THE CABMAN AND HIS PINT OF STOUT.—A Fable.
A Cabman, being inclined to drink, stepped into a public-house, and asked for a pint of stout, which he swallowed at a draught, and in payment for the liquor laid down a fourpenny piece. The landlord, who chanced to be serving in the bar, being a wag, called after his customer, as the latter was going, "Hi there, you!" to which the other, turning his head, replied, "Halloa!"—"Come, I say!" pursued mine host, "this here won't do!"—"Wot won't do?" demanded the other.—"Wot?" the landlord repeated; "wot's this here?"—"Wot's this here?" returned the cabman; "why, it's a fo'p'ny bit, isn't it?"—"Well, and wot then?" cried the landlord.—"Wot dy'e mean?" retorted the cabman.—"Wot do you mean?" rejoined the landlord; "wot dy'e mean this here for?"—"For a pint o' stout, to be sure," was the cabman's answer.—"Ho, ho, ho, ho!" shouted the landlord.—"Wot are yer larfin' at?" exclaimed the cabman, in astonishment; "Fo'pence a pint o' stout—ain't that right!"—"I s'pose," replied the landlord, "yer calls yerself a gentleman."
Here the people who were tippling at the bar burst into a loud laugh, which awoke the cabman to a perception that the landlord had been making game of him. "Come, come," said Boniface, "I was only chaffin' you; but now I hope you'll see the propriety of takin' wot you're entitled to when you're offered it, without indulgin' in superfluous and unpleasant hobservations."