THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



But Jack had always this answer in his mouth, to any one \yho 

 reminded him of this : — 



' Honour and shame from no condition rise ; 

 Act •well your part — tltcvc all the honoiir lies: ' 



concluding in the more humble language of prose, with declaring 

 that he believed he could say what no other road coach- 

 man in England could say ; namely, that he not only never 

 upset his coach, but that ]te 'put every shilling he received 

 on the bill. We will now give his answer, apologising for this 

 interlude : 



Jack Webber. — ' I see very little to tind fault with. The box 

 appears to sail well over your wheelers, so as to put you near 

 enough to your leaders to have them well in your hand, and 

 to give them a taste of the whip when they want it ; and the 

 axletrees and boxes seem strong and good. Perhaps two 

 inches less length of perch would have made her follow better, 

 but I daresay you have plenty of strength in your harness, 

 and she is safer on her legs as she is. The foot-board is 

 capital ; there is nothing like a roomy foot-board, not slanting 

 too much, to give a man a good firm seat on his box, and full 

 command of his team. It is disgusting to see a man sitting 

 on a coach-box with his knees bent as if he were sitting on a 

 low stool.' 



Sir JoJin. — ' I quite agree with you. Jack. The drag looks 

 like business, and, if I mistake not, belongs to a very business- 

 like fellow, for I think that our friend Raby will make a light 

 good coachman in time.' 



Jack Webber. — ' How can he fail in being so, when one Sir John 

 Inkleton was his tutor ? "" 



Sir John. — ' Thanks for the compliment. Jack ; now let us 

 look at the horses.' On entering the stable in which the ten 

 horses before-mentioned stood, all as clean as they could be 

 made by the aid of four stout helpers, at the expense of at 

 least five shillings'- worth of soap, ' Upon iny word, Frank,' 

 continued Sir John, ' you have made the best use of your time. 

 Business again, — eh, Jack ? ' 



Jack Webber. — ' Good sort of stoclv, upon my word : jjlenty of 

 strength on short legs. Ah, here's an old friend of mine. I 

 drove that black piebald for three months as leader in my 

 coach, and a capital leader he is.' 



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