The Chirpingfons of Larkley Hall. 31 



whom he is, needless to say, first favourite. It is John 

 this, John that, all day with them ; nothing can be done 

 without John. John is a great character in his way, 

 nearly everybody in the country-side knowing him. On 

 his first visit to town with the family one London season, he 

 was taking care of the children during their ride one day, 

 in the Row, when his master, who was sauntering along 

 came suddenly upon them, and noticed that John touched 

 his hat to every equestrian who passed him ; his arm, as 

 may be imagined, being, in consequence, kept in perpetual 

 motion. 



"Why, John," said the Squire, "what on earth are 

 you doing ? You don't know all those gentlemen and 

 ladies, do you ? What do you touch your hat to them 

 for?,' 



**■ Indeed, to goodness, I thought they was gentlemen," 

 was the old servant's simple reply. 



Another day he was sent up to Tattersall's with a 

 small draft the Squire wanted to get rid of, including a 

 mare named Post Haste, belonging to Mrs. Chirpington. 



" Well, John," said his master, when he returned, 

 "and how did the sale go off ? Who sold 'em? Were 

 there many people there, eh ? " 



"There was few people till our horses come," replied 

 John, "and then they did crowd in, in hundreds. Squire. 

 I did never see nothing like it. Mr. Pain, he sold them, 

 but when it came to Post Haste, Mr. Tattersall come 

 himself." 



(It must be mentioned here that old John had an affec- 

 tion for Post Haste, and was indignant at her being sold.) 

 " Gentlemen," said he, with a knock of his hammer, " this 

 is Post Haste. You all do know about her, and what she can 



