasions; but thebright new sixpences were none the duller for their fall, and calledforth none the less admiration from their proud owners.
Many were the calculations which passed through those curly heads duringbreakfast-time as to what a sixpence could buy; and it was with manybright visions that they darted away to be dressed to go into the townwith their mother.
It was New-year's day; but there was no snow, no bitter cold wind, nobeggars shivering in their scanty clothing, none of the scenes ofpoverty which those accustomed only to an English winter might expect tocast a gloom over the enjoyment of the day. It was a bright sunnymorning, every leaf sparkling with dew-drops; groups of neatly-dressedpeople were to be seen flocking in from the country in every direction;and though the air was fresh enough to incline them to walk brisklyalong, their hands were not hidden away in muffs and coat-pockets, butwere ready for the friendly shake which, with "all the good wishes ofthe season," awaited them at every step.
Mrs. Campbell and her little girls, after many a greeting of this kind,found their way into the town at last; and the children soon forgoteverything in the twelfth-cakes which adorned the pastry-cooks' windows,till the sixpence, which was tightly clasped in each little hand,recalled them to their errand, and they joined the busy crowd in thetoy-shop. Who does not know what it is to take a child into these abodesof Noah's arks, cats, dogs, mice, and dolls, and all that is socharming? How each toy is seized on in its turn, to be relinquished in amoment for one more beautiful! It was no easy task that Mrs. Campbellhad undertaken; but at last, in a moment of ecstasy over two blue-eyeddolls, the sixpences were paid, and the young purchasers drawn away fromfurther temptation. And we, too, must wish them good-by, with the hopethat the next new year may find them bright and happy still, and thatbefore many more have passed over them they will have learnt a wiser anda better way of spending their father's gift; a way in which theirsixpence, though it be but a sixpence, will be returned in tenfoldblessings on their heads.
It is with one of the little pieces of silver which have just rung inthe till that we have to do. It had lain there for about two hours, thesame scenes going on around it which we have witnessed with its owner ofthe morning, when a tall moustachioed young man entered the shop, whichwas not exclusively devoted to toys, and asked to be shown some goldpencil-cases. His choice was soon made, the money paid, and our friendthe Sixpence received in change. Ah, Sixpence! what sort of hands haveyou fallen into now? We have undertaken to follow your fortunes for atime, and therefore, uncomfortable as our quarte