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Page 7:-
liked them, there were impressions to be bought of all the
vapid prints, going and gone, and of nearly all the vapid
books. For those who wanted to put anything in missionary
boxes, here were the boxes. For those who wanted the
Reverend Mr. Podgers (artist's proofs, thirty shillings),
here was Mr. Podgers to any amount. Not less gracious and
abundant, Mr. Codgers of the vineyard, but opposed to Mr.
Podgers, brotherly tooth and nail. Here, were guide-books to
the neighbouring antiquities, and eke the Lake country, in
several dry and husky sorts; here, many physically and
morally impossible heads of both sexes, for young ladies to
copy, in the exercise of the art of drawing; here, further,
a large impression of Mr. SPURGEON, solid as to the flesh,
not to say even something gross. The working young men of
Carlisle were drawn up, with their hands in their pockets,
across the pavements, four and six abreast, and appeared
(much to the satisfaction of Mr. Idle) to have nothing else
to do. The working and growing young women of Carlisle, from
the age of twelve upwards, promenaded the streets in the
cool of the evening, and rallied the said young men.
Sometimes the young men rallied the young women, as in the
case of a group gathered round an accordion-player, from
among whom a young man advanced behind a young woman for
whom he appeared to have a tenderness, and hinted to her
that he was there and playful, by giving her (he wore clogs)
a kick.
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On market morning, Carlisle woke up amazingly, and became
(to the two Idle Apprentices) disagreeably and reproachfully
busy. There were its cattle market, its sheep market, and
its pig market down by the river with raw-boned and
shock-headed Rob Roys hiding their Lowland dresses beneath
heavy plaids, prowling in and out among the animals, and
flavouring the air with fumes of whiskey. There was its corn
market down the main street, with hum of chaffering over
open sacks. There was its general market in the street too,
with heather brooms on which the purple flower still
flourished, and heather baskets primitive and fresh to
behold. With woman trying on clogs and caps at open stalls,
and "Bible stalls" adjoining. With "Doctor Mantle's
Dispensary for the cure of all Human Maladies and no charge
for advice," and with Dr. Mantle's "Laboratory of Medical,
Chemical, and Botanical Science" - both healing institutions
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