12 HUNTING REMINISCENCES 



weather. Parson Banks Wright, too, would go 

 like wildfire for twenty minutes, no matter how big 

 the country might be ; but in the pulpit he would 

 stay for thirty odd minutes when the text was to 

 his liking. The Rev. George Carter of Folkingham 

 was another who has passed away from us, enjoying 

 the sport thoroughly with four of his family. 



The prowess of the Rev. H. Houson has been 

 immortalised in verse by Mr. Parke of Straggle- 

 thorpe Hall, who in his time followed the Belvoir 

 and Burton packs, besides contributing to sporting 

 literature under the nom de plume of Nemo. The 

 following verses were written by him after the 

 death of the Rev. H. Houson, who was familiarly 

 known as " the Doctor," and noted for the cleanli- 

 ness of himself and horse. These verses were 

 afterwards reprinted at the wish of his old friend, 

 Colonel John Reeve of Leadenham House, and 

 were largely distributed amongst hunting men : 



Amid all the scenes and joys of the chase, 



In vain shall we look for one well-known face ; 



One slight compact form, on a tall rat-tailed mare 



How comes it, my friends, that the Doctor's not here ? 



Alas ! our good parson's long season is o'er, 



He has come to a check, we shall see him no more. 



Brant Broughton's sad bells have rung forth their lament, 



For as thorough a sportsman as e'er followed scent. 



Those thin hands, now cold, which tho' wrinkled with age, 



Might have given a wrinkle to many a sage ; 



So light, they the tenderest mouth ne'er distressed, 



Yet so firm, that the hardest their power confessed ; 



In vain did high breeding rebel 'gainst their sway, 



It might chafe, it might struggle, it yet must obey. 



