Page:Seventy One Not Out.pdf/23

10 Mr Henry Lang used to engage Tom Lockyer, Sherman, and myself to play for Croydon against such clubs as the Islington Albion. It is to these matches that I am indebted for being brought into public notice. In 1848, when twenty years of age, I played for Mitcham against Brighton, and had the good fortune to get the great John Wisden's wicket in both innings, and did the same again once in the return at Brighton.

My uncle Walter only appeared at Lord's once, on which occasion he kept wicket for Surrey (who had the help of Fuller Pilch) against the M.C.C. William Clarke, the great slow bowler, came to stay at Reigate for a few months one year. Richard Killick told the great veteran that they had a very promising boy player in the town (meaning myself), and that he should like him to see me bat, so I had to go up to the cricket-ground and bat before the critical inspection of Old Clarke. What he thought of me then I never heard. Perhaps he expressed no opinion at the time to any one. During Clarke's stay at Reigate he called a committee meeting there of his newly formed All-England Eleven.

I distinctly remember a tall man coming into my father's shop one day, and asking if "W. Caffyn" was in. I replied that I was "W. Caffyn." The tall gentleman, who, it appeared, wanted to see my uncle Walter, replied, "Ah! you're not big enough, my boy!" Later in the day I found out