{"id":"01KG6YH31ZWRFAGVDVHF022Z7G","cid":"bafkreia7fv2w53mwotrptzis3uuep7mnzqxua55dxt6nkvx4bqhvttel5m","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":4551,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T07:57:45.581Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 4","source_file":"01KG6YDD8GKW0DRD5H2MY1NRZ7","start_line":4472,"text":"lustily in the beginning of the day. Their pluck ain't lasting, after\r\nall. Yes, yes; even cocks have to succumb to the universal spell of\r\ntribulation: jubilant in the beginning, but down in the mouth at the\r\nend.\r\n\r\n    ... \"_Of fine mornings,\r\n    We fine lusty cocks begin our crows in gladness;\r\n    But when the eve does come we don't crow quite so much,\r\n    For then cometh despondency and madness._\"\r\n\r\nThe poet had this very Shanghai in mind when he wrote that. But stop.\r\nThere he rings out again, ten times richer, fuller, longer, more\r\nobstreperously exulting than before! In fact, that bell ought to be\r\ntaken down, and this Shanghai put in its place. Such a crow would\r\njollify all London, from Mile-End (which is no end) to Primrose Hill\r\n(where there ain't any primroses), and scatter the fog.\r\n\r\nWell, I have an appetite for my breakfast this morning, if I have not\r\nhad it for a week before. I meant to have only tea and toast; but I'll\r\nhave coffee and eggs--no, brown stout and a beefsteak. I want something\r\nhearty. Ah, here comes the down-train: white cars, flashing through\r\nthe trees like a vein of silver. How cheerfully the steam-pipe chirps!\r\nGay are the passengers. There waves a handkerchief--going down to the\r\ncity to eat oysters, and see their friends, and drop in at the circus.\r\nLook at the mist yonder; what soft curls and undulations round the\r\nhills, and the sun weaving his rays among them. See the azure smoke of\r\nthe village, like the azure tester over a bridal-bed. How bright the\r\ncountry looks there where the river overflowed the meadows. The old\r\ngrass has to knock under to the new. Well, I feel the better for this\r\nwalk. Home now, and walk into that steak and crack that bottle of brown\r\nstout; and by the time that's drank--a quart of stout--by that time, I\r\nshall feel about as stout as Samson. Come to think of it, that dun may\r\ncall, though. I'll just visit the woods and cut a club. I'll club him,\r\nby Jove, if he duns me this day.\r\n\r\nHark! there goes Shanghai again. Shanghai says, \"Bravo!\" Shanghai says,\r\n\"Club him!\"\r\n\r\nOh, brave cock!\r\n\r\nI felt in rare spirits the whole morning. The dun called about eleven.\r\nI had the boy Jake send the dun up. I was reading _Tristram Shandy_,\r\nand could not go down under the circumstances. The lean rascal (a\r\nlean farmer, too--think of that!) entered, and found me seated in an\r\narmchair, with my feet on the table, and the second bottle of brown\r\nstout handy, and the book under eye.\r\n\r\n\"Sit down,\" said I, \"I'll finish this chapter, and then attend to you.\r\nFine morning. Ha! ha!--this is a fine joke about my Uncle Toby and the\r\nWidow Wadman! Ha! ha! ha! let me read this to you.\"\r\n\r\n\"I have no time; I've got my noon _chores_ to do.\"\r\n\r\n\"To the deuce with your _chores_!\" said I. \"Don't drop your old tobacco\r\nabout here, or I'll turn you out.\"\r\n\r\n\"Sir!\"\r\n\r\n\"Let me read you this about the Widow Wadman. Said the Widow Wadman--\"\r\n\r\n\"There's my bill, sir.\"\r\n\r\n\"Very good. Just twist it up, will you--it's about my smoking-time; and\r\nhand a coal, will you, from the hearth yonder!\"\r\n\r\n\"My bill, sir!\" said the rascal, turning pale with rage and amazement\r\nat my unwonted air (formerly I had always dodged him with a pale face),\r\nbut too prudent as yet to betray the extremity of his astonishment. \"My\r\nbill, sir\"--and he stiffly poked it at me.\r\n\r\n\"My friend,\" said I, \"what a charming morning! How sweet the country\r\nlooks! Pray, did you hear that extraordinary cock-crow this morning?\r\nTake a glass of my stout!\"\r\n\r\n\"_Yours?_ First pay your debts before you offer folks _your_ stout!\"\r\n\r\n\"You think, then, that, properly speaking, I have no _stout_,\" said I,\r\ndeliberately rising. \"I'll undeceive you. I'll show you stout of a\r\nsuperior brand to Barclay and Perkins.\"\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 4"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG6YGBGP65WA6068YJZCVSW9","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG6YDD8GKW0DRD5H2MY1NRZ7","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG6YCG626JN4FCG8QK17CQCF","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG6YH31ZB1AGQB4B0RF9XZPN","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG6YH31ZFPF22CJFNRNTX0JS","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T07:57:50.015Z","ts":"2026-01-30T07:57:55.143Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}