One o’clock
Disease , neglect , and starvation , faintly articulating the words of the joyous ditty , that has enlivened your hours of feasting and merriment , God knows how often ! It is no subject of jeering . The weak tremulous voice tells a fearful tale of want and famishing ; and the feeble singer of this roaring song may turn away , only to die of cold and hunger . One o'clock ! Parties returning from the different theatres foot it through the muddy streets ; cabs , hackney-coaches , carriages , and theatre omnibuses , roll swiftly by ; watermen with dim dirty lanterns in their hands , and large brass plates upon their breasts , who have been shouting and rushing about for the last two hours , retire to their watering-houses , to solace themselves with the creature comforts of pipes and purl ; the half-price pit and box frequenters of the theatres throng to the different houses of refreshment ; and chops , kidneys , rabbits , oysters , stout , cigars , and ` goes ' innumerable , are served up amidst a noise and confusion of smoking , running , knife-clattering , and waiter-chattering , perfectly indescribable . The more musical portion of the play-going community betake themselves to some harmonic meeting . As a matter of curiosity let us follow them thither for a few moments .