“Brother Shots!” said Saggers, after the usual honours had been duly performed, “I am so unaccustomed to speaking (a laugh), that I rise with a feeling of timidity to thank you for the distinguished honour you have conferred on me.  Praise, like wine, elevates a man, but it likewise thickens and obstructs his speech; therefore, without attempting any rhetorical flourish, I will simply say, I sincerely thank you all for the very handsome manner in which you have responded to the friendly wishes of Brother Sniggs; and, now as the hour of midnight is at hand, I bid you farewell.  It is indeed difficult to part from such good company; but, although it is morally impossible there ever can be a division among such cordial friends, both drunk and sober may at least separate—­in spirits, —­and I trust we shall all meet again in health—­Farewell!”

DOCTOR SPRAGGS.

Old Doctor Spraggs! famed Doctor Spraggs! 
Was both well fee’d and fed,
And, tho’ no soldier, Doctor Spraggs
Had for his country-bled.

His patients living far and wide
He was compell’d to buy
A horse; and found no trouble, for
He’d got one in his eye!

He was a tall and bony steed
And warranted to trot,
And so he bought the trotter, and
Of course four trotters got.

Quoth he:  “In sunshine quick he bounds
“Across the verdant plain,
“And, e’en when showers fall, he proves
“He—­doesn’t mind the rain!”

But, oh! one morn, when Doctor Spraggs
Was trotting on his way,
A field of sportsmen came in view,
And made his courser neigh.

“Nay! you may neigh,” quoth Doctor Spraggs,
“But run not, I declare
“I did not come to chase the fox,
“I came to take the—­air!”

But all in vain he tugg’d the rein,
The steed would not be stay’d;
The “Doctor’s stuff” was shaken, and
A tune the vials play’d.

For in his pockets he had stow’d
Some physic for the sick;
Anon, “crack” went the bottles all,
And forma a “mixture” quick.

His hat and wig flew off, but still
The reins he hugg’d and haul’d;
And, tho’ no cry the huntsmen heard,
They saw the Doctor—­bald!

They loudly laugh’d and cheer’d him on,
While Spraggs, quite out of breath,
Still gallopp’d on against his will,
And came in at the death.

To see the Doctor riding thus
To sportsmen was a treat,
And loudly they applauded him—­
(Tho’ mounted) on his feat!

Moral. 
Ye Doctors bold, of this proud land
Of liberty and—­fogs,
No hunters ride, or you will go
Like poor Spraggs—­to the dogs!

SCENE IX. (b)

“Well, Bill, d’ye get any bites over there?” “No, but I’m afeard I shall, soon have one.”

Two youths, by favour of their sponsors, bearing the aristocratic names of William and Joseph, started early one morning duly equipped, on piscatorial sport intent.  They trudged gaily forward towards a neighbouring river, looking right and left, and around them, as sharp as two crows that have scented afar off the carcase of a defunct nag.