88 STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DAYS OF YORE 



manipulating Gulliver; the coachman himself, 

 breathing like a grampus, encouraging them hy 

 calling out, "That's it, lads; another heave like 

 t'last does it. All together again, and I'll mak' 

 it a gallon ! " 



Across the river Aire to Brotherton, and thence 

 through Sherlnirn to Tadcaster, where, having 

 changed at the " AVhite Horse," Ave come along 

 a level stage into York; the ne.v guard, who 

 rejoices in the possession of a key-bugle and a 

 good ear for music, signalising our entrance by 

 playing, in excellent style, " The Days when we 

 went Gipsying, a Long Time Ago." 



The coach dines at York. The " Black Swan," 

 to which we come, is a house historic in the annals 

 of coaching, for it was from its door that the 

 original York and London stage set forth ; but 

 it is a very plain and heavy building. Half an 

 hour is allowed for dining, and, luilike the 

 majority of houses down the road, the table-cloth 

 and the knives and forks and glasses are not the 

 only things in readiness. 



" What have you got, Avaiter ? " 



" Hot roast beef, sir, just coming in ; very 

 prime." 



" Haven't you any cold chicken for a lady 

 here ? " 



" Yessir ; cold chicken on the table, sir ; in 

 front of you, sir." 



" You call that chicken, waiter ! Avhy, it's only 

 a skeleton. Take it aAvay and give it to the dog 

 in the yard." 



