178 The Great Presentation Day, 



woats too, for that matter!" roared old Joe Mills of 

 Cherrytree Farm, at the top of his voice, amidst shouts 

 of approval from his brethren.) *' Well, ladies and gentle- 

 men, I v^on't v^aste your time by buttering the subjects 

 of my toast, for not only would it be a case of ' painting 

 the lily,' but I feel sure that they v^ould not thank me 

 for doing so. So I call upon you all, ladies and gentlemen, 

 to fill your glasses to the brim, and, when you've done 

 that, to drain them to the dregs, to the health of those 

 jolly good fellows, the farmers of Lord Daisyfield's Hunt, 

 coupling with it the name of my dear old friend Ralph 

 Duckworth, who has done his level best to jump on the 

 top of me ever since I first began to hunt in these parts, 

 but has not succeeded yet, and I don't intend that he should." 

 And, the toast being drunk with enthusiasm, down sat 

 Charlie. 



Old Ralph had just got on his legs to reply on behalf 

 of the farmers, when old Joe Jollikins rose at the same time 

 amidst loud cries of '' Sit down, Joe ! Go on, Ralph ! " &c. 

 But Jollikins, who had had quite as much drink as 

 he knew what to do with, declined to be put down at 

 any price, and having announced his intention of singing 

 a song, forthwith proceeded to give them, amidst the loud 

 laughter of the company, ''John Peel." ''Who — hoop'' 

 shouted he at the top of his voice when he had finished, and 

 overbalancing himself, the worthy agriculturist fell back- 

 wards, chair and all, and immediately subsiding into sleep, 

 was carted away by two of the gorgeously attired flunkeys. 

 This contretemps was the signal for a general exodus of 

 the company, and now the cry was '' to horse ! " Cigars 

 were lit, and soon it was, '' Where's the man who was 

 leading about my mare? " ''Have you seen my horse ? '' 



