388 THE STATUTES. 



stick, their hat-brims slouched, from one side of which flaunted at 

 least a quarter of a yard of broad black riband. Nearly all wore 

 red-and-yellow silk neckerchiefs, while here and there might be seen 

 a rustic dandy, who sported a blue coat, the flaps hanging mid-way 

 down his legs, and in other respects fitting as a stocking might the 

 leg of a chicken. Down their corderoys hung, a foot in length, a 

 glaring red watch-riband; their lace-boots, well studded with the 

 accustomed hob-nails, the toes turned up with formidable clinkers, 

 the value of which few had failed to experience in wrestling, or foot- 

 ball matches, when kicking shins with effect is the climax of art. 

 Their boots were unacquainted with Warren's jet their only polish 

 being a hare's or rabbit's foot dipped in whale-oil, rendering them 

 proof against either rain or snow. 



The young girls wore gaudy printed gowns, various as the colours 

 of the rainbow, with shawls vieing with their own flower-beds, and 

 bonnets of every form and fashion, from the neat little cottage to the 

 extremity of rustic pretension. Some had beautiful small feet, set 

 off to advantage by their tight cloth boots ; others left a foot-mark 

 upon the sand not much unlike the tread of their milch-kine. Here 

 and there, among the more homely, might be seen some fine lady-like 

 girl, stepping a tip-toe, with her white straw bonnet leaning on one 

 side, never once deigning to glance upon the smock-frock rustics, but 

 thinking herself a match for some rich old farmer's son, or dandified 

 tradesman. All looked fresh, and seemed healthful as the morning 

 air. We soon found the companions we promised to escort through 

 the jovial scene two beautiful girls, named Jemima and Mary. 

 Often have we rambled through the fields, in innocent and merry 

 companionship, meeting at our try sting-place beneath the fairy-oak. 

 As we were sauntering arm-in-arm by the public-house of the village, 

 a rough-looking blue-frocked farmer came up, with his aim round 

 his sweetheart's waist ; if, indeed, she had any waist, for from the 

 crown of her head to the sole of her foot she resembled a moving 

 sack of potatoes more than the Venus of Canova. They halted where 

 a pedlar stood offering ribands for sale. 



" I say, measter," said the rustic, " what may yo be axing a yode 

 for that gress green ribben ?" 



" Twopence," answered the pedlar. 



" Come, then," said he, " slosh my Molly half-a-yode off !" Then 

 looking at his darling as languishing as a bear in the sunshine, he 

 exclaimed, " O my wench, I luv yo above a bit !" and implanted a 

 kiss on her ruddy cheek that might have startled the woods; then 

 taking his enchantress again by her shapeless waist, he entered the 

 <c Blue-bell," and in the same tone as he erst called to his team to 

 " gee hove," or " come hether," cried " Mrs. Waarde, bring my 

 Molly twopenneth o' hot gin-an'-waieter, we a lump o' sewgar in't." 



" O Johnny !" remarked the languid fair one, " thou'rt a fool for 

 putting thysel' to sich spence." 



" A ! my wench," was the answer, " I luv you better than I do ode 

 Ball, and a hader woking little mare wor nivir yoked to a plough. 

 We'll be morried next Michalmess." 



" We will, my Jack," sighed the fair one, " my mother's going to 

 giv us a aim chair, an' sum pots, tu the house-keeping." 



