The Argosy — page 388: what you’re looking at

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

A Parson’s Flitting. 365 to be pressed into space so small? I must admit that I trembled for articles hitherto without scratch or blemish: spacious solid articles too, that will not yield to compression, or be coaxed into corners half their size. Fortunately, I had packed pictures, wine, and nearly every- thing requiring care, in square cases that would have borne even a railway porter’s handling without injury: but I had been particularly requested to leave the crockery and books to ‘‘ able men of long experi- ence.” Reader! if you are inclined on a similar occasion to submit to this arrangement, believing it to be economical, all Ican say is: Don’t! As the able men came unprovided with material to wrap round the fragile articles, my good man-servant was employed for hours in col- lecting musty hay and fragmentary paper. With respect to my un- fortunate books, which I hoped to see secured with exemplary care, the professional idea was both simple and original, and fully bore out the words of the circular, ‘‘no packing needed.” ‘The moveable open book-cases, having been lightened sufficiently to be lifted, were carried to the van doors and then tilted forwards; the scattered volumes being left to arrange themselves in such interstices as could be found. The stray helpers, I need hardly say, were new to the business. They thought nothing of walking over bedding in hob-nailed boots ; or turning cases of preserves topsy-turvy ; and showed a remarkable aptitude in cannoning with heavy furniture against painted doorposts and expensive paper. In fact the walls of the staircase looked as if an enraged cat had been drawn along them backwards. ‘To remon- strate with the regular men, who related (of course, incidentally) that they had started without breakfast at four o’clock in the morning, and were a little uncertain as to whether they should have any dinner, would have been cruel; but as the collection of articles increased round the last van, and the space within became less, I turned away to avoid noticing the inevitable strain and squeeze which must follow. When no more furniture could be induced to enter, I had the pleasure of seeing the drawing-room suite placed unprotected on the roof, and it needed but an old kettle slung with the other goods at the back, to complete the resemblance to a travelling ‘‘ Cheap Jack.” What if a heavy shower should descend upon the green velvet cover- ings, and patter upon the gilded mirrors ? I trembled to think of it. Who does not remember the last night in the old home? The naked walls, the squares of clean paper fringed with cobwebs where familiar pictures have hung; the sounding floors ; the yawning grates, where the soot already begins to fall, shaken down by the recent clatter overhead ; the mute appeal of the dismantled rooms to old association. The cheerful gatherings, the guests who have come and gone; the greetings and the partings, from some, alas! who wiil never greet us more ; the pleasant times when the morning sun awoke us, and sun- shine within warmed and braced us for our work ; the sad times and weary when the doctor was at the door, and the chain of life dragged heavily ; and we thought it were better not to be. And then the GOnlGaooks (GO