Merrie England in the olden time / by George Daniel.

  • George Daniel
Date:
1881
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Merrie England in the olden time / by George Daniel. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    jelly, the blackstrap was brought up in the black bottle; the knives and forks had black handles; and Mr. Rasp, the shroud-maker, who acted as vice, recommended, from his end of the festive board, some black pudding or polony in mourning. The dessert included black grapes and black- berries j the rules of the club were printed in black-letter; the toasts were written in black and white j the pictures that hung round the room were in black frames ; a well-thummed “ Sir Richard Blackmore ” and “ Blackwood’s Magazine ” lay on the mantel; the stove was radiant with blacklead; the old clock-case was ebony; and among the after-dinner chants “ Black-eyed Susan ” was not forgotten. The host, Mr. Robert Death, had black whiskers, and the hostess some pretty black ringlets 3 the surly cook looked black because the dinner had been kept waiting 3 the waiter was a nigger 3 and the barmaid had given boots (a ci-devant blackleg at a billiard-table) a black eye. A black cat purred before the fire 3 a blackthorn grew opposite the door 3 the creaking old sign was blackened by the weather 3 and to complete the sable picture, three little blackguards spent their half-holiday in pelting at it! The banquet came off pleasantly. Mr. Merripall, whose humour was rich as cmsted port, and lively as champagne, did the honours with his usual suaviter in niodo, and was admirably supported by his two mutes from Tumagain-lane 3 by Mr. Catchpenny Crambo, the bard of Bleeding-Hart-Yard, who supplied “ the trade ” with epitaphs at the shortest notice 3 Mr. Sexton Shovelton, and Professor Nogo, F.R.S., F.S.A., M.R.S.L., LL.B., a learned lecturer on Egyptian mummies. “ Our duty,” whispered Mr. Bosky, “ is to Hear, see, and say nothing. Eat, drink, and pay nothing !” After the usual round of loyal and patriotic toasts,
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