1892 Drinks of the world

DRINKS.

215

subject In a far superior manner than the preceding poet, the refrain of his song being- of a higher type. "And I wish in Heaven his Soul may dwell, That first devised the Leather BotteL" The uses of the Bottel were so manifest, and its material so superior to any other, that it occupied a higher position. It was better than wood, for it would not run, and was unbreakable. When a man and his w^ife fell out, as will occasionally happen even in the best matrimonial existence, the bottel could be thrown at each other, without great injury either to human, or the bottel. It held no temptation to steal,

were of silver; nor could it

be broken, as if It

as if it

— because, as the song justly says, "Then what do you say to these Glasses fine? Yes, they shall have no Praise of mine For when a Company there are sat, For to be merry, as we are met Then, if you chance to touch the Brim, Down falls your Liquor, and all therein ; If your Table Cloath be never so fine, There lies your Beer, your Ale or Wine ; It may be for a small Abuse, A young Man may his Service lose ; But had it been in a Leather Bottel, And the Stopple in, then all had been well."

were of glass