urally call my boy young Nick, and of course I shall
be styled old Nick, which will be diabolical."

"Well, Mr Easy, at all events then let me choose the name."

"That you shall, my dear, and it was with this view that I have
mentioned the subject so early."

"I think, Mr Easy, I will call the boy after my poor father--his name
shall be Robert."

"Very well, my dear, if you wish it, it shall be Robert. You shall have
your own way. But I think, my dear, upon a little consideration, you
will acknowledge that there is a decided objection."

"An objection, Mr Easy?"

"Yes, my dear; Robert may be very well, but you must reflect upon the
consequences; he is certain to be called Bob."

"Well, my dear, and suppose they do call him Bob?"

"I cannot bear even the supposition, my dear. You forget the county in
which we are residing, the downs covered with sheep."

"Why, Mr Easy, what can sheep have to do with a Christian name?"

"There it is; women never look to consequences. My dear, they have a
great deal to do with the name of Bob. I will appeal to any farmer in
the county, if ninety-nine shepherds' dogs out of one hundred are not
called Bob. Now observe, your child is out of doors somewhere in the
fields or plantations; you want and you call him. Instead of your
child, what do you find? Why, a dozen curs at least, who come running
up to you, all answering to the name of Bob, and wagging their stumps of
tails. You see, Mrs Easy, it is a dilemma not to be got over. You
level your only son to the brute creation by giving him a Christian name
which, from its peculiar brevity, has been monopolised by all the dogs
in the county. Any other name you please, my dear, but in this one
instance you must allow me to lay my positive veto."

"Well, then, let me see--but I'll think of it, Mr Easy; my head aches
very much just now."

"I will think for you, my dear. What do you say to John?"

"Oh, no, Mr Easy, such a common name?"

"A proof of its popularity, my dear. It is scriptural--we have the
apostle and the baptist--we have a dozen popes who were all Johns. It
is royal--we have plenty of kings who were Johns--and, moreover, it is
short, and sounds honest and manly."

"Yes, very true, my dear; but they will call him Jack."

"Well, we have had several celebrated characters who were Jacks. There
was--let me see--Jack the Giant Killer, and Jack of the Bean Stalk--and
Jack--Jack--"

"Jack Spratt," replied Mr