29 



THE PEOPHET IN HIS OWN COUNTRY; 



OE, DUFTT IN DERBTSHIEE. 



187—. 



In tlie days of Percy Williams, (i) 



In the time of Scarbro's peer, (2) 

 Lived at Epperstone a sportsman 



Keen of sight and quick of ear. 

 Looking down a grassy riding, 



Or across his Dumbies dear. 

 Never could a fox evade him. 



Or escape his ringing cheer. 



Ear away in Winkburn woodlands, 



Or in Eufford's forest glade ; 

 Erom the ancient gorse of Bleasby 



To the Blidworth fir trees' shade ; 

 Ev'ry earth and smeuse he knows them, 



Ev'ry hole that e'er was made. 

 " What a whipper-in is lost there," 



Wond'ring at him, people said. 



By and by, when Squire Musters, (3) 



Who to sport did ever lean, 

 Wanted to revive the glories 



That in South Notts, once were seen ; 



1. Captain Percy Williams, the celebrated gentleman huntsman, master 

 of the Rufiord hounds from 1841 to i860. 



2. John, 8th Earl of Scarbro', died 1856. 



3. John Chaworth Musters, born 1838. Hunted the South Notts, 

 country from 1861 to 1868, the Quorn from 1868 to 1870, and, returning to 

 South Notts, in 1871, hunted that country till 1876, when he was obliged, 

 through ill-health, to give up his hounds. 



