178 GOACHIJJG. 



fenced in coats in Winter, or his button-bole 

 decorated with a rose in Summer. Listen to the 

 untutored melody of his voice, as he directed 

 the word of exhortation to his spanking tits 

 — three chestnuts and a grey — enforcing his 

 doctrine with a silver-mounted whip, the gift of 

 some aristocratic patron of the road, and he will 

 present a feature of social life in England which 

 no other country possessed. Hark ! already he 

 is entering the village ; the well-known horn 

 sounds, the leaders rattle along the road, and the 

 inhabitants rush out to bid him a hearty welcome. 

 To some he grants a famihar nod, to others a 

 smile of recognition, and a few only are honoured 

 by the warmer salutation of, 



" Ah ! how are you, old fellow ? Glad 

 to see you. Why, you are as fresh as 

 paint." 



He was regarded by all as a privileged 

 person, being possessed of the power to speed 

 the soft intercourse from soul to soul, and, at 

 the rate often miles an hour, bring the travelled 

 husband to the partner of his sorrow and his joy. 

 He could transport the lover to the feet of his 

 mistress; he could convey the long-absent son 

 to the arms of his doting parents ; he could 

 bear the schoolboy from the scene of his tasks 



