The beating of drums, the blowing of horns and trumpets, the shouting of men, and tramping of horses, echoed and re--echoed through the streets from the earliest dawn of day; and an occasional fight between the light skirmishers of either party at once enlivened the preparations, and agreeably diversified their character.
'Well, Sam,' said Mr.Pickwick, as his valet appeared at 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.