Invitations were repeated again and again, and with such friendly vehemence that resistance at last was out of the question.
“I aint sung for a good while,” said he, “but I wunt be disagreeable like, so here goes.”
But before he could start there was such a thundering on the tables that several minutes elapsed. At length there was sufficient silence to enable him to be heard.
“This is Church and Crown, lads.”
“Gie me the man as loves the Squire,
The Parson, and the Beak;
And labours twelve good hours a day
For thirteen bob a week!”
“Hooroar! hooroar! hooroar!” shouted Lazyman. “What d’ye think ’o that?”
“O, my eye,” said Outofwork, “aint it jolly?”
“Well done! bravo!” shrieked the Boardman. “I’ll carry that ere man through the streets on my shoulders instead o’ the boards, that I will. Bravo! he ought to be advertized—this style thirteen bob a week!”
“Thirteen bob a week!” laughed Harry; “who’d go for a soldier with such a prospect. Can you give us a job, governor?”
“Wait a bit, lads,” said Mr. Bumpkin, “there be another werse and then a chorus.”