HODGSON AND WICKSTED VERSES. 9 



"Oh, Charlie, from Betley how dare you appear 

 With your Staffordshire turnspits in Nottinghamshire, 

 And 'fore the fine judgment of Lambton to bring 

 A son of your ' Joker,' some poor wretched thing, 

 Against * Pipers ' and ' Nestors ' to bear off a prize ? 

 Oh, Charlie, hold hard, lest a thought should arise 

 That hunting in coal-pits has blinded your eyes. 

 The praises of ' Joker ' you've trumpeted forth 

 O'er London's gay city and far thro' the north, 

 Till you've cheated yourself into thinking, alas ! 

 That a trumpet of silver you'd gain by your brass. 

 Or if broadcloth has tempted you hither to come, 

 How dismal the prospects next winter at home ! 

 No saddle to shield you, nor cloth will you win, 

 And 'Joker' will prove a bad jest for your skin." 



Mr. Wicksted rose to the occasion, and gave his 

 opponent a Roland for his Oliver in the shape of the 

 f olio win gj lines : — 



" Oh, Nestor, to joke thus how can you begin. 

 Forgetting the proverb, ' Let those laugh who win ' 1 

 Your trencher-fed puppies won't win you one prize, 

 Saddle, broadcloth, or trumpet, to gladden your eyes. 

 Ere old Wells's coat shall be shorn of its skirts, 

 Both you and Will Danby shall work in your shirts ; 

 For no Holderness tailor shall measure a stitch 

 Of broadcloth that's won by a Holderness bitch. 

 You must use your old saddles, and break your old reins 

 With pulling old screws through the Holderness drains. 

 Of the silver-toned trumpet, depend on't, no hound 

 On the far side of Humber shall e'er hear the sound. 

 So from joking forbear ; it will prove a wrong cast, 

 For you're sure to be beat by a ' Joker ' at last." 



There is a tradition that Mrs. Hodgson was really the 

 author of the first poem, but it was sent as from her 

 husband, and was so responded to, as we see. It is evident 

 that Mr. Wicksted was a good judge of hounds, and that 

 he spared no expense or trouble in improving the quality 

 of his pack, and getting hold of all the best available 

 blood. The present writer has been informed on the best 

 authority that just before Lord Henry Bentinck died he 

 showed Mr. Lane Fox twenty-five couple of hounds 



