36 The Old Surrey Fox Hounds 



oldest present, because at the present moment I have my 

 eye on a gentleman who is a rather older subscriber than 

 myself (alluding to Mr. W. M. Coulthurst). It is 

 certainly now some years since I first heard the rich, 

 melodious voice of old Tom awakening the echoes on the 

 Surrey Hills, and giving notice to the wily animal that he 

 must look sharp, if he wished to preserve his brush, for 

 one of the best huntsmen in England was after him. And, 

 though there have been changes in the country, at all 

 events we have not changed as regards our gratitude to 

 him who was chiefly instrumental in finding us sport." 



Tom's response was, if short, certainly felicitous. 

 " This is the proudest day of my life," he said, obviously 

 with perfect truth, " and it is impossible for me to thank 

 you sufficiently for the handsome gift you have bestowed 

 upon me. I can only beg that you will accept my most 

 sincere and grateful thanks for all your kindness, especially 

 for the gift of this portrait, on which my children and my 

 children's children may look, and think of me after I am 

 gone. I entertain, my lord, towards yourself and this 

 goodly company, the best wishes and the kindest feelings ; 

 and I hope that you may all live many years to enjoy the 

 grand sport of fox-hunting. I also hope, if it pleases 

 God to give me a few more years to live, that I may come 

 and enjoy plenty of good sport with you." 



The applause that followed this gallant little speech was 

 tremendous, such cries being heard as " Bravo, Tom!" 

 " Good old Tom!" and " The Old Surrey for ever!" It 

 was a happy, enthusiastic scene. 



