1831.] The Man of Letters. 535 



If you don't understand it now, I really doubt whether you will a bit 



the more, though I should read all night." 



ft'6'. Ah ! Mr. Holland, that is your modesty ! — Now, pray begin." 



Jack gave me a horrible look^ as if he was just entering into the last 

 agonies ; and then in a sepulchral tone proceeded. — " ' 1 Witch. Where 

 hast thou been, sister ?' — Come, that is pretty clear, however. Now you 

 see, ma'am, supposing I was an old woman, and was to say to you, — 

 * where hast thou been, sister .'" — do you mean to say you would not 

 understand me ?" 



Mrs. Bluebusk, who was at that doubtful age which the owner calls 

 young, and the rest of the world calls old, bridled up at the illustration, 

 as she exclaimed, " Oh ! I understand that, sir, of course." 



" To be sure — I knew you must," cried Jack, triumphantly. — 

 " ' 2 Wilch. Killing swine.' " 



" Ah, what does that mean ?" interrupted the hostess. 



" Why, this is clearer than t'other. It comes from the Chinese. When 

 I was at Canton, there was a grand dispute about the way in which 

 pigs ought to be killed. Some were for sticking — others for hanging — 

 and a third party for the knock-me-down buUock fashion. Now I take 

 it, this witch is a disputaceous lady — these thundering old women often 

 are — and she starts the subject ' killing swine,' for the purpose of 

 chopping a bit of logic with her sisters." 



" Well, I protest that never struck me before," exclaimed Mrs. Blue- 

 busk. — " What comes next .'''' 



" ' 3 Witch. Sister, where thou ?' — Now, you see, this third witch is 

 a quiet, peaceable soul ; and, instead of accepting the challenge, she 

 tries to turn the conversation another way. Suppose we do the same, 

 ma'am." 



" No, really," cried the lady ; " I cannot consent ; your observations 

 are so truly original ! — What comes next?" 



' " \ Wilch. A sailor's wife had chestnuts in her lap.' " 



" Why ' chestnuts,' Mr. Holland ?" 



" Clear again, ma'am. The author's object is to take us back to pri- 

 mitive society. Acorns first, and then chestnuts ! You observe how 

 ingeniously he has managed it. — I admit, however, that it would have 

 been more natural, if he had added in a note, * Let me advise my read- 

 ers never to eat the husks.' 



' A sailor's wife had chestnuts in her lap. 

 And mouncht, and mouncht, and mouncht.' 



Now that is full of nature again. He means to signify that the good 

 wife had lost her teeth ; and how expressive is ' mouncht' of the way 

 in which old, toothless dames get through their victuals ! Perhaps you 

 will ring the bell, ma'am, and let us see you eat a crust. Of all things 

 in the world, I like practical illustrations." 



" That you do. Jack," cried I, with a sigh ; while a fleeting vision of 

 crockery and broken furniture swam before my eyes. 



" ' Give me, quoth I,' " continued Jack, reading. — " No one, I 

 presume, will dispute the nature of that — 'Aroint thee, witch, the rump- 

 fed ronyon cries.' " 



" Ah ! now, that is what I want to know. What is the meaning of 

 ' aroint }' " 



" Lord, ma'am, can you doubt that for a moment," answered Jack ; 



