MILLWOOD MO., March 6, 1886

Judge Charles W. Martin:

My Dear Chas. We and quite a number of old men have died this winter – indeed quite a number of our most distinguished men who had not much more than passed the good allotted period of age of three score and ten – for after this, as you know, we are only living as it were on a little borrowed capital at a high rate of interest, that can be carried only for a limited length of time.

Three at least of our very best friends- Mr. Watton Perkins, Judge Alexander Wilson and Mr.. Joseph Heady – have died very lately – and I learn that Judge Baskett’s health has been very poor this winter. I hope he is better now.

I am not exactly yet to be classed as one of our oldest men, but in a very few months, if I live, I will have reached the allotted three score years and ten – whilst I forge whether you are in your seventy-sixth or seventy-seventh year.

I have been continued mostly to my room for some weeks, but am now doing a little work at the store again, but thinking the confinement at the store and desk was some of a whack to my health and strength. I confess that I took a little trip etc., which I will describe to you.

I had reason to visit my daughter, Mrs. Wilford Lee, some three of four miles away, and setting out after dinner on a good gentle horse, I first called on my way to Mr. E.C. Mudd, where I found several of his neighboring friends spending the day. He had most excellent cider at hand, and when asked to take hold, I had, as you may know a little too much old Maryland or Virginia politeness to refuse; and after several glasses had been drunk (by myself, I mean) and an hour’s talk with Conse And his guests, I rode on to Mr. Shocklee’s who is also past his three score and ten, but found that he and his daughters, Mess Behe, had started that morning to Cape Girardeau, where his youngest son, Paul, is at the St. Vincent college at that place. And after a very pleasant hour’s talk with aunt Elizabeth, who is a very good talker, and their very good son George, the only boy now at home.

I then left for Mr. Lee’s and got there about sunset, as we used to call it sixty years ago when we didn’t have many timepieces.

jolly old friend, Mr. Edward Uptegroves. Ned was out in the woods splitting cook-stove-wood, which you will see in the sequel, he has quite as much use for that sort of commodity called stove-wood as anybody else might have.

I told Mrs. Uptegrove that I had come there to count her children, and see if I couldn’t make a trade for her, the more especially as the Uptegrove’s were a sort of trading and speculative people.

I found her quite willing for the count and there were soon presented thirteen beautiful and interesting sons and daughters, or I had better say daughters and sons, as six of the eldest are daughters – the eldest of all being absent at the time, making fourteen in all. But she wanted most to know what sort of a trade I had to offer, and when I proposed the trade I had in view, to let Sam Uptegrove and his wife, their neighbor and brother who have no children, have half their children, taking choice and turn about for his beautiful farm and dwelling, which she very promptly and almost bluntly refused, and even when a lesser number was proposed, even down to three and finally one, but not a bit of a chance for a trade, and I found she would not give one of them for all of Sam’s estate, and many more like it.

Mr. And Mrs. Uptegrove, in addition to providing and cooking for themselves and fourteen children, and a hired hand or two, entertain a good deal of company, as is usually the case where there are several grown daughters. Thus you will see the sequel of his keeping a good supply of dry cook-stove wood always on hand.

I may here add that Mrs. Uptegrove is only forty-two years of age, and one of the most cheerful and best preserved women of her age around, and with most excellent prospective outlook for at least several years to come.

Ned has a most productive farm of some three hundred acres around him; raises fine crops, and is now carrying a stock of fifty head of cattle, fourteen horses, forty hogs, forty-five sheep and twenty-eight lambs – and sells all his buck lambs for breeders.

You remember, Judge, of once showing me one of your best ewes that clipped twenty pounds of wool, and weighed two hundred pounds, after shearing, and I think Ned has some very nearly as good.

I left for Mr. John Morris’ calling by the way to see his son Wesley and family. Arriving at John’s, my horse was promptly cared for, and my name put in land, but it is of very fine quality. He told me that Squire John Williams said he was one of the most lucky farmers around, but I told him I thought the Squire was very much mistaken if he called it luck, as I knew him to be one of the most careful and intelligent farmers around him, as evidence of which, to my knowledge, he had paid off a mortgage of eighteen hundred dollars in the past seven years, and owes no debt now. He has a most excellent wife and children, and is considered one of the best men in the neighborhood – which is saying a good deal, for it is an excellent neighborhood.

After a good dinner and kindly leave at Mr. Morris’ I went to see my old friend, Mr. Isaac Uptegrove, who is now seventy-two years of age, with whom and his wife I spent half an hour very pleasantly.

I then called to see Mrs. Wesley and her family, but found they had all gone to wedding at Mr. John Menth’s.

