EASY-CHAIR MEMORIES 9 1 



long time victory hung in an equal balance ; 

 when all of a sudden the invaders threw up 

 the sponge, turned tail, and beat a dignified 

 retreat. 



The conquerors had seemingly had enough 

 of it, for they did not pursue the vanquished ; 

 they allowed them, " bag and baggage," to pass 

 in single file through the gap by which they 

 had entered. I don't suppose they would care 

 soon to return. 



Izaak Walton, quoting Sir Richard Baker, 

 says: 



"Hops and turkeys, carps and beer, 

 Came into England all in one year." 



But I believe it is a delusion to suppose that 

 the turkey came first from Turkey, and was 

 therefore so named; he is really a native of 

 America, and no doubt came over with tobacco 

 and other good things. 



Did you ever watch a peacock going to roost ? 

 If not, my little note of boyish observation may 

 interest you. You remember how Wordsworth 

 described him on his roost : 



" The peacock in the broad ash tree 

 Aloft is roosted for the night." 



But I have seen him in a less dignified and less 



