"A bad day's work, Mr. Bond, but we can't expect no otherwise now," said he of the once "palmy" Exquisite, yet looking more cheerful than might have been expected. "A sad change, Mr. Banks. Why, that 'ere near leader looks as if it hadn't strength to draw your hat off." "You're about right there, Mr. Bond, but,"--and here the flash of humour of brighter days lit up the features of Mr. Banks,--"but do you know what the Tories are going to do with us old coachmen?" Mr. Bond shook his head, and murmured--"Not I!" "Well, then, I'll tell you, Mr. Bond: they're agoing to plant us for milestones along the railroad." Another fit of laughter came on, and it was with difficulty that Mr. Bond could articulate, "Good bye! good bye!" as we drove on our course to Bristol. [Illustration] FOOTNOTE: [Footnote 15: Not long since a man, heedless or drunk, fell asleep upon a railroad; the train arrived, and literally cut him to pieces. "I suppose, sir, we had better _get the man together_?" said a labourer, soon after the accident had occurred. "By all means," answered he in authority. Death is but death, we allow; but death by the railroad is not only wholesale but frightfully terrific. To avoid the chance of such accidents, when possible, is an imperative duty, and every road which crosses a _railroad_ should be _over or under it_. We need only refer to two recent accidents caused by the want of such prevention.] ANOTHER CURIOSITY OF LITERATURE. The Knocker aches with motion; day by day The door groans on with hard and desperate knocks; Duns--gentle, fervent, furious--come in flocks; And still they press, and still they go away, And call again, and saunter off, or stay; Duns of all shapes--the goose, the wolf, the fox-- All punctual by their several parish-clocks: And still the answer is the same--no pay! Alas! that house one penny doth not hold,-- One farthing were not found, on hands and knees, No, not a doit, in all its crevices; Yet sits the Inmate, cramp'd, and lean, and cold, Writing a pamphlet;--and its title? "_Gold!_ Or, England's Debt paid off with perfect ease." A HORRIBLE PASSAGE IN MY EARLY LIFE. "Make the most of your school-days, my lad; they'll be the happiest of your life!"