372 FIELD AND FERN. 



ther V from the lads ; but Langholm saw another 

 sight, when a Cumbrian mother arrived to see her 

 lad wrestle, and not only laid odds on him, but ex- 

 horted him to " iak a good hold," with other scien- 

 tific and strictly local directions. All descriptions of 

 Langholm Lodge pale before " Old Davy the Mins- 

 treFs." It isnowfiftyyearsormoresincehewent about 

 with a cuddy, and not only ground knives, but com- 

 posed verses, which he recited on the smallest provo- 

 cation, and with extra emphasis for ale or a bit of 

 baccy. A call for " your verses on Langholm Lodge, 

 Dslyv/' was answered on this wise, and if the bard 

 was on the cuddy at the moment they were thought 

 to be all the more impressive : 



" Oh ! Langholm, thou art beautiful, 



Where three fine waters meet,* 

 In view of a large country hall, 



A great lord's country-seat; 

 Which he hath called after thee. 



For to augmeut thy fame, 

 And in record will stand and be 



The Langholm Lodge by name." 



Decidedly the finest Langholm minstrels of the 

 present age are the scratch pack which are hunted 

 by the Duke's gamekeeper. Sometimes they join 

 the Liddesdale, with whom Ballantyne of Shaws, 

 Graham of Broadlee, Elliot of Twisselhope, Kei 

 of Whitehaugh, and Jamie Smith of Harwood 

 Mill are the Hard-riding Dicks. Jamie is "tar- 

 rible keen,'' and when he is not foxhunting with 

 Ballantyne, he may be seen following his two fox- 

 hound bitches (either solus or with quite a large field), 



* Ewes, Esk, and Wauchope. 



