THE POPULAR " DRAGSMAN." 179 



to bis much-sought-for happy holiday home. 

 How delightful was it to behold him on a calm 

 Summer's eveDing bowling through the market 

 town, through the well-watered streets, with a 

 crew of ragged urchins, screaming and throwing 

 rural bouquets, culled from the hedgerows and 

 verdant meadows, on to the box-seat ! A smile 

 is on every face on hearing the sound of the 

 horn — all run to the door to see the coach go 

 by; the maid-servant drops her mop in the hope 

 of a packet from her rustic admirer; the 

 youngster plays truant for a few seconds in the 

 anticipation of a cake from his too-indulgent 

 mother ; the shopman quits his counter to 

 ascertain whether a bale of oroods has been 

 consigned to him from the metropolis ; the pot- 

 boy from the public-house holds out his rabbit- 

 skin cap as the guard dexterously throws the 

 neighbouring squire's daily newspaper into it ; 

 the barber extends his apron for his weekly 

 journal; and even the parson, the pedagogue, 

 the lawyer, and the exciseman, the four most 

 influential inhabitants of the place, doff their hats 

 as they recognise the popular " dragsman" and 

 his well-appointed " turn-out." 



With respect to his accomplishments they 

 were usually more select than numerous. T 



N 2 



