THE QUARTERLY ELOCUTIONIST. READINGS, RECITATIONS, DECLAMATIONS AND PLATFORM. EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY MRS. ANNA RANDALL-DIEHL, (Formerly Anna T. Randall,) AUTHOR OF "READING AND ELOCUTION," "CHOICE READINGS," All orders sent to ANNA RANDALL-DIEHL, 35 UNION SQUARE, NEW Yonk COPYRIGHT. MRS. ANNA RANDALL-DIEHL. 1875. IN GABRIEL GRUB. an old abbey town, down in this part of the country, a long, long while ago, there officiated as sexton and grave-digger one Gabriel Grub. A little before twilight, one Christmas eve, Gabriel shouldered his spade, lighted his lantern, and betook himself toward the old churchyard, for he had got a grave to finish by next morning; and feeling very low, he thought it might raise his spirits, perhaps, if he went on with his work at once. As he wended his way up the ancient street, he saw the cheerful light of the blazing fires gleam through the old casements, and heard the loud. laugh and cheerful shouts of those who were assembled around them; he marked the bustling preparations for next day's good cheer, and smelt the numerous savory odors consequent thereupon, as they steamed up from the kitchen windows in clouds. All this was gall and wormwood to the heart of Gabriel Grub; and as groups of children bounded out of the houses, tripped across the road, and were met, before they could knock at the opposite door, by half a dozen curly-headed little rascals, who crowded round them as they flocked up stairs to spend the VOL. III.-1 70469 |