COACHMEN 45 



primitive, it was owing to the kindly service of a passing 

 coachman that many of the country maids were enabled 

 to dazzle their friends, by appearing on festive occasions 

 in the latest bonnets and sprigged muslins, purchased 

 expressly for them in far-off London town. 



The old coachmen were usually willing to undertake 

 any small commissions, such as the carrying of love 

 letters, the matching of silks, or even to act as go- 

 between in the weightier matters of farm produce. 



As a reward for their services, the farmers' wives fed 

 them with dainties of their own making, for the coachmen 

 had great capacities for food, and drink. They were, 

 however, somewhat fastidious as to the offerings they 

 accepted from their admirers, and not above returning a 

 gift that did not meet with their approval, or come up 

 to their expeftations. Jack Adams, who drove the Royal 

 Defiance, a coach much patronized by Oxford under- 

 graduates, looked very contemptuous when a farm lad 

 came up one day to him at Dorchester, and presented a 

 bundle of fresh cut turnip tops as a gift from a neigh- 

 bouring farmer. 



"Hump!" said Jack, eyeing them unfavourably. "Is 

 that all your master sent?" 



"Yes, sir," replied the boy. , 



Adams was of the opinion that a bunch of greens was 

 in no way worthy of his acceptance, so he bade the boy 

 take them back with the message: "Greens alone are of 

 no use to Mr. Adams unless he has something to eat with 

 them, such as a piece of home-cured bacon." 



The farmer took the hint, and next day when the 



