The Middlest Sister

A Jolly Lark

—

by

Nicole Smeltzer
in

Remember how I read a lot of books with antiquated vocabulary as a child? (See A Bosom Friend for more.) Well, here’s another comic based on that. When I asked for her opinion on this comic, Charlotte called it “The most unfunny thing [I] have ever written.” Maybe she just didn’t like it because she wasn’t in it. Or maybe I only think it’s funny because I am sick and consuming lots of cough syrup and then lots of coffee to combat the sleepy effects of the cough syrup. Maybe this comic is best enjoyed while drinking cough syrup and coffee.*

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*Not a serious recommendation. Please don’t drink cough syrup and coffee.

Comments

45 responses to “A Jolly Lark”

  1. aviets Avatar
    aviets

    I’ve had the same trouble all my life. Phrases that seem normal to me are really only normal to the people in the old and/or British books I read. I get a lot of “huh?!?!” when I accidentally drop them in conversation. -Amy at http://www.momgoeson.wordpress.com

    Reply
  2. aviets Avatar
    aviets

    Oh, and I got the “bosom friend” reference immediately. LOVE Anne Shirley. :) -Amy

    Reply
    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar
      Nicole Smeltzer

      Me too :) I think she’s one of my favorite characters ever written.

      Reply
  3. ladyserenity92 Avatar
    ladyserenity92

    Reblogged this on Ladyserenity's Weblog and commented:
    Can’t wait for part “two”!

    Reply
  4. Ola D. Avatar
    Ola D.

    This is just lovely :)

    Reply
    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar
      Nicole Smeltzer

      Thank you :D

      Reply
  5. notquiteold Avatar
    notquiteold

    I read Nancy Drew. I wanted a roadster.

    Reply
    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar
      Nicole Smeltzer

      Nancy Drew is the Queen. I want a roadster! And to stumble upon mysteries and coincidences every other day!

      Reply
    2. She's a Maineiac Avatar
      She’s a Maineiac

      Me too!

      Reply
  6. epicaldragon13 Avatar
    epicaldragon13

    Its all the detail in these comics that makes them brilliant. Well done! :)

    Reply
  7. silkpurseproductions Avatar
    silkpurseproductions

    Nancy Drew is all that and more! I have to tell you she’s not that funny though. I giggled as soon as you said, “jolly lark”. It is just one of those things that is fun to say. I’m thinking your sisters should have spent less time with video games and more time with books. No offence to the none readers. We all need a jolly lark occasionally. *giggling*

    Reply
    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar
      Nicole Smeltzer

      We were all big readers, but not all of us liked the old classics. SOME of us mostly read Babysitters Club and Goosebumps. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.)

      Reply
      1. silkpurseproductions Avatar
        silkpurseproductions

        I was big on the “Bobbsey Twins” when I first started reading. There were no “Babysitters Club” or “Goosebumps” then. Wow! I’m old.

        Reply
  8. Domino Park Comics Avatar
    Domino Park Comics

    What are you sisters doing in this strip? It looks like those punched cards we used to sew yarn through.

    Reply
    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar
      Nicole Smeltzer

      Playing Nintendo!

      Reply
      1. Domino Park Comics Avatar
        Domino Park Comics

        Oh, Nintendo. Than you and your sisters are much younger than me and mine. But, I still relate to everything you write, minus the electronics. We had to sew and knit for fun.
        Tell your sister that your fans think this is funny. Everyone wants a Jolly Lark!

        Reply
      2. Meagan Michelle Avatar
        Meagan Michelle

        Don’t worry Nicole, your art makes it clear that those are NES controllers. I am more confused by these mysterious yarn cards . . .

        Reply
        1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar
          Nicole Smeltzer

          I have yarn cards for my daughter, I think… They have holes in them and you wind the yarn through to make designs? If that’s the same thing…

          Reply
  9. She's a Maineiac Avatar
    She’s a Maineiac

    Loved this one. Hope you feel better soon!

