The Great Presentation Day\ 177 



Reiterating his thanks, Lord Daisyfield sat down amidst 

 a perfect whirlwind of applause. 



Tom Chirpington then, in felicitous terms, proposed the 

 health of their host, Mr. Yellowboy, who, he said, had so 

 hospitably entertained them all that morning. 



The great banker, who was fond of the sound of his own 

 voice, responded in a dreary and lengthy speech. 



An extra loud rapping on the table was then heard 

 above the din, and the volatile Charles Wildoats was 

 seen on his legs, about to address the company. Need- 

 less to say, there were not the slightest signs of nervous- 

 ness about that young gentleman, who was greeted with 

 a roar of applause. 



" None of you fellers," said he in his usual free and easy 

 manner, '' have proposed my health so far, so, as I'm deter- 

 mined not to be out of it, I have no alternative but to 

 propose somebody else's instead. The toast, ladies and 

 gentlemen, that I call upon you all to drink, is that of 

 our friends the farmers whose land we ride over. (Hear, 

 hear.) No one, I fancy, is better qualified to propose the 

 toast than myself, for I can say, with truth, that I've 

 smashed more of their gates, broken down more of their 

 fences, and carried away more of their land on the back of 

 my red coat, than any other sportsmxan in the room. 

 (Loud cries of ' hear, hear,' and laughter, from the 

 farmers.) And I hope I shall do the same to a good 

 many more before I have done. (Much laughter, and 

 'You're welcome. Muster Charles! ' from Farmer Jollikins.) 

 I've ridden over your wheat, too, to any amount, but, lor' 

 ■ bless yer ! you don't mind when hounds are running, do 

 you now ? " said Charles appealing to the farmers 

 generally. ('' Not a bit on it ! Dang the wheat, and the 



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