128 REMINISCENCES, ETC. 



unfortunate brother-sportsman, was handed round the room, 

 but at such a discount that it was offered to any one for 

 £30. On Mr. Smith's inquiring the name of the drawer, 

 and finding that it was that of an old schoolfellow of his, 

 he requested to see the bill, and having immediately drawn 

 a cheque for <£300, which he handed to the holder, put the 

 bill behind the fire. 



The following incident may appear too trifling to record, 

 but it is characteristic of his kindness of heart. When he 

 was a patient of the famous Dr. Jephson, of Leamington, the 

 doctor happened to mention that he had experienced great 

 difficulty in procuring grapes, at that time out of season, 

 for a fair invalid, having sent in vain for them to London, 

 Birmingham, and other places, when Mr. Smith, with 

 whom the lady was only slightly acquainted, exclaimed, 

 " Why did you not tell me of this before ? I would have 

 sent your dear patient a cart-load," Within as short a time 

 as possible, a large hamper of fine grapes arrived for her 

 from Tedworth. 



Although Mr. Smith's name was not often to be found 

 heading public subscriptions, or in the lists of charities, he 

 was never known to refuse an application for aid to pro- 

 mote a truly charitable purpose. Mrs. Smith has been 

 heard to say, that she never asked him for money for the 

 advancement of religion or to promote the comfort and 

 welfare of the poor, but it was cheerfully granted to her, 

 and to any amount. The almshouses at Tedworth were 

 kept in comfortable repair entirely at his expense, in order 

 that the funds fgr the maintenance of the aged inmates 

 might not in any way be diminished. In 1857, only a few 

 months before his death, a new village school was completed 

 near the Hampshire Cross, a handsome building, capable of 

 holding a hundred children. The sight of the girls in their 

 red cloaks on a Saturday afternoon, and of the noisy urchins 

 rushing from the porch to commence their various pastimes,' 

 would suffice to gladden the heart of a "Times" commissioner. 



