2i8 Tally ho. 



nition of their poorer neighbours, that upwards of 

 1,300 school children and parishioners of the town 

 of Melton, and the vicinity of Becca Hail, were to 

 be similarly regaled by Colonel and Mrs. Markham, 

 I was reminded of the words of an old, old song, 

 which told of the fine Old EngHsh Gentleman, one of 

 the olden time, who when he feasted all the rich, did 

 ne'er forget the poor. And the thought was pleasant. 

 But then I am one of the old school, and like to see 

 the manners and customs of my youthful days main- 

 tained as in days of yore. At an early hour Melton 

 was astir, carriages arriving, hunters walking in, and 

 the juvenile portion of the community in a high state 

 of excitement ; but the early morning was gloomy — 

 it appeared likely that the beauty of the ceremony 

 would be marred by bad weather ; but fortunately the 

 sun, having been somewhat remiss in its duties of late 

 (see meteorological reports), determined to make up 

 for its deficiencies, and at half-past ten, when I walked 

 into the venerable church, the clouds were dispersed, 

 and all henceforth went — to quote a line which is none 

 the less quotable, I hope, for being hackneyed — as 

 merry as a marriage-bell. 



Having by the kindness of the officials of the church 

 been placed on a coign of vantage, I was enabled to 

 see the whole of the interesting ceremony from first 

 to last ; and I have never beheld a prettier sight than 

 when the bridal procession, entering the church, pro- 

 ceeded along the carpeted aisles and took their 

 position at the altar. The youthful bride, now in 

 her seventeenth year, leaning on the arm of her father, 

 looked a picture of happiness and hope ; and, as I 

 suppose I ought to give some description of the bridal 



