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Meg！' 'A Happy Wedding！' 'Many of em！' and other fragmentary good
wishes of that sort。 The Drum （who was a private friend of Trotty's） then
stepped forward； and said：
'Trotty Veck； my boy！ It's got about； that your daughter is going to be
married to…morrow。 There an't a soul that knows you that don't wish you
well； or that knows her and don't wish her well。 Or that knows you both；
and don't wish you both all the happiness the New Year can bring。 And
here we are； to play it in and dance it in； accordingly。'
Which was received with a general shout。 The Drum was rather
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drunk； by…the…bye； but； never mind。
'What a happiness it is； I'm sure；' said Trotty； 'to be so esteemed！
How kind and neighbourly you are！ It's all along of my dear daughter。
She deserves it！'
They were ready for a dance in half a second （Meg and Richard at the
top）； and the Drum was on the very brink of feathering away with all his
power； when a combination of prodigious sounds was heard outside； and a
good…humoured comely woman of some fifty years of age； or thereabouts；
came running in； attended by a man bearing a stone pitcher of terrific size；
and closely followed by the marrow…bones and cleavers； and the bells； not
THE Bells； but a portable collection on a frame。
Trotty said； 'It's Mrs。 Chickenstalker！' And sat down and beat his
knees again。
'Married； and not tell me； Meg！' cried the good woman。 'Never！ I
couldn't rest on the last night of the Old Year without coming to wish you
joy。 I couldn't have done it； Meg。 Not if I had been bed…ridden。 So
here I am； and as it's New Year's Eve； and the Eve of your wedding too；
my dear； I had a little flip made； and brought it with me。'
Mrs。 Chickenstalker's notion of a little flip did honour to her character。
The pitcher steamed and smoked and reeked like a volcano； and the man
who had carried it； was faint。
'Mrs。 Tugby！' said Trotty； who had been going round and round her； in
an ecstasy。 … 'I SHOULD say； Chickenstalker … Bless your heart and soul！
A Happy New Year； and many of 'em！ Mrs。 Tugby；' said Trotty when he
had saluted her； … 'I SHOULD say； Chickenstalker … This is William Fern
and Lilian。'
The worthy dame； to his surprise； turned very pale and very red。
'Not Lilian Fern whose mother died in Dorsetshire！' said she。
Her uncle answered 'Yes；' and meeting hastily； they exchanged some
hurried words together； of which the upshot was； that Mrs。 Chickenstalker
shook him by both hands； saluted Trotty on his cheek again of her own
free will； and took the child to her capacious breast。
'Will Fern！' said Trotty； pulling on his right…hand muffler。 'Not the
friend you was hoping to find？'
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'Ay！' returned Will； putting a hand on each of Trotty's shoulders。 'And
like to prove a'most as good a friend； if that can be； as one I found。'
'O！' said Trotty。 'Please to play up there。 Will you have the
goodness！'
To the music of the band； and； the bells； the marrow…bones and
cleavers； all at once； and while the Chimes were yet in lusty operation out
of doors； Trotty； making Meg and Richard； second couple； led off Mrs。
Chickenstalker down the dance； and danced it in a step unknown before or
since； founded on his own peculiar trot。
Had Trotty dreamed？ Or； are his joys and sorrows； and the actors in
them； but a dream； himself a dream； the teller of this tale a dreamer；
waking but now？ If it be so； O listener； dear to him in all his visions； try
to bear in mind the stern realities from which these shadows come； and in
your sphere … none is too wide； and none too limited for such an end …
endeavour to correct； improve； and soften them。 So may the New Year
be a happy one to you； happy to many more whose happiness depends on
you！ So may each year be happier than the last； and not the meanest of
our brethren or sisterhood debarred their rightful share； in what our Great
Creator formed them to enjoy。
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