    Reply
    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar
      Nicole Smeltzer

      Thanks! Me too!

      Reply
  10. Elyse Avatar
    Elyse

    When we lived overseas we had English neighbors who were always calling things “a lark” — I loved it!

    Feel better — and it’s nice to see you!

    Reply
  11. JackieP Avatar
    JackieP

    LOL, I used to read a lot of British romance novels when I was young, so yeah, I can relate when I would say things like ‘jolly lark’ or knew what a regency book was, or what ‘coming out’ meant. So yeah, we all need a good ole jolly lark!

    Reply
    1. Emily Avatar
      Emily

      Wait, you mean “coming out” in the debutante sense, or “coming out” as in, coming out of the closet?

      Reply
      1. JackieP Avatar
        JackieP

        Well it was regency times, so coming out in the debutante sense.

        Reply
  12. Jennie S. Avatar
    Jennie S.

    No, it’s perfect! I was that same kind of little girl – always full of words far too big for my mouth.

    Reply
  13. Joy U.K. Avatar
    Joy U.K.

    Adorable- such a little girl moment :) Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  14. Joy U.K. Avatar
    Joy U.K.

    PS: ever use hooligans and shenanigans? Malarky is another good one. Old words are awesome, you are not weird, looking forward to the next comic!

    Reply
  15. swo8 Avatar
    swo8

    I think it’s pretty funny.
    Leslie

    Reply
  16. Gretchen Penland Harris Avatar
    Gretchen Penland Harris

    Fabulous!

    Reply
  17. morristownmemos by Ronnie Hammer Avatar
    morristownmemos by Ronnie Hammer

    Where can I get those fabulous fabrics you used in your furniture? Ducky, simply ducky.

    Reply
  18. muddledmom Avatar
    muddledmom

    I think it’s funny, even if I didn’t have quite the same reading list as you growing up. As a kid, I wouldn’t have had a clue what you were talking about. That’s what makes this so clever. Love this.

    Reply
  19. becomingcliche Avatar
    becomingcliche

    Charlotte’s just wrong!

    Reply
    1. Emily Avatar
      Emily

      Charlotte’s not in this story–it’s just Nicki, Ashley, and Chrissy.

      Reply
      1. becomingcliche Avatar
        becomingcliche

        Which is probably why she thought it wasn’t funny! :D

        Reply
  20. Tara Meghan Avatar
    Tara Meghan

    It’s funny!

    Reply
  21. talesfromthemotherland Avatar
    talesfromthemotherland

    Forever a fan, these always make my day.

    Reply
  22. bhbkidstyle Avatar
    bhbkidstyle

    I don’t agree with Charlotte, I think it is funny. – Just finished my morning coffee but the caffeine has not kicked in, yet which is a good measuring device in my case. :)

    I hope you are much better by now!

    Reply
  23. credmayne Avatar
    credmayne

    Fantastic facial expressions as ever!

    Reply
  24. reneejohnsonwrites Avatar
    reneejohnsonwrites

    That may also explain my penchant for misspelling words, putting in ‘u’ and ‘e’ where they don’t belong.

    Reply
  25. LoriGraham (@scenesofjoy) Avatar
    LoriGraham (@scenesofjoy)

    Made me laugh. I too have spent way too much time in Victorian England :)

    Reply
  26. Nicetomeetu Avatar
    Nicetomeetu

    Just love your illustrations! So unique! :)

    Reply
  27. Dani Avatar
    Dani

    These are the best!!

    Reply
  28. ecoarta Avatar
    ecoarta

    Very nice!

    Reply
  29. mrgregmilo Avatar
    mrgregmilo

    I definitely would have been playing Nintendo, not reading, but later in life, I did become infatuated with the phrase “confound it, I’ve got the gout,” which I read from one of the Three Musketeer books.

    Reply
    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar
      Nicole Smeltzer

      What a great turn of phrase!

      Reply

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