James Lillywhiite's Cricketers' Annual 1874

2 2 "Well, if he thinks we knows nothing about cricket , we'll wait till Master William and Master Gearge comes home, and we'll challenge he to bring a team to play us here on GumbletonGreen. Let himbring some of them swell coves as plays at the Hoval or at Lord's , and we'll see if we don't know nothing about cricket ." This speech emanated from the lips of the principal blacksmith in Gumbleton, abig, broad shouldered , good natured , hard working countryman ; one of those " sons of the soil " whose business had descended from father to son for genera- tions , and what is more, whowas content with his inheritance ; who worshipped the Squire next after his God, wholooked upon the Parson as the most learned. m a nin the world, and upon himself as the hardest " hitter to the on" in the G. C. C. N o w, Master William and Master George were sons of the Squire of Gumble- ton, who lived at the Grange, just outside the village . Part of the palings , indeed , that surrounded the old place , where the Fontenoys had lived for generations , bounded one portion of the churchyard , and as Gumbleton Church stood in the middle of the village , the Grange might be said to be in it too. George and William Fontenoy were at Harrow, and therefore an addition of this sort was absolutely necessary to the success of such a proposal . Now, Bill Browning , the blacksmith -or, as he was better known, by the name of " Billy the Slogger "-wasan authority in Gumbleton; and conse- quently his proposition was hailed with universal delight . Billy had never been knownto forget himself , except once, and that was excusable . It was the " return " with Muddleton. The curate of the village , just fresh from Oxford, was seventh wicket-the match depended upon him : if he only could be got rid of, Gumbletonwould " walk in." It was at this awful momentthat Billy , as he saw the curate coming to the wickets , crossed over to the landlord of the Chequers, and in anaudible whisper uttered the following admonition :- " Here be the parson , Jim ; boul he in the stomach ; if he gets in we're done." Jimdid so, the parson collapsed , and Gumbletonwonby 12 runs . N o w, the professional , whohad dared to make the assertion that Gumbleton knewnothing about cricket , happened to be ground bowler to a Londonclub, whocalled themselves " The Amaphrodites ." These gentlemen are well known in cricketing circles , and, as their name appears so prominently and so often in the papers , I do not propose to makeany comments until we find themupon Gumbleton Green. It was proposed by Billy the Slogger , and seconded by " Halliday ," the sporting butcher -who always played in tight trousers and a tall white hat-and carried unanimously , that the schoolmaster , Hon. Sec . of the G. C. C. , should at once frame the challenge , and that August the 28th and 2 9 t hshouldb efixedas thedatefor them a t c hto c o m eoff. In due course the reply came ; the Amaphrodites would be happyto play the G. C. C., and would arrive at Gumbleton at 10.30 on the morning of the 28th . W ewere all in the bar parlour of the Chequers that evening ; in fact , ar meeting had been summonedfor that purpose ; and much discussion ensued, with which I shall not trouble m y readers -suffice it to say that, a two-day match never having been played before at Gumbleton , intense excitement was the result . Wouldany of the Graces come ? Whatshould we do for a wicket- keeper for Master George's slows ? Hadn't we better begin getting a wicket ready ? (we were then in the last week of July ) and " H o wabout Posters ? " amongst many other questions , were discussed and disposed of. W esat late into the night ; whenwe went to bed we dreamed of " half -volleys to leg " and