I then went to old Mrs. Elizabeth Ford’s, a sister of Mr. J.M. Schocklee, and aunt of Mr. Lee’s, who lives with her son James, or rather he with her. I found her alone, as James had gone to Millwood. She is in her seventy-ninth year, and one of the best and most intelligent old ladies I know of. After a kindly talk I went to Mr. Benjamin Bowles’, who is a very good farmer and has a fine farm. He was not at home, and after a friendly talk with Mrs. B. and her three nice grown daughters, I went to Mr. Thomas Jackman’s, but found him and his family from home.

I then called again at my friends, Cons. And Albert Mudd’s where I had found the good cider the evening before – why I returned that way may be conjectured – to which a fine plate of cake was added.

I then turned my course homeward, calling on my son Edward’s – found his children at home with a lady friend with them, but he and his wife from home.

Now, Judge, I think I have told quite enough of myself and the several person on whom I called, and if you should be like myself, a little under the weather this winter, and will take such a time around about twice a week, I think it will be of service to you.

Mrs. Mudd tells me I must go out again soon, as she likes to hear the news I bring back of how other people are getting on, etc. and I am sure I will.

But when you go I will bet you that you don’t find a family down your way of fourteen nice children, and their mother only forty-two years of age, and if you should and such a case you need not make a fool of yourself in proposing to swap half or any, or either of them for a house and farm, as I did with Mrs. Edward Uptegrove.

           Very Truly             Your old friend

JUDGE CHARLES W. MARTIN:

I have hardly been farther from home at any time this winter than to the store and the church, except once to Troy, and after writing up all our accounts of the past year, and posting up our new books to date. I am having some leisure, and I may say, pretty comfortable time. But, as you know, when a man passes seventy years of age, he is not without at least a few little pains and aches. I was reminding my old neighbor Mr. William Murphy, a few days ago, when he hobbled into our store leaning upon his cane, of what Dr. Samuel Johnson had written of how patiently and cheerfully we should bear the pains, aches and troubles of old age, as it was an incident thereto, and could not be avoided, and he replied that he could stand it very well, if it were not for his leg – and I dare say there are many of us like him – we could stand it very well if we could remove the worst part of it.

I am taking advantage of the little leisure I now have in arranging my old books, especially the old ledgers that I have carefully preserved for the past thirty-five years that I have been doing business as a merchant at Millwood. The whole thirty-five are in a good state of preservation, and as I have done mostly a credit business all this while, these books will show who lived around us: who bought their goods of us: what were the market prices of different kinds of goods during the past thirty-five years: the rise and decline of prices, during and after the war: what proportion of our old customers are still living, and many other incidents and things of interest even at the present day, and, as you know, will be of much more interest and pleasure to my children, and perhaps others, in the future.

As an instance, I was a few days ago, showing our ledger of the year 1854 to a number of persons in our store, Mr. Benjamin Mudd being present. I came to his account in April of that year, when he had just got married and was going to house keeping. He had made an account of some $40, embracing every article usually required by a man in his circumstances of that day,

down to a cook spoon, and showing the price of each article then as compared to the present time – not aggregating ass low, however, as goods are sold at present, nor have manufactured goods been as low in our memory as for the past several years.

I have considered myself a pretty good book-keeper-perhaps as good as the best average merchants of our county – and not having failed in many years in a very important financial part of proper book keeping, that is in using two or three pages in the back part of each ledger, as the commencement of each new year, where it was not likely to meet any eye but my own, where all accounts and notes due to me, and to each and every person to whom I was indebted, which for a number of years left a considerable balance at compound ten percent against me, which I would most carefully show and explain to my wife, who, as carefully as myself, put in her very best efforts to help to pay up and wipe out until we got even, and now a small balance in our favor.

It is never well for men to talk too much of their own business, but, in making the arrangement for the careful preservation of these books, I thought it might be of some interest to your, my old friend, at whose house I had slept, and enjoyed your hospitality and friendship in June 1839, and during these past forty-eight years since, and who has pulled through with quite as good or better success than myself.

While saying so much of these books, it may, perhaps, not be out of place to say that, as near as I can estimate the aggregate amount of my sales during the thirty-five years exclusive of a partner, while I had one, is something upwards of half a million dollars, and although there have been a number of houses in our county whose sales have been larger than my own, I doubt if any one man in the county, counting his own share of sales, has sold more goods than myself, for, perhaps, none have sold goods for so long a period of time – and most generally two or more partners in the house.

