28 FOLLY OF POUNDAGE. 



paid at the house : but when the squire 

 found I was always in my cottage of an 

 evening, he sent me to pay the tradesmen ; 

 and then I found out how it was that the 

 mixed liquors were paid for. There was 

 the glazier took the money, and offered me 

 a shilling in the pound ; and so with them 

 all. They said it was the custom. u But," 

 said I, " does the squire know it ?" " No," 

 said they, "nor has no business to." Well, 

 I didn't want to make myself out over-hon- 

 est ; but yet I couldn't help thinking that, 

 if it was any body's, it was my master's. 

 Then I thought, " If I speak to the squire, 

 it will make trouble, so I'll think it over." 

 When I was ordered to take my book in, I 

 took courage, though I didn't like the job, 

 and asked if he allowed me to .take pound- 

 age. Jtf e seemed rather bothered at first ; 

 but when I told him what I meant, he said, 

 " Gardener, take it now, and I'll talk to you 

 about it another time." And so he did, and 

 gave me twenty pounds a-year more wages, 

 and told me always after that, at buying, to 

 do as well for him as I should for myself ; 

 and tell the tradesmen that it was not to be 

 paid by them any more. And so he did 



