Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/86

70 in of an old friend, whom the finder can barely recognise, but remenibers him by piecemeal. La Bagatelle, the draught board, or cards, constantly exhibit the means of staking the easily-acquired property so lately found, but which they cannot divide just now for want of change. The countryman bets, and if he loses, is called upon to pay; if he wins 'tis added to what is coming to him out of the purse.

If, after an experiment or two, they discover he has little or no money, they run off, and leave him to answer for the reckoning. But with money, they stick to him until all is gone: if he turns a little restive they abuse him; if he objects to pay he must fight his man; if he can do that tolerably well, they all fall on board him, and chase him forth of the house with execrations and coarse epithets. Such are among the latest occurrences of this sort, but they do not average once a year.

Another playful mode is, for butcher's boys or stall-keepers' boys, to place a white metal button in the street, with a string fastened to the eye, both of which are pressed into the dirt. A stranger to the trick, might very naturally stoop to pick up what appears to be a shilling; but no sooner has his fingers come in contact with the