All in a garden fair; the simple story of three boys ... - University Library

ALL LV A GARDEN FAIR. 219
Your brain will be full, your hand will be
ready, when the inspiration comes.'
Allen accepted the map and considered it.
His commission was a roving one : he was to
wander among streets, and he was to observe,
to watcli, to see what there was to be seen. He
was, in short, to learn the People. Simple
directions these. He felt like Columbus setting
forth on a voyage of discovery. One rule only :
keep steering west.
'Come, Allen,' said Will next Saturday, ' let
us begin the pilgrimage.'
Of course, Will went with him. He was not
as yet greatly interested in tlie People, but he
wanted to see what would happen.
They took one of the districts, almost at
hap-hazard, and they walked up and down its
streets for the whole afternoon, looking about
them.
In the evening they reported, a^ the sum
of their observations, that an Irishman under
the influence of drink had accosted them, and
cursed the Government of tlie country, from