OLD ENGLISH HABITS. 109 



landlord were playing a hit of backgammon for six- 

 pence, others were talking over the sports of the day, 

 or cracking their jokes to the great interruption of 

 the whist players. A barrel of oysters, when the 

 season permitted, and a bowl of ale properly sea- 

 soned with nutmeg, toast, and brown sugar, enabled 

 the party to conclude the evening to their hearts 

 content, and they separated with hearty good 

 wishes, and many a hearty shake by the hand. 



Such was a country club in my younger days, and 

 such as it was, it helped to cement kind feelings, 

 and to produce much cordiality and reciprocal kind- 

 ness amongst the gentlemen of the neighbourhood. 



My account may be thought minute and trifling, 

 yet I cannot but think that any picture of old 

 English habits is worth recording, especially when 

 it is strictly faithful. Expensive habits, and other 

 causes, have drawn many country gentlemen from 

 their houses at a time when their presence and 

 example are but too much needed. It is one of the 

 fearful signs of the times when those whose duty it 

 is to watch over the welfare of their poorer neigh- 

 bours, abandon them to poverty and their own 

 resources. 



' Ignarosque viae mecum miseratus agrestes.' 



