Squire forester ant) Uom /ll>oot)\? ^i 



' Well, what is it, Tom ? ' 



' My time here, master, won't be long, and when I'm 

 dead, I wish to be buried at Barrow, under the yew-tree 

 in the churchyard there, and to be carried to the grave 

 by six earth-stoppers : my old horse, with my whip, 

 boots and spurs and cap slung on each side of the 

 saddle, and the brush of the last fox, when I was up at 

 the death, at the side of the forelock, and two couple of 

 old hounds to follow me to the grave as mourners. 

 When I am laid in my grave let three halloos be given 

 over me : and then if I don't lift up my head you may 

 fairly conclude that Tom Moody is dead.' 



The following letter from the squire to his friend Mr 

 Chambers will show how faithfully the old whipper-in's 

 dying wishes were carried out. 



' Dear Chambers, — On Tuesday last died poor Tom 

 Moody, as good for rough and smooth as ever entered 

 Wildman's Wood. He died brave and honest, as he 

 lived — beloved by all, hated by none that ever knew 

 him. I took his own orders as to his will, funeral, and 

 every other thing that could be thought of. He died 

 sensible and fully collected as ever man died — in short, 

 died game to the last ; for when he could hardly 

 swallow, the poor old lad took the farewell glass for 

 success to fox-hunting and his poor old master (as he 

 termed it), for ever. I am his sole executor, and the 

 bulk of his fortune he left to me — six and twenty 

 shillings, real and bond fide sterling cash, free from all 

 incumbrance, after every debt discharged to a farthing. 

 Noble deeds for Tom, you'd say. The poor old ladies 

 at the Ring of Bells are to have a knot each in remem- 

 brance of the poor old lad. 



' Salop paper will show the whole ceremony of his 



