170 AX AMERICAN FARM.ER IN ENULAHl*. 



CHAPTER XXIT. 



LONDON LADS. RAILWAY RIDE. OBSERVATIONS IN NATURAL HISTORY, 



AT half-past five, having overtaken my friends and dined at 

 Godalming, I took seat with them in the third-class car 

 riages of a train bound to London, intending, however, only to 

 take a lift so that we might walk in before dark. 



The carriages were nearly empty, till, stopping at a way- 

 station, they were suddenly and with boisterous merry haste 

 taken possession of, filled full and over-filled with a class of 

 people differing in their countenances, manners, language, and 

 tone of voice from any we had before seen in England. They 

 were more like New York tflioys, a little less rowdy and a 

 shade more vulgar. &quot; London lads,&quot; one of them very civilly 

 told, me they were, employed in a factory out here in 

 the country, and having just received their week s wages 

 were going in to spend them. They were pale, and many 

 effeminate, in features, rather oily and grimy, probably from 

 their employment ; talked loudly and rapidly, using many 

 cant words, and often addressing those at a distance by 

 familiar, abbreviated names; lively, keen, quick-eyed, with 

 a peculiarly fearless, straightforward, uneducated way of 

 making original remarks, that showed considerable wit and 

 powers of observation ; rough, turbulent, and profane, yet 

 using a good many polite forms, and courteous enough in 

 action. 



Two or three men, as soon as the train was in motion, 



