138 THE WILLEY WHIPPEE-IN. 



appropriate tlie foUov/ing lines, wliicli appeared a 

 few years ago in tlie 8j)orting Magazine : — 



*' You have ofttimes indulged in a sneer 

 At the old pair of hoots I've kept year after year, 

 And I promised to tell you (when ' funning ' last night) 

 The reasons T have thus to keep them in sight. 



*' Those hoots were Tom Moody's (a hotter ne'er strode 

 A hunter or hack, in the field — on the road — 

 None more true to his friend, or his hottle when full, 

 In short, you may call him a thorough John Bull). 



*' Now this world you must own's a strange compound of fate, 

 (A kind of tee-to-tum resemhling of late) 

 Where hope promised joy there will sorrow he found, 

 And the vessel hest trimm'd is oft soonest aground. 



" I've come in for my share of ' Take-up ' and * Put-down,' ' 

 And that rogue, Disappointment, oft makes me look hrown. 

 And then (you may sneer and look wise if you will) 

 From those old pair of hoots I can comfort distil. 



" I hut cast my eyes on them and old Willey Hall 

 Is hefore me again, with its ivy-crown' d wall. 

 Its hrook of soft murmurs — its rook-laden trees. 

 The gilt vane on its dovecot swung round hy the hreeze. 



" I see its old owner descend from the door, 

 I feel his warm grasp as I felt it of yore ; 

 Whilst old servants crowd round— as they once us'd to do, 

 And their old smiles of welcome beam on me anew. 



" I am in the old hedroom that looks on the lawn, 

 The old cock is crowing to herald the dawn ; 



