The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1858-03-09
watching the Clock.


About ten years ago the grand na-
tional and provincial stecple-chase took
place at York, and attracted vast guam
titles of fine folks; there were a great
number of entries for the principal stakes;
and several of the worst horses were,
contrary to custom, permitted to run for
it, instead Of being scratched by their
owners the night before the race. York
could not hold all its sporting visitors;
and three very conference.-the and we'll
dressed strangers came even so far as Lit
tie Studdington, and put up at "Ihe
Anglers Rest" They went into town.
and returned from it every day in our
four wheel during the week; and when
the races were over, they were so cna-
mored of the snug little house and it
capital accommodations, that they re-
manned with us fortnight, eating and
drinking of the best, and always delight
cd t. see the old gentleman at their din
her table. think can see my respec-
ted parent now, as he was wont to SIT
upon the extreme edge of his well-pol-
is he'd chair,in rapt astonishmeUt at their
fashionable conversation. II they hap
pened to mention an absent friend under
the rank of baronet, it was in sort OF
Apologize tone-thcir connections being
SO exclusively aiistocratic, Good socio-
ty was my poor fathers weakness; and
never having been familiar with the turf
himself; his sense of the cXoellences OF our
nobility was quite overwhelming
The three friends were wont to play at
cards after dinner for pretty large SUMS
and the game which seemed best TO suit
their elegant but eccentric taste was that
of triangular cribbage. Ny father was a
capital hand at this, and easily perceived
that they were but Indifferent perform
ers; but they never dreamed Of asking
him to cut in, although one or other Of
them, would often request his advice at
an important crisis,
Cautious, indeed, as the governor ma
turally was, it must Ee confessed that
his fingers itched to hold hand against
these folks who, as often as not, neglec-
ted to peg one for his heels or two for
his mob bat his respect for their OK allied
conditions always deferred him from en-
pressing his wishes. Often and often did
my father lament, at lis misfortune,
that he never had had o chance with the
cards; but my belief is, that had he ven-
tured upon such thing, these unskilliul
gentry would have very rapidly i'm
proved in their play, and would have won
his shirt off his back if they had played
long enough.
One afternoon, when they had dined
as usual, early, and before the cards
were produced their conversation turned
upon wagers: how Lord Clickclack had
won ten til uslud pounds by being dumb
for day; how the Duck of Oxfordshire
had backed himself to walk from Pail
mall to Bond Street on le1e) morni e,
without opening his eyes and ofthe i'll
genious device Of his Antagonist, the Mar
Quis of Luxall, in driving over him III
Hanson cab until he did 50; with mary
other anecdotes of the arstocracy not
included in the collection Of Mr.. Burke.
This sort of thing is much harder than
it appears to bo,' observed one of the
three gentlemen. Nov, will lay ten
pounds that no man keeps himself in one
position and counts tie ticks Of that
great clock, for instance, for whole
hour
How do you mean?' exclaimed my IA
ther, greatly Interested
why, that no man can sit in chair
your chair, for instauee-iaciug the
clock, aud wag his head from right to
left as Ola Time with the scytho youdor
is waggiug, for the space of an hour, and
never say any words but Here She
COMES, and there she goes, as the clock
"a s.
You bet ten pounds that l don't do
tbat" cried the governor
Not with YOU replied tie other cool
ly: Il don't want to win y0li' money,my
good max | will bet either OF my TWO
friends that hey d1not do it,
Nay said one Of them, It's easy
enough but would not bother myself
with such thing for twice the money,
don't see, adde's he, why you sAouia
not,give orr good l52nitaos chance, e.
thor
DO, pray, DO cried my father VIII
way PERHAPS The laysc sl0hd man in The