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SERGEANT-MAJOR and Mrs. BAKER were one of a trio of couples successful
in winning their claim to the prize of a flitch of bacon at Dunmow.
Three hundred and sixty-six days of married life without a flitch--we
should say, hitch--in the flow of amicable intercourse is, nowadays,
a marvellous achievement, and merits due recognition. We, however,
commiserate the gallant and hambitions sergeant-major on having his
matrimonial intentions aspersed by the opposing counsel, who, in
attempting to "save the bacon," suggested that "BAKER had one eye on
the lady and the other eye on the flitch." The prospect of a reward
even "more lasting than ham" would hardly, it is to be feared, serve
to keep ordinary couples from "tiffs" for the space of a year and a
day continuously.
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[Illustration: WAKING THE WATER-BEARER.
_Father Thames._ "NOW THEN, STIR UP, OLD STICK-IN-THE-MUD! SUMMER OR
WINTER, YOU'RE STILL FOUND WANTING, AND THEN _I_ GET THE BLAME!"]
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