BEGGARS ON HORSEBACK. 



'' Unfortunately we shall not take a kettle- 

 drum," I replied, hesitatingly. 



" Well, no, of course,"- admitted the ironmonger ; 

 "but I assure you that a pony that's bin in the 

 yeomanry band won't be partikler as to traction- 

 engines or sech. You ladies could play any in- 

 strument when ridin' 'im." 



Miss O'Flannigan laughed sardonically from the 

 " Empress " stove, and Mr Griffiths' attitude of 

 mild bewilderment changed to wounded dignity. 



" Perhaps Mr Williams, the chemist, could 

 oblige you with sech animals as you require," 

 he said, with the stiffness of one of his own 

 swing - door hinges ; " but there isn't sech a cob 

 in Welshpool as what my cob is." 



We temporised with Mr Griffiths and proceeded 

 to the chemist's, noticing as we did so a determin- 

 ation of the inhabitants of Welshpool to their shop 

 doors, while the loafers round the stone pedestal 

 of the gas lamp that seems to form the focus of 

 Welshpool life, turned to look after us like sun- 

 flowers to the sun. Further away than ever went 



