| 164 | 165 | 166 | 167 | 168 |
| 1 | 198 | 396 | 594 | 792 |
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his bedroom 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-collecting down at
the Town Arms, and they're a-hollering themselves hoarse already.'
'
'
'
'
Ah,' said Mr Pickwick, 'do they seem devoted to their party, Sam?'
Never see such dewotion in my life, Sir.'
Energetic, eh?' said Mr Pickwick.
Uncommon,' replied Sam; 'I never see men eat and drink so much
afore. I wonder they ain't afeer'd o' bustin'.'
'
'
'
That's the mistaken kindness of the gentry here,' said Mr Pickwick.
Wery likely,' replied Sam briefly.
Fine, fresh, hearty fellows they seem,' said Mr Pickwick, glancing from
the window.
'
Wery fresh,' replied Sam; 'me and the two waiters at the Peacock 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 vere 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
baptised? - that's nothin', that ain't.'
'
'
Nothing?'said Mr Pickwick. 'Nothin' at all, Sir,' replied his attendant.
The night afore the last day o' the last election here, the opposite
party bribed the barmaid 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
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