time changes both defences and amusements. now we have volunteer reviews in place of old yeomanry weeks. but it is worth while looking back on what was so hearty, quaint, humorous, and stirring in times bygone.
beasts as well as men had their day in the past. the tramp of horses, their brisk neigh, and the flourish of their long tails added to the general attraction. the coats of the yeomen, too, were of the most sanguinary red. and there were other charms. the calling out of the troop for ten days involved a muster from all the county for twelve or fifteen miles round. there was thus an inroad of country friends. the genial system of billeting was in vogue, too, so that every bed was full. and allies and satellites called in, in happy succession, to share the bustle and glee. a company of respectable theatrical stars, patronized both by officers and privates, visited the town; and a wonderfully brilliant yeomanry ball, attended alike [page 269]by gentle and simple, wound up the successful interlude in ordinary life.
the little town of priorton spruced itself up for its yeomanry weeks, and was all agog, as it never was at any other time. the campaign commenced by the arrival on horseback of a host of country gentlemen and farmers, in plain clothes as yet. but they carried at their saddle-bows, packages containing their cherished ensigns and symbols—in their case the very glory of the affair. along with these in many cases came judicious presents of poultry and game.
there were such hand-shakings in the usually quiet streets, such groomings of horses at stables behind old-fashioned little taverns, such pipe-claying of belts and polishing of helmets, and, above all, such joyous anticipatory parties in private houses!
the season was always the height of the summer, not perhaps in every respect the best for such a muster. stout yeomen had even been known to faint while at drill; the combined influences of the fatigue, the heat, and last night's hilarity being too much for them. but farmers and farming lairds could well quit their lands unless in the beginning of july, when the june hoeing of turnips and beans had been got through, the first grass cut, and while there was still a good three weeks before barley-harvest. trees were then dusky in their green, and gooseberries and currants tinted the priorton gardens with rich amber and crimson. roses redder than the yeomen's coats were in full flower for every waistcoat and waistband. the streets and roads were dusty, under blue skies or black thunderclouds; but the meadows were comparatively cool and [page 270]fresh, and now white with the summer snow of daisies. the bustle of the yeomen, like the trillings of wandering musicians, was heard only in the brooding heat of summer afternoons, or the rosy flush of summer sunset, the prime of the year lending a crowning charm to their advent.
it was a delightful start, that first réveillée of the bugle at five of the clock on a july morning. youngsters whom nought else could have tempted out of bed so early darted up at the summons. they envied papas and uncles, brothers and cousins in the ranks of the yeomen. comely blooming young faces joined the watch at the windows. cloaks were loosely cast about rounded shoulders, and caps were hastily snatched up to hide dishevelled hair; while little bare pink feet would sometimes show themselves. but the young ladies only peeped out behind the window curtains, in the background of the noisy demonstrative band of youngsters.
distant voices, excited and impatient, were soon heard; then the jingle of spurs, and the clank of swords, as half-bashful yeomen descended the stairs for their début in the street. at last appeared important familiar persons, now strikingly transformed by their martial dress, but terribly uncomfortable and self-conscious.
the horses were led to the doors, and to the women who stayed at home the mounts were the exquisitely comic incidents of the day. the return of the members of the troop, now broken to their work, and detached into groups of threes and fours, and chatting and laughing at their ease, was quite tame in comparison. the country gentlemen and farmers were, of course, generally well [page 271]used to the saddle, and could get upon their bucephaluses without difficulty, and ride cavalierly, or prick briskly out of sight, as they were in good time or too late. but here and there a solicitor or banker, or wealthy shopkeeper, ambitious of being among the yeomen, would meet with unhappy enough adventures. he might be seen issuing from his doorway with pretended unconcern, but with anxious clearings of the throat and ominously long breaths, while his nag, strange to him as john gilpin's, was brought up to the mounting-place. the worthy man would plant his foot in the stirrup next him, but, not throwing himself round decidedly enough, the horse would swerve and rear, while he looked on beseechingly and helpless. then he would try the other side, still failing to swing himself into the saddle. he would grow more and more flustered. his wife, in her clean muslin cap and spotless calico wrapper, with her little lads and lasses—one, two, three—would then step out on the pavement to give cautious advice. the would-be yeoman would become more and more nervous, while his comrades rode by with jeering glances, and the passengers stood still. little boys would begin to whoop and hurrah, and a crowd, even at this early hour, would gather round to enjoy the experiment. "hey, nancy! get me a kitchen chair," the town-bred yeoman at last would say in desperation to his elderly commiserating maid-servant in the distance; and from that steady halfway stand he would climb into the saddle with a groan, settle himself sack fashion, and, working the bridle laboriously with his arms, trot off, to return very saddle-sick.[page 272]
then some stubborn young fellow, possessed with the notion of showing off a dashing horse, would insist on riding a vicious, almost dangerous animal, which would on no account endure the sight of his flaming regimentals on the occasions of his mountings and dismountings. once in the saddle, he would master it thoroughly, and pay it back in kind with whip and spur, compelling the furious beast to face a whole line of red coats, and wheel, march, charge, and halt, with perfect correctness. but the horse would have its moment of revenge as its rider leapt to and from the saddle. if it encountered the scarlet and the glitter of brass and steel, at that instant it would get quite wild, paw the air, fling out its hoofs, snort and dart off wildly, to the danger of its own and its master's life. but the young soldier would not be beat. day after day the contest would be renewed. at length he would resort to a compromise, and his groom would bring out the animal with its head ignominiously muffled in a sack; and now the yeoman would mount with comparative safety.
but the bugle is sounding to drill in the early summer morning. tra-li-la! the clear music suits with the songs of the birds and the dew on the grass. the last lagging yeoman is off, gone to receive a public reprimand from his strict commanding officer, but sure to have the affront rubbed out next morning by a similar fault, and a similar experience, on the part of a comrade.
the drill ends at the common breakfast hour, when the yeoman may be supposed to return and feast sumptuously. then "civil" work commences. yeomen who had offices or shops, attended them with slight relics of [page 273]their uniform. a stranger might have been pardoned had he imagined an invasion was daily expected, or that an intestine war was on the point of breaking out. in consideration of the hot weather, undress uniform was permitted on all save field days, and thus the toiling yeomen enjoyed a little cool in their white ducks and jackets, though the red mark, the helmet's line, was still to be traced on their sun-browned foreheads.
there was an afternoon's drill. it was a little of a fag, being in fact rather like a dish heated up a second time, as a duty twice done mostly always is. but the evening was particularly gay. then the yeomen were supposed to be enjoying themselves. pleasant, if they had always enjoyed themselves in an innocent fashion. that many of them did so, it is only charitable to believe. and while the fast and foolish, the gross and wicked were swilling and roystering in evil localities, the generous, manly, gentle souls gratified the matrons with whom they were billeted by walking with them and their daughters through the streets, or into the nearest meadow; or perhaps they treated them to the play.
i have only heard of those days. but i should have liked to have seen the bluff kind faces above the stiff stocks and scarlet coats, and the joyous smiles which shone upon them. i should have liked to have heard the quiet town ringing with such blithe laughter. little jokes would cause the people to laugh, as little accidents would cause them to shake their heads. sandy hope's horse, for instance, lost a shoe while at the gallop, stumbled, and threw its rider, dislocating his shoulder, and breaking his arm. [page 274]what a sensation the news created! it could scarcely have been greater even though sandy's brains had been dashed out. not only sandy himself, but sandy's kindred to the remotest degree, were deeply commiserated. the commanding officer sent his compliments every morning with inquiries after him. the troop doctor was besieged by anxious acquaintances. sandy's comrades never ceased calling upon him, and sat for hours drinking beer at his open window. delicious messes and refreshing drinks a thousand times better than beer, were sent to sandy. then the nosegays, the books he got! sandy received a perfect ovation. it was even proposed that the ball should be put off because sandy was lying in pain; and it was certain that no fewer than three reputed sweethearts of sandy's stayed at home on the ball night. yet the stupid fellow was so slightly hurt, that within the fortnight he was walking the streets of priorton more briskly than ever!
priorton was kindly in its gaiety, and each had an interest in the other. i should have liked to have known the old town when it was thus given up for ten days, half to military exercises, half to fraternity and feasting. i should have been sorry when the feasting was intemperate, but i would no more have condemned the general feasting because of that circumstance, than i would condemn the gift of speech because some of us are so left to ourselves as to tell lies or say bad words.
