1 98 ROYAL ROCK BEAGLE HUXT. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



R.R.B. VISITS TO OTHER COUNTRIES. 



'■ If all the year were playing holydays, 

 To sport would be as tedious as to work." 



Kiit^ HeH7y IV, Pari I, acti, scenes. 



From the fust, the R.R.B. Hunt have been in the habit of accepting 



invitations for a day or two's hunting in outlying districts. The first visit 



])aid was to Beeston, on the invitation of ]Mr. Bird, and many a good run 



did the R.R.B. enjoy in that sporting country. The names of Bird, Cawley, 



and Davenport Hve in Mr. Ra\vson"s poem, composed for the occasion of 



the visit to Beeston in 1S48, and their sons welcome the Cheshire Beagles to 



this day. 



And who can forget the kind faces that greet, 

 And welcome us all when at Beeston we meet ? 

 He is not fit to belong to the famed R.R.B. 

 Who ever forgets the good friends we now see. 



There's Bird and his wife, who's as good as she's fair, 

 She finds us a. lunch, and he finds us a hare. 

 There's Cawley so hearty, so friendly, and kind, 

 \Mth such a nice wife as you seldom will find. 



There's his brother, who always to like us appears, 

 May he live till he numbers a hundred of 3'ears ! 

 There's Davenport, also, a Yorkshireman true ; 

 You may guess how I like him, for I'm Yorkshire, too. 



Let us drink Mr. Tollemache's health with a cheer. 

 He seems a great fav'rite with e\eryone here ; 

 And I hope our friend Cawley will tell him the run 

 We have this day enjoyed, and the feats we have done. 



We must, too, our excellent huntsman remember. 

 He's killed thirty hares since the end of September. 

 Many years may we yet see him up to the pace. 

 May his son, and his son's son succeed to his place ! 



It grieves me to think that when this season's o'er, 



I shall not amongst you reside any more ; 



But my R.R.B. days I shall never forget. 



The enjoyment I've had, and the friends I have met. 



