CHAP. V -KMIX MKTCALF, KOAD MAKK1I. 215 



at the other side, Metcalf, taking some pence from liis 

 pocket, said, "Here, my good fellow, take that and get 

 a pint of beer." The stranger declined, saying he was 

 \\ < 1 ( -ome to his services. Metcalf, however, pressed upon 

 liis guide the small reward, when the other asked, " Pray, 

 can you see very well ? " " Not remarkably well," said 

 Metcalf. " My friend," said the stranger, " I do not 

 mean to tithe you: I am the rector of this parish; so 

 God bless you, and I wish you a good journey." Metcalf 

 set forward again with the blessing, and reached his 

 journey's end safely, again before the Colonel. On the 

 Saturday after thus setting out from London, the tra- 

 vellers reached Wetherby, where Colonel Liddell desired 

 to rest until the Monday ; but Metcalf proceeded on to 

 1 1 arrogate, thus completing the journey in six days the 

 other arriving two days later. 



He now renewed his musical performances at Harro- 

 gate, and was also in considerable request at the Ripon 

 assemblies, which were attended by most of the families 

 of distinction in that neighbourhood. When the season 

 at Harrogate was over, he retired to Knaresborough with 

 his young wife, and having purchased an old house, he 

 had it pulled down and another built oh its site he 

 himself getting the requisite stones for the masonry out of 

 the bed of the adjoining river. The uncertainty of the 

 income derived from musical performances led him to 

 think of following some more settled pursuit, now that 

 he had a wife to maintain as well as himself. He ac- 

 cordingly set up a four-wheeled and a one-horse chaise 

 for the public accommodation Harrogate up to that 

 time having been without any vehicle for hire. The inn- 

 keepers of the town soon followed his example, on which 

 he gave up the trade and took to fish-dealing. He 

 bought fish at the coast, which he conveyed on horseback 

 to Leeds and other towns for sale. He continued very 

 indefatigable at this business for some time, being on the 

 road often for nights together ; but he was at length 



