EEADY WIT OF zV CAli- DRIVER. 121 



" The masther had two beautiful English 

 horses, and he wanted a careful man to drive 

 them ; he was a mighty plisant gentleman, 

 and loved a joke. Well, there was as many as 

 fifteen after the place., and the first that wint up 

 to him was examined as follows : — 



" ' Now, my man,' says he, ' tell me,' says 

 he, ' how near the edge of a precipice would 

 you undertake to drive my carriage ?' 



" So the boy considered, and he says, says 

 he, 



" ' Within a foot, plaze your honour, and no 

 harm.' 



" ' Very well,' says he, * go down, I'll give ye 

 yer answer, by-and-by.' 



" So the next came up, and said he'd be 

 bound to carry 'em within half a foot ; and 

 the next said five inches ; and another — a dan- 

 dified chap iutirely — was so mighty nice that 

 he would drive it within ' three inches and a 

 half, he'd go bail.' 



" Well, at last my turn came, and when 

 his honour axed me how nigh I would 

 drive his carriage to a precipice, I said, 

 says I, 



" ' Plaze, yer honour, I'd keep as far off it as 

 I could.' 



