Wy, I'll tell you what, Sammy,' said Mr Weller, senior, with much

solemnity in his manner; 'there never was a nicer woman as a widder,

than that 'ere second wentur o' mine - a sweet creetur she was,

Sammy; all I can say on her now, is, that as she was such an

uncommon pleasant widder, it's a great pity she ever changed her

condition. She don't act as a vife, Sammy.' 'Don't she, though?'

inquired Mr Weller, junior.

The elder Mr Weller shook his head, as he replied with a sigh, 'I've

done it once too often, Sammy; I've done it once too often. Take

example by your father, my boy, and be wery careful o' widders all

your life, 'specially if they've kept a public-house, Sammy.' Having

delivered this parental advice with great pathos, Mr Weller, senior,

refilled his pipe from a tin box he carried in his pocket; and, lighting

his fresh pipe from the ashes of the old One, commenced smoking at a

great rate.

'Beg your pardon, sir,' he said, renewing the subject, and addressing

Mr Pickwick, after a considerable pause, 'nothin' personal, I hope, sir;

I hope you ha'n't got a widder, sir.'

'Not I,' replied Mr Pickwick, laughing; and while Mr Pickwick laughed,

Sam Weller informed his parent in a whisper, of the relation in which

he stood towards that gentleman.

Beg your pardon, sir,' said Mr Weller, senior, taking off his hat, 'I

hope you've no fault to find with Sammy, Sir?'

None whatever,' said Mr Pickwick.

Wery glad to hear it, sir,' replied the old man; 'I took a good deal o'

pains with his eddication, sir; let him run in the streets when he was

wery young, and shift for hisself. It's the only way to make a boy

sharp, sir.'

Rather a dangerous process, I should imagine,' said Mr Pickwick, with

a smile.

And not a wery sure one, neither,' added Mr Weller; 'I got reg'larly

done the other day.'

'No!' said his father.

'I did,' said the son; and he proceeded to relate, in as few words as

possible, how he had fallen a ready dupe to the stratagems of Job

Trotter.

The Pickwick Papers