s an' woe!

And yet we're 'llow'd to brethe the air
The same as gents from town;
And 'llow'd to black their 'appy boots,
And rub their 'orses down!

To think o' blessins sich as these,
Is like ongrateful lust;
It stuffs us oop wi' worldly pride,
As if our 'arts would bust!

But no, we're 'umble got to be,
Though privileged so 'igh:
Why doan't we feed on grass or grains,
Or leastways 'umbly die!

We got to keep our wicked tongue
From disrespeckful speakin',
We han't a got to eat too much,
Nor yet goo pleasure seekin'.

Nor kitch a rabbit or a aire,
Nor call the Bobby names,
Nor stand about, but goo to church,
And play no idle games:

To love paroshial orficers,
The squire, and all that's his,
And never goo wi' idle chaps
As wants their wages riz.

So now conwarted I ha' bin
From igorance and wice;
It's only 'appiness that's sin,
And norty things that's nice!

Whereas I called them upstart gents
The wust o' low bred snobs,
Wi' contrite 'art I hollers out
"My heye, wot bloomin' nobs!"

I sees the error o' my ways,
So, lads, this warnin' take,
The Poor Man's path, the parson says,
Winds round the Burnin' Lake.

They've changed it since the days o' yore,
Them Gospel preachers, drat un;
They used to preach it to the poor,
An' now they preach it _at_ un.

Every one was amazed at the astonishing memory of this country lad: and
the applause that greeted the reciter might well be calculated to awaken
his latent vanity. It was like being called before the curtain after the
first act by a young actor on his first appearance. And I believe every
one understood the meaning of the verses, which seemed to imply that the
hungry prodigal, famishing for food, was fed with husks instead of grain.
Contentment with wretchedness is not good preaching, and this was one
lesson of Dr. Brimstone's sermon. As soon as Harry could make himself
heard amidst the general hubbub, which usually follows a great
performance, he said:--

"Now, look here, lads, it's all very well to be converted with such
preaching as that; but it's my belie it's more calculated to make
hypocrites than Christians."

"Hear! hear!" said Lazyman. "That _is_ right." Anything but conversion
for Lazyman.

"Now," continued Harry, "I've heard that kind of preaching a h