g8 The Sedgefield Country 



One afternoon he was despatched by Sir William Eden to 

 call their attention to the fact that several of them were 

 riding over seeds, or newly-sown wheat. He trotted up 

 pretty near to them, and then in a loud voice called out, 

 " Now, gentlemen, do, if you please, 'ware seeds," laying 

 great stress on the word " gentlemen." This always was 

 his dodge to set ladies right in the hunting field. 



Mr. W. Scarth-Dixon, well known as "British Yeoman" 

 of the Sporting Times, is fond of telling a story connected 

 with a day's hunting in the South Durham country, in Mr. 

 Harvey's time. Hounds were running nicely over some 

 wet rushy pastures near Newbeggin, when finding him- 

 self alongside Bevans he passed the remark, "This is what 

 I call 'three acres and a cow' land Jack!" Jack's eye 

 twinkled, and a grin came over his face as he smartly 

 replied, "I'd be d — d sorry for the cow" and quickly dis- 

 appeared thro' a forbidding looking bullfinch ! 



No one could proclaim a " view holloa " with a finer, 

 cheerier note, and when at an earth-stopper's dinner or 

 similar festive occasion, Bevans was asked to sing a song 

 or make a speech he always said, " I can't make a speech, 

 but I can give you a toast" — 



Horses sound, and hounds healthy : 

 Earths well stopped, and foxes ' plenthy.' " 



Then he would say, " I can't sing, but I can holloa," and 

 " holloa " he did to the satisfaction of all. 



History relates that on one occasion the company was 

 so pleased with "Jack's toast," that he was invited by 

 special request to give another. He rose solemnly, and said, 

 "It's not much of a toast, but it's the only bit of poetry I 

 know connected with a fox." The words were — 



" Little he thought, when first he started, 

 That his mask and his brush would soon be parted ! " 



