The Argosy — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

In the New Forest. A? and otherwise adorning and cleaning the church. Itself modern, it stands on the site of an edifice not much more ancient than itself, it is said, and far less sightly, that was pulled down to make way for the requirements of an increasing population. The fresco stood out grandly from the very end of the aisle, but only when close to it was all its grace and beauty, softness and refinement, seen to perfection. Going back to the inn, the conveyance to take me to Stoney Cross soon came round. The new omnibus was still flourishing up and down the village street, ‘the cynosure of neighbouring eyes.” My Jehu was enraptured. “A rare fine one, sir,” said he, gazing with pride at what must add so much to the reputation of his house. ‘‘ Red velvet inside, com- fortable seats on the top. Now, wouldn’t you, sir, like to step down, and have a good look at her?” ‘This was said in such a tone as one might use towards a schoolboy upon taking him to a pastrycook’s and offering him sundry dainties. But by this time I was comfortably packed in the little waggonette, and resisted the offer. ‘ About time you had a new omnibus,” I said. ‘“‘ First impressions go for much, and seeing this antediluvian vehicle at the station, makes one wonder whether everything else at Lyndhurst is after the same pattern.” The old man laughed. ‘‘I don’t think [Pm a great way better,” said he. ‘‘ I’ve been here more than forty year, and I’ve grown old with hard work, like the ’bus. But I’ve got some go in me yet, and so has she. We shall keep her for wet days, lke a double set of harness.” “And you—will you come out on fine days, hke the new conveyance P” “Ah! ah!” he cried, with a melancholy chuckle: “I’m only a postboy, not an omnibus. JZ must take the rough with the smooth, the fair with the foul. I’ve grown old at that kind of work, but not rusty. When I tumble to pieces, the spring will be well worn out.” He was still a hale, tough old fellow; and if we should both be living ten years hence, and I should visit Stoney Cross, likely enough he may be there to drive me. We turned from the inn and very soon had left Lyndhurst behind us. Some time before visiting the New Forest, an old friend had said tOLIME : “You must get out at Lyndhurst Road, take. the omnibus to Lyndhurst village, there hire a conveyance to take you to Stoney Cross, and make the Compton Arms, in the very heart of the Forest, your head-quarters. You will find yourself as happy as the day ts long, and as comfortable as Mr. and Mrs. Coggin can make you.” There is hardly a nook or cranny in England that my friend does not know, scarcely a palatial mansion that he has not visited. He has ofttimes been the guest of royalty as well as of less exalted individuals, and was therefore supposed to know something about the matter. COmmicoooks (CO) *