116 THE WILLEY EECTOE. 



no means an uncommon tHng, forty years ago, to 

 see tiie horse of the late Eector of Stockton, brother 

 to the Squire of Apley, waiting for hrm at the 

 church door at Bonnigale, which Kving he also 

 held, that he might start immediately service was over 

 for Alelton Mowbray. Bis clerk, too, old Little- 

 hales, who to more secular professions added that of 

 village tailor, has oft^n told how his master, being 

 sorely in need of a pair of hunting breeches for 

 Melton, undertook to close the church one Sunday 

 in order to give him the opportunity of making 



them, with the remark, '' Oh, d n the church, 



you stop at home and make the breeches." But the 

 Itector of "Willey was by no means so enthusiastic as 

 a sportsman. He was not the 



" Clerical fop, half jockey and half clerk, 

 The tandem-driving Tommy of a town, 

 Disclaiming book, omniscient of a horse, 

 Impatient till September comes again, 

 Eloquent only of the pretty girl 

 "With whom he danced last night ! " 



Neither did he resemble those more bilious members 

 of the profession of modem times — 



" Who spit their puny spite on harmless recreation.' 



On the contrary, he held what it may be difficult 



