JULY. 159 



It was a cold February evening when I walked to the King's Head ; 

 and I believe you, it was a pleasant sight, the great fire and clean 

 sanded floor, and well-rubbed tables, with clean pii)es, and screws of 

 tobacco, and a box, that when a penny was dropped in opened its lid, 

 and said, " Fill away; but shut down tight, or pay another penny." 

 One dropped in after another, till all were together, when I was colled, 

 as they called it, and put in the chair, for wliich 1 had to stand treat. 

 One meeting was a fair sample of all ; we had a deal of business, as 

 there always is at such times, minding other people's and neglecting 

 our own. It was wonderful how wise we were about our masters, and 

 all that went on in their families ; then we'd talk about the affairs of 

 the parish and the nation, and as to the Parliament-house, it was a 

 fool to us ; and I believe we talked, and smoked, and drank ourselves 

 into the belief that there was but a few folks that knew any thing, 

 and they were to be found at the King's Head any \^'ednesday even- 

 ing. One thing I wondered at, and that was, where the money came 

 from to pay for mixed liquors, which some called for. I know my 

 pocket was getting very bare, and that very fast ; for where I never 

 had any thing to drink but at meals, now I wanted half a pint for 

 lunch, and half a pint at four o'clock ; and I often found myself saying, 

 " It's only half a pint ;" excusing myself like to myself. I often re- 

 membered my poor father, and his last words ; but then I thought I 

 should never get like him, and kill myself with it as he'd done. But 

 now I think I should soon have been just such another poor slave to 

 drink, only one morning the squire pulled me up short with, " Well, 

 gardener, you and the King's Head are too well acquainted to please 

 me." At first I was for making some excuse ; but he stopped that 

 very short, and said, " You can do as you like, and I can do the same. 

 You may choose the public-house for your evenings, and I can choose 

 a man that spends his time at home ; but let me tell you, whether 

 with me or in another place, you'll find bad habits like your flower- 

 pots, — you may break 'em, but you'll never wear 'em out;" and then 

 he left me. 



My eye was opened, and I turned over a new leaf, and left the 

 King's Head altogether ; for which I got called a few hard names, 

 but they spoil no meat. I must say that at first I used to sneak ofl^, 

 if I saw any of my old companions ; for somehow or other I couldn't 

 stand being twitted with, "He's afraid of his master," and the like. 

 Before I took the place, the old gardener always paid the quarterly 

 bills ; but now they were paid at the house : but when the squire 

 found I was always in my cottage of an evening, he sent me to pay 

 the tradesmen ; and then I found out how it was that the mixed 

 liquors were paid for. There was the glazier took the money, and 

 offered me a shilling in the pound ; and so with them all. They said 

 it was the custom. "But," said I, "does the squire know it.'"' 

 " No," said they, " nor has no business to." Well, I didn't want to 

 make myself out over-honest; but yet I couldn't help thinking, that 

 if it was any body's, it was my master's. Then I thought, " If I speak 

 to the squire, it will make trouble ; so I'll think it over." When I 

 was ordered to take my book in, I took courage, though I didn't like 



