THE LONDON B'lIOYS. 341 



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, held up 

 each a brace or two of rabbits, at which there was cheering and 

 laughter from the rest. All, indeed, were in the greatest possible 

 good humor, joking and bantering and making engagemonts, or 

 telling of their plans for dining together, or meeting for some 

 degrading excitement on Sunday. Of us and others in the car, 

 when they entered, they took little notice, though treating us with 

 respect in not jostling or crowding us ; but as soon as they were 

 well settled in their places they began to make game of one an- 

 other ; to tell stories, evidently inventing comic anecdotes of their 

 employers and other common acquaintances, both absent and pres- 

 ent. A dignified person, who stood upon the platform, was made 

 very uncomfortable, and reduced considerably in height and 

 stiffness, by urgent invitations to join them. The " guard," too, 

 as he passed, was an especial butt, and several illustrations were 

 given of the ignorant character of railway-people in general. 

 " There vas von o' them Mefodis wisitin-coves, you know, wot 

 'awks tracs and suchlike, in here a Vensdy wen we come up ; 

 and ven the guard come along he arks him did he know the 

 Lord's prayer? 'Lorspraer?' says he, 'vot is he?' says he; 'is 

 he a 'stoker or a driver ?' says he, ha ! ha ! ha ! I'm bio wed 'f 'e 

 didn't." 



" I saw one of them same fellows other night," continued an- 

 other, " wot 'ad 'old of another on 'em. He treats 'im to a go o' 

 gin first, you see, to make him sharp like, and then he axes him 

 did he know any think about the eternal world. i Turnulwool ?' 

 says he * 'Turnulwool ? no such place in the Farnham branch, 

 sir hadn't you best enkvireof the station-master, sir?' says he." 



" 'Ternal world's the place where they hadn't got the rails 

 down to yet last adwices ; aren't it ? and they carries the nobs 



