THE PICKWICK CLUB. 127
The noise and bustle which ushered in the morning, were sufficient to dispel from the mind of the most romantic visionary in existence, any associations but those which were immediately connected with the rapidly-approaching election. The beating of drums, the blowing of horns and trumpets, the shouting of men, and tramping of horses, echoed and re-echoed through the streets from the earliest dawn of day ; and an occasional fight between the light skirmishers of either party, at once enlivened the preparations, and agreeably diversified their cha- racter.
" Well, Sam," said Mr. Pickwick, as his valet appeared at his bed- room door, just as he was concluding his toilet ; " all alive to-day, I suppose ? "
" Reg'lar game. Sir," replied Mr. Weller ; " our people's a col-lecting down at the Town Arms, and they're a hollering themselves hoarse already."
" Ah/' said Mr. Pickwick, " do they seem devoted to their party, Sara?"
" Never see such dewotion in my life, Sir."
" Energetic, eh ? " said Mr. Pickwick.
" Uncommon," replied Sam; " I never see men eat and drinlc so much afore. I wonder they a'nt afeer'd o' bustin."
" That's the mistaken kindness of the gentry here," said Mr. Pick- wick.
" Werry likely," replied Sam, briefly.
" Fine, fresh, hearty fellows they seem," said Mr. Pickwick, glancing from the window.
" Werry fresh," replied Sam ; " me, and the two waiters at the Pea- cock, has been a pumpin' over the independent woters as supped there last night."
" Pumping over independent voters ! " exclaimed Mr. Pickwick.
- ' Yes," said his attendant, " every man slept verc he fell down ; we
dragged 'em out, one by one, this mornin' and put 'em under the pump, and they're in reg'lar fine order, now. Shillin' a head the committee paid for that 'ere job."
" Can such things be ! " exclaimed the astonished Mr. Pickwick.
" Lord bless your heart. Sir," said Sam, " why where was you half baptized ? — that's nothin', that a'nt."
" Nothing ? " said Mr. Pickwick.
" Nothin' at all. Sir," replied his attendant. " The night afore th last day o' the last election here, the opposite party bribed the bar-maid at the Town Arms, to hocus the brandy and water of fourteen unpolled electors as was a stoppin' in the house."
" What do you mean by ' hocussing ' brandy and water ? " inquired Mr. Pickwick.
" Puttin' laud'num in it," replied Sam. " Blessed if she didn't send 'em all to sleep till twelve hours arter the election was over. They took one man up to the booth, in a truck, fast asleep, by way of experi- ment, but it was no go — they wouldn't poll him ; so they brought him back, and put him to bed again."
