/ Freach to the Parson. 151 



and of course was asked to take the chair, which he never 

 dreamt of doing, and which they never expected him to do, 

 but they liked passing the compliment ; and he remarked : 

 I've just come to say a grace for you, and am glad you 

 have had a good match, and hope you'll enjoy yourselves this 

 evening, and mind to put the " stopper on " in time ; ' and 

 then there was a good laugh, and with that word in season 

 the parson said grace and went off, and they gave him a 

 linging cheer. 



" You must know, parson, I am older than you, and I 

 remember the E,eform riots which spread into the country 

 villages more or less, and the parsons, who knew and were 

 beloved by their parishioners, had great power and influence 

 for good. Now what I want to draw your attention to is 

 this ; that a very little goes a long way, and it is not too 

 late to draw my friends of the Green Lion Club to you. 

 Mind, what I tell you is true ; it is not so long ago when 

 you we -e walking across the cricket-green, when a match 

 was going on, that one of the rough fellows made a 

 shameful remark about you, and that a man, who is your 

 favourite aversion, because he once fought another man in 

 a roped ring for £10 and a barmaid,* punched his head on 

 the spot. Yes, Mrs. Vicar, you may laugh, but it is true ; 

 and come now, parson, with your snake head, and broad 

 shoulders and sturdy figure, weren't you a good one with 

 the gloves at Balliol ? Of course you won't say ' yes ' ; but 

 depend upon it, Mrs. Vicar, when he was twenty, if he had 

 taken to the Prize Ring, and had appeared with his hair 

 cut short and in fighting trim as a novice, every one would 



* This is literally true. I had " the office," but was afraid to go 

 because of " Mrs. Grundy." The winner pocketed the ten pounds 

 and refused the lady. It was a dona fide lovers' quarrel, and the 

 lady was very respectable. The ten pounds were only the ransom 

 of the "knights' armour " 



