Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 17.djvu/206

200 they had more than their share of the Christmas-box: to say the truth, Peg's lads bustled pretty hard for that: for when they were endeavouring to lock it up, they got in their great fists, and pulled out handfuls of half-crowns, shillings, and sixpences. Others in the scramble picked up guineas and broad-pieces. But there happened a worse thing than all this; it was complained that Peg's servants had great stomachs, and brought so many of their friends and acquaintance to the table, that John's family was like to be eat out of house and home. Instead of regulating this matter as it ought to be, Peg's young men were thrust away from the table, then there was the devil and all to do; spoons, plates, and dishes flew about the room like mad; and sir Roger, who was now major domo, had enough to do to quiet them. Peg said, this was contrary to agreement, whereby she was in all things to be treated like a child of the family; then she called upon those, that had made her such fair promises, and undertook for her brother John's good behaviour; but alas! to her cost she found, that they were the first and readiest to do her the injury. John at last agreed to this regulation; that Peg's footmen might sit with his book-keeper, journeymen, and apprentices: and Peg's better sort of servants might sit with his footmen, if they pleased.

Then they began to order plumporridge and mince-pies for Peg's dinner: Peg told them she had an aversion to that sort of food: that upon forcing down a mess of it some years ago, it threw her into