GRESHAM GRASSHOPPER. 691 



was too good for such varmint as you." The young man burst into 

 an immoderate fit of laughing. 



<l I did say so ;" said he ; " I meant to have smothered my heroine 

 with the pillows; but recollecting Shakspeare had used them in two 

 plays, I chose the blankets." 



" That won't do, mister," answered the unpoetical fair; " didn't we 

 hear you say you'd do summat with the sacking ? " 



" Why, damn it, woman, my play ends with the sacking of a town!" 



" Ah, I an't no doubt as you'd take the sacking of all the town, if 

 you could get it; and didn't you say, you'd have a run for it, and 

 astonish Mother Jones ? There, sir !" 



"Confound your stupidity!" he answered; "I meant my piece 

 would have a run ; in which case I should have astonished you, by 

 paying you your bill." 



" Don't believe a word of it, as I'm a living 'oman where's my 

 property?" she cried, rushing into the room ; when, to her surprise, 

 she found sheets, blankets, and sacking in statu quo. I now saw the 

 absurd mistake ; and having appeased the old woman pro tempore, I 

 tendered to my new acquaintance an explanation and apology for her, 

 which were received in good part ; and I commenced a friendship 

 with an amiable and talented man that has lasted now some years ; 

 and often, when we while away a winter's evening, under the very 

 roof beneath which this occurred, we laugh over our toddy, as we 

 drink success to Mother Jones, and safety to her sacking. 



A FEW CHIRPS FROM THE GRESHAM GRASSHOPPER. 



" Some meet about affairs 

 Of consequence and profit, bargain, sale, 

 And to confer with chapmen : some for pleasure, 

 To match their horses, wager on their dogs, 

 Or try their hawks ; some to no other end 

 But only to meet good company, discoui'se, 

 Dine, drink, and spend their money." 



HEYWOOD'S English Traveller. 



COME hither, curious reader, take thy stand with me ; I will quit 

 my pinnacle for once, and be thy cicerone through this golgotha. Let 

 us place ourselves where thou seest yon time-killer spelling over the 

 play-bills of the day, under the southern arch entrance to the Royal 

 Exchange. I will use my experience before thy eyes, and bring two 

 or three of these creatures in review before thee. We will pass an 

 hour in the heart of the busiest haunts, where Mammon sits enthroned 

 in tyrannic state, and deals out favours to those who grovel round 

 his footstool in willing, though degraded, homage. I like to watch 

 the countenances of the various votaries thronging round the throne of 

 their idol. There they go there they go ! Their whole hearts, 

 hopes, wishes, powers, faculties, all all cast upon the same object. 

 From the petty dealer in the pettiest article of merchandize, to the 



