lways sung it with great success; and the
Squire himself had done him the honour to say it was the best song he had
ever heard, while the Clergyman had assured him that the sentiments were
so good that it ought to be played upon the organ when the people were
coming out of church. And Farmer Grinddown, who was the largest
gentleman farmer for miles around, had declared that if men would only
act up to that it would be a happy country, and we should soon be able to
defy America itself.

Mr. Bumpkin, hearing such shouts of laughter, thought perhaps he might
have a patch of black on his face, and put his hand up to feel. Then he
looked about him to see if his dress was disarranged; but finding nothing
amiss, he candidly told them he "couldn't zee what there wur to laugh at
thic fashion."

They all said it was a capital song, and wondered if he had any more of
the same sort, and hoped he'd leave them a lock of his hair--and
otherwise manifested tokens of enthusiastic approbation.

Mr. Bumpkin, however, could not quite see their mirth in the same light,
so he turned on his heel and, beckoning to Joe, left the room in high
dudgeon, not to say disdain.

"Mind Joe--no truck wi un."

"Why, maister, he knows my sister."

"Damn thee sister, Joe; it be a lie."

"Be it? here's some o' the bacca he brought up from Okleton, I tell ee."

"I tell thee, have nowt to do wi un; we shall be on t'morrer, we be tenth
in the list."

"Ay," said Joe, "we bin igher in list un thic, we bin as near as eight; I
shall be mighty glad when it be over."

"An get back to pigs, aye, Joe?"

"Aye, maister."

"Nothin like oame, Joe, be there?" and Mr. Bumpkin turned away.

"No," said Joe; "no, maister, if so be" (and this was spoken to himself)
"if so be you got a oame."

Then I saw that Joe rejoined his companions, amongst whom a conversation
was going on as to the merits of the song. Some said one thing and some
another, but all condemned it as a regular toading to the Parson and the
Squire: and as for the Beak, how any man could praise him whose only duty
was to punish the common people, no one could see. The company were
getting very comfortable. The Sergeant had called for another glass of
that delectable grog whose very perfume seemed to inspire everyone with
goodfellowship, and they all appeared to enjoy the Sergeant's liquor
without tasting it.

"What do you say to a game of dominoes?" said Harry.

"They won't allow em ere,"