Below those twin emblems of war and cookery were four shelves, containing plates of pewter and delf, and terminating, centaur-like, in a sort of dresser.

At the other side of these domestic conveniences was a picture of Mrs.Lobkins, in a scarlet body and a hat and plume.

At the back of the fair hostess stretched the blanket we have before mentioned.

As a relief to the monotonous surface of this simple screen, various ballads and learned legends were pinned to the blanket.

There might you read in verses, pathetic and unadorned, how-- "Sally loved a sailor lad As fought with famous Shovel!" There might you learn, if of two facts so instructive you were before unconscious, that-- "Ben the toper loved his bottle,--Charley only loved the lasses!" When of these and various other poetical effusions you were somewhat wearied, the literary fragments in bumbler prose afforded you equal edification and delight.