56 SOBERED THOUGHTS ON SOBER SUBJECTS. 



and his voice got clearer, and lie said such a 

 night as that no boys would be out stealing 

 taters. " We'd better be sure," said I ; "and 

 you take the outside the garden- wall, and I'll 

 go in; and be sure you catch 'em if I halloo." 

 When I thought he was downright well 

 soaked, I called to him over the wall, and 

 said there was nobody about ; and we'd go 

 home again, if he'd go back to the gate. 

 How he shivered and shook, to be sure, when 

 we met! he was as clear -spoken too as I 

 was ; and when I asked him if he was wet, 

 then he said he was, for his clothes were old, 

 and he'd got some holes in them. " I sup- 

 pose, then," said I, " the squire was telling 

 you of them holes." " Yes," said he, " and 

 angry enough he was." "Well," said I, 

 "you get home as quick as you can and 

 shift yourself ; it's no use your going to my 

 cottage ; the sooner you're dry the better ; 

 so good night." " Good night," said he ; 

 but perhaps you'd better not say any thing 

 to the squire to-night." "Ah, but," says 

 I, ".suppose he says something to me, and 

 says you're to go." " That'll be a bad job," 

 said he; "and perhaps you'll say a word 

 for me." " Well, good night," said I ; " get 



