JACK PARKER. 



201 



or by way of a joke the pony had been substituted at Thirsk, 

 and hastily dressing himself for hunting, rode back thither, 

 mounted his own horse, and returned to Kirbymoorside, 

 where the fixture was. He had just time for a " bait " ere 

 he started off to find a fox. This (says Mr. Parrington) 

 is a true story. From Kirbymoorside to Thirsk is 20 miles. 

 So after awaking and before hunting he rode his new pur- 

 chase 20 miles, and Mr. Bell's pony another 20. 



Jack was fond of his cups. His favourite hotel being 

 the White Horse at Kirbymoorside, over which the Coverdale 



JACK PARKER — FROM AN EARLY PHOTO. 



family have long presided. In the corner by the fire of one 

 of the rooms which looks out on to the road leading to the 

 station, he sat almost every evening. There is a sort of 

 fixed settle here, and Mr. Coverdale pointed out to me the 

 spot where Jack leaned back with his head against the 

 boarding. So regularly did he do this that he wore away 

 each successive coat of paint, and the mark is still very 

 patent. At the White Horse they have some rather good 

 lithographs of the old man, the best of which is perhaps that 

 where he is shown with his favourite hound Plunger, which 

 was walked at the White Horse, and a terrier, of which he 

 was very fond, named Topper. Parker had no sympathy 