Hoping that you, and your good wife and family, are enjoying good health and happiness. I am, as ever,

                                        Your Old Friend

In fact, Mr. Reynard seems to have implanted himself here as though he had come to stay, and claims equal rights in our poultry, pigs and lambs as though it was his inalienable right, of which his reynardship could not be routed or dispossessed. A farmer may count his pigs, or his wife her poultry today, but don’t know just how many Mr. Reynard may have consumed or laid away in his store house in the next ten days.

And instead of a war of races between the reds and grays, it has been brought to our own doors as a war between the dominating tribes of reynards and ourselves – and the tribe seems to be so prolific in their increase that we hardly know how and in what way we shall be able to cope with and subdue Mr. Reynard in his warfare upon us without continued aggressions on our own part.

It seems that the reds must be a superior race of the fox tribe, and that, he can not only whip the grays but can outrun them – that he is not only better in warfare with his tribes but much swifter in retreat if he considers himself unable to combat another enemy in the way of fast dogs on his trail.

On arriving in the vicinity where Mr. Reyanard had been last seen, the gentleman was jumped up in 20 yards of the dogs, and run down and killed in less than one hour, the dogs holding him in sight for the first two miles run. But perhaps the funniest part of the whole thing was Uncle Mat, who, when the fox jumped in full sight of him and the dogs, laid whip and spur to the old gray mare, using his hat for a whip and his heels for a spur, and leaving the Doctor considerably in the rear. But when the fox finally made a double and the huntsmen partially reigned up it was found that Uncle Mat’s hat was lost, but he found time to get a switch, and very soon the dogs and huntsmen were in sight of the fox again, affording the finest run for a couple of miles, when Mr. Reynard was caught and killed. Mr. Atha Mudd and his wife, who saw a good a good part of the last run across his farm, were enthusiastic over the taking of Mr. Reynard, as he or some other gentleman had taken many of their chickens the past winter, but were more especially delighted at the speed of Uncle Mat and the gray mare who at the catching of the fox was the first to take the bush and ride into Millwood with the dead reynard tied behind his saddle in triumph, with the Doctor and others, declaring that with the Doctor and his three hounds, and him on the gray mare, a fox would stand but little chance for his life.

Obituary

Millwood, Mo., July 17^th, 1888

I have several times in writing little light articles for the FREE PRESS years back spoken of my old friend, Judge Martin, with that sort of freedom and friendship and even jollity and mirth that only friends who understand each other could indulge in. It seems that I ought to say something now and wish I could write in the same train of thought I then did. But my old friend is no more. He has gone from us. He had not only lived out the allotted old age of three score and ten, but very nearly four score years. His time had come to go, and, like ripe fruit, he dropped from the tree after a well-spent life.

Perhaps there are but few men living who have known Judge Martin longer and better than myself, or who had a higher regard for his purity of character.

It has been aptly said that an honest man is the noblest work of God. Judge Martin was an honest man, not only in the payment of all his debts, dues and demands, but in his every thought and action through life to do unto mankind as he himself would have them do unto him.

He was in every sense of the word a modest Christian gentleman.

In regard to the more intimate history of Judge Martin’s life, I am not so well informed, but write from best knowledge I have. He married in Virginia about the year 1833, and moved to Lincoln county, Missouri, in 1838 with his first wife, two children and a few servants, and built a small house of logs on almost the very spot where now stands the very commodious house in which he died.

Judge Martin had six children to grow up to manhood and womanhood, three sons and three daughters, all of whom were married. The three eldest were born of his first wife and the three youngest of his last most amiable wife and widow who survives him. Five of them are still living; among whom is Mr. Chas. Martin, one of the ablest and most respected attorneys we have around us. He also left about thirty grandchildren.

Judge Martin served twelve years in our probate and county courts, and his honesty, and ability were as proverbial as his hospitality at his own house, and his popularity with his neighbor’s and all who came in contact with him in business relations or otherwise.

Judge Martin for many years was a firm and consistent member of the Christian church, and was one of the principal contributors to the building of the Union church near his place, where other denomination of religion were allowed to worship as well as his own.

He was no bigot in his religion, but accorded to every man his own opinion as kindly as he did in all his business relations with the people.

In the management of his pecuniary affairs through life, though liberal and charitable in all his dealings with man, he managed his affairs with good judgment and success, giving off to his children a fair start in life and leaving a very handsome estate at his death.

No better man has lived in our county and none whose death deserves a more respectful consideration from the people than that of Judge Martin, whose good widow and children have my most sincere sympathy and respect.

The following correspondence grew out of the obituary notice of the late Judge Martin, which Judge H. T. Mudd recently wrote for publication in the columns of this paper at the request of the editor. The letter of Judge Porter was not intended for publication but is given our readers as illustrating on of