CONVERSATION WITH A SHOPKEEPER. 335 



He laid the parcel on the counter, and, holding it firmly with 

 his left hand, continued to tap it lightly with the fore-finger of 

 the other : 



" So it appears, gentlemen (if I might be so bold), that you 

 have wandered far and near over the face of the inhabited world, 

 and have seen many foreign parts and lands, and cast your lot 

 among other peoples and nations, that all thought as their inherit- 

 ances was very fine, doubtless : but now, gentlemen ! can you 

 say on candid reflection now have you ever seen any where's 

 else, for instance, any castle as was comparable compared to 

 Winsor Castle?" 



" No, sir." 



" Or any park like unto Winsor Park, in foreign parts ?" 



No, sir." 



" Nor any country of them all, what, on the whole, take her 

 altogether, taking her castles and parks, also her towns and her 

 rail'ays and station-houses, her forests and her manufactures, and 

 her coal and iron ; her church and her constitution, her people 

 and her horses, and such like did you ever, in all your wander- 

 ings taking her altogether so did you ever now, gentlemen 

 ever see any place exactly like your own country after all?" 



u No, indeed, sir." 



" ' No, indeed, sir !' I know you didn't you hear that? 'No, 

 indeed, sir' and so say you all, gentlemen? and so say you all. 

 Well, then, I am satisfied, and much obliged to you, gentlemen. 

 There isn't none of the foreign principalities that is like this 

 blessed land ; and that's what I am always telling them, and only 

 goes to confirm the independent conviction which I had previous- 

 ly arrived to of my own preliminaries. Thank you, gentlemen ;" 

 (handing us the parcel;) "good-morning. I wish you a pleasant 

 continuance of your promenade in our glorious old land." 



