H2 MEN OF PAST DAYS 



rises up from the mat where he is generally lying, and 

 trots up and down the platform, wagging his tail and 

 barking continuously. I saw him myself in July last, 

 when, long before I could see the train approaching, he 

 commenced barking all along the platform, and ran down 

 the steps to the yard below, and outside, still giving 

 tongue, as though to warn passengers of the near arrival 

 of the train. The most curious point is, as the station- 

 master informed me, that he takes no notice of the 

 express trains that do not stop at the station, nor of 

 luggage trains, apparently holding them in contempt, 

 and allowing them to pass and re-pass without any 

 warning. Moreover, he understands that he is not 

 allowed to cross the line, and only very seldom defies 

 the prohibition. 



I cannot dismiss my recollections of Kenford without 

 a reference to a very laughable incident connected with 

 that retired locality. One evening, at the door of the 

 Anchor Inn, just about dark, an unfortunate Italian, 

 carrying a barrel-organ on his back, and leading a per- 

 forming bear, came up sore-footed and tired. Poor 

 Bruin, nearly exhausted, and much to the annoyance of 

 his master, selected a dry ditch on the opposite side of 

 the road as a place of repose, from which it was not 

 possible to move him an inch. At the moment, Mr. 

 Pitt's carter came by with a couple of plough-horses. 

 The Italian offered the man a pint of cider to haul the 

 bear out for him. With no idea of the kind of load he 

 was going to tackle, the carter assented, and, fastening 

 the traces to the bear's collar, gave the horses a cut with 

 his whip, and cried ' Gee up.' On this, old Bruin gave a 

 tremendous howl, which so frightened the horses that 

 they sprang forward, and, knocking the carter down in 

 their rush, bolted through Kenford. The Italian fol- 



