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THE SPORTING PARSON AND "HIS…

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THE SPORTING PARSON AND HIS GUEST. Owing to an accident some years ago (writes a clergyman in the Argosy), I am very nervous when driven, and in accepting duty I always add,"Kindly send a four-wheeler and a very quiet horse." This proviso brought me a little quiet chaffing from a specimen of that nearly extinotspecies-a sporting parson and as the kindly gentleman has since retired to more congenial pastures, I believe he will only laugh with me at these particulars. Arriving at the chief-station in Circencester on the bleak Christmas Eve of 1887, there was no one to meet me, and after waiting and walk- ing about the ancient town for two hours, my anxiety was relieved by the answer to my in- quiry at the principal hotel: Mr. G., sir; oh, yessir; been here all the afternoon." I entered the coffee-room, greeting the only occupant, a lady. 11 Not Mrs. G., but Mrs. G.'s sister he will be here direotly." Enter a stout gentleman, in a short cut-away coat, brown plaid trousers, and a red tie. He beemed with good nature. I knew that I should like him. The Rector of 0-- ?" Ah, yes; have a glass of sherry. I was amused at your postscript." Well, have you a quiet horse ?" Ha, btim stroking his chin, II the horses are outside." The lady and I followed the rector, and I saw a pair of thoroughbred horses attached to a high park phaeton. Although urged to get up in front, I preferred riding with the coachmrn behind, and by resting one foot on the wheel and the other on a narrow step level with the seat I 'climbed into the kind of box described by Dickens, and the horses started. They needed no whip, and were thoroughly under control; but my host, playing upon my fears and inspirited possibly by that last glass of sherry, never ceased lashing and urging the animals. The moon was at the full, and we whirled along so rapidly that I never saw the spokes of the wheels until we finished the seven miles' journey in half-an-hour, when I felt intensely relieved to let myself down with my hands from that unapproachable seat in the wooden box, and was shortly met on the staircase by G-- holding a decanter and glass. "Have a glass of sherry P 1 always do after dinner." He then confided to me that there had been a slight difference of opinion between him and his bishop respecting the propriety of knocking a fellow down, and that he was off to spend Chrtstmas in the Principality. When I heard the retreating wheels at midnight, I felt thankful to be up two pairs of stairs. "Have no fear about going back to the station," said ever-kindly Mrs. G the man shall take you in the low village cart, with the quiet old pony, which even the children drive." There- fore, my visit was not allayed by any mis- giving, and I had a thoroughly pleasant Christmas Day, although nearly reduced to Swift's greeting of dearly beloved Roger in the quaint little church. Just as at Beaworthy Church last October, the morning service was attended by three persons, the rector, the rector's servant, and assistant overseer. Next morning, waving my adieux to the little ones at the hall door, I took my seat in the village cart, when, lo! I found myself all on the slant, at an angle of 45 degrees. "Dear me!" I exolaimed, looking round and seeing an immense horse; "surely this is not the old pony." Well, no, sir," said the coachman touching his hat. "I didn't like to tell missis, the pony's lame; and as Tippo hadn't bin out for three weeks and wanted exorcise, I thought we'd put iiim in the cart." Good gracious! how my heart throbbed as the stable boy let go the horse's head as we rushed down narrow lanes at a pace positively sickening; Tippo, in fact, had bolted, and the driver could only steer clear of roadmen's barrows and deftly turn corners; whilst it took all my time to retain my sloping seat and receding bag. Fortunately we met nothing, and a hill near Kemble Station brought Tippo into subjection. "T&ke, 0 boatman, thrice thy fee such was my feeling upon alighting, as I gratified Jehu and saved my neck, but I gave him a word of warning, and then, oh the luxury of the train,

The Difference.

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CHRISTMAS CHAT. --r-

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS,

THE SPECTRE BRIDEGROOM.

Not What He Meant.

A MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURE. .