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ould never enjoy the benefits of civilization either。 As they often said：
‘Who and what are our children that they shouldn't be made to work for their betters？ They're not Gentry's children； are they？ The good things of life was never meant for the likes of them。 Let 'em work！ That's wot the likes of them was made for； and if we can only get Tariff Reform for 'em they will always be sure of plenty of it … not only Full Time； but Overtime！ As for edication； travellin' in furrin' parts； an' enjoying life an' all sich things as that； they was never meant for the likes of our children … they're meant for Gentry's children！ Our children is only like so much dirt compared with Gentry's children！ That's wot the likes of us is made for … to Work for Gentry； so as they can 'ave plenty of time to enjoy theirselves； and the Gentry is made to 'ave a good time so as the likes of us can 'ave Plenty of Work。'
There were several more verses； and by the time they had sung them all； the Tories were in a state of wild enthusiasm。 Even Ned Dawson； who had fallen asleep with his head pillowed on his arms on the table； roused himself up at the end of each verse； and after having joined in the chorus； went to sleep again。
At the end of the song they gave three cheers for Tariff Reform and Plenty of Work； and then Crass； who； as the singer of the last song； had the right to call upon the next man； nominated Philpot； who received an ovation when he stood up； for he was a general favourite。 He never did no harm to nobody； and he was always wiling to do anyone a good turn whenever he had the opportunity。 Shouts of ‘Good old Joe' resounded through the room as he crossed over to the piano； and in response to numerous requests for ‘The old song' he began to sing ‘The Flower Show'：
‘Whilst walkin' out the other night； not knowing where to go I saw a bill upon a wall about a Flower Show。
So I thought the flowers I'd go and see to pass away the night。 And when I got into that Show it was a curious sight。 So with your kind intention and a little of your aid； Tonight some flowers I'll mention which I hope will never fade。'
Omnes： To…night some flowers I'll mention which I hope will never fade。'
There were several more verses； from which it appeared that the principal flowers in the Show were the Rose； the Thistle and the Shamrock。
When he had finished； the applause was so deafening and the demands for an encore so persistent that to satisfy them he sang another old favourite … ‘Won't you buy my pretty flowers？'
‘Ever coming； ever going； Men and women hurry by； Heedless of the tear…drops gleaming； In her sad and wistful eye How her little heart is sighing Thro' the cold and dreary hours； Only listen to her crying； 〃Won't you buy my pretty flowers？〃'
When the last verse of this sang had been sung five er six times； Philpot exercised his right of nominating the next singer； and called upon Dick Wantley； who with many suggestive gestures and grimaces sang ‘Put me amongst the girls'； and afterwards called upon Payne； the foreman carpenter； who gave ‘I'm the Marquis of Camberwell Green'。
There was a lot of what music…hall artists call ‘business' attached to his song； and as he proceeded； Payne； who was ghastly pale and very nervous； went through a lot of galvanic motions and gestures； bowing and scraping and sliding about and flourishing his handkerchief in imitation of the courtly graces of the Marquis。 During this performance the audience maintained an appalling silence； which so embarrassed Payne that before he was half…way through the song he had to stop because he could not remember the rest。 However； to make up for this failure he sang another called ‘We all must die； like the fire in the grate'。 This also was received in a very lukewarm manner by the crowd； same of whom laughed and others suggested that if he couldn't sing any better than that； the sooner HE was dead the better。
This was followed by another Tory ballad； the chorus being as follows：
His clothes may be ragged； his hands may be soiled。 But where's the disgrace if for bread he has toiled。 His 'art is in the right place； deny it no one can The backbone of Old England is the honest workin' man。'
After a few more songs it was decided to adjourn to a field at the rear of the tavern to have a game of cricket。 Sides were formed； Rushton； Didlum； Grinder； and the other gentlemen taking part just as if they were only common people； and while the game was in progress the rest played ring quoits or reclined on the grass watching the players； whilst the remainder amused themselves drinking beer and playing cards and shove…ha'penny in the bar parlour； or taking walks around the village sampling the beer at the other pubs； of which there were three。
The time passed in this manner until seven o'clock； the hour at which it had been arranged to start on the return journey； but about a quarter of an hour before they set out an unpleasant incident occurred。
During the time that they were playing cricket a party of glee singers； consisting of four young girls and five men； three of whom were young fellows； the other two being rather elderly； possibly the fathers of some of the younger members of the party； came into the field and sang several part songs for their entertainment。 Towards the close of the game most of the men had assembled in this field； and during a pause in the singing the musicians sent one of their number； a shy girl about eighteen years of age … who seemed as if she would rather that someone else had the task … amongst the crowd to make a collection。 The girl was very nervous and blushed as she murmured her request； and held out a straw hat that evidently belonged to one of the male members of the glee party。 A few of the men gave pennies； some refused or pretended not to see either the girl or the hat； others offered to give her some money for a kiss； but what caused the trouble was that two or three of those who had been drinking more than was good for them dropped the still burning ends of their cigars； all wet with saliva as they were； into the hat and Dick Wantley spit into it。
The girl hastily returned to her companions； and as she went some of the men who had witnessed the behaviour of those who had insulted her； advised them to make themselves scarce； as they stood a good chance of getting a thrashing from the girl's friends。 They said it would serve them dam' well right if they did get a hammering。
Partly sobered by fear； the three culprits sneaked off and hid themselves； pale and trembling with terror； under the box seats of the three brakes。 They had scarcely left when the men of the glee party came running up； furiously demanding to see those who had insulted the girl。 As they could get no satisfactory answer； one of their number ran back and presently returned； bringing the girl with him； the other young women following a little way behind。
She said she could not see the men they were looking for； so they went down to the public house to see if they could find them there； some of the Rushton's men accompanying them and protesting their indignation。
The time passed quickly enough and by half past seven the brakes were loaded up again and a start made for the return journey。
They called at all the taverns on the road； and by the time they reached the Blue Lion half of them were three sheets in the wind； and five or six were very drunk； including the driver of Crass's brake and the man with the bugle。 The latter was so far gone that they had to let him lie down in the bottom of the carriage amongst their feet； where he fell asleep； while the others amused themselves by blowing weird shrieks out of the horn。
There was an automatic penny…in…the…slot piano at the Blue Lion and as that was the last house of the road they made a rather long stop there； playing hooks and rings； shove…ha'penny； drinking； singing； dancing and finally quarrelling。
Several of them seemed disposed to quarrel with Newman。 All sorts of offensive remarks were made at him in his hearing。 Once someone ostentatiously knocked his glass of lemonade over； and a little later someone else collided violently with him just as he was in the act of drinking； causing his lemonade to spill all over his clothes。 The worst of it was that most of these rowdy ones were his fellow passengers in Crass's brake； and there was not much chance of getting a seat in either of the other carriages； for they were overcrowded already。
From the remarks he overheard from time to time； Newman guessed the reason of their hostility； and as their manner towards him grew more menacing； he became so nervous that he began to think of quietly sneaking off and walking the remainder of the way home by himself； unless he could get somebody in one of the other brakes to change seats with him。
Whilst these thoughts were agitating his mind； Dick Wantley suddenly shouted out that he was going to go for the dirty tyke who had offered to work under price last winter。
It was his fault that they were all working for six