c,) was a notorious
poacher, familiarly known as Old Strawberry; and his cottage, for it
deserved no better name, was the nightly resort of all the idle young
fellows in the parish.

The in-door accommodations of the house consisted of two rooms below,
and two attics above, and a long lean-to, which ran the whole length of
the back of the building, forming an easy mode of egress, should need
be, from the chamber windows above. The front rooms were divided into a
sort of bar, which was separated from the kitchen by a high,
old-fashioned stamped-leather screen, behind which a stout red faced
middle aged woman held despotic sway, dispensing as many oaths to her
customers as she did pots of beer. The other room was of a more private
nature. It was fitted up with tables, cards and dice, to which none but
the initiated were ever admitted.

The outside of the place had a worn and dilapidated appearance; but the
inside was not at all deficient in comfort. The public room contained a
good substantial oak dining-table, a dozen well polished elm chairs, an
old fashioned varnished clock, and a huge painted cupboard in a corner,
the doors of which were left purposely open, in order to display dame
Strawberry's store of "real chany" cups and saucers, four long-necked
cut-glass decanters, and a dozen long-legged ale-glasses. Then there was
a side-table decorated with a monstrous tea-board, in which was
portrayed, in all the colors of the rainbow, the queen of Sheba's
memorable visit to the immortal wisdomship of Solomon.

Various pictures made gay the white-washed walls, amidst which shone
conspicuously the history of the prodigal son, representing in six
different stages a panoramic view of his life, in which the hero figured
in the character of a fop in the reign of the first George, dressed in a
sky blue coat, scarlet waistcoat, knee breeches, silk stockings, and
high-heeled shoes, and to crown all, a full bottomed wig. Then there
were the four Seasons, quaintly represented by four damsels, who all
stared upon you with round eyes, and flushed red faces, dame Winter
forming the only exception, whose grey locks and outstretched hands
seemed to reproach her jolly companions for their want of sympathy in
her sufferings.

Over the mantel-shelf hung a looking-glass in a carved frame, darkened
and polished by the rubbing of years, quite a relic of the past, the
top of which was ornamented by a large fan of peacock's feathers, and
bun