B %om H)ance 233 



On one occasion a very good bit of fun took 

 place. It was not very often that George came to 

 market, but when he did so, he always appeared in 

 breeches and top-boots. One day he stayed a Httle 

 late, and, meeting him with two or three friends, I 

 invited them to my house to have a cigar. They 

 accepted, and very soon after we had sat down one 

 of my sisters came in, and, knowing Carter was 

 fond of music, asked him if he would like to hear a 

 new musical box I had recently brought home. On 

 receiving an affirmative answer, she turned it on, 

 and when it came to a favourite tune of his, he 

 jumped up and commenced dancing on the wool 

 rug in front of a large fire. After a time I said to 

 him : 



" Now, George, sit down and enjoy your cigar." 



" No," says he ; " not whilst that thing is 

 going." 



I thought I would tire him out, and as he 

 had never seen such a box before, he did not 

 know it could be wound up to play as long as I 

 liked. However, Carter kept on in front of a large 

 fire (and breeches and top-boots are not the best 

 things for dancing), and declared he would dance it 

 out. The perspiration fairly rolled off him, and his 

 action, which was very high at first, gradually toned 



