396 THE STATUTES. 



When the bearer of the pillow had made two or three circuits round 

 the room, he threw down the pillow at the feet of his partner, on 

 which the blushing damsel was obliged (according to the rules of 

 cushion-dance) to kneel and receive her swain's salute, the fiddle 

 screaming out all the time on the shrill string. Away they again 

 went round the room, he holding by her white frock and she bearing 

 the pillow, which she at length threw down at the feet of another 

 girl. <f A fine, a fine," was the cry; " she must deliver it to some 

 young man." Here Jack Straw pushed forward, but he was not the 

 man. Just at that moment Sammy the waiter entered, with his red 

 hair shining like a fire, and down went the pillow at Sammy's feet. 

 fe O deary me, miss, O locky daisy me," said Sammy, and while in 

 the act of kneeling, he received a little uncalled for help behind, 

 which brought his nose in contact with the floor ; however, he 

 managed to go through the ceremony. Away capered Sammy with 

 the pillow in his hand ; then looking round for the prettiest face, 

 threw it down, and took his tribute, much to the horror of the damsel. 

 I was next selected, and went through the ordeal. It was now my 

 turn to make choice, when up came Mother Warde, sixty-three, 

 without a tooth in her head. Just as the old woman had delivered a 

 glass of liquor, I threw the pillow at her feet, when down stairs she 

 ran, without once pausing for pay. After her flew the pillow, and 

 after the pillow we all rushed ; and, not thinking about the stairs, 

 down we went, sorely to the discomfiture of our elbows and knees. 

 From this we soon recovered, and, on looking once more round the 

 room, I perceived the Johnny and Molly seated together, who had 

 first attracted our attention, when buying the " gress-green riband ;" 

 he was now accommodated with a " sewgar bruster." Without 

 further ceremony I threw down the pillow at Molly's feet. 



" Molly," said the jealous swain, " if yo ge that chap a buss, he 

 may teck yo for altogether, for I'll none o you." 



" O thou jealous fool," answered the polite maiden, " I reckon I 

 can buss thee after, and thou can buss another." 



" Hey, hey, I'd forgot that," said he, and in another minute the 

 pillow was at Johnny's feet. 



" Ay, my wench," said he, as he threw his arms round her head, 

 neck she appeared to have none, " I do luv yo' sum." Away we 

 went in a string, until none remained who had not gone through the 

 ceremony, saving Old Markam, the last who had taken up the pillow 

 was Betty the servant, and not wishing to be disappointed she threw 

 the pillow at the fiddler's feet. Cat-gut now led the way fiddling 

 down stairs with the pillow under his arm, we followed en masse into 

 the parlour, when it was thrown at the feet of mine hostess, and on 

 it she condescended to kneel and finish the cushion-dance. 



Aurora had long since arisen from her couch, like a young shep- 

 herdess, and unbarred the white gate of light, chasing the stars like 

 sheep from the blue fields of ether. In sober prose it was broad day- 

 light, and those who had sweethearts wandered into the flowery 

 lanes and dewy fields, while mine hostess prepared breakfast, being 

 what she termed " a finish to the Statice." Jack Straw went for a 

 soldier, t( all becos Jem'ma had used him cruelly/' and she was 



