AND STIRLINGSHIIIE HUNT 



was never ' put up ' and, therefore, his life was not 

 like that of the well-known Scottish rider about 

 that time, whose difficulties in wasting were so 

 great that he travelled from Ayr to Carlisle, 

 leading a mare, on four halfpenny biscuits and 

 two-penny-worth of Epsom salts." ^ After acting 

 as second whipper-in for four seasons, he was first 

 whipper - in for nine, and finally, huntsman for 

 twelve, — thus eventually completing a record of 

 twenty - five years' service with the pack. 



Where and when Mr Ramsay commenced his 

 first season is not recorded, but the following 

 verses may possibly have been written with the 

 view of commemorating an " opening day " on the 

 Linlithgowshire side of the country. 



Scarce had morning the folds of its gray mist withdrawn, 

 And the shrill voice of Chanticleer welcomed the dawn, 

 Ere our hackneys we mounted and lighted our weeds, 

 And to Craigie hill covert hied on for our steeds ; 

 Where a field of at least fifty sportsmen were met, 

 The' on all kinds of cattle, yet each on his pet — 

 From the short-legg'd well-bred'un the country that suits, 

 To the veriest garron " vot 'obbles in boots." 

 Having trush'd round this wilderness half of the day, 

 To Winchburgh's green gorse the hounds trotted away, 

 Of a rattling good fox the most certain resort — 

 Thanks to old Mrs Brown ^ who looks to our sport. 

 Davy's ^ poultry yard suffers 'tis most true, but then, 

 lie's the last man to grudge a good fox a fat hen ; 

 For in truth he's the " varmintest sportsman as is," 

 " Von on 'em " — Heaven prosper his jolly old phiz ! 



1 'Field and Fern' (South), by The Druid, 1865, p. 53. 



2 Mrs Brown who kept the Inn at Winchburgh. 



3 " Davy," her son. 



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