And whate'er others say, be the last to complain,
Though Marriage be just like a Devonshire lane."
By the Road-side.
"Ah, sir!" said my old coachman, "them was jolly times. The packmen used to travel in a lot together, and when they put up at an inn for the night, there was fun;—not but what they was a bit rough-like. I mind when one day they found a jackass straying, and didn't know whose it was, nor didn't ask either. They cut handfuls of rushes, and with cords they swaddled the ass up with rushes, and then set alight to him. Well, sir, that ass ran blazing like a fireball for four miles before he dropped. Them was jolly times."
"Not for asses, Caleb?"
"Certainly not for asses."
"But why did the packmen travel together, Caleb?"
"Well, sir, you see, packmen at times carried a lot o' money about with them; and it did happen now and then that lonely packmen were robbed and murdered."
"Then hardly jolly times for packmen?"