Page:A Selection of Original Songs, Scraps, Etc., by Ned Farmer (3rd ed.).djvu/47

Coats, caps, whips and spurs, are put carefully by,
The saddles are covered, and hung in the dry;
And, fearful that stirrups and bits should get spoiled,
They are first nicely cleaned, and then properly oiled.
There 's a draft from the stud, all the lame and the old,
With a few (just as "ticers") are sent to be sold;
The rest in "loose boxes" o*er fetlocks in clay,
Are fed upon oats (that are "kibbled") and hay.
As the weather gets warmer I haven't a doubt
They'll be most of them "blistered" or "fired," and turned out!
There's a strong smell of whitewash around and about,
They are clearing the ticks and the cobwebs all out.
The committee are here, it's surprising to see,
Now the hunting is over, how "stingy" they be.
All is turned into money, the bones and the dung;
The hounds have been "weeded," some sold and some hung;
And the "Management" know what each item is booked at—
Economy now, is the only thing looked at.
They've been holding to-day, what the blacks call "a talk"
As to where they shall send out some puppies to walk.
And letters axe written, beginning with "Dear
Mister (blank), we have sent you a Fox-hound to rear.
"Who is told by the whip 'tis a favour to get him,
And is begg'd not to feed him too fat nor to pet him;
That the bitch (to the grief of the hunt) is a dead un',
That his sire is first class and a capital bred un'.
3o the huntsman felt anxious to have the pup near him,
Nor could think of a person so likely to rear him!