wo, a cluster, with five ripe tempting
fellows, will cause you to forget the others, and in whirling yourself
around, and stretching over to seize the latest prize, your feet and
limbs not only destroy the first and second, but a whole collection of
the blushing beauties hid away in a little hollow of buttercups and
dandelions.

Well, "as I was saying," I was here with a small party, and had fine
sport picking, but the next day a precept, at the suit of Peter
Gravespeech, was served upon Hull and myself, (the two gentlemen of
the party,) issued from "Pettifogger's Delight," as the office of
Squire Tappit, the justice, was called throughout the village: action,
trespass. "For the fun of the thing" we stood trial. The day came, and
all the vagabonds of the village,--those whose continual cry is that
they "can never get any thing to do," and therefore drive a brisk
business at doing nothing,--were in attendance. The justice was a
hot-tempered old fellow, somewhat deaf, and,--if his nose was any
evidence,--fond of the brandy bottle.

The witness of the trespass, who was a "hired hand" of Deacon
Gravespeech, was present, and after the cause had been called in due
order, was summoned by the deacon (who appeared in proper person) to
the stand. He was generally very irascible, a good deal of a bully,
rather stupid, and, on the present occasion, particularly drunk.

"Now, Mr. Hicks," said the deacon, respectfully, (knowing his man,)
after he had 'kissed the book,' "now, Mr. Hicks (his name was Joe
Hicks, but universally called 'Saucy Joe,') please tell the justice
what you know of this transaction."

"Well, squire, I seed 'em!" replied Joe, to this appeal, facing the
justice.

"Who?" ejaculated the justice, quickly.

"Who!" answered Joe, "why, who do you spose, but that'ere sour-faced
feller, (pointing at Hull,) what looks like a cow swelled on clover,
and that 'ere little nimshi, who isn't bigger than my Poll's knitten
needle. They was with four female critters."

"Well, what were they about?" asked the deacon.

"What was they about!" (a little angrily,) "you know as well as I do,
deacon, for I telled ye all about it at the time."

"Yes, but you must tell the justice."

"Answer, witness!" exclaimed the justice, somewhat sternly.

"Oh! you needn't be flusterfied, Squire Tappit; I knowed ye long afore
ye was squire, and drinked with ye, too. For that matter, I stood
treat last!"

"That's of no consequence now, Mr.