Rob. What lord? Oh, you mean the Lord Harry, I suppose. No, no, you must not be too funny with him, or he'll be after playing the very deuce with you.

Snacks. I say, I should never think of jesting with a person of your lordship's dignified character.

Rob. Dig-dig-what? Why, now I look at you, I see how it is; you are mad. I wonder what quarter the moon's in. Dickens! how your eyes do roll! I never saw you so before. you out alone ?

How came they to let

Snacks. Your lordship is most graciously pleased to be facetious.

Rob. Why, what gammon are you at! Don't come near me, for you've been bit by a mad dog; I'm sure you have.

Snacks. If your lordship would be so kind as to read this letter, it would convince your lordship. Will your lordship condescend?

Rob. Why, I would condescend, but for a few reaand one of 'em is, that I can't read.

Snacks. I think your lordship is perfectly right; for these pursuits are too low for one of your lordship's nobility.

Rob. Lordship, and lordship again! I'll tell you what, Master Snacks-let's have no more of your fun, for I won't stand it any longer, for all you be steward here. My name's Robin Roughhead, and if you don't choose to call me by that name, I shan't answer you, that's flat. I don't like him well enough to stand his jokes. (Aside.)

Snacks. Why, then, Master Robin, be so kind as to attend, whilst I read this letter. (Reads.) "Sir,—

This is to inform you, that my Lord Lackwit died this morning, after a very short illness; during which he declared that he had been married, and had an heir to his estate the woman he married was commonly called, or known, by the name of Roughhead: she was poor and illiterate, and, through motives of false shame, his lordship never acknowledged her as his wife. She has been dead some time since, and left behind her a son, called Robin Roughhead. Now this said Robin is the legal heir to the estate. I have therefore sent you the necessary writings to put him into immediate possession, according to his lordship's last will and testament. Yours to command,

"KIT CODICIL, Att'y at Law."

Rob. What!-What, all mine? the houses, the trees, the fields, the hedges, the ditches, the gates, the horses, the dogs, the cats, the cocks, and the hens, and the cows, and the bulls, and the pigs, and thewhat are they, are they all mine? and I, Robin Roughhead, am the rightful lord of all this estate? Don't keep me a minute, now, but tell me, is it so? Make haste, tell me quick, quick!

Snacks. I repeat it, the whole estate is yours.

Rob. Huzza! Huzza! (Catches off Snack's hat and wig.) Set the bells a ringing; set the ale a running; set-go get my hat full of guineas to make a scramble with; call all the tenants together. I'll lower their rents-I'll

Snacks. I hope your lordship will do me the favor

to

Rob. Why, that may be as it happens; I can't tell. (Carelessly.)

Snacks. Will your lordship dine at the castle to-day?

Rob. Yes.

Snacks. What would your lordship choose for dinner?

Rob. Beef-steaks and onions, and plenty of 'em.

Snacks. Beef-steaks and onions! What a dish for a lord! He'll be a savory bit for my daughter, though. (Aside.)

Rob. What are you at there, Snacks? Go, get me the guineas-make haste; I'll have the scramble, and then I'll go to Dolly, and tell her the news.

Snacks. Dolly! Pray, my lord, who's Dolly? Rob. Why, Dolly is to be my lady, and your mistress, if I find you honest enough to keep you in my employ.

Snacks. He rather smokes me. (Aside.) I have a beauteous daughter, who is allowed to be the very pink of perfection.

Rob. Hang your daughter! I have got something else to think of: don't talk to me of your daughter: stir your stumps, and get the money.

Snacks. I am your lordship's most obsequious. Zounds! what a peer of the realm! (Aside and exit.)

:

Rob. Ha ha ha! What work I will make in the village! Work? no, there shall be no such thing as work it shall be all play. Where shall I go? I'll go to-no, I won't go there! I'll go to Farmer Hedgestakes, and tell him—no, I'll not go there; I'll go -I'll go nowhere; yes, I will; I'll go everywhere; I'll be neither here nor there, nor any where else. How pleased Dolly will be when she hears

(Enter villagers, shouting.)

Dick, Tom, Jack, how are you, my lads? Here's news for you! Come, stand round, make a ring, and I'll make a bit of a speech to you. (They all get round him.) First of all, I suppose Snacks has told you that I'm your landlord?

Villagers. We are all glad of it.

Rob. So am I; and I'll make you all happy; I'll lower all your rents.

All. Huzza! long live Lord Robin !

Rob. You shan't pay no rent at all!

All. Huzza! huzza! long live Lord Robin! Rob. I'll have no poor people in the parish, for I'll make 'em all rich; I'll have no widows, for I'll marry 'em all. (All shout.) I'll have no orphan children, for I'll father 'em all myself; and if that's not doing as a lord should do, then I say I know nothing about the matter-that's all.

All. Huzza! huzza!

(Enter Snacks.)

Snacks. I have brought your lordship the money. He means to make 'em fly, so I have taken care the guineas shall be all light. (Aside.)

Rob. Now, then, young and old, great and small, little and tall, merry men all, here's among you. (Throws the money: they scramble.) Now you've got your pockets filled, come to the castle, and I'll fill all your mouths for you. (Villagers carry him off, shouting-Snacks follows.)

LESSON XCIV.

A SCENE IN THE CATSKILL MOUNTAINS.

The

WE first came to the verge of the precipice, from which the water takes its leap upon a platform that projects with the rock many feet over the chasm. Here we gazed into the dell and the basin into which the stream pours itself from the beetling cliff. But the prospect from this point is far less thrilling than from below; and we accordingly began our descent. Winding round the crags, and following a foot-path between the overhanging trees, we gradually, and with some difficulty, descended so far as to have a fine view of the station which we had just left. scene here is magnificent beyond description. Far under the blackened canopy of everlasting rock, that shoots above to an alarming extent over the abyss, the eye glances round a vast and regular amphitheatre, which seems to be the wild assembling-place of all the spirits of the storms, so rugged, so deep, so secluded, and yet so threatening does it appear! Down from the midst of the cliff that overarches this wonderful excavation, and dividing in the midst the gloom that seems to settle within it, comes the foaming torrent, splendidly relieved upon the black surface of the enduring walls, and throwing its wreaths of mist along the frowning ceiling. Following the guide that had brought us thus far down the chasm, we passed into the amphitheatre, and, moving under the terrific projection, stood in the centre of this sublime and stu