<h2><SPAN name="page96"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span>THE OLD GRAY FOX</h2>
<p class="poetry">We started from the Valley Pride,<br/>
And Farnham way we went.<br/>
We waited at the cover-side,<br/>
But never found a scent.<br/>
Then we tried the withy beds<br/>
Which grow by Frensham town,<br/>
And there we found the old gray fox,<br/>
The same old fox,<br/>
The game old fox;<br/>
Yes, there we found the old gray fox,<br/>
Which lives on Hankley Down.<br/>
So here’s
to the master,<br/>
And here’s
to the man!<br/>
And here’s to twenty
couple<br/>
Of the white and black and tan!<br/>
<SPAN name="page97"></SPAN><span class="pagenum">p.
97</span>Here’s a find without a wait!<br/>
Here’s a hedge without a gate!<br/>
Here’s the man who follows straight,<br/>
Where the old fox ran.</p>
<p class="poetry">The Member rode his thoroughbred,<br/>
Doctor had the gray,<br/>
The Soldier led on a roan red,<br/>
The Sailor rode the bay.<br/>
Squire was there on his Irish mare,<br/>
And Parson on the brown;<br/>
And so we chased the old gray fox,<br/>
The same old fox,<br/>
The game old fox,<br/>
And so we chased the old gray fox<br/>
Across the Hankley Down.<br/>
So here’s
to the master,<br/>
And here’s
to the man!<br/>
&c. &c. &c.</p>
<p class="poetry"><SPAN name="page98"></SPAN><span class="pagenum">p.
98</span>The Doctor’s gray was going strong<br/>
Until she slipped and fell;<br/>
He had to keep his bed so long<br/>
His patients all got well.<br/>
The Member he had lost his seat,<br/>
’Twas carried by his horse;<br/>
And so we chased the old gray fox,<br/>
The same old fox,<br/>
The game old fox;<br/>
And so we chased the old gray fox<br/>
That earthed in Hankley Gorse.<br/>
So here’s
to the master,<br/>
And here’s
to the man!<br/>
&c. &c. &c.</p>
<p class="poetry">The Parson sadly fell away,<br/>
And in the furze did lie;<br/>
The words we heard that Parson say<br/>
Made all the horses shy!<br/>
<SPAN name="page99"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span>The Sailor
he was seen no more<br/>
Upon that stormy bay;<br/>
But still we chased the old gray fox,<br/>
The same old fox,<br/>
The game old fox;<br/>
Still we chased the old gray fox<br/>
Through all the winter day.<br/>
So here’s
to the master,<br/>
And here’s
to the man!<br/>
&c. &c. &c.</p>
<p class="poetry">And when we found him gone to ground,<br/>
They sent for spade and man;<br/>
But Squire said ‘Shame! The beast was game!<br/>
A gamer never ran!<br/>
His wind and pace have gained the race,<br/>
His life is fairly won.<br/>
<SPAN name="page100"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span>But may
we meet the old gray fox,<br/>
The same old fox,<br/>
The game old fox;<br/>
May we meet the old gray fox<br/>
Before the year is done.<br/>
So here’s
to the master,<br/>
And here’s
to the man!<br/>
And here’s to twenty
couple<br/>
Of the white and black and tan!<br/>
Here’s a find without
await!<br/>
Here’s a hedge without a
gate!<br/>
Here’s the man who follows
straight,<br/>
Where the old
fox ran.</p>
<div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />