The Argosy — page 378: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

356 er re WATCHING ON ST. MARK’S EVE. ASTER DAY that year was nearly as late as it could be—the 23rd of April, That brought St. Mark’s Day (the 25th) on the Tuesday ; and Easter Monday was St. Mark’s Eve. There is a superstitious belief in our county, and in some others— more thought of in our old grannies’ days than in these—that if you go to the churchyard on St. Mark’s Eve and watch the gate, the shadows, or phantoms, of those fated to die that year, and destined there to be buried, will be seen to enter it. Easter Monday is a great holiday with us; the greatest in all the year. Chnstmas Day and Good Friday are looked upon more in a religious light; but on Easter Monday servants and labourers think themselves at liberty to take their swing. The first day of the wake is nothing to it. Now Squire Todhetley gave in to these holidays : they did not come often, he said. Our servants in the country are not a bit like yours in town; yours want a day’s holiday once a month, oftener sometimes, and. strike if they don’t get it; ours have one or two ina year. On Easter Monday the work was got over by mid-day ; there was no cooking, and the household could roam abroad at will. No ill had ever come of it; none would have come of it this time, but for St. Mark’s Eve falling on the day. Tod and I got home from school on the Thursday. It was a despicable old school, taking no heed of Passion Week. Other fellows from other schools could have a fortnight at Easter; we but a week. Tod entered on a remonstrance with the Pater this time; he had been planning it as we drove home, and thought he'd put it in a strongish point of view. “Tt is sinful, you know, sir; awfully so. Passion Week zs Passion Week. We have no nght to pass it at school at our desks.” “Well, Joe, I don’t quite see that,” returned the Pater, twisting his lip. Discipline and lessons are more in accordance with the season of Passion Week than kicking up your heels at large in all sorts of mis- chief; and that’s what you’d be at, you know, if you were at home. What’s the matter with Johnny ?” “ He has been ill for three days, with a cold or something,” said Tod. “ Tell it for yourself, Johnny.” I had no more to tell than that. For three or four days I had ill, feverish ; yesterday (Wednesday) had done no lessons. Mrs. Tod- COMIC OOOKS. EO an _ °