FIRST DAYS IN HANTS AND BERKS. 37 



resigned his position in the kennels, and remained 

 in Sir John's service till the time of the latter's 

 death, which occurred about two years later. His 

 business was to drive his master to the meets 

 whenever they were in the neighbourhood of 

 Bramshill, and show him as much of the sport as 

 he could, a task for which Tom's knowledge of the 

 country peculiarly fitted him. For his attention 

 and good conduct, Sir John left him at his death 

 an annuity of £20 a-year, and as Mr Garth had 

 just succeeded to the mastership, Tom now asked 

 to be taken back in the kennels. He was con- 

 sequently appointed first whipper-in, and soon 

 showed that the promise of his early years was to 

 be well fulfilled. He was very quiet in the field, 

 and ruled his hounds more by his voice than by 

 the whip. It was clear that his heart was in his 

 work, and indeed all through his life he was wont 

 to declare that " his business was his pleasure." 



In 1865, when increasing age and infirmities 

 caused Robert Tocock to resign the horn, Tom 

 Sweetman was appointed to the vacant post, and 

 though it was only four years later when he was so 

 suddenly struck down at the early age of forty- 

 seven, he had made his mark as a successful hunts- 

 man and a most accomplished rider. When hounds 

 ran hard, Sweetman and George Fordham often 

 had a set-to cross country, and Sweetman was 

 always able to hold his own. 



I have a brush before me as I write which re- 

 minds me of a very fast twenty minutes with Mr 



