PARK SCENERY 245 



remuneration, without any risk or outlay on my part, 

 had much to do. 



But how was I to pass my time ? The many hours I 

 should have to remain waiting for the up-coach, how 

 were they to be disposed of? The place being a great 

 thoroughfare, on the high road to Birmingham, Man- 

 chester, Liverpool, Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield, 

 &c., the mails to those places, with many other coaches, 

 changed horses there, and it might be called a depot 

 for horses and horse-keepers ; consequently the inha- 

 bitants consisted chiefly of publicans, and a few small 

 shopkeepers and tradesmen. Many other coachmen 

 stopped here, but none so long as myself, as mine was 

 the first coach down in the morning, and the last up 

 at night. At first I felt this vacant time as a great 

 inconvenience, which, however, I presently found means 

 to alleviate by indulging in my fondness for books; 

 and frequently, on a fine day, I would saunter about 

 the lanes and fields with one in my hand. 



On one of these occasions I found myself in what 

 had a semblance to a gentleman's park ; and, observing 

 a rustic seat under a wide-spreading oak, I took the 

 liberty of setting myself down and resting. I liked the 

 sjoot so much — for it was on the rise of a hill, and 

 commanded some beautiful scenery — that I repeated my 

 visit several times, till one day I was accosted by a 

 man, dressed like a gamekeeper, who, after asking my 

 name, which I did not hesitate to give him, touched his 

 hat, and departed. The next day, to my great surprise, 

 I received a note from the owner of the mansion and 

 park, threatening to indict me for a trespass should 



