ber. It fell so close
to where I stood that it struck down an old man with whom I had been
conversing the moment before. Strangely too, amidst that dense throng,
this was the only serious injury inflicted; but he was struck dead,--at
least, he only lingered for the few minutes it took to carry him to a
neighboring public-house, where he expired.

"It's old Harry; he always said he'd die at his crossing," said the
publican, as he recognized the features.

"He thought it was them new-fashioned curricles would do for him,
though," said another. "He said so to me last week, for he was getting
too old to escape when he saw them coming."

"Old! I should think he was. He was on that there crossing at the
coronation,--a matter of fifty years ago."

"Say forty, my good friend, and you'll be nigher the mark; but even
forty sufficed to leave him well off for the rest of his days, if he had
but had prudence to know it."

As I stood thus listening, I leaned upon the broom which I had taken
from the old man's hand when I lifted him up.

"I 'll give you a matter of ten pounds for it, master," said a
gruff-looking fellow, addressing me, while he touched the broom with his
knuckle. "Five down on the nail, and the rest ten shillings a-week. Do
you say done?" Before I could collect myself to understand what this
offer might mean, a dozen others were crowding around me with a number
of similar proposals.

"You don't know the rule amongst these fellows," said the landlord,
addressing me; "but it is this, that whoever touches the broom first
after its owner is killed, succeeds to the crossing. It 's yours now, to
work or dispose of, as you like best."

"He 'll never work it,--he does n't know the town," said one.

"He'd not know Charley Fox from Big Hullescoat the tailor."

"He 'd splash Colonel Hanyer, and sweep clean for the Duke of
Queensberry."

"And forget to have change for Lord Bute," cried another,--a sally
so generally applauded that it showed a full appreciation of its
truthfulness.

"I 'll try it, nevertheless, gentlemen," said I, addressing the
company respectfully; "and if the landlord will only give me credit for
half-a-guinea's worth of liquor, we'll drink my accession to office at
once."

This was agreeably received by all, even the landlord, who ushered us
into an inner room to enjoy ourselves.

If I had not transgressed too freely already on my reader's patience by
details which have no immediate bearing