Page:The Hambledon Men (1907).djvu/275

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'LAST OF HAMBLEDONIANS'
209

The following verses seem also to have been written to his memory, and are copied from 'Death's doings'.

Here lies, bowled out by Death's unerring ball,
A Cricketer renowned, by name John Small.
But though his name was Small, yet great his fame,
For nobly did he play the noble game;
His life was like his innings, long and good,
Full ninety summers he had death withstood,
At length the ninetieth winter came, when (fate
Not leaving him one solitary mate)
This last of Hambledonians, old John Small,
Gave up his bat and ball, his leather, wax, and all.

And again—

John Small make bat and ball,
Pitch a wicket, play at cricket
With any man in England.


John small, Jun.'s last recorded match was on Highdown Hill in Sussex, in 1811, for Sussex against Storrington. He was son of John Small, sen., and was born at Petersfield, in Hampshire, where he resided all his life. Like his father, he was a capital field at middle-wicket, an excellent judge of a short run, besides possessing a superior knowledge of the game; he was also for several years one of the 'crack' batsmen of the day, though certainly he was not equal to the 'Old Small', nor did he continue the game in great matches so late in life, being now 46 years of age, while his father's name appears in a county match when he had reached the age of 6l. When only 19 years old, however, his name will be found in the Hambledon Club Eleven, of which he was a member. He was a handsomely made man, with wellknit, compact limbs and frame, about 5ft. 9 in. in height. He was the playfellow and club-mate of John Nyren, who in his account of the Hambledon cricketers gives him an excellent character as a strictly honest man, as