asalittleboyhehadseenallthesefinedoingsintheirgreatestpomp.theoldestofthepolicemenusedtomakeaspeechfromtheplatformonwhichtheshieldwashungup,andthespeechwasinverse,asifithadbeenmadebyapoet,as,indeedithad;forthreepeoplehadconcoctedittogether,andtheyhadfirstdrunkagoodbowlofpunch,sothatthespeechmightturnoutwell.

andthepeoplegaveacheerforthespeech,buttheyshoutedmuchlouderfortheharlequin,whenheappearedinfrontoftheplatform,andmadeagrimaceatthem.

thefoolsplayedthefoolmostadmirably,anddrankmeadoutofspirit-glasses,whichtheythenflungamongthecrowd,bywhomtheywerecaughtup.grandfatherwasthepossessorofoneoftheseglasses,whichhadbeengivenhimbyaworkingmason,whohadmanagedtocatchit.suchascenewasreallyverypleasant;andtheshieldonthenewcourt-housewashungwithflowersandgreenwreaths.

"oneneverforgetsafeastlikethat,howeveroldonemaygrow,"saidgrandfather.nordidheforgetit,thoughhesawmanyothergrandspectaclesinhistime,andcouldtellaboutthemtoo;butitwasmostpleasantofalltohearhimtellabouttheshieldthatwasbroughtinthetownfromtheoldtothenewcourt-house.

once,whenhewasalittleboy,grandpapahadgonewithhisparentstoseethisfestivity.hehadneveryetbeeninthemetropolisofthecountry.thereweresomanypeopleinthestreets,thathethoughtthattheshieldwasbeingcarried.thereweremanyshieldstobeseen;ahundredroomsmighthavebeenfilledwithpictures,iftheyhadbeenhungupinsideandoutside.atthetailor'swerepicturesofallkindsofclothing,toshowthathecouldstitchuppeoplefromthecoarsesttothefinest;atthetobaccomanufacturer'swerepicturesofthemostcharminglittleboys,smokingcigars,justastheydoinreality;thereweresignswithpaintedbutter,andherring,clericalcollars,andcoffins,andinscriptionsandannouncementsintothebargain.apersoncouldwalkupanddownforawholedaythroughthestreets,andtirehimselfoutwithlookingatthepictures;andthenhewouldknowallaboutwhatpeoplelivedinthehouses,fortheyhadhungouttheirshieldsorsigns;and,asgrandfathersaid,itwasaveryinstructivething,inagreattown,toknowatoncewhotheinhabitantswere.

andthisiswhathappenedwiththeseshields,whengrandpapacametothetown.hetolditmehimself,andhehadn't"arogueonhisback,"asmotherusedtotellmehehadwhenhewantedtomakemebelievesomethingoutrageous,fornowhelookedquitetrustworthy.

thefirstnightafterhecametothetownhadbeensignalizedbythemostterriblegaleeverrecordedinthenewspapers-agalesuchasnoneoftheinhabitantshadeverbeforeexperienced.theairwasdarkwithflyingtiles;oldwood-workcrashedandfell;andawheelbarrowranupthestreetsallalone,onlytogetoutoftheway.therewasagroaningintheair,andahowlingandashrieking,andaltogetheritwasaterriblestorm.thewaterinthecanalroseoverthebanks,foritdidnotknowwheretorun.thestormsweptoverthetown,carryingplentyofchimneyswithit,andmorethanoneproudweathercockonachurchtowerhadtobow,andhasnevergotoveritfromthattime.

therewasakindofsentry-house,wheredweltthevenerableoldsuperintendentofthefirebrigade,whoalwaysarrivedwiththelastengine.thestormwouldnotleavethislittlesentry-housealone,butmustneedstearitfromitsfastenings,androllitdownthestreet;and,wonderfullyenough,itstoppedoppositetothedoorofthedirtyjourneymanplasterer,whohadsavedthreelivesatthelastfire,butthesentry-housethoughtnothingofthat.

thebarber'sshield,thegreatbrazendish,wascarriedaway,andhurledstraightintotheembrasureofthecouncillorofjustice;andthewholeneighborhoodsaidthislookedalmostlikemalice,inasmuchasthey,andnearlyallthefriendsofthecouncillor'swife,usedtocallthatlady"therazor"forshewassosharpthatsheknewmoreaboutotherpeople'sbusinessthantheyknewaboutitthemselves.

ashieldwithadriedsaltfishpaintedonitflewexactlyinfrontofthedoorofahousewheredweltamanwhowroteanewspaper.thatwasaverypoorjokeperpetratedbythegale,whichseemedtohaveforgottenthatamanwhowritesinapaperisnotthekindofpersontounderstandanylibertytakenwithhim;forheisakinginhisownnewspaper,andlikewiseinhisownopinion.

theweathercockflewtotheoppositehouse,whereheperched,lookingthepictureofmalice-sotheneighborssaid.

thecooper'stubstuckitselfupundertheheadof"ladies'costumes."

theeating-housekeeper'sbilloffare,whichhadhungathisdoorinaheavyframe,waspostedbythestormovertheentrancetothetheatre,wherenobodywent."itwasaridiculouslist-horse-radish,soup,andstuffedcabbage."andnowpeoplecameinplenty.

thefox'sskin,thehonorablesignofthefurrier,wasfoundfastenedtothebell-pullofayoungmanwhoalwayswenttoearlylecture,andlookedlikeafurledumbrella.hesaidhewasstrivingaftertruth,andwasconsideredbyhisaunt"amodelandanexample."

theinscription"institutionforsuperioreducation"wasfoundnearthebilliardclub,whichplaceofresortwasfurtheradornedwiththewords,"childrenbroughtupbyhand."now,thiswasnotatallwitty;but,yousee,thestormhaddoneit,andnoonehasanycontroloverthat.

itwasaterriblenight,andinthemorning-onlythink!