"Why, then," said an old farmer, "the more is the pity; for that Wayland
Smith (whether he was the devil's crony or no I skill not) had a good
notion of horses' diseases, and it's to be thought the bots will spread
in the country far and near, an Satan has not gien un time to leave his
secret behind un."
"You may say that, Gaffer Grimesby," said the hostler in return; "I have
carried a horse to Wayland Smith myself, for he passed all farriers in
this country."
"Did you see him?" said Dame Alison Crane, mistress of the inn
bearing that sign, and deigning to term HUSBAND the owner thereof, a
mean-looking hop-o'-my-thumb sort or person, whose halting gait, and
long neck, and meddling, henpecked insignificance are supposed to have
given origin to the celebrated old English tune of "My name hath a lame
tame Crane."
On this occasion he chirped out a repetition of his wife's question,
"Didst see the devil, Jack Hostler, I say?"
"And what if I did see un, Master Crane?" replied Jack Hostler, for,
like all the rest of the household, he paid as little respect to his
master as his mistress herself did.
"Nay, nought, Jack Hostler," replied the pacific Master Crane; "only if
you saw the devil, methinks I would like to know what un's like?"
"You will know that one day, Master Crane," said his helpmate, "an ye
mend not your manners, and mind your business, leaving off such idle
palabras.--But truly, Jack Hostler, I should be glad to know myself what
like the fellow was."
"Why, dame," said the hostler, more respectfully, "as for what he was
like I cannot tell, nor no man else, for why I never saw un."
"And how didst thou get thine errand done," said Gaffer Grimesby, "if
thou seedst him not?"
"Why, I had schoolmaster to write down ailment o' nag," said Jack
Hostler; "and I went wi' the ugliest slip of a boy for my guide as ever
man cut out o' lime-tree root to please a child withal."
"And what was it?--and did it cure your nag, Jack Hostler?" was uttered
and echoed by all who stood around.
"Why, how can I tell you what it was?" said the hostler; "simply it
smelled and tasted--for I did make bold to put a pea's substance into
my mouth--like hartshorn and savin mixed with vinegar; but then no
hartshorn and savin ever wrought so speedy a cure. And I am dreading
that if Wayland Smith be gone, the bots will have more power over horse
and cattle."