3o6 Dick Painter. 



Being very straightforward in all his dealings, 

 and a very amusing man besides, he enjoyed the 

 patronage of most of the Bicester gentlemen. 



Dick^s education did not amount to much, but 

 he was full of tact and common-sense, and 

 possessed a vocabulary all his own. He was, 

 as before remarked, most amusing. He had 

 a brother called Jack who assisted him in his 

 business, being a good rider, but was not allowed 

 to do business alone ; and if anyone called in 

 Dick's absence something of this sort would take 

 place. The customer would inquire, ''What horse 

 is this, Jack ? " to which Jack, unwilling to risk 

 the smallest show of independence, would reply, 

 " Don't know, ne'er 'eared our Dick say ! " One 

 day a friend of mine led Jack on with questions, 

 and amongst other things, asked him, " Had any 

 wet up here lately? '' Dunno," answered Jack, 

 doggedly, " ne'er 'eared our Dick say ! " 



Making a further effort to elicit information, the 

 questioner said, ''Where is the nice bay horse I 

 saw here the other day ? " 



" Oh ! our Dick selled 'im." 



" Oh, indeed ; where is he gone ? " pursued the 

 enquirer. 



" I dunno," said Jack, " a little way up the 

 country, t'other side Italy ! " 



