Uphill Work (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1861. Excerpt: ... tackle, and skates, and bat and stumps, and balls for cricket and trap, and a big bag of marbles, and sets of chess, and draughts, and dominoes. Yet, with all these means of instruction and amusement, in a room that was entirely his own, Oswald often felt weary; and on this particular morning, when he leaped from his bed and ran to his window, and looked out on the dark grey sky, that seemed to close in the house and grounds like the folds of a wet tent, he uttered a cry of disappointment, and ran into the adjoining play-room, involuntarily hoping to catch a glimpse of blue sky from the view out of the other window. But, no; this aspect was even darker than the former, and Oswald turned away, looking almost as gloomy as the day. He seemed to think himself ill used that the weather had not put itself out of the way to oblige him. He was proceeding sulkily to dress himself, and had fastened his door to indulge his ill-humour uninterruptedly, when he noticed a letter pushed under the door. It was in his aunt's handwriting, a pretty little note of affectionate greeting, and it ended by telling him that he was to make haste down, for several birthday presents awaited him in the breakfast parlour. Though he quick ened his movements after reading this, and was full of curiosity as to what his presents were, still he every now and then looked towards the window, and shook his head fretfully as he noticed the low looming clouds. He had set his heart on having a fine day, and no amount of gifts or indulgences seemed to be able to check his discontent at being disappointed. He went down at length, and meeting Williams, the old man-servant, in the hall, received his birthday greeting rather gloomily, saying in reply, --" Thank you, Williams; but it's a miserable looki...