the sister kingdom.

Some remarks were now made upon York's black eye, and various remedies
proposed--such as the application of a piece of raw flesh, &c., to all
of which the _Bite_ did seriously incline, for, as he said, "It lucked
scandalous-like to see a man with a black eye. But," says he, "Mike
O'Brady maybe thinks he got clear of that; but, ye hear me say, he's
mistaken? I was the other day at Epsom Races, and spent every
ha'penny; and as I was coming off the course I met Tom ----, (a
fellow, from whose appearance no one would suppose was worth twopence,
but who, in reality, was a partner of one of those gambling-tables
which are carried to fairs and races), and asked him for threepence to
get a pint of _yell_. He pulled out ten shillings, and said I mot hae
the loan of five pounds ony day; and when Doncaster races comes, I
think I can raise other fifteen" (and to show this was no vaunt,
thrust his hand into his bosom, and pulled out a handfull of the
sinews of war--shillings and half-crowns), "that will be twenty, we'll
make a match on it;" and raising his fist and his voice together, "we
will then see which is the best man."

At this a tremendous row was heard at the door. St. Giles's was just
beginning his orisons. Loud shouts, hard blows, and deep oaths were
heard, with cries for the policeman, and "Murder, murder," from
powerful lungs. In a twinkling the kitchen was emptied, and then came
the din of strife--struggling, heavy falls, swearing, the policeman's
voice, and the roar of all parties.

As soon as this animated but common affair was over, the company
returned; the most of whom seemed to think it scarcely worthy of
further notice; but not so with Harlequin. The Irishman was
outrageous--like the war-horse, his mettle was put in motion, he
whooped and bellowed, and was all kicking for a row; threw off his
jacket, displaying the upper part of his body in a state of nudity,
and with his clenched hand slapped his breast, which sounded like a
board; then striking out, right and left, two sunburnt arms of bone,
like Ossian's heroes of old, cleaving the air with their arms for the
coming fight swore that he had got one black eye, and by the Holy
Mother Church and Daniel O'Connell, would not lay head upon pillow
this very night until he got another.

At last, after much coaxing, pulling, and hauling, he was dragged to a
seat, and John Barleycorn finally overcame him, and delivered him for
a time safely in