o you,
`Massa, shall I help you?' and you say, `Yes, you must _help_ me.' So
den I take one glass of grog, 'cause you tell me to help you."

"I didn't tell you to help yourself though, you scoundrel!"

"Yes, Massa, when you tell me to help you with de bottel, I 'bey order,
and help myself. Den, sar, I waits little more, and I say, `Massa now
you go up 'tairs,' and you start up and you wake, and you say, `Yes,
yes;' and den I hold up and show you bottel again, and I say, `Shall I
_help_ you massa?' and den you say `Yes.' So I 'bey order again, and
take one more glass. Den you open mouth and you snore--so I look again
and I see one little glass more in bottel, and I call you, `Massa
Cockle, Massa Cockle,' and you say, `high--high!'--and den you head fall
on you chest, and you go sleep again--so den I call again and I say;
`Massa Cockle, here one lilly more drop, shall I drink it?' and you nod
you head on you bosom, and say noting--so I not quite sure, and I say
again, `Massa Cockle, shall I finish this lilly drop?' and you nod you
head once more. Den I say, `all right,' and I say, `you very good helt,
Massa Cockle;' and I finish de bottel. Now, Massa, you ab de whole
tory, and it all really for true."

I perceived that Cockle was quite as much amused at this account of
Moonshine's as I was myself, but he put on a bluff look.

"So, sir, it appears that you took advantage of my helpless situation,
to help yourself."

"Massa Cockle, just now you tell Massa Farren dat you drink so much, all
for good nature Massa Piper--I do same all for good nature."

"Well, Mr Moonshine, I must have some grog," replied Cockle, "and as
you helped yourself last night, now you must help me;--get it how you
can, I give you just ten minutes--"

"'Pose you give gib me ten shillings, sar," interrupted Moonshine, "dat
better."

"Cash is all gone. I havn't a skillick till quarter-day, not a shot in
the locker till Wednesday. Either get me some more grog, or you'll get
more kicks than halfpence."

"You no ab money--you no ab tick--how I get grog, Massa Cockle? Missy
O'Bottom, she tells me, last _quarter_ day, no pay _whole_ bill, she not
_half_ like it; she say you great deceiver, and no trust more."

"Confound the old hag! Would you believe it, Bob, that Mrs Rowbottom
has wanted to grapple with me these last two years--wants to make me
landlord of the Goose and Pepper-box, taking her as a fixture with the
premises. I suspect I