[Real Life In London, Volumes I. and II. by Pierce Egan]@TWC D-Link book
Real Life In London, Volumes I. and II.

CHAPTER VIII
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I'm an Irishman, and I don't care who knows it--I don't fight under false colours, but love the land of potatoes, and honour St.Patrick.That there man with the _blue toggery_{1} tipp'd me a bit of blarney, what did not suit my stomach.

I dropp'd my load, which he took for an order to quit, and so _mizzled_{2} out of my way, or by the big bull of Ballynafad, I'd have powdered his wig with brick-dust, and bothered his bread-basket with a little human kindness in the shape of an Irishman's fist; and then that there other dirty end of a shelalah, while the Jontleman--long life to your Honour, (bowing to Tom Dashall)--was houlding a bit of conversation with Pat Murphy, _grabb'd_{3} his pocket-handkerchief, and was after shewing a leg,{4} when a little boy that kept his oglers upon 'em, let me into the secret, and let the cat out of the bag by bawling--Stop thief! He darted off like a cow at the sound of the bagpipes, and I boulted a'ter him like a good'un; so when I came up to him, Down you go, says I, and down he was; and that's all I know about the matter." As the prisoners were being taken out of court, the Hibernian followed them.

"Arrah," said he, "my lads, as I have procured you a lodging for nothing, here's the half-a-crown, what the good-looking Jontleman gave me; it may sarve you in time of need, so take it along with you, perhaps you may want it more than I do; and if you know the pleasure of spending money that is honestly come by, it may teach you a lesson that may keep you out of the clutches of Jock Ketch, and save 1 Blue toggery--Toggery is a flash term for clothing in general, but is made use of to describe a blue coat.
2 Mizzled--Ran away.
3 Grabb'd--Took, or stole.
4 Shewing a leg--or, as it is sometimes called, giving leg- bail--making the best use of legs to escape detection.
~90~~you from dying in a horse's night-cap{1}--there, be off wid you." The Hon.

Tom Dashall, who had carefully watched the proceedings of Pat, could not help moralizing upon this last act of the Irishman, and the advice which accompanied it.

"Here," said he to himself, "is a genuine display of national character.


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