" "A toast from the chair! Let's
hear the lawyer' zentiments on this zubject," said another; with which
request Gradus complied, by giving, "May he who ~288~~ploughs and plants
the soil reap all its fruits!" "Ay, Measter Gradus, that is as it should
be," reiterated a farmer on his right, "zo I'll give you, 'The varmers
against the parsons,' and there's old Tom Sykes yonder, the thatcher, he
will give you a zong about the 'tithe pig and the tenth child,' a main
good stave, I do azzure you." A request which the old thatcher most
readily complied with, to the great delight of all present; for
independent of his dialect, which was of the true rich west-country
character, there was considerable wit and humour in the song, and
an archness of manner in the performer, that greatly increased the
good-humour of the society. In this way the evening was spent very
pleasantly; and as the cause was to come on the first thing on the
ensuing morning, Transit and myself determined to await the issue,
anticipating that, if our merry-hearted companions, the rustics, should
be successful, there would be no lack of merriment, and some exhibition
of good sport both for the pen and pencil.
We had strayed after breakfast to view the cathedral, which is very well
worthy the attention of the curious, and certainly contains some very
ancient relics of the great and the good of earliest times.
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