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tempted influence of the vestry produced | ty in the extreme, and poverty modified,

a greater. A threat of exclusive dealing was established against the vestry-clerka case of heartless and profligate atrocity. It appeared that the delinquent had been in the habit of purchasing six penn'orth of muffins, weekly, from an old woman who rents a small house in the parish, and resides among the original settlers; on her last weekly visit, a message was conveyed to her through the medium of the cook, couched in mysterious terms, but indicating with sufficient clearness, that the vestry-clerk's appetite for muffins, in future, depended entirely on her vote on the beadleship. This was sufficient: the stream had been turning previously, and the impulse thus administered directed its final course. The Bung party ordered one shilling's-worth of muffins weekly for the remainder of the old woman's natural life; the parishioners were loud in their exclamations; and the fate of Spruggins was sealed.

It was in vain that the twins were exhibited in dresses of the same pattern, and night-caps to match, at the church-door; the boy in Mrs. Spruggins's right arm, and the girl in her left-even Mrs. Spruggins herself failed to be an object of sympathy any longer. The majority obtained by Bung on the gross poll was four hundred and twenty-eight, and the cause of the parishioners triumphed.

CHAPTER V.

THE BROKER'S MAN.

THE excitement of the late election has subsided, and our parish being once again restored to a state of comparative tranquillity, we are enabled to devote our attention to those parishioners who take little share in our party contests or in the turmoil and bustle of public life. And we feel sincere pleasure in acknowledging here, that in collecting materials for this task we have been greatly assisted by Mr. Bung himself, who has imposed on us a debt of obligation which we fear we can never repay. The life of this gentleman has been one of a very chequered description: he has undergone transitions -not from grave to gay, for he never was grave-not from lively to severe, for severity forms no part of his disposition; nis fiuctuations have been between pover

or, to use his own emphatic language,
"between nothing to eat and just half
enough." He is not, as he forcibly re-
marks, "one of those fortunate men who,
if they were to dive under one side of a
barge stark-naked, would come up on the
other with a new suit of clothes on, and a
ticket for soup in the waistcoat-pocket:"
neither is he one of those, whose spirit
has been broken beyond redemption by
misfortune and want. He is just one of
the careless, good-for-nothing, happy fel-
lows, who float, cork-like, on the surface,
for the world to play at hockey with:
knocked here, and there, and every-
where: now to the right, then to the left,
again up in the air, and anon to the bot-
tom, but always reappearing and bound-
ing with the stream buoyantly and mer-
rily along. Some few months before he
was prevailed upon to stand a contested
election for the office of beadle, necessity
attached him to the service of a broker;
and on the opportunities he here acquired
of ascertaining the condition of most of
the poorer inhabitants of the parish, his
patron, the captain, first grounded his
claims to public support. Chance threw
the man in our way a short time since.
We were, in the first instance, attracted
by his prepossessing impudence at the
election; we were not surprised, on fur
ther acquaintance, to find him a shrewd
knowing fellow, with no inconsiderable
power of observation; and, after convers-
ing with him a little, were somewhat
struck (as we dare say our readers have
frequently been in other cases) with the
power some men seem to have, not only
of sympathising with, but to all appear
ance of understanding feelings to which
they themselves are entire strangers. We
had been expressing to the new function-
ary our surprise that he should ever have
served in the capacity to which we have
just adverted, when we gradually led him
into one or two professional anecdotes.
As we are induced to think, on reflection,
that they will tell better in nearly his own
words, than with any attempted embel
lishment of ours, we will at once entitle
them

MR. BUNG'S NARRATIVE.

