ADVERTISEMENT TO THE SECOND EDITION OF

EPPING HUNT.

The Publisher begs leave to say that he has had the following letter from the Author of this little book :

"Dear Sir, I am much gratified to learn from you, that the Epping Hunt has had such a run that it is quite exhausted, and that you intend, therefore, to give the work what may be called 'second wind,' by a new impression.

"I attended the last Anniversary of the Festival, and am concerned to say that the sport does not improve, but appears an ebbing as well as Epping custom. The run was miserable indeed; but what was to be expected? The chase was a Doe, and, consequently, the Hunt set off with the Hind part before. It was, therefore, quite in character for so many Nimrods to start, as they did, before the hounds, but which, as you know, is quite contrary to the Lex Tallyho-nis, or Laws of Hunting.

"I dined with the Master of the Revel, who is as hale as ever, and promises to reside some time in the Wells ere he kicks the bucket. He is an honest, hearty, worthy man, and when he dies there will be ‘a cry of dogs' in his kennel.

"I am, dear Sir, yours, &c.,

"WINCHMORE HILL, June 1830."

"T. HOOD.

But as they fetched a walk one day,
They met a press-gang crew;
And Sally she did faint away,

Whilst Ben he was brought to.

The Boatswain swore with wicked words,

Enough to shock a saint,

That though she did seem in a fit,

'Twas nothing but a feint.

"Come, girl," said he, "hold up your head,

He'll be as good as me;

For when your swain is in our boat,

A boatswain he will be."

So when they'd made their game of her,

And taken off her elf,

She roused, and found she only was

A coming to herself.

"And is he gone, and is he gone ? She cried, and wept outright:

"Then I will to the water side, And see him out of sight.”

A waterman came up to her,

"Now, young woman," said he,

"If you weep on so, you will make

Eye-water in the sea."

"Alas! they've taken my beau Ben

To sail with old Benbow;"

And her woe began to run afresh,
As if she'd said Gee woe!

"Now, young woman," said he' Copyright 1893 by Macmillan & Co.

Says he, "They've only taken him

To the Tender ship, you see;"

"The Tender ship," cried Sally Brown,

"What a hard-ship that must be !

"Oh! would I were a mermaid now,

For then I'd follow him;

But oh! I'm not a fish-woman,

And so I cannot swim.

"Alas! I was not born beneath
The Virgin and the Scales,

So I must curse my cruel stars,
And walk about in Wales."

Now Ben had sailed to many a place That's underneath the world;

But in two years the ship came home, And all her sails were furled.

But when he called on Sally Brown,
To see how she went on,

He found she'd got another Ben,
Whose Christian name was John.

"O Sally Brown, O Sally Brown!
How could you serve me so?
I've met with many a breeze before,
But never such a blow."