morning,
noon
There are two annual events which produce great stir and sensation in Little Britain : these are St. Bartholomew 's Fair and the Lord Mayor 's Day . During the time of the Fair , which is held in the adjoining regions of Smithfield , there is nothing going on but gossiping and gadding about . The late quiet streets of Little Britain are overrun with an irruption of strange figures and faces ; every tavern is a scene of rout and revel . The fiddle and the song are heard from the taproom morning , noon , and night ; and at each window may be seen some group of boon companions , with half-shut eyes , hats on one side , pipe in mouth and tankard in hand , fondling and prosing , and singing maudlin songs over their liquor . Even the sober decorum of private families , which I must say is rigidly kept up at other times among my neighbors , is no proof against this saturnalia . There is no such thing as keeping maid-servants within doors . Their brains are absolutely set madding with Punch and the Puppet-Show , the Flying Horses , Signior Polito , the Fire-Eater , the celebrated Mr. Paap , and the Irish Giant .