The Revs. P. A. Butler and " Billy Butler '* 135 



It sounds as if the parson's nose was the one to be rehed upon ! 



Mr. Butler was always a welcome guest at Crichel during 

 the Prince's stay there, and during one of his visits His Royal 

 Highness told Mr. Butler he might go into the stable and choose 

 any horse he liked. It did not take his reverence long to pick 

 out a good-looking chestnut and ride off on it, evidently being 

 of the opinion that a horse in hand is worth two in a stable, if 

 I may be allowed to so pervert the old proverb. 



A few days later a groom arrived at the rectory with a note, 

 saying, unfortunately Mr. Butler had taken away a horse 

 belonging to somebody else and not the Prince's, but a cheque 

 for £150 was enclosed to help to break the blow. 



The Prince being exceedingly kind and generous, a little 

 later gave Mr. Butler another choice out of his stables, this time 

 not to be taken away again. 



Mr. Butler was educated at Wadham College, Oxford. His 

 first living was Sturminster Newton, where he was much liked 

 and respected, winning golden opinions also as a preacher, which 

 has not been one of the leading features of the majority of 

 parsons. Here, again, he resembles Mr. Russell, who was an 

 eloquent preacher, with a good voice, and that touch of human 

 sympathy which conveys itself so quickly to other people. 



By the way, talking of preachers, one of the worst I ever 

 heard— which is saying a good deal — used to be so moved at his 

 own oratorical powers that he shed tears of emotion, which so 

 affected his speech we had to take a good deal for granted as 

 to how it all ended, and fill in the gaps for ourselves. 



The Rev. Billy had one of those faithful trusty servants not 

 often to be met with in these days. I have forgotten the man's 

 name, but wherever his master went there was the faithful 

 attendant ; if his reverence went to church, so did his fac- 

 totum ; if Mr. Billy went a-hunting, so did the servant ; if he 

 went out to dinner, so did his shadow. 



We may be forgiven for thinking at times this must have 

 been inconvenient, but there were occasions when it was an 

 advantage, especially when Mr. Butler had promised to take 

 services and keep appointments which in his later years slipped 

 his memory. 



On one occasion, when master and servant were well on their 

 way to a meet, meaning to hunt, suddenly the " shadow " 



