Punch or The London charivari: Punch or The London charivari (5.1843)

PUNCH'S TRIUMPHAL PROCESSION!

23b

m

h

T \\


M

lji\

T H E C If E I S T M AS SONG

of

the dishonest tenant.

Now, let us heap the fire up,

And ring a joyous tune ;

Pass round the brimming Wassail Clip

Before we shoot the moon.

Bring from the wood-yard log and spray
And let the Wallsend blaze away—
For which we never mean to pay :
And let us all be merry.

ii.

Now run the spit the sirloin through,

And put it down to roast;
1 or Butcher, Baker, we will do,

But Brandy-merchant most.
The fattened turkey let us kill,
We shall not stop to pay the bill ;
But lightly hop the twig we will,

Like winter robins—very.

hi.

And when the jovial feast is o'er,

Cut up and swallowed all ;

We '11 cut ourselves, and lock the door,

Before the tradesmen call.

And carol blithely as we run,
rio think the shopkeepers are done :
How frugal is our Christmas fun !

Sing Mistletoe and Derry.

: !=y*

a geographical conundrum bv mr. gunter.

Q. Which is the coldest river ?

A. The /ce-is (Isis).

PFNCILLINGS OF PUBLIC PEOPLE.

the waterloo bridge toll-taker.

The shareholders of Waterloo Bridge intend, we under-
stand, to give a dinner to the toll-keeper on the Surrey side
in celebration of the successful blockade of Westminster, and
the increased traffic over their own edifice ; which has proved
the only instance in which a continued run upon their pro-
perty has been of benefit to them. A year's dividend has been
given up for this purpose, amounting in the aggregate to some-
thingunder half-a-crown ; and the collecting clerk, after much
repose, lias intentions of making another call upon the share-
holders at their own residences.

As such a short notice of this well-known individual may
not be out of place. The toll-keeper is a very remarkable
personage—a great deal more so than people would believe bv
looking at him. It is generally understood that he lias never
been to bed since he was a boy ; and that in 1840, previous to
the reduction of tolls, accomplished his great undertaking of
picking up one thousand pence in one thousand hours on the
toll-table. The writer of this notice had an opportunity of con-
versing with him in the course of last winter, although lie is
usually taciturn and reserved; seldom speaking unless when a
passenger runs against the wrong turnstile.

Previously to the reduction of the tolls, the subject of the
present sketch complained bitterly of his solitary and isolated
condition, seldom communing with his fellow-men except per-
formers, who at that period colonized the Transpontine Marshes
in great numbers. His duties ceased at that time about six
o'clock, p.ai. ; because on returning, they usually paid on the
other side. He perfectly remembers the time when the English
Opera House had a company, and he laid in half-pence to give
change to them on the days they received their salaries. His
present habitation is a neat, compact, one-roomed residence,
which does not appear to possess a bed ; but, as he never wants
one, this is of no consequence. Indeed, we never saw him inside
his house at all, his usual position being outside the door,
behind a gas-lantern, and within reach of the half-pence, which
he gravely and silently removes to some unknown depository
as they are laid down.

We have not been favoured with a view of the plate to be
presented to him when the dinner is given, but hear that it is
of the willow-pattern, and will be in all probability accom-
panied by a knife and fork.