354 STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DAYS OF YORE 



where the coach stopped, spied a chimney-sweep. 

 He beckoned. 



" Chimley, yer hononr ? " queried Chummy. 



" No : come here. Have you any objection 

 to a ride this morning ? I'll pay you for a day's 

 work, and your fare back again." 



" All right, yer honour ; I'll just run home and 

 clean myself." 



" No, no ! come as you are, and when in the 

 coach give yourself a good shake every noAV and 

 then, to make the soot fly." 



They got in, Chummy acting his part very well, 

 and greatly to the annoyance and discomfort of 

 the wags, who, however, said notliing. But Avhen 

 the coach stopped at the next change, and for 

 breakfast, they asked the man who had been their 

 butt, and was now their tormentor, how far he 

 was going to take the sweep, as he was not a very 

 desirable companion. 



He replied : " I took two seats so that, although 

 corpulent, I should annoy no one. You prevented 

 me occupying them, therefore I filled the remain- 

 ing seat Avitli Chummy, and he goes as far as 

 the end of my journey. But I will dismiss him 

 if you will agree to what I propose. When I 

 engaged him, I agreed to pay him for his time, 

 and to pay his fare home, with all other expenses 

 incurred. He is now at breakfast. If you agree 

 to pay him, he goes no farther; if not, he proceeds." 



Having listened to this ultimatum, and being 

 completely discomfited, they accepted these terms, 

 and the sweep was dismissed. 



