DOWN THE ROAD IN DAYS OF YORE 53 



retired to their dens, and those timorous animals 

 that go abroad in the night to seek their food were 

 also Avithdrawn to the thickets. The hares, as 

 an exception— and yet this was not the lunatic 

 month of March — were skipping across the lawns, 

 tasting the dewy glade for their morning's repast. 

 The skylark Ay as skylarking — or, rather, Ayas 

 ali-eady mounted on high, serenading his dame 

 Avith mirthful glee and pleasure. (Here folloAy 

 tAyo pages of moral reflections on skylarks and 

 fashionable debauchees, Ayith conclusions in fayour 

 of the larks, and seyere condemnation of "libidinous 

 children of licentiousness," Avho are bidden " go 

 to the lark, ye slayes of 2>ollwtion, and l)e Ayise. 

 lie does not stroll through the groye or thicket to 

 search for some ncAy amour, but keeps strictly to 

 the ties of conjugal affection, and cherishes the 

 partner of his natural concerns.") 



In the midst of these idyllic contemplations, 

 a graA'e and solemn scene opened to the A'icAy. 

 Hazlett, Avho had robbed the mail in 1770, hung 

 on a gibbet at the left hand. " Unfortunate and 

 infatuated Hazlett ! Hadst thou robbed the nation 

 of millions, instead of robbing the mail and 

 pilfering a fcAy shillings from a testy old maid, 

 thou hadst not been hanging, a spectacle to 

 passers-by and a prey to croAys. Thy case Ayas 

 pitiable — but there Avas no mercy : thou Ayast 

 poor, and thy sin unpardonable. Hadst thou 

 robbed to support the CroAyn, and murdered for 

 the Monarchy, thou might'st have been yet aliye." 



The place Avliere Hazlett hung, the Avriter 



