36 WITH HOUND AND TERKIER. 



vious Wednesday, when we had had a lawn meet 

 at Brooke House. 



Sweetman was born at Eversley, in Hampshire, 

 and as his father was in Sir John Cope's hunting 

 stables, Tom was accustomed to hounds and horses 

 from his earliest years, and soon showed his know- 

 ledge of and love for them. At the early age of 

 eleven he was promoted to the post of second 

 whipper-in to Sir John Cope's hounds, and ap- 

 peared in all the glory of his first red coat and 

 boots and spurs. He was so small that he had 

 literally to be lifted on to his horse, but once up he 

 went well, and soon showed that his promotion 

 was not misplaced. As Sir John, though keen 

 as ever, was now a very old man, Tom's duties, 

 besides those of whipping-in to hounds, were to 

 open gates for his master and pilot him across 

 country. In this double capacity he did well, and 

 it was said that many a fox which would otherwise 

 have beaten hounds, was run into from a view- 

 holloa of the youthful whipper-in. One of the 

 first horses he ever rode was long remembered in 

 the hunt. This was a gallant but buck-jumping 

 little roan mare, which no one but Tom could sit 

 on her worst days. Tom showed he had a steady 

 hand and a good seat, as well as a clear head and 

 a quick eye, all most desirable gifts in a huntsman. 



Sweetman was still acting as second whipper-in 

 when Sir John Cope resigned the mastership in 

 1850, and Mr Wheble succeeded for a short time. 

 Tom was now so devoted to his old master that he 



