"The people have no work at all to do, and they are starving; there are plenty of houses round here that have not had a penny in them for many a day," was my reply. "Ah! then, governor," he rejoined, "if they haven't the half-pence, they can't spend 'em, sure enough; so there's nothing for me but to carry 'em elsewhere." "How much will you take for the lot?" I inquired. "I'll be glad to get four shillin'." I put my hand in my pocket, produced that amount and transferred it to him. "Right! governor, thank'ee! what'll I do with 'em?" he said, as he quickly transferred the coins to his own pocket. "Go round this corner into the middle of the street, shout with all your might,-- 'HERRINGS FOR NOTHING!' and give three to every man, woman, and child, that comes to you, till the basket is emptied." So he proceeded into the middle of the street, and went along shouting, "Herrings for nothing! good red herrings for nothing!" I stood at the corner to watch his progress; and soon he neared the house where a tall woman stood at the first floor window looking out upon him. "Here you are missus," he cried, "herrings for nothing! come an' take 'em." The woman shook her head unbelievingly, and left the window. "Vot a fool!" said he; "but they won't all be so. Herrings for nothing!" A little child came out to look at him, and he called to her, "Here, my dear, take these in to your mother, and tell her how cheap they are--herrings for nothing." But the child was afraid of him and them, and ran in-doors. So, down the street, in the snow, slush, and mud, went the cheap fish, the vender crying loudly as he went, "Herrings for nothing!" and then adding savagely, "Oh, you fools." Thus he reached the end of the street; and then turning to retrace his steps, he continued his double cry as he came. "Well," I said to him calmly, as he reached me at the corner. "Well!" he repeated, "if yer think so! When yer gave me the money for herrings as yer didn't want, I thought you was training for a lunatic 'sylum! Now I thinks all the people round here are fit company for yer. But what'll I do with the herrings if yer don't want 'em, and they won't have 'em?" "We'll try again together," I replied; "I will go with you and we'll both shout." Into the road we both went, and he shouted once more, "Herrings for nothing!" Then I called out loudly also, "Will any one have some herrings for tea?" They heard my voice, and they knew it well; and they came out at once, in twos and threes and sixes, men and women and children, all striving to reach the welcome food. As fast as I could take them from the basket, I handed three to each eager applicant, until all were speedily disposed of. When the basket was empty, the hungry crowd that had none was far greater than that which had been supplied; but they were too late, there were no more "herrings for nothing!"