AN EXPENSIVE MEAL
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sin,—The paragraph with the above heading, which you reprinted on August 22nd from the Spectator of a hundred years ago, immediately recalled to my mind a delightful little book, published in 1859, called Original Poems for Infant Minds, which was very familiar to me in my earliest childhood. Each set of verses was, of course, intended to point a moral or adorn a tale," and one of them, "Idle Richard and the Goat," is clearly based upon the incident recorded in the Spectator, though I had always supposed that it was imaginary. There is a charming engraving, which forms the frontispiece of the book, and both artist and author introduce a vegetable-stall as a prominent feature in the story :
"Now comes the mischief, Richard would stop To prate with a boy at a green-grocers' shop !
He proudly exhibits his riches to his friend, and then lays the note upon some cabbages, intending to have a few minutes' play ; but
"What was his wonder to see the rude goat • In munching some greens eat up his bank-note ! To his father he goes in dismay, with the news, And by stopping to gossip, he lost his new shoes."
The value of the note is not mentioned, but notes for £1 and £2 were issued until April, 1829, and perhaps continued to be legal tender for some time afterwards.—! am, Sir, &c., Hartfield Square, Eastbourne. WALTER CRICK.
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