I90 ECHOES OF OLD COUNTY LIFE. 



THE CAPTIVE FOX. 



It was of an Earl with an ancient name, 

 Who hunted the fox. but preferr'd him tame, 

 Tho' his sire had been a keen hunter free 

 And bold as e'er rode o'er a grass countree. 

 That sire once mounted his well-bred horse, 

 And view'd the fox from the hillside gorse. 

 His son has come down by a second-class train. 

 Worried a bagman and home again. 



'Tis half-past twelve by the station clocks, 



And the Earl has call'd for his horse and fox. 



Behind the good Earl there rides a groom. 



And next comes a man with a big birch broom, 



Wearing the Earl's discarded breeches, 



Who will tickle the fox when he comes to the ditches. 



The Earl's admirers are ranged in Brown's yard. 



They all wear black boots, and mean to ride hard ; 



Either wily fox or the timid hare 



Be the game to-day, none of them care : 



It was well that the Earl had call'd for his fox. 



And brought him from Tring in a little deal box. 



Three hours or more they drew for a hare. 



And drew all in vain, 'twas blank despair ; 



Then cried the Earl to the elder Brown, 



" Open the box and turn him down." 



They turn'd him down in Aylesbury Vale, 



In sight of a fence call'd post and rail, 



To suit the views of a certain gent 



Who rather liked rails and thought he " went." 



Over the rails, the first to fly. 



Was the jumping gent, but the fox was sly, 



And would have declined, but the Earl and his groom. 



The Huntsman and Whip, and the man with the broom. 



And some boys in a cart, and the Browns, Sam and John, 



Would not hear of his shrinking, and urged him on. 



