The Merry Past 



many noble suitors ; but * Jack won her,' said the old 

 citizen, ' and he shall wear her.' " 



Another nobleman, noted for his independent char- 

 acter, whose father had been connected with some 

 ironworks, being twitted one day by a duke on the 

 obscurity of his birth, very coolly answered : " It is 

 true I am the son of a blacksmith ; but if your Grace's 

 father had chanced to be one, you would have been a 

 blacksmith too ! " 



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