It’s a sunny day in London, weather so rare you decide you’d better not waste it. It has been raining the past two days, giving you an excuse to put off getting a new cabinet. But now that the rain has let up, you decide you’d better go to the cabinet manufacturer on High Holden to purchase one. If only your sons hadn’t been so clumsy bringing in the furniture from the cart when you moved into St. Giles District last week. Fortunate for you, you had found steady work quite quickly, thus could afford such expenses. Besides, if you put it off any longer, Margaret, your wife, would surely have your head.
Turning left on Museum Street, you take the cart down High Holden. Immediately you can hear the sounds of activity. No one seemed to want to waste this day. The shouts of sturdy men reach your ears over the noise of your grinding cartwheels as they heave enormous bundles of linen into the Linen and Wool Draper’s. A line has already formed outside Ferguson’s Grand Exhibition. You wondered what could be showing today. Perhaps later in the day you could take the family out to see. Moving on, you see a marvelous display of paper hangings outside the Paper Hanging Manufacturer and Decorator’s, resplendent with bright colors and beautiful patterns. You stop by to admire the wallpaper for a little while, but once prompted to buy something, you quickly excuse yourself to continue on your mission. Coming upon the cabinet manufacturer’s at last, you pick a cabinet about the same size and design as the one you had before. The price is ridiculous! After arguing with the shopkeeper for a good while, you finally settle for a smaller cabinet at a more reasonable price, loading it into your cart. You hope Margaret won’t notice the difference.
You could turn back to Museum Street, but instead you decide to venture a little further down High Holden. You had seen so little of this district since you moved in on account of the rain: it was about time you became a little more acquainted with it. Passing New Oxford Street, you stop for a bite in Holborn Restaurant. You hadn’t eaten all morning, after all. Pushing forward, you admire the dignified Lincoln’s Inn Hall from a distance. You had never seen such buildings on the countryside; it was truly magnificent. Your faithful horse trods past two inns and a hotel, leading you to wonder why there are so many temporary rooms in the city. You are shaken from your thoughts upon hearing the sounds of a chittering monkey. It was walking on its hands across a rope suspended between two long poles. You are surrounded the by the sounds of festive music, see giants, dwarfs, and all sorts of wonders. You have arrived at the Holborn Circus. You have never seen a circus before! Spending hours among the entertainers, you quite forget yourself until the sun begins to set. Cursing yourself for your forgetfulness, you set on the path home again, picking up a cake from Holborn restaurant to mollify Margaret. This time, she would have your head.
