74 AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



&quot; But tinkers wives would not be piano-forte performers, 

 nor travellers in the inside of stage-coaches.&quot; 



&quot; I don t know that,&quot; I replied ; &quot; a tinker s wife in the 

 United States is as likely to know how to play a piano 

 forte, as a tinker s wife here is to know how to read her 

 Bible, and would certainly be as likely to ride in the 

 inside of a stage-coach as any one else ; and your friend, 

 if he had one for his vis-a-vis, might, very possibly, from 

 her dress and general appearance, particularly from her 

 general information and intelligence, have been led to 

 apply the same standard in judging of her that he had 

 been accustomed to use at home for females of his own 

 rank in society : of course, judged in that way, it would 

 be odd if he could not find something outre about her to 

 make fun of.&quot; 



&quot; How about stage-coachmen s wives, sir ?&quot; 



&quot; I know a stage driver s wife that has a piano, and can 

 play it at least her daughter can admirably well. Her 

 husband is colonel of a crack regiment of our yeomanry 

 cavalry.&quot; 



The coachman turned and looked me very gravely in the 

 face for a moment, just showing the tip of his tongue, and 

 then raised his hand till his thumb pointed over his left 

 shoulder. 



The gentleman laughed, and said, 



&quot; He will be His Excellency? your representative at the 

 Court of St. James next, I suppose.&quot; 



&quot; Perhaps so,&quot; I answered, &quot; for he has already repre 

 sented his fellow-townsmen for two years in the Legislature 

 of the State, and had the title of Honourable.&quot; 



&quot; A stage-coachman, pon honour ?&quot; 



&quot;Yes.&quot; 



&quot; What for a whip is he, sir T 



