The Merry Past 



hunting tune, which, having previously been prac- 

 tised, was well performed. The scandalised parish- 

 ioners again met, and informed their diocesan of what 

 they called the indecorum ; but the bishop said their 

 pastor was right, for it was so ordered, in consequence 

 of which they declared that they would dispense with 

 the Creed in future. 



Another sporting parson, the brother of an earl, 

 having had the misfortune to lose his pointer and his 

 Bible, caused a placard to be put up upon the church 

 door next day, in which the Bible was described as 

 being dog-eared, and the pointer lettered upon the 

 back. 



Perhaps the best description of the qualities most 

 thoroughly appreciated in a popular parson of the 

 old school was that given by an old servant, who said 

 his master was " an excellent clergyman, and a truly 

 good man, for he always kept a capital tap of ale, and 

 was remarkable free with it." 



Most of these reverend gentlemen were simple folk. 

 One of them, having been unwell for some time, con- 

 sulted his doctor, who told him that he must give up 

 eating bread as his digestion was weak. " Things are 

 come to a pretty pass," said he, when he got home, to 

 his wife. " Here have I been praying to God with an 

 audible voice, twice every day of my life, and ten 

 times on Sundays, to give me my ' daily bread,' and 

 when I go to my doctor, he exclaims, ' Don't touch 

 it, or it will poison you.' " 



Queen Victoria in her younger years rode well, and 

 many other sovereigns have known how to bestride 



69 



