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Adventures of a Sixpence in
Guernsey by A Native

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Guernsey by A Native, by Anonymous
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Title: Adventures of a Sixpence in Guernsey by A Native
Author: Anonymous
Release Date: November 17, 2005 [EBook #17083]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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ADVENTURES OF A SIXPENCE ***

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ADVENTURES OF A SIXPENCE IN GUERNSEY.
BY
A NATIVE.
SEELEY, JACKSON, AND HALLIDAY, FLEET STREET;
AND B. SEELEY, HANOVER STREET.
LONDON. MDCCCLVII.
Printed by G. BARCLAY, Castle St. Leicester Sq.
[Illustration: Frontispiece]

ADVENTURES OF A SIXPENCE IN GUERNSEY.
The breakfast was ready laid on the table, and a gentleman was
standing by the fire waiting for the rest of the family, when the door
burst open, and two little girls ran in.
"A happy new year, papa!--a happy new year!" shouted each as she was
caught up to be kissed, and found herself on the floor once more after a
sudden whirl to the ceiling.
"Now catch," said their father, as he started aside and flung a sixpence
to each.
Of course they did not catch, for little girls have a strange propensity
for turning just the wrong way on such occasions; but the bright new
sixpences were none the duller for their fall, and called forth none the
less admiration from their proud owners.
Many were the calculations which passed through those curly heads
during breakfast-time as to what a sixpence could buy; and it was with

many bright visions that they darted away to be dressed to go into the
town with their mother.
It was New-year's day; but there was no snow, no bitter cold wind, no
beggars shivering in their scanty clothing, none of the scenes of poverty
which those accustomed only to an English winter might expect to cast
a gloom over the enjoyment of the day. It was a bright sunny morning,
every leaf sparkling with dew-drops; groups of neatly-dressed people
were to be seen flocking in from the country in every direction; and
though the air was fresh enough to incline them to walk briskly along,
their hands were not hidden away in muffs and coat-pockets, but were
ready for the friendly shake which, with "all the good wishes of the
season," awaited them at every step.
Mrs. Campbell and her little girls, after many a greeting of this kind,
found their way into the town at last; and the children soon forgot
everything in the twelfth-cakes which adorned the pastry-cooks'
windows, till the sixpence, which was tightly clasped in each little hand,
recalled them to their errand, and they joined the busy crowd in the
toy-shop. Who does not know what it is to take a child into these
abodes of Noah's arks, cats, dogs, mice, and dolls, and all that is so
charming? How each toy is seized on in its turn, to be relinquished in a
moment for one more beautiful! It was no easy task that Mrs. Campbell
had undertaken; but at last, in a moment of ecstasy over two blue-eyed
dolls, the sixpences were paid, and the young purchasers drawn away
from further temptation. And we, too, must wish them good-by, with
the hope that the next new year may find them bright and happy still,
and that before many more have passed over them they will have learnt
a wiser and a better way of spending their father's gift; a way in which
their sixpence, though it be but a sixpence, will be returned in tenfold
blessings on their heads.
It is with one of the little pieces of silver which have just rung in the till
that we have to do. It had lain there for about two hours, the same
scenes going on around it which we have witnessed with its owner of
the morning, when a tall moustachioed young man entered the shop,
which was not exclusively devoted to toys, and asked to be shown

some gold pencil-cases. His choice was soon made, the money paid,
and our friend the Sixpence received in change. Ah, Sixpence! what
sort of hands have you fallen into now? We have undertaken to follow
your fortunes for a time, and therefore, uncomfortable as our quarters
may be, we must take up our abode with you in Captain Crawford's
waistcoat-pocket, and go where he pleases to