the evening,
was, notwithstanding his former trade, not fire-proof, awoke in a flame,
and not knowing the real depredator, upset the President, and nearly
knock'd him through a window just behind him--mill'd away in all
directions, growling with as much melody as he had before snored. During
the confusion of this affray, Tom and Bob took their departure from
Charley's Crib, which they understood was a nickname given to the place,
and, throwing themselves into a rattler, soon arrived in Piccadilly,
where we shall for the present leave them to their repose.

CHAPTER V

"Since Life's but a jest, let us follow the rule,
There's nothing so pleasant as playing the fool,
In town we may practise, as well as at school.

The world turns about the same things o'er and o'er;
We fool it--our forefathers fool'd it before;
They did what we do, which our sons will encore.

Life's but a half holiday, lent us to stare;
We wander and wonder in vanity's fair,
All, baby-like, bawling for each bawble there:

We, children like, covet the glitter of gay things,
Make racket for ribbands, and such sort of play-things,
Which we cannot have tho'--without we can say things.

We take, or are in all our turns, taken in;
The world to be sure--'tis a shame and a sin,--
Might soon be much better--but who will begin?"

~67~~ "LONDON," said the Hon. Tom Dashall to his Cousin, "abounds with
so much of munificence, that notwithstanding all its intricacies and
inconveniences, he who travels through life without visiting it, may
justly be said to know nothing; for it is all Life, its remotest corners
are full of animation, and although it is difficult to fancy how all
live, there are few but could give some satisfactory information if they
chose, though I am willing to believe many would rather wish to avoid
interrogation. We have already explored some parts of it, but be assured
there is still much to admire, much to applaud, and much to deprecate.
Our researches, after all, have been rather confined than extensive. It
is such an ever varying and never ceasing mine of observation, that it
is almost like the wishing cap of Fortunatus, with this exception, that
although every wish may be supplied, it requires something more than
putting on the cap to obtain the object desired."

~68~~ "From what I