The Merry Past 



of a stage-coach, who, unlike the man on the box 

 of a hackney cab, was not registered or licensed ; 

 in consequence of this many were men of indifferent 

 reputation, whilst a few were in league with the dregs 

 of society and, in their hours of relaxation, the 

 associates of poachers and thieves. 



Practically anyone was allowed to drive a stage- 

 coach, and so frequent were the changes and re- 

 sources of the fraternity, that in the event of serious 

 misconduct, calling for punishment, the offender 

 was generally able to put himself out of reach, and 

 substitute someone else to take his seat on the box. 



" Ah, Timothy ! " said a gentleman, to one who 

 had been in his service ; " what, you on the box ? I 

 thought you had the care of the plough, instead of the 

 coach. What is become of old Tom ? " " Why, Tom, 

 your Honour, hath lifted his whip hand so often to 

 his head, that 'tis almost over with him." ' " And 

 Frank ? " " Oh, Frank ! Didn't your Honour hear of 

 it ? Why Frank drove for speed against another 

 coach for a crown's worth of punch ; both were up- 

 set ; Frank had his collar-bone and an arm broken — 

 but that is a trifle, compared with what befell some 

 of the passengers." " Indeed ! And Jack, what is 

 become of Jack ? " " Jack is in limbo about that 'ere 

 parcel as dropped out of our coach." " And Dick ? " 

 " I saw Dick a few days since. Why, some pheasants 

 were found yesterday in Dick's care ; the Squire 

 made a terrible pother about it, and I'll be hang'd if 

 Dick an't this very morning gone to 'list for a soldier. 

 Before he set off, though, he went to master and tould 



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