A Life-long Friend : Lord Minto 



porcine gift on condition that he could have it in a sack, and so 

 the party set forth, the "Cat" carrying the kicking young porker. 

 When, however, about halfway, he insisted upon the future 

 Viceroy of India shouldering his sprotling, squeaking burden 

 and carrying it the rest of the distance. And so it happened 

 that for the remainder of the journey to our house Lord 

 Melgund walked with the pig on his back, and the village 

 people holding their sides with laughter as he passed their 

 cottages, the pig shrieking above all other sounds and kicking 

 ad lib. I can imagine this possibly as being the most ad- 

 venturous and uncomfortable journey on foot Lord Minto ever 

 performed, and before, perhaps, the most appreciative audience. 



One characteristic of Lord Melgund as a young man, and 

 one that, reading between the lines of his public career, I feel 

 sure he retained as an administrator — he was always on the 

 side of the weak. It seems curious now to recall the many 

 times he stood between me and the natural teasings of my two 

 brothers. I knew well he would always be on my side in the 

 smallest detail of our daily life, and stand between me and any 

 unnecessary brotherly administrations, whatever the result in 

 " scrapping " he might have to undergo afterwards. It is very 

 pleasant to me to testify from my own personal knowledge to 

 the soundness and sterling worth of Lord Minto's character 

 when he was at an age few young men ever think of any one 

 but themselves, or concern themselves with anything but their 

 own amusement. My grandmother simply adored him, and 

 he in his turn showed her the greatest kindness and courtesy, 

 never tiring of talking with the old lady on sport, politics, or 

 whatever came uppermost. 



Very often I have heard my grandmother, Mrs. Maunsell, 

 say, " I pity the girls when he looks at them with those 

 beautiful eyes of his, for how can any one help falling in love 



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