ft our village
for some years, but has come over for Veast-day on a visit to an old
gossip--and gently indicates the heir apparent of the Browns.

"Bless his little heart! I must gi' un a kiss. Here Susannah, Susannah!"
cries she, raising herself from the embrace, "come and see Mr. Benjamin
and young Master Tom. You minds our Sukey, Mr. Benjamin, she be growed a
rare slip of a wench since you seen her, tho' her'll be sixteen come
Martinmas. I do aim to take her to see Madam to get her a place."

And Sukey comes bouncing away from a knot of old school-fellows, and
drops a curtsey to Mr. Benjamin. And elders come up from all parts to
salute Benjy, and girls who have been Madam's pupils to kiss Master Tom.
And they carry him off to load him with fairings; and he returns to
Benjy, his hat and coat covered with ribands, and his pockets crammed
with wonderful boxes which open upon ever new boxes and boxes, and
popguns and trumpets, and apples, and gilt gingerbread from the stall of
Angel Heavens, sole vendor thereof, whose booth groans with kings and
queens, and elephants, and prancing steeds, all gleaming with gold.
There was more gold on Angel's cakes than there is ginger in those of
this degenerate age. Skilled diggers might yet make a fortune in the
churchyards of the Vale, by carefully washing the dust of the consumers
of Angel's gingerbread. Alas! he is with his namesakes, and his receipts
have, I fear, died with him.

And then they inspect the penny peep-show, at least Tom does, while old
Benjy stands outside and gossips, and walks up the steps, and enters the
mysterious doors of the pink-eyed lady, and the Irish Giant, who do not
by any means come up to their pictures; and the boa will not swallow his
rabbit, but there the rabbit is waiting to be swallowed--and what can
you expect for tuppence? We are easily pleased in the Vale. Now there is
a rush of the crowd, and a tinkling bell is heard, and shouts of
laughter; and Master Tom mounts on Benjy's shoulders and beholds a
jingling match in all its glory. The games are begun, and this is the
opening of them. It is a quaint game, immensely amusing to look at, and
as I don't know whether it is used in your counties, I had better
describe it. A large roped ring is made, into which are introduced a
dozen or so of big boys and young men who mean to play; these are
carefully blinded and turned loose into the ring, and then a man is
introduced not blindfolded, with a bell hu