Reminiscent 



youths and he always encouraged sport of every kind among 

 us, such as cricket, etc. I well remember having a race with 

 another boy — he was watching us, and although I did not win 

 he gave me a shilling, as he said I got such a bad start and 

 did not have a fair chance ; also it used to be a grand day 

 for us when Victoria, Countess of Yarborough, used to visit 

 the school at Limber and give us our prizes, also Lady 

 Gertrude. I little thought in those days I should ever live 

 with them as their servant. I still have some of the prize 

 books in which Lady Victoria and Lady Gertrude kindly wrote 

 my name. 



My father always used to say he had a very great opinion 

 of both Mr. William and Mr. Maunsell Richardson and what 

 good people they were to live with. 



I shall never forget the coming of age festivities of the 

 present Earl of Yarborough; Mr. J. M. R. giving we school- 

 boys shillings for running races ; and the camp of the Lincoln 

 Light Horse in Brocklesby Park, with Lady Victoria riding at 

 the head of the troop. 



I first came to Lady Victoria and Mr. Richardson as foot- 

 man in August, 1892, and butler in 1896, when they lived at 

 Healing Manor — my father had a farm at Great Coates, the 

 next village, and I remember him telling me to stick to 

 Mr. Maunsell and Lady Victoria as they were the two best 

 in Lincolnshire or any other county, and I never met anybody 

 in Lincolnshire but they had a good word for them, All the 

 years I lived with him I never remember an unkind word, and 

 if any mistake was made he always spoke in such a way as 

 to make you think he was doing you a kindness, and not 

 finding fault. I always admired him in every way as a sports- 

 man in racing and hunting ; there are many better judges than 

 I am who did the same, but what I admired most was that 



215 



