John Maunsell Richardson's Father 



extraordinarily kind and forbearing, could be stern and sharp 

 enough when he chose. "Tommy" Rickalls had driven the 

 three of them some long distance to dine with friends, and had 

 refreshed himself in the meantime in the public-house, not 

 wisely but too well. On the homeward journey, my father, 

 seeing him swaying backwards and forwards on his box, told 

 him to pull up and get down, whilst he, mounting to the box 

 of the carriage, held the reins. Obedience to authority being 

 " Tommy's " watchword, he swayingly obeyed. 



As soon as he was down, off drove my father, leaving poor 

 " Tommy " to cool his heels and his head, some miles from home. 

 It was supposed to teach him a lesson, and no doubt it did 

 until next time. However, "Tommy" drunk was a better 

 servant than many sober, and Maunsell had to thank him for 

 his early instruction in riding, his unvarying faithfulness to 

 his dead master, and his first lesson in the " hunting field " of 

 the real meaning of the " Sport of Kings." 



Naturally we learnt many other details concerning my 

 father. Undoubtedly he was eccentric. But that, no doubt, 

 was accounted for by the fact, that he lived from his boyhood, 

 when about fourteen, until he married at thirty-three, with old 

 Squire Richardson and his wife, and except for a very short 

 time at school; had no playmates at all of his own age to share 

 in his amusements. He was never sent to college either, 

 although three of his brothers went. It is more than likely 

 that he refused to go, and was allowed — as I believe he was 

 in everything — to have his own way by the fond old couple 

 who had adopted him for their own. For instance, we were 

 told that in the middle of being shaved by his barber, he 

 would jump up and play a tune on the flute or violin — which- 

 ever was the handiest — for he loved music and played, I believe, 

 fairly well on both instruments. 



17 c 



