3-071-233 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

A Christmas Journey as we Used to Do It - drawn by A. E. Emslie, 1881. 'Then and Now. See Illustrations, "A Christmas Journey as we used to do it" and "As we do it now." The time's gone by when you and I Were wont to come from school together, Outside the coach, whose near approach We hailed with joy in spite of weather. With buoyant hearts we ate our tarts, And laughed to think that school was over; The day had come for friends and home - Six jolly weeks to live in clover! With nimble stride we climbed outside, Protected by our coats and wrappers; Two rosy boys whom coming joys Changed into noisy whipper-snappers. The wind might blow, the sleet and snow Would make our ears and faces tingle; We cared no jot, our happy lot Was soon with friends at home to mingle. The coachman's whip with many a flip Went round the horses' heads at random. We wondered then how coaching men Could ever manage driving tandem. Our trav'lling mates would pat our pates, And call us jolly smart young fellows; They made us snug with cloak and rug, And sheltered us with their umbrellas...'. Mason Jackson. From "Illustrated London News", 1881.