"It's very true, as you say, sir," Mr. Bung commenced, "that a broker's man's is not a life to be envied; and in course you know as well as I do, though you don't say it, that people hate and scout 'em because they 're the ministers of wretch.

time (continued Mr. Bung,) and in course I wasn't long in finding, that some people are not as much to be pitied as others are, and that people with good incomes who get into difficulties, which they keep patching up day after day, and week after week, get so used to these sort of things in time, that at last they come scarcely to feel them at all. I remember the very first place I was put in possession of, was a gentleman's house in this parish here, that everybody would suppose couldn't help having money if he tried. I went with old Fixem, my old master, 'bout half arter eight in the morning; rang the areabell; servant in livery opened the door:

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edness, like, to poor people. But what could I do, sir? The thing was no worse because I did it, instead of somebody else; and if putting me in possession of a house would put me in possession of three and sixpence a day, and levying a distress on another man's goods would relieve my distress and that of my family, it can't be expected but what I'd take the job and go through with it. I never liked it, God knows; I always looked out for something else, and the moment I got other work to do, I left it. If there is any thing wrong in being the agent in such matters-not the principal, mind youI'm sure the business, to a beginner like I was, at all events, carries its own pun-Governor at home? Yes, he is,' says ishment along with it. I wished again the man; but he's breakfasting just now.' and again that the people would only blow Never mind,' says Fixem, just you tell me up, or pitch into me-that I wouldn't him there's a gentleman here, as wants have minded, it's all in my way; but it's to speak to him partickler.' So the serthe being shut up by yourself in one room vant he opens his eyes, and stares about for five days, without so much as an old him all ways-looking for the gentleman newspaper to look at, or any thing to see as it struck me, for I don't think anybody out of the winder but the roofs and chim- but a man as was stone-blind would misneys at the back of the house, or any take Fixem for one; and as for me, I thing to listen to, but the ticking, perhaps, was as seedy as a cheap cowcumber. of an old Dutch clock, the sobbing of the Hows'ever, he turns round, and goes to missis, now and then, the low talking of the breakfast-parlour, which was a little friends in the next room, who speak in snug sort of room at the end of the pas whispers, lest the man' should overhear sage, and Fixem (as we always did in them, or perhaps the occasional opening that profession,) without waiting to be of the door, as a child peeps in to look at announced, walks in arter him, and beyou, and then runs half-frightened away fore the servant could get out- Please, It's all this, that makes you feel sneak- sir, here's a man as wants to speak to ing somehow, and ashamed of yourself; you,' looks in at the door as familiar and and then, if it's winter time, they just give pleasant as may be. Who the devil are you fire enough to make you think you'd you, and how dare you walk into a genlike more, and bring in your grub as if tleman's house without leave?' says the they wished it 'u choke you-as I dare master, as fierce as a bull in fits. say they do, for the matter of that, most name,' says Fixem, winking to the master heartily. Ifey're very civil, they make to send the servant away, and putting the you up a bed in the room at night, and if warrant into his hands folded up like a they don't, your master sends one in for note, My name's Smith,' says he, and 1 you; but there you are, without being called from Johnson's about that business washed or shaved all the time, shunned of Thompson's'- Oh,' says the other, by everybody, and spoken to by no one, quite down on him directly, 'How is unless some one comes in at dinner time, Thompson?' says he; Pray sit down. and asks you whether you want any more, Mr. Smith: John, leave the room.' Out in a tone as much as to say I hope you went the servant; and the gentleman and don't,' or, in the evening, to inquire whe- Fixem looked at one another till they ther you wouldn't rather have a candle, couldn't look any longer, and then they after you've been sitting in the dark half varied the amusements by looking at me, the night. When I was left in this way, who had been standing on the mat all I used to sit, think, think, thinking, till I this time. Hundred and fifty pounds, 1 felt as lonesome as a kitten in a wash- see,' said the gentleman at last. 'Hunhouse copper with the lid on; but I be- dred and fifty pound,' said Fixem, 'be. lieve the old broker's men who are regu- sides cost of levy, sheriff's poundage, and larly trained to it, never think at all. I all other incidental expenses.'-' Um' says have heard some on 'em say, indeed, that the gentleman, 'I sha'n't be able to settle they don't know how! this before to-morrow afternoon.'-' Very sorry; but I shall be obliged to leave my

"I put in a good many distresses in my

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My

man here till then,' replies Fixem, pretending to look very miserable over it. 'That's very unfort'nate,' says the gentleman, for I have got a large party here to-night, and I'm ruined if those fellows of mine get an inkling of the matterjust step here, Mr. Smith,' says he, after a short pause. So Fixem walks with him up to the window, and after a good deal of whispering, and a little chinking of suverins, and looking at me, he comes back and says, 'Bung, you're a handy fellow, and very honest I know. This gentleman wants an assistant to clean the plate and wait at table to-day, and if you're not particularly engaged,' says old Fixem, grinning like mad, and shoving a couple of suverins into my hand, he'll be very glad to avail himself of your services.' Well, I laughed, and the gentleman laughed, and we all laughed; and I went home and cleaned myself, leaving Fixem there, and when I went back, Fixem went away, and I polished up the plate, and waited at table, and gammoned the servants, and nobody had the least idea I was in possession, though it very nearly came out after all; for one of the last gentlemen who remained, came down stairs into the hall where I was sitting pretty late at night, and putting half-acrown into my hand, says, 'Here my man,' says he, run and get me a coach, will you?' I thought it was a do, to get me out of the house, and was just going to say so, sulkily enough, when the gentleman (who was up to every thing),came running down stairs, as if he was in great anxiety. Bung,' says he, pretending to be in a consuming passion. 'Sir,' says I. Why the devil an't you looking after that plate?'-'I was just going to send him for a coach for me,' says the other gentleman. And I was just a going to say,' says I-'Any body else, my dear fellow,' interrupts the master of the house, pushing me down the passage to get me out of the way-any body else; but I have put this man in possession of all the plate and valuables, and I cannot allow him, on any consideration whatever, to leave the house. Bung, you scoundrel, go and count those forks in the breakfastparlour instantly.' You may be sure I went laughing pretty hearty when I found it was all right. The money was paid next day, with the addition of something else for myself, and that was the best job that I (and I suspect old Fixein too) ever got in that line.

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"But this is the bright side of the picture, sir, after all," resumed Mr. Bung,

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laying aside the knowing look, and flash air, with which he had repeated the previous anecdote-" and I'm sorry to say, it's the side one sees very, very, seldom, in comparison with the dark one. The civility which money will purchase, is rarely extended to those who have none; and there's a consolation even in being able to patch up one difficulty, to make way for another, to which very poor people are strangers. I was once put into a house down George's-yard-that little dirty court at the back of the gas-works; and I never shall forget the misery of them people, dear me! It was a distress for half a year's rent-two pound ten I think. There was only two rooms in the house, and as there was no passage, the lodgers up stairs always went through the room of the people of the house, as they passed in and out; and every time they did so-which, on the average, was about four times every quarter of an hour

they blowed up quite frightful: for their things had been seized too, and included in the inventory. There was a little piece of enclosed dust in front of the house, with a cinder-path leading up to the door, and an open rain-water butt on one side. A dirty striped curtain, on a very slack string, hung in the window, and a little triangular bit of broken looking-glass rested on the sill inside. I sup pose it was meant for the people's use, but their appearance was so wretched, and so miserable, that I'm certain they never could have plucked up courage to look themselves in the face a second time, if they survived the fright of doing so once. There was two or three chairs, that might have been worth, in their best days, from eight-pence to a shilling a-piece; a small deal table, an old corner cupboard with nothing in it, and one of those bedsteads which turn up half-way, and leave the bottom legs sticking out for you to knock your head against, or hang your hat upon; no bed, no bedding. There was an old sack, by way of rug, before the fire-place, and four or five children were grovelling about, among the sand on the floor. The execution was only put in, to get 'em out of the house, for there was nothing to take to pay the expenses; and here I stopped for three days, though that was a mere form too: for, in course, I knew, and we all knew. they could never pay the money. In one of the chairs, by the side of the place where the fire ought to have been, was an old 'ooman-the ugliest and dirtiest I ever see-who sat rocking herself back

there was a sort of quiet misery-if you
understand what I mean by that, sir-
about a lady at one house I was put into,
as touched me a good deal more. It
doesn't matter where it was exactly: in-
deed, I'd rather not say, but it was the
same sort o' job. I went with Fixem in
the usual way-there was a year's rent
in arrear; a very small servant-girl open-
ed the door, and three or four fine-looking
little children was in the front parlour
we were shown into, which was very
clean, but very scantily furnished, much
like the children themselves. Bung,
says Fixem to me, in a low voice, when
we were left alone for a minute, 'I know
something about this here family, and my
opinion is, it's no go.' 'Do you think
they can't settle says I, quite anxious-
ly; for I liked the looks of them children.
Fixem shook his head, and was just about
to reply, when the door opened, and in
came a lady, as white as ever I see any
one in my days, except about the eyes,
which were red with crying. She walk-
ed in, as firm as I could have done; shut
the door carefully after her, and sat her-
self down with a face as composed as if
it was made of stone. What is the mat-
ter, gentlemen?' says she, in a surprisin'
steady voice. Is this an execution?'--
'It is, mum,' says Fixem. The lady look-
ed at him as steady as ever she did'nt
seem to have understood him. It is,
mum,' says Fixem again; this is my
warrant of distress, mum,' says he, hand-
ing it over as polite as if it was a news-
paper which had been bespoke arter the
next gentleman.

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wards and forwards, backwards and forwards, without once stopping, except for an instant now and then, to clasp together the withered hands which, with these exceptions, she kept constantly rubbing upon her knees, just raising and depressing her fingers convulsively, in time to the rocking of the chair. On the other side sat the mother with an infant in her arms, which cried till it cried itself to sleep, and when it 'woke, cried till it cried itself off again. The old 'ooman's voice I never heard: she seemed completely stupified; and as to the mother's, it would have been better if she had been so too, for misery had changed her to a devil. If you had heard how she cursed the little naked children as was rolling on the floor, and seen how savagely she struck the infant when it cried with hunger, you'd have shuddered as much as I did. There they remained all the time: the children ate a morsel of bread once or twice, and I gave 'em best part of the dinners my missis brought me, but the woman ate nothing; they never even laid on the bedstead, nor was the room swept or cleaned all the time. The neighbours were all too poor themselves to take any notice of 'em, but from what I could make out from the abuse of the woman up stairs, it seemed the husband had been transported a few weeks before. When the time was up, the landlord and old Fixem too, got rather frightened about the family, and so they made a stir about it, and had 'em taken to the workhouse. They sent the sick couch for the old 'ooman, and Simmons took the children away at night. The old 'ooman went into the infirmary, and very soon died. The children are all in the house to this day, and very comfortable they are in comparison. As to the mother, there was no taming her at all. She had been a quiet, hard-working woman, I believe, but her misery had actually drove her wild; so after she had been sent to the house of correction half-a-dozen times, for throw-noise she made, brought in a young lady ing inkstands at the overseers, blaspheming the churchwardens, and smashing every body as come near her, she burst a blood vessel one mornin', and died too; and a happy release it was, both for herself and the old paupers, male and female, which she used to tip over in all directions, as if they were so many skittles, and she the ball.

"Now this was bad enough," resumed Mr. Bung, taking a half-step towards the door, as if to intimate that he had nearly concluded. "This was bad enough, but

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"The lady's lip trembled as she too1 the printed paper. She cast her eye ove it, and old Fixem began to explain the form, but I saw she wasn't reading it, plain enough, poor thing. Oh, my God!' says she, suddenly a-bursting out crying, letting the warrant fall, and hiding her face in her hands. Oh, my God! what will become of us!' The

of about nineteen or twenty, who, I sup pose, had been a-listening at the door, and who had got a little boy in her arms: she sat him down in the lady's lap, without speaking, and she hugged the poor little fellow to her bosom, and cried over him, 'till even old Fixem put on his blue spectacles to hide the two tears, that was a-trickling down, one on each side of his dirty face. 'Now, dear ma,' says the young lady, you know how much you have borne. For all our sakes-for pa's sake,' says she, 'don't give way to this!'

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No, no, I won't!' says the lady, was, yet, though her dress was thin, and gathering herself up hastily, and drying her shoes none of the best, during the her eyes; I am very foolish, but I'm bet- whole three days, from morning to night, ter now-much better.' And then she she was out of doors running about to try roused herself up, went with us into and raise the money. The money was every room while we took the inventory, raised, and the execution was paid out. opened all the drawers of her own ac- The whole family crowded into the room cord, sorted the children's little clothes where I was, when the money arrived. to make the work easier; and, except do- The father was quite happy as the incon ing every thing in a strange sort of hurry, venience was removed -I dare say he seemed as calm and composed as if no- didn't know how; the children looked thing had happened. When we came merry and cheerful again; the eldest girl down stairs again, she hesitated a minute was bustling about, making preparations or two, and at last says, 'Gentlemen,' for the first comfortable meal they had had says she, I am afraid I have done wrong, since the distress was put in; and the and perhaps it may bring you into trouble. mother looked pleased to see them all so. I secreted just now,' she says, the only But if ever I saw death in a woman's face, trinket I have left in the world-here it I saw it in hers that night. is.' So she lays down on the table, a little miniature mounted in gold. It's a miniature,' she says, of my poor dear father! I little thought once, that I should ever thank God for depriving me of the original, but I do, and have done for years back, most fervently. Take it away, sir,' she says, 'it's a face that never turned from me in sickness or distress, and I can hardly bear to turn from it now, whe., God knows, I suffer both in no ordinary degree.' I couldn't say nothing, but I raised my head from the inventory which I was filling up, and looked at Fixem; the old fellow nodded to me sig nificantly, so I ran my pen through the Mini' I had just written, and left the miniature on the table.

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Well, sir, to make short of a long story, I was left in possession, and in possession I remained: and though I was . an ignorant man, and the master of the house a clever one, I saw what he never did, but that he would give worlds now (if he had 'em) to have seen in time. I saw, sir, that his wife was wasting away, beneath cares of which she never complained, and griefs she never told. I saw that she was dying before his eyes; I knew that one exertion from him might have saved her, but he never made it. I don't blame him: I don't think he could rouse himself. She had so long anticipated all his wishes, and acted for him, that he was a lost man when left to himself. I used to think when I caught sight of her, in the clothes she used to wear, which looked shabby even upon her, and would have been scarcely decent on any one else, that if I was a gentleman it would wring my very heart to see the woman that was a smart and merry girl when I courted her, so altered through her love Bitter cold and damp weather it

for me.

"I was right, sir," continued Mr. Bung, hurriedly passing his coat-sleeve over his face," the family grew more prosperous, and good fortune arrived. But it was too late. Those children are motherless now, and their father would give up all he has since gained-house, home, goods, money: all that he has, or ever can have, to restore the wife he has lost."

CHAPTER VI.

THE LADIES' SOCIETIES.

OUR Parish is very prolific in ladies charitable institutions. In winter, wher wet feet are common, and colds not scarce, we have the ladies' soup distribution so ciety, the ladies' coal distribution society, and the ladies' blanket distribution socie ty; in summer, when stone fruits flourish and stomach-aches prevail, we have the ladies' dispensary, and the ladies' sick visitation committee, and all the year round we have the ladies' child's exami nation society, the ladies' bible and pray er-book circulation society, and the ladies' childbed-linen monthly loan society. The two latter are decidedly the most impor tant; whether they are productive of more benefit than the rest, is not for us to say, but we can take upon ourselves to affirm, with the utmost solemnity, that they create a greater stir and more bustle, than all the others put together.

We should be disposed to affirm, on the first blush of the matter, that the bible and prayer-book society is not so popular as the childbed-linen society; the bible and prayer-book society has. however, con

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