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THE DAYS OF THE WEEK 1029
showers of wit and satire—all in innocent Shrove Tuesday merry-making.
So the extra day came, and they all met together.
Sunday, the leader of the days, appeared in a black silk gown ; pious people would have supposed that he was dressed as a clergyman about to go to church, but the children of the world saw that he was in domino in order to go and enjoy himself, and that the blushing carnation he had in his button-hole was the little red lantern at the theatre, which announced ' All tickets sold ; see that you enjoy yourselves/
Monday, a young fellow, a relative of Sunday and especially given to enjoyment, came next. He left the workshop, he said, when the guard-parade took place. 11 must go out and hear Offenbach's music. It does not affect my head nor my heart, but it tickles the muscles of my legs. I must dance and enjoy myself, get a black eye, and begin work again next day. I am the new-moon of the week.'
Tuesday takes its name from Tiw, the old god of strength and power. ' Yes, I am the day of that,' said Tuesday. 11 set to work, fasten the wings of Mercury to the boots of the merchant, and see whether the factory wheels are oiled and spinning properly ; I insist that the tailor shall be on his board and the paviour on the street. Let each attend to his own work : I keep an eye on the whole.'
' Now I come,' said Wednesday. ' I stand in the middle of the week. The Germans call me Mr. Midweek. I stand like the shopman in the shop, like a flower in the midst of all the other respected days of the week. If we all march together, I have three days before and three behind, like a guard of honour. I must suppose that I am the most distinguished day in the week.'
Thursday came dressed as a coppersmith with a hammer and a copper kettle ; these were the marks of his nobility. ' I am of the highest birth,' he said, ' heathen and divine. In the northern lands I am named after Thor, and in the southern after Jupiter, who both knew how to thunder and lighten. That has remained in the family.' And then he beat on the copper kettle and demonstrated his high birth.
Friday was dressed like a young girl, and called herself |
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