Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1879-12-24

/
but without saying a word and began
to stow the luggage rapidly away in
the cart, while the fat boy stood quietly
by, and seemed to think it a very
interesting sort of thing to see Mr..
Weller working by himself
There said Sam, throwing in the
last carpet-bag, There they are !"
"Yes," said the fat boy, in very
satisfied tone, There they are -
"Vell, young twenty stun," said
Sam, you're a nice specimen of a prize
boy, you are!"
"Thank ee," said the fat boy
"You amt got nothin' on your mind
as makes you fret yourself, have you 2"
inquired Sam.
"Not as L knows on replied the
fat boy.
II should rayther ha' thought, to
look at you, that you was laborin'
under an unrequited attachment to
some young 'ooman," said Sam
"Vell," said Sam, I'm glad to hear
it Do you ever drink anythin'?"
~ likes eating better" replied the
boy.
"Ah," said Sam, ~ should ha'
sposed that; but what | mean is,
should you like drop of anythin' as
d warm you? but | s'pose you never
was cold, with all them elastic fixtures,
was you 2"
Sometimes, replied the boy "and
l likes drop of something, when it's
good"
ooh, you do, do you?" said Sam
''come this way, thent'
The Blue Lion tap was soon gained,
and the fat boy swallowed a glass of
liquor without SO much as winking
a feat which considerably advanced
him in Mr.. Weller's good opinion. Mr.
Weller having transacted similar
piece of business on his own account,
they got into the cart.
''Can you drive ?" said the fat boy
II should rayther think so," replied
SAM
"There, then," said the fat boy, put
ting the reins in his hand, and pointing
up lane, "it's as straight as you can
go; you can't miss it."
With those words the fat boy laid
himself affectionately down by the side
of the cod fish; and placing an oyster
barrel under his head for pillow, fell
asleep instantaneously.
"Well," said Sam, ''of all the cool
boys ever set my eyes on, this here
young gen'l'm'n is the coolest. Come,
wake up, young dropsy."
But as young dropsy evinced no
symptoms of returning animation, Sam
Weller sat himself down in front of the
cart, and starting the old horse with
jerk of the rein, logged steadily on
towards Manor Farm.
Meanw hile, Mr. Pickwick and his
friends having walked their blood into
active circulation, proceeded cheerfully
on. The paths were hard; the grass
was crisp and frosty the air had a
fine, dry, bracing coldness and the
rapid approach of the grey twilight
! (slate-colored is better term in frosty
weather) made them look forward with
pleasant anticipation to the comforts
which awaited them at their hospitab!e
entertainers. 1t was the sort of an
afternoon that might induce couple
of elderly gentlemen, in lonely field,
to take off their great coats and play
at leap-frog in pure lightness of heart
and gaiety and we firmly believe that
had Mr. Tupman at that moment prof
fered "a back Mr.. Pickwick would
have accepted his offer with the utmost
avidity.
However, Mr. Tupman did not vol
unteer any such accommodation, and
the friends walked on conversing mer-
rily. As they turned into lane they
had to cross, the sound of many voices
burst upon their ears and before they
even had time to form guess to whom
they belonged, they walked into the
very centre of the party who were
expecting their ARRIVAL fact which
was first notified to the Pickwickians,
by the loud "Hurrah," which burst
from old Wardles lips, when they ap-
pearcd in sight.
First, there was Wardle himself,
looking, if possible, more jolly than
ever; then there were Bella and her
faithful Trundle; and, lastly, there
were Emily and some eight or ten
young ladies, who had all come down
to the wedding, which was to take
place next day, and who were in as
happy and important state as young
ladies usually are, on such momentous
occasions; and they were, one and all,
startling the fields and lanes, far and
wide, with their frolic and laughter.
The ceremony of introduction, under
such circumstances, was very soon per-
formed, or we should rather say that
the introduction was soon over, with
out anv ceremony at all. In two min
utes thereafter, Mr. Pickwiek was
joking with the young ladies who
wouldn't come over the stile while he
looked-or who, having pretty feet and
unexceptionable ankles, preferred stand
ing on the top rail for five minutes or
so, declaring they were too frightened to
move-with as much ease and absence
of reserve or constraint, as if he had
known them for life. 1t is worthy of
remark, too, that Mr.. Snodgrass offered
Emily far more assistance than the
, absolute terrors of the stile (although
it was full three feet high, and had
only couple of stepping-stones) would
seem to require while one black-eyed
young lady in a very nice little pair OF
f boots with fur round the top, was OBJ
served to scream very loudly, when
r Mr. Wrinkle offered to help her over.
= All this was very snug and pleasant
. And when the difficulties of the stile
r were at last surmounted, and they
t once more entered on the open field
t old WardIe informed Mr. Pickwicb
y how they had all been down in body
to inspect the furniture and fittings-u[
Y of the house, which the young couple
e were to tenant, after the Christina: