284 THE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS 



A number of cufhions were inftantly made. 

 But not with a needle -»no ; formed with a fpade. 

 The fiaeft of ling, root and branch, from the common, 

 Par'd off, prov'J a cufhion for man and for woman. 



Now folks, male and female, came in by whole dozens. 

 Of neighbours, acquaintance, of friends, and of coufins. 

 It excited furprize, from a re<rion of rocks, 

 Tliat orderly people Hiuuld iffue by flocks. 

 Black ftockings, biac cloaks, and men's hats, all admire, 

 Which appeared to be every female's attire. 



Wli-ie many a longing eye glanc'd at the board, 

 The word dinner founded — accepta'jle word ! 

 Five butts of boil'd beef of a gigantic fize, 

 On the board took their ftation, with joy and furprize ; 

 On thefc clofe attended, as guards rang*d for pleafure, 

 Aa many mafh'd peas as would heap a ftrike meafurc ; 

 With cabbage a pyramid, much like a fteeple : 

 Ail thefe were furrounded with — thirty-eight people. 



The moment amving when dinner was o'er. 

 The places were taken by thirty-eight more ;— 

 And then a third fet, nearly equal to thefe. 

 Sat down to the cabbage, the beef, and the peas ; 

 Befides about fifty remaining behind. 

 Who fiuck to the tankard, for none of them din'd. 



And now an old difh open'd wide at each finncr, 

 *: A'S if it would fay — " Pay a ftiilling for dinner.'* 



Eight ftrike of brown malt, which Caernarvon had feen. 

 And coft the bride's father two pounds and fourteen, 

 Was bvew'd into drink, that would make one man mad. 

 But given a fecond would make his heart glad. 

 Each quart brought bacl^ fixpence, and that pretty foon, 

 ilis cot was a public-houfe that afternocn. 



The 



