TOM WAGSTAFFE. 99 



abundance, and the opposite bank of the stream 

 presented a beautiful verdant slope of meadow to 

 the very edge of the water, while at a little dis- 

 tance on the opposite side, the ground was here 

 and there abruptly steep, and adorned with trees 

 and underwood. Tom Wagstaffe was a widower, 

 and had only one son to inherit his riches. He was a 

 solemn, contented looking young man, and was held 

 in good order by his father, who kept him constantly 

 at work, and seemed to have a dread of his be- 

 coming elated with the prospects before him. 



At this mill, or rather at the farm-house adjoin- 

 ing it, the Members of the Club met at such times 

 in the morning as suited their inclination, and com- 

 menced fishing for perch. The dinner, however, 

 was always placed on the table punctually at three 

 o'clock. It consisted of a water souch^ of perch 

 floating amidst parsley, and parsley roots, a sightly 

 piece of beef, certain products of the farm, with 

 puddings and tarts in abundance, all of which 

 were placed on the table at the same time, an 

 arrangement which our worthy host persisted in, 

 because his father and grandfather had done so 

 before him. For this fare, in addition to good ale 

 ad libitum, each Member paid in those times 

 of prosperity the sum of eighteen pence. To be 

 sure our host did not gain any thing by us, but 

 then he had the satisfaction of seeing a merry and 

 joyous party around him, and he chuckled with 



