AND STIRLINGSHIRE HUNT 



Graham as his huntsman, was showing excellent 

 sport in Dumfriesshire about this time, had a 

 day with the Lothians Hounds in the beginning 

 of the year 1870, and experienced all the un- 

 pleasantness of getting " bogged." His lord- 

 ship's visit was quickly followed by an invitation 

 to Mr Hope to bring his hounds to Dumfriesshire, 

 and this having been accepted, the pack, accom- 

 panied by Mr James Hope, Easter Duddingston, 

 and the Hunt servants, travelled to Lockerbie by 

 an early train on the 7th of February, met at 

 Castlemilk, hunted, and returned home in the 

 evening. The sport does not appear to have 

 been of a high order, but the presence of one pack 

 of hounds in the country of another being an 

 event out of the common, the incidents of the 

 day are commemorated in verse. 



THE LOTHIAI^S HOUNDS IN DUMFEIESSHIRE. 



You wish me to write of our sport on Monday ; 



In plain words you ask me to write — Oh ! man, dae, — 



And give an account of the meet in my letter. 



I will, Bob — but wish that the run had been better. 



I left thee in the lane when the clock struck eight, 



And just before eleven reached Castlemilk gate, 



Where a host of booted grooms stood, every one ready 



To hold my horse, — Wo-ho ! my boy, wo-ho ! then, mare, stand 



steady. 

 So off I jumped to stroll about, and warm my chilly feet, 

 When Jardine ^ asked me in to lunch although there was " nae 



meat." 



^ The late Sir Robert Jardine of Castlemilk. 



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