132 THE WILLET WHIPPER-rN". 



troubled times wlien battles, sieges, and tbe move- 

 ments of armies were the cbief topics of conversa- 

 tion. I^eitber coacbmen nor travellers ever appeared 

 to burry, but would wait to communicate tbe news, 

 particularly in tbe pig killing season, wben a j)ork 

 pie and a jug of ale would be sufficient to keep tbe 

 coacb a good balf bour if need be. "We speak of course 

 of " Tbe time wben George III. was king," before 

 "His Majesty's Mail'' became an important institu- 

 tion, and wben one old man in a scarlet coat, witb a 

 face tbat lost notbing by reflection tberewitb — ex- 

 cepting tbat a sligbt tinge of purple was visible — 

 wbo bad many more calling places tban post offices 

 on tbe road, carried pistols in bis bolsters, and brougbt 

 all tbe letters and newspapers Willey, Wenlock, 

 Broseley, Bentball, Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale, and 

 some otber places tben required ; and tbese, even, 

 took tbe wbole day to distribute. Altbougb tbe 

 lumbering old vebicle was constantly tumbling over 

 on going down sligbt declivities, it was a great 

 institution of tbe period ; it was — 



Hurrah for the old stage coach, 

 Be it never so worn and rusty ! 

 Hurrah for the smooth high road, 

 Be it glaring, and scorching, and dusty ! 



