288 



THE WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. 



[1894-1895 



On December 29/// a very hard frost set in. There was a day's hunting 

 on the 18th of January, and another on March 2nd. with a good deal of snow, 

 but the ground was not soft enough for good hunting until March 9th. It 

 was the severest frost on record since the year 1836. 



The following incident of mistaken identity occurred in 

 this neighbourhood : 



A pair of peafowl, tlie cherished property of some little children, liaviiig (during a 

 week's occupancy) exhausted their powers of destruction in a pleasant, old-fashioned 

 garden, saunter away one evening across the park. They enter a neighbour's garden, 

 and roost side by side high up in a large tree, with a view to a good night's rest before 

 the labours of the next day begin . Early next morning they are observed with wonder 

 and delight by a groom, who believes he sees rare visitors to these islands, and who calls 

 the gardener. 



" Can you aw^hile now, Muster Green, 



To bring your gun and ste]3 tlais way r 

 I thinks you'll say as you 'aint seen 



No hodaer sight this niany-a-day. 



" I looks \ip casual in that tree, 



As we was sweepin', nie and Bill, 

 Sees two great bloomin' birds — d'ye see ? 



Lor, there they sits alarming still. 



" Their lives 'ud not be worth a 'ang 



If you crep steady roun' that yew ; — 

 (Soniethink they'll fetch at Spicer's) — Bang ! 



I'm bless'd if he 'aint shot the two ! 



" But who comes 'ere ? The gardener 

 From Squire's — and ' 'ave we see a pair 



Of peafowl (cock and 'en they wur) 

 A-roosting ere, or anywhere ? ' 



" Oh, Muster Green, what shall us do? 



"Ere be the sack in which theyre 'id — 

 'Twas just a accident, 'tis true — 



Took 'em for heagles, so us did.'' 



Bessie V. 



On Saturdaij, March 9th. the first meet after the long frost took place at 

 Oxhill. 



