With attention, and it was given promptly, the blacksmith's son quickly regained his temporarily ejected sensibility; but it occupied some time to dispel the general gloom caused by his overthrow. At length, however, with Tobias Smith's strenuous exertions, and the aid of the strong ale, to which there were no restrictions as to quantity, something like approaching cheerfulness was regained.

Running in sacks, climbing a soaped pole for legs of mutton, bobbing for rolls soaked in treacle, and suspended on lines, and other old English games, followed, amid shouts and roars of laughter. Then came grinning through a horse-collar; but, as Mike was the first candidate for the prize, he succeeded in producing so fearful a distortion of features, that no second appeared; and he again was successful in carrying away the reward.

Dancing round a pole, gaily decked with flowers, to the merry tunes of three of the most renowned of village fiddlers, then commenced;

and after as hospitable a banquet of substantial dainties as was ever spread to appreciating appetites, it was universally admitted that among all the frolics enjoyed or heard of by the oldest present, not one approached this memorable revel.

CHAPTER VIII.

"You were used

To say extremity was the trier of spirits;
That common chances common men could bear;
That when the sea was calm, all boats alike
Show'd mastership in floating-"

MRS. SYKES was puzzled beyond description at the cause of the evident distress suffered by Mrs. Weston on her arrival at the cottage. In vain did that good woman inquire if the ache or pain was centred in the tooth, ear, or abdominal regions.

"Pray, ma'am," said she entreatingly, "let me send for Mr. Jalap, the doctor. He would soon find out what's the matter, and set all to right again in a jiffy.”

"No, no," replied the lady. "He could not render me the smallest service, I assure ye," continued she, pressing her hands upon her pallid brow and throbbing temples.

"Your head aches, ma'am?" rejoined Mrs. Sykes, interrogatively

"Yes, it does, indeed," rejoined the lady.

"Poor dear!" returned the sympathetic Mrs. Sykes, about leaving the room for the purpose of obtaining some of her restoratives, of which she possessed an extensive store for the more common ills to which suffering humanity is exposed. "I'll fetch a little hartshorn."

"Give yourself not the least trouble about me," added Mrs. Weston. "I shall be better in a few minutes if left undisturbed."

Mrs. Sykes, however, had no ideas of leaving people undisturbed; and, therefore, at once proceeded to torture her patient by holding a vial of stifling liquid to her nostrils, pouring vinegar over her forehead so that it trickled smartingly into her eyes-and other corre

sponding ways and means of rendering herself as unconsciously disagreeable as possible.

With great stoicism, the invalid submitted to the ordeal, and after a long trial of her patience and fortitude, she was asked by her attendant, "How she found herself then?"

"I'm much better," was the reply.

It always was so. Night or day, when smothered groans of anguish escaped in spite of the effort to prevent them, and cold and clammy beads of perspiration stood upon lip and brow, the low and gentle voice always said, "I am much better."

"It's quite surprising, ma'am," rejoined Mrs. Sykes, upon receiving this assurance, and taking it for granted that it was the result of her skill in pharmacy. "It's quite surprising, ma'am," replied she, "the number of persons I've cured in spite of, what I may call, their very selves. I don't mean to say, ma'am, that I forced 'em to take my herbs and mixtures by cramming them down their crops, like stuffing