now and then a roasted turnip, cooled on a burdock leaf." "This is a very hard sentence indeed, Mr. Justice," said our counterfeit Tinker. "No, no, replied the Justice, "it is too mild a one, for such a villain as you are." But, added, "I had like to have forgot a material point in his examination. Tell me, sirrah, how you came to kill this honest man's dog?" "Why, Sir," said he, "with the pike end of my staff, for running at me to bite me." "Aye, aye," said the Justice, "that was villainous in you; could you not have turned the other end, and given him a rap upon the pate?" "Yes," replied he, "if he had come to me with his tail foremost."
'Prithee, shew me, said the Justice, how he came at thee?"-"I will shew your worship; he came open mouthed, as I do to you now, crying, Bow, wow, wow." And here running against the Justice, overthrew him in his chair to the ground; so that he most loudly cried out Murder! and being got up, he ordered his mittimus to be made, reviling him at a desperate rate But all on a sudden the tables were turned; for no sooner being asked, but he told his name. When up starts the Justice, and coming unto him with a low reverence, "Oh! Sir John," said he, "Is it you! who could have ever have thought it! I am heartily sorry for what I have said." Then turning to the burcher who stood wondering, said, "Sirrah, you rascal, do you keep dogs to assault gentlemen? but I will teach you better manners; come bind him over to the sessions directly, and if he has no bail, take him to jail. This is a pretty thing indeed, that people cannot pass the road peaceably for such rogues as you keeping dogs." But Sir John interposing, all was pacified, and the butcher went home with a flea in his ear.
FINIS.
