A VENTRILOQUIST ON A STAGE-COACH.
HENRY COCKTON.
N OW then, look alive there!" shouted the coachman from the booking-office door, as Valentine and his Uncle John approached. "Have yow got that are mare's shoe made comfor'ble, Simon!"
"All right, sir," said Simon, and he went round to see if it were so, while the luggage was being secured.
"Jimp up, genelmen!" cried the coachman, as he waddled from the office with his whip in one hand and his huge way-bill in the other; and the passengers accordingly proceeded to arrange themselves on the various parts of the coach,—Valentine, by the particular desire of Uncle John, having deposited himself immediately behind the seat of the coachman.
"If you please," said an old lady, who had been standing in the gateway upwards of an hour, "will you be good enow, please, to take care of my darter?"
"All safe," said the coachman, untwisting the reins. "She shaunt take no harm. Is she going all the way?"
"Yes, sir," replied the old lady; "God bless her! She's got a place in Lunnun, an' I'm told—"