V I. French-man mut-ter-ed es-cap-ed snatch-ed dread-ful ex-am-ple cus-tom-er sov-e-reign THE STORY OF A BAD SHILLING. Part IV. 1. A Frenchman was in the shop, buying some coffee. He took a very long time to make up his mind, talking a great deal all the time. The shopman grew quite cross, and, when the Frenchman gave a sovereign gave a sovereign to pay for his coffee, he rang it hard on the counter. 2. At the same time he muttered something rude about Frenchmen and frogs, and the customer grew angry in his turn. 3. "Ah!" he said, "you doubt my money? Then I will try yours. "We in England always give good money," said the grocer. Ah, we will see," said the Frenchman, with a little smile. 66 4. He rang every piece of the silver given. him by the grocer, and last of all he came to me. I am sorry to say that, instead of the clear ring of silver, I gave a dull heavy sound as I fell. 5. "Aha!" said the Frenchman, "this is the good English money! But this little gentleman," he said, putting on his glasses to look at me, "he is a very pretty little shilling, so pretty that I do not like to take him from you, my friend." 6. The grocer snatched me out of his hand, and gave him another shilling. When the Frenchman had left the shop, he looked at me very carefully. 7. "I shall make an example of you," he said; and, still holding me, he took a hammer and a nail. "Oh dear me, I am going to be nailed to the counter," thought I, and my very edges seemed to curl with fright. 8. But just as the nail and hammer were in the man's hand there came a loud crash at the window, and a heavy stone fell on the floor. 9. "Those boys!" said the grocer. He threw down the hammer, and the nail, and me, and flew out of the shop. I fell on the floor, and rolled till I came to a hole in the boards. 10. This hole was just large enough to let me fall through it. Down I went into a rather dark and rather dirty place. 11. “At least I have escaped from the dread"But it is very dull ful nail," said I to myself. down here, and I have no chance of seeing the world, like other shillings, good and bad.” 1. Ring the bells, ring the bells, ring the bells gladly! Pull them well, keep in time-ay, pull them madly! Ring the bells cheerily! Squire's own son This day doth come of age-he's twenty-one! 2. Ring the bells! toss them high, ring them out proudly! All through the parish bounds let them sound loudly! Set the great flag on the church's high tower! Make the long garlands of laurel and flower. 3. Not for the sake of the generous cheer, boys, Not for the pudding, the beef, and the beer, boys, Pull we the ropes, boys, with might and with main, Ring out the bells till they echo again! 4. Ring we to show how we love the good Squire : No better friend can a poor man desire; Farmers and labourers, rich folk or poor, All have a welcome who come to his door. 5. Then there's my lady, so courteous and lowly, Showing us how to be honest and holy; Kind to the needy, the friend of the sad, Tender of even the fallen and bad. 6. Never a man in this village will tire Of singing the praises of our good Squire. So ring the bells, ring the bells, pull with a will! Waken the echoes o'er meadow and hill. 7. In the great hall the long tables are spread, boys, Roast beef and pudding, with home-brewed and bread, boys; All in the parish are welcome to-day, None will go cheerless or hungry away. So pull the bells, comrades, with might and with main, Ring out the bells till they echo again! MRS. HAWTREY. VIII. beau-ty cou-sins trou-ble-some THE STORY OF A BAD SHILLING.-Part V. 1. "Squeak, squeak! who are you?" said a little voice near |