Merrie England In The Olden Time, Vol. 1 (of 2)

d quite enough by consenting to play Esquire Bedel to the Fubsys, Muffs, and Flumgartens. A couple of lean barn-door fowls and a loin-or, as Mrs. Flumgarten classically spells it, a lion of

h as ever did the second George 'boedry and bainding!' Then came the British Museum. I will now take leave to hav

ncle Timothy, Mrs

has a happy knack of picking a hole in everybody's coat, will not spare mine. Le

stake," urged the lauréat. "Resp

imothy

ife as W

gie a but

uld be so insane so stark, st

t effect his budget of supposit

trung and his countenance steady, an

d exhibit myself in a blue coat and brass buttons-" Uncle Timothy again paused; but he m

y me in the print-shops-a blue coat and brass buttons are not the journey-work of twenty minutes-for by that time I must be equipped to start: And, to swaddle myself in a ready-made fit, too long at the top, and too short at the bottom-like

maintained a re

s once"-as Uncle Timothy saw the apparent impossibility of obliging, he spoke more

ite exulted that, while starting an insurmountable obstac

he old-fashioned housekeeper-a sort of animated d

ngs not legitimately belonging to it will creep into a carpet-bag. But in a bl

blue bag, dived his hand in for its contents, and the first thing h

amining it attentively, he laid it aside, dived

lar scrutiny, and then took it

g cut, to which was pinned a respectful note from Mr. Rufus Rumfit of Red Lion Square, stating that the

azarded such an assertion. Some would-be old beau-for the habiliments, I see, are of a mature fashion-is burning to disguise his person in this harlequin suit. My life on't, Mr. Rumfit wi

ikes. I have n

time, to talk: but the unusual sight of so much finery had completely absorbed Poll's attention, and he remained obstinately silent, leaving Mr. Bosky to tax his ing

wont to be so du

's eyes, and he exclaimed seriously, and trying to look repr

e brilliant bright blue: concluding with a glowing panegyric on the tout ensemb

is tiring-room, just to see-out of mere curiosity-if it did fit, he returned in full pontificalibus, a middle-a

she started, stared amazedly, and uttered the interjecti

nose, a chair, and half a score of ragged urchins to shout m

rowned cap and streamers in token of dissent, and Mr.

mothy, strutting to an

crept in favo

n it with some

y-worth of flowers to stick in my bu

suggested

looked a trifle serious, and t

uet, consisting of a last rose of summer, a violet or

h a gold top and silk tassel, was its substitute. Mr. Bosky then dutifully tendered him a smart new beaver, intimating that the old one had that morning been converted into a nursery by his favourite pepper-and-salt puss. At this crowning specimen of the laure

"od's boddikins!" were the only expletives that escaped from the lips of Uncle Timothy. But "the devil!" Even Mr. Bosky looked momentarily aghast, and the old-fash

is tongue too big for his mouth, and his teeth too many for his tongue,) with

at the sun was just out; and Mr.

east, but it soon changed to sow-sow-west," was

you and the wind shifted at

, which they always took the wrong way. The intelligent master

ainted pole * over the

ritain?" conti

rejoined U

of Mrs. Flumgarten

e, one of the popu

o be seen in some o

y-towns, painted wit

surmounted with a

merly among the fur

d to be trimmed, i

any. The barber hi

-witted fellow. W

earch for Money, 1

but asking the que

r-listning us) a n

to at-taine some di

nner of basons swing

ur conference. The s

omewhat of his knowl

hus I prove 't: h

barber-sur-gions

fingers, and from

pping wit too). Wel

ion,) told us that

sure was not farre

o watch till morning

morning they went a

clos'd his eyes till

ll sermon-time; but

yonder taverne (sh

tane a chamber."

or, as news-mongers

erected his pole as

it by way

tive faculties were "in cogibundity of cogitation." He soo

d! But the interrogator relieved them by suddenly recollec

said the satirical-nosed gentlema

interrupt

contemptuous acquiescence. "Call me Alexander, Wat Tyler, A

in. Plain Timvig vill do for me. The Muffs and all th

ening to and scrutinizing the intruder f

know the

u know h

looking, dandyfied, middle-aged gentlemen, (Mrs. Flumgarten hates gay-looking, dandified, middle-aged gentlemen,) are awful loiterers by the vay. You can't see a smart bonnet o

othy made

uffed birds and monkeys; but she can't a-bear old war-ses, and

inwardly rejoiced at Mrs

ting nonsensical mock stuff; and she don't think she'll go to th

struck a musical quarter, and the parrot responde

ck! be off

, or'twill be

itain!) for which my Lord Mayor-the conservator of city

d of Uncle Timothy's arm, adding, "If ye don't make haste, Mrs. Fl

y solita

quarter

avily

y the "fast flying waggon

ittle as a fool.' Well said, Alex

ll! let's

merry and

e too high

Polly, y

d, unduti

ugar and sug

stcoat pocket, soon revived in the abstracted bird a relish for the good things of this world. He wetted his whistle cordially with a spoonful of maraschino, an

UAKER

ruth, I'm a sob

the pretty girls,

r trap; you've cri

a

spurrit mov

...Tye t

t is tyed, and y

id

(for leading apes

y

th speed. O yes,

us at our me

....Tye

sigh, ah! I will n

badi-ah I to

rts in one, befor

thy tender

...Tye t