26 JOLLY GARDENERS. 



penny." One dropped in after another, till 

 all were together; when I was colted, as they 

 called it, and put in the chair, for which I 

 had to stand treat. One meeting was a fair 

 sample. of all ; we had a deal of business, as 

 there always is at such times, minding other 

 people's and neglecting our own. It was 

 wonderful how wise we were about our mas- 

 ters, and all that went on in their families ; 

 then we'd talk about the affairs of the parish 

 and the nation, and as to the Parliament 

 house, it was a fool to us ; and I believe we 

 talked and smoked and drank ourselves into 

 the belief that there was but a few folks that 

 knew any thing, and they were to be found 

 at the King's Head any "Wednesday even- 

 ing. One thing I wondered at, and that 

 was, where the money carne from to pay for 

 mixed liquors, which some called for. I 

 know my pocket was getting very bare, and 

 that very fast ; for where I never had any 

 thing to drink but at meals, now I wanted 

 half a pint for lunch, and half a pint at four 

 o'clock; and I often found myself saying, 

 "It's only half a pint," excusing myself like 

 to myself. I often remembered my poor 

 father, and his last words ; but then I 



