00 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Joe, however, grew impatient under his burthen ; besides, 

 he would have had something done even for a devil in distress. 

 For about the twentieth time he called on Dame Muggins to 

 open the door, which was now shut-to behind her ; but there 

 she stood with her back against it, looking vacantly on and 

 muttering and smiling. "The devil's in the woman P J ex- 

 claimed Joe. " Why, daine," once more he repeated, " why 

 don't ye let us in, to carry the lad, dead or alive, up to his 

 own bed?' But he might as well have spoken to the door 

 itself. Shoving her aside, he tried to open it ; but from the 

 outside this was no ea>\ matter. " The window, then \" cried 



i 



Joe ; and calling his brother, the milkman, to his assistance, 

 he and his senseless encumbrance were presently through the 

 low casement, up the ladder-stair, and Tim deposited upon his 

 wretched bed. 



AVhat was done next ? This is a query which we shall now, 

 perhaps, best answer in our own proper person, inasmuch as Mi- 

 took upon us to do it then, practically, as one amongst the 

 many spectators and few actors in the scene above described. 

 \\ e had been out betimes that morning for the purpose of 

 seeking some early-flying moths, when, returning past the 

 cottage of Dame Hoggins, we, fell in with the assemblage 

 round her door, and were, of course, led to augment it, but 

 only just- previous to the moment M'hen Joe effected an 

 entrance at the window. AVe knew little about the dame, 

 except her general character as a hard, griping, cunning old 



