_Omnes._ Not by no means. (_General groans_).
_Billy._ Oh, curse a de tread mill, me no like a de “here we go up, up, up,” and “down you go down, down, down,” an if you no work, a great lump of wood come and knock you down so--(_Striking Beggar on head, with fiddle, who falls down_).
_Billy._ (_Picking him up_). Poor fellow, him werry sorry, so dere no harm done. Gemman of de Noah Ark Society, as Little Jemmy here is no starter, I move he be put in de chair a-top o’ de table.
_Omnes._ Bravo! Jemmy in the chair. (_Jemmy is put on the table_).
_Jemmy._ Gemman, I shall return thanks--here’s all your jolly good healths, and success to flat catching.
SONG.--MR. JENKINS, _and barking chorus of Beggars_.
_That all men are beggars, ’tis very plain to see, Tho’ some they are of lowly, and some they are of high degree; Your ministers of state will say, they never will allow That kings from subjects beg, but that you know is all bow wow. Bow wow, wow! fol lol, &c._
_Then let us cadgers be, and take in all the flats we can, Experience we know full well, my boys, it is that makes the man; And for experience all should pay, that Billy will allow, And as for conscience that of old we know is all bow wow. Bow, wow, wow! fol lol, &c._
_Enter_ KATE, SUE, JANE, TRIFLE, _and_ GREEN, _disguised as Beggars_.
_Kate._ They’ll not be long, depend on’t,--have I sufficiently disfigured my charms?
_Sue._ Yes, they cannot surely recognise us in these disguises?
_Trifle._ Dear me, a very dreadful perfume, _pan hanour_--essence of mendicity--I’m sorry I came.
_Mr. J._ (_To Green_). Halloa, my little ’un?
_Green._ Eh! come you a done now; you a done vith you.
_Mr. J._ Sluice your dominos--vill you?--
_Green._ Vot! I never plays at dominoes--It’s too wulgar.
_Mr. J._ Drink, vill you? don’t you understand Hinglish?
_Green._ Eh! drink--quite a gemman, I declare.--(_While Green drinks Jenkins dances, expectantly_).
_Ragged Jack._ I say, Jenkins has larned to dance since he’s been on the Mill--vy Jenkins you’ll dance your calves into your shoes if you don’t mind.
_Mr. J._ (_To Green, looking at pot_). Vy, I say, you’ve been eating red herrings for dinner, my young un!
_Green._ I vas dry, and that’s the fact on’t.
_Billy._ (_Offering bottle to Sue_). I say, Misses, you drink, eh! my Buckra Beaudly?