152 / Preach to the Parson. 



have backed him.'' [Here let me come in as chorus, and 

 say that the vicar and Mrs. Yicar and your humble servant 

 shrieked with laughing when I explained (what I believe), 

 that the vicar's head would have driven any man's knuckles 

 up.] " Now, if you will do what I ask it will make such a 

 difference, and it is simply this : The next time there is a 

 match, walk up to the tent and see how it is going, and say 

 * Good morning,' and that you hope they are enjoying 

 themselves ; you would be as welcome as flowers in May, 

 and I tell you what they would say : ' Now that vicar ain't 

 half a bad sort,' and that is just what I should like to hear 

 them say of you — and they iDoidd say the truth. They are 

 your enemies and mine who tell you that we let ourselves 

 down by going to the cricket suppers two or three times in 

 the year, and singing our songs at the Green Lion. You 

 never knew pei-haps, but it is no less true, that the gentle- 

 men who joined us in this move took this cricket up on one 

 condition, which was, that if any siager made a blackguard 

 of himself, we would never bring another eleven down ; and 

 the ladies, who at our request have come to the ladies' tent 

 will tell you that they never hear a rough word ; in fact 

 the people are their own police now, and the ladies' tent has 

 had a good effect. Now look here, parson, I tell you when 

 you missed a rare chance. If you remember when I brought 

 down the " Civil Service," who I told you they were mostly 

 old University men, and men of good family, and that they 

 were going to dine at two o'clock with our village eleven, 

 and I asked you to come and say grace, and to introduce 

 you to them, and at the last moment some one persuaded 

 you not to. It was a great chance, mind, but it is too late. 

 You see, parson, you were brought up amongst too good 

 people, and you have only seen one side of life. I know 

 and have studied roughs. Asa young man my delight was 

 10 mix in large crowds, and to study the rough as a brother- 



