CAPTAIN BURNS-HARTOPP 167 



it is as well to add here what I wrote for the Field. 

 Personally I consider that the best sport that I 

 have seen and enjoyed was whilst hunting with 

 Firr, and shall always look back on that as the 

 happiest period of my life. 



"Presentation to Tom Firr 



" On the lawn in front of Mr. W. Warner's 

 picturesque old house, the Quorn Hunt had gathered 

 on Monday last to say good-bye to the huntsman 

 they had loved so well. Heavy showers in the 

 morning and black clouds overhead, threatened to 

 make the function thoroughly uncomfortable ; but 

 as the time fixed approached, the sun came out, and 

 all things were gay. Gay it was to the eye, but our 

 hearts were sad within us. It was an impressive 

 scene, and like nothing else that we are accustomed 

 to see. There was a subdued hush, disturbed only 

 by the flapping of the tent and the gentle murmuring 

 of many voices, whilst the whinings of sixty couples 

 were heard occasionally from the kennels hard by. 

 Beneath an awning on the edge of the lawn, Firr in 

 his unstained scarlet sat in melancholy state, and in 

 a semicircle around him were collected a crowd of 

 those who had often followed him in the hunting 

 field. Beyond the sunk fence, facing the tent, 

 were yet another crowd, and behind a row of horse- 

 men. 



" There should be nothing sad in the acceptance 

 of a handsome salver and a substantial cheque, but 

 every one felt it to be a painful occasion, and there 

 were few who had not only a choky feeling in the 

 throat before the ceremony came to an end. The 



