the passengers with the reiterated and loud
address of, "Sir, will you walk in and be married," (as if the dread of
any stoppage in the trade of conjugality was threatening mankind with
premature extinction,) and the parson was seen walking before his shop,
ready to couple you for a dram of gin or a roll of tobacco."

"Those were the times for getting married," exclaimed Bob, "no
affidavits, certificates, and exposures at church doors!"

"No," continued Sparkle, "those are signs of altered times. A witty
wigmaker adopted the sign of Absolom hanging to a tree, with King David
lamenting at a distance, who was represented with a label issuing from
his mouth, containing these words--

"O Absolom! my Son! my Son!
Had'st thou a peruke worn, thou had'st not been undone."

This sign, if I remember right, was to be seen a few years since in
Union-street, Borough, and is not uncommon even now in France, where you
may also find the 'Cochon sans Tete,' (the pig without a head,) which is
generally a restaurateur's sign, indicating that 'good pork is here--the
useless animal's head is off,' illustrative of the Negro's opinion of
a pig in England--"de pig," said Mungo, "is de only gentleman in
England--man workee, woman workee, horse workee, ass workee, ox workee,
and dog workee--pig do nothing but eat and sleep--pig derefore de only
gentleman in England.'"

~~399~~~ The conversation increased in interest as they proceeded, and
Tallyho was all attention; for it must be observed, that as his inquiry
had occasioned it, he was willing to listen to all that could be
advanced on the subject; and the Hon. Tom Dashall determined to have his
share in the explanation.

"The 'Man in the Moon,'" said he, "is derived from the old observation,
that a tipsy person is 'in the wind,' or 'in the moon,' (a lunatic.) The
sign may therefore be thought to give this advice, 'Here is good drink,
gentlemen, walk in and taste it; it will make you as happy as the man in
the moon; that is to say, steep your senses in forgetfulness.'--'The
Bag of Nails' was the sign of an Inn at Chelsea, which may perhaps
be noticed as the _ne plus ultra_ of ludicrous corruption, having
originally been a group of _Bacchanals_."

Here risibility could no longer be restrained, and a general laugh
ensued.

"A group of Bacchanals, however," continued Tom, "is certainly not an
out of the way sign for an Inn, nor do I conceive its corruption so
very _out