Page:The Hambledon Men (1907).djvu/161

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THE BLACK KENTISH CHERRY
115

their sympathy and advice being much valued, especially by young people.

'Their family consisted of two sons and five daughters; two others died young. The eldest son, Henry, never married; the youngest son, John William, only did so some years after his father's death, and left three daughters—still living. His little son, the only grandson of John Nyren, who bore his name, died young, and was buried close to his grandfather. Three of John Nyren's daughters married, and have left many descendants, but none named Nyren. One of his daughters became Lady Abbess of the English convent at Bruges.

'My grandfather was very fond of all animals, but more especially dogs; he generally had one or two about him. He was once bitten by a mad one, but happily no bad results ensued, though it was reported he had died from the effects. It is a rather curious fact that the Duke of Richmond, who afterwards died from the bite of a tame fox, and who had a great dread of hydrophobia, while strolling about Lord's cricket ground several times asked my grandfather about this very unpleasant experience; asking many questions and taking much interest in all the details.

John Nyren was very partial to the little black Kentish cherry, and for many years one of his "noble playmates" sent him annually a hamper full of them, which he always received with boyish pleasure, at once opening it himself and enjoying the fruit with his family and any children who happened to be with him.

'There is no doubt John Nyren himself wrote the Young Cricketer's Tutor and Cricketers of My Time; Cowden Clarke only edited them. It was Cowden Clarke who suggested that he should write and print his cricketing recollections, and very much amused and astonished the old gentleman by the idea.'

Here Miss Nyren's manuscript ends, bringing us to controversial ground. Nyren's title-page describes Cowden Clarke as the editor, and Clarke's account of