Though it
might only be 'How are you!' and indeed it was
very often nothing else, still, to give that back again
in the right spirit of cordiality, required, not merely
a nod and a smile, but as wholesome an action of the
lungs withal, as a long-winded Parliamentary speech.
Sometimes, passengers on foot, or horseback, plodded
on a little way beside the cart, for the express pur-
pose of having a chat; and then there was a great
deal to be said, on both sides.
Then, Boxer gave occasion to more good-natured
recognitions of, and by, the Carrier, than half a dozen
Christians could have done! Everybody knew him,
all along the road -- especially the fowls and pigs,
who when they saw him approaching, with his body
all on one side, and his ears pricked up inquisitively,
and that knob of a tail making the most of itself in
the air, immediately withdrew into remote back settle-
ments, without waiting for the honour of a nearer
acquaintance. He had business everywhere; going
down all the turnings, looking into all the wells, bolt-
ing in and out of all the cottages, dashing into the
midst of all the Dame-Schools, fluttering all the
pigeons, magnifying the tails of all the cats, and trot-
ting into the public-houses like a regular customer.
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