we'd keep it up; but in the squares and gentlemen's gardings it ain't considered right for the children, so we gives the play in a mutilated form, don't you see. Now that's the lot, don't you see, sir, and if you wouldn't mind putting the box on this chair by the bedside, and shoving the table up close, I'll put 'em all back careful myself, for lying sick here one don't get much amusement. Ain't got even Toby here, which being a dawg warn't much company, yet he was some, though his name warn't Toby but Spice. Nice dawg he was, though any training warn't no good; he was a free child o' natur, and when his time came for the play he would bite the wrong noses and at the wrong times. The wust of it was too, that he would bolt, I don't mean swaller, but go a-running off arter other dawgs, and getting his frill torn as bad as his ears, and I never did see a raggeder pair o' ears than he had nowheres--torn amost to ribbons they was. We lost him at last, though I never knowed how, but a 'spicion crossed my mind one day when Bill my pardner was eating a small German, and it was close by the factory as we missed him; and though Bill said I was a duffer and spoilt his dinner, I allus stuck to it, and allus will, as there was the smell of Spice in that ere sassage. There you are, yer see sir, all packed clost and neat, and as I said afore I wouldn't take two pounds for 'em, bad as I am inside and out. Trade's bad, profession's bad, and I'm bad; but bless yer heart we shall have a revival yet, and when the drum comes back, and I get wind enough again to do the business, we shall go ahead like all that. There if I ain't boxed all the figgers up, and left the coffin out. Good job my old woman ain't here, or she'd say it was a sign or something o' that sort, and try to make one uncomfortable; but there you are, you see, sir, all snug now, and it does seem rather a low spiriting thing to have in a house, sir, and putting aside Punch and Judy stuff, the smaller they are the less you like it. Going, sir? well, you'll come again, I hope, and if I _do_ get better, why, I'll go through the lot in front of your house, if you let me have your card.