Part 14 (2/2)
Oh! [_glancing at his fingers_] It will do--it will do.
At Chippenham born, I was left quite forlorn, When my father was dead and my mother was gone; So I came up to London, a nice little he, And a nice pattern too!--Don't you see? don't you see?
Oh! it will do--it will do.
A courting I went to a girl in our court, She laugh'd at my figure, and made me her sport; I was cut to the soul,--so said I on my knee, I'm a victim of love!--Don't you see? don't you see?
Oh! it won't do--it won't do.
Now all day I march to and fro in the street, And a candle sometimes on my journey I eat; So I'll set you a pattern, if you'll but agree, And a nice pattern too! you shall see--you shall see.
Oh! it will do--it will do.”
This Song, which he declared was all _made out of his own head_, was sung with grotesque action and ridiculous grimace, intended no doubt in imitation of Mr. Wilkinson in his inimitable performance of this strange piece of whimsicality. The dancing party was knock'd up and were lobbing their _lollys_,{1} half asleep and half awake, on the table, bowing as it were to the magnanimous influence
1 Lobbing their lollys--Laying their heads.
~122~~of _Old Tom_.{1} The Dustman and the Irishman laugh'd heartily; and Das hall, Tallyho, and Sparkle, could not resist the impulse to risibility when they contemplated the group before them. The Bug-destroyer _munched_{2} a candle and _sluiced_{3} his greasy _chops_{4} with _Jacky_{5} almost as fast as they could supply him with it, when Sparkle perceiving the boy was still at the door with the runaway a.s.s,
”Come,” said he, ”we'll start 'em off home in high style--here, you Mr.
Bugman, can you ride?”
”Ride, aye to be sure I can, any of Mr. Astley's horses as well as the Champion of England,”{6} was the reply.
1 Old Tom--It is customary in public-houses and gin-shops in London and its vicinity to exhibit a cask inscribed with large letters--OLD TOM, intended to indicate the best gin in the house.
2 Munched--Eat.
3 Sluiced--Washed. See Sluicery.
4 Chops--The mouth.
5 Jacky--A vulgar term for gin.
6 Any person would almost suspect that Hookey had been reading the newspapers by this allusion; but that certainly could not be the case, for, spurning all education in early life, this representative of the immortal bard--this character of characters from Shakespeare, could neither read nor write, but made all he acted, as he said, from his own head: however, it may fairly be presumed, that in the course of his travels during the day he had heard something of the Champion intended to appear at the approaching Coronation, of whom the following account has recently been circulated through the daily press, and, with his usual consistency, conceived his own innate abilities equal to those which might be acquired by Mr. Dymocke, though his claims were not equally honourable or advantageous.
Mr. Dymocke, the nephew of the gentleman (who is a Clergyman) ent.i.tled by hereditary right to do the service of the Champion to his Majesty, is still in hopes he may be permitted to act under his Uncle's nomination, although he wants a few months of being of age. A pet.i.tion is before the King on the subject; and Mr. Dymocke, by constant practice at Astley's Hiding-school, is endeavouring to qualify himself for the due fulfilment of the office. On Thursday lie went through his exercise in a heavy suit of armour with great celerity. The horse which will be rode by the Champion has been selected from Mr. Astley's troop. It is a fine animal, pieballed black and white, and is regularly exercised in the part he will have to perform.
”Walk in--walk in, Ladies and Gentlemen, just going to begin--come, Mr.
Merryman, all ready--Ladies and Gentlemen, please to observe, this here horse is not that there horse.”
”So we laugh at John Bull a little.”
~123~~”Come, then,” continued Sparkle, ”another gla.s.s--half-a-crown to ride to the bottom of the lane and up Holboru-hill on that donkey at the door, and you shall be our Champion.”
”A bargain--a bargain,” said the a.s.sumed Hookey Walker, rubbing the tallow from his _gills_.{1}
”Here goes then,” said Sparkle; then slipping half-a-crown into the boy's hand, desiring him to run as far as the Traveller-office, in Fleet-street, and get him a newspaper, promising to take care of his a.s.s till his return. The lad nibbled the bait, and was off in a _pig's whisper_{2} Sparkle called to Tom and Bob, and putting them up to his scheme, Hookey was quickly mounted, while Dashall and his Cousin, a.s.sisted by the Hibernian and Dust-ho, succeeded in getting Mother Mapps out, who was placed in the front of the Champion, astride, with her face towards him and Limping Billy, who though _beat to a stand still_,{3} was after some difficulty lifted up behind. Hookey was then supplied with his board, the pole of which he placed on his foot, in the manner of a spear or lance. Then giving the Irishman and the Dustman some silver, to act as Supporters or Esquires, one on each side, they proceeded along Shoe-lane, preceded by Billy Waters flouris.h.i.+ng his wooden-leg and feathers, and fiddling as he went--the Irishman roaring out with Stentorian lungs,
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