ficient pence to purchase a stock of ballads,
may be seen standing in the streets, straining himself to amuse the
rabble--the inmate of a cadging house, and the companion of the lowest
of the low. So much, then, for gambling and a jovial life.
Notwithstanding his education, and the good society in which he must
have moved, there was yet nothing of the remains of a gentleman about
him; a considerable share of the fool and profligate was naturally
engrafted in his character. A large black mark, in the shape of a
half-moon, appeared to have been strongly indented by hard knuckles,
below the left visual organ,--ornaments that are as frequently to be
seen upon the inhabitants of St. Giles's, as rings are upon the
visitors of St. James's. His ruffianly country dress, clownish
manners, broad dialect of canny Yorkshire, with a certain cunning cast
of the eye,--contracted no doubt by peering through the hedge, to see
if the gamekeeper was _coming_,--all contributed to exhibit him before
us, as the very _beau ideal_ of a poacher.

"York! York!" was vociferated from different parts of the room, and to
all of which the _bite_, or rather the bitten, answered, with
good-humoured smiles. "He had just come in," he said, "to see if his
mate was come hyem yet; but as he had not, he thought he could guess
right weel where he wad be, and wad just step o'er to Brown's (the
gin-shop) and see."

Away he went, and, in about ten minutes time, a roaring, roistering
party was heard coming to the door. York entered, his arms loaded with
eggs and bacon, and a glass or two the merrier. A Deaf-Burke-made
fellow, an Irishman, half labourer and half beggar, who went under the
name of Harlequin, reeled by his side in a state of high elevation,
with two or three hangers-on, that trod close to their heels.
Harlequin, filled with drink and overflowing with vanity, overwhelmed
every one with noise and kindness.

The plates, &c., were soon put in order, and York showed himself no
despicable cook. He made the tea, fried the eggs and bacon, and as if
not to be outdone in loving kindness by his mate, now loudly
proclaimed, "that if ony man was in want of _summat_ to eat, to come
forward; for there was plenty for all."

A man, who had been sleeping behind the table, roused himself up at
the invitation, and expressed his willingness for a cup of tea.

"Nay, I'll be ---- if thou shall," says York; "thou's been drunk, man,
fra night till morning, and fra morn