An old Song. 63 



Regarding Matthew and the grey mare mentioned, the 

 following lines were very popular sometime after his death, 

 Mr. Parrington kindly allowed me to copy them from his 

 journal : 



GREYMARES AND NIGHTMARES. 

 (A Peacock's Tale, with a Fox at the End of it.) 



Oftentimes, in my slumbers, I've seen a grey mare 



Coming bang down upon me, her heels in the air, 



Whose rider, a welter (i), cried out with a cheer, 



" They've found him, young Doctor, now cannot you hear." 



Then deep in the recess of Beverley Wood, 



Drawing nearer and nearer the place where I stood. 



Along by the banks of the Tees just below, 



I heard the sweet music of " Cruiser " (2) and Co. 



Soon Reynard I spied ; he was gone like a flash 



Of lightning ; and then, ye Gods ! what a crash 



Of thunder rolled after him, making him fly. 



While Matty's (3) view-halloo shook wood, earth and sky ; 



Then I waked, 'twas no wonder, for oft it's been said 



That Matty's view-halloo would have wakened the dead. 



Once I dreamt I saw Reynard creep into a drain, — 



A shallow-flagged one by the side of a lane ; 



I'd a terrier with me, quite up to the trick 



Of making the foxes bolt out pretty quick. 



On my knees then I listen'd, to make out the spot 



Where old " Pincher " (4) for Reynard was making it hot, 



When a voice I knew well cried " Hang it ! stand by," 



" Is he good for ought. Doctor ? " " He's at him ! " said I, 



When in went the drain, with a terrible crack, 



From the weight of old Matty, who'd got on my back, 



1. Mr. Matthew Wilkinson, Master of the Hnrworth, whose famous grey mare wili 

 long be remembered. 



2. " Cruiser," a famous hound in the Hurworth pack. 



3. It is said that Matty's view halloa is still echoing in Beverley Wood. 



4. "Pincher" was a terrier belonging to Mr. Jack Peacock, the author of the song. 



