THE WILLEY WHIPPER-IN. 131 



presents made to him might have amounted to 

 something considerable if lie had taken care of 

 them. In lodging them in safe keeping he usually 

 begged that they might be let out to him a shilling 

 a time ; but he made so many calls and pleaded so 

 earnestly and availingly for more, and was so con- 

 stant a visitor at Hangster's Gate, that the stock 

 never was very large. Indeed he was on familiar 

 terms with '^ Chalk Farm," as the score behind the 

 ale-house door was termed ; still he never liked 

 getting into debt, and it was always a relief to his 

 mind to see the sponge applied to the score. 



Tom was a great gun at this little way- side inn, 

 which was altogether a primitive institution of the 

 kind even at that period, but which was afterwards 

 swept away when the present Hall was built. It 

 then stood on the old road from Bridgnorth to 

 Wenlock, which came winding past the Hall ; and 

 in the old coaching days was a well-known hostelry 

 and a favourite tippling shop for local notables, 

 among whom were old Scale, the Barrow school- 

 master and parish clerk ; the Cartwrights and 

 Crumps, of Broseley ; and a few local farmers. 

 One attraction was the old coach, which called there 

 and brought newspapers, and still later news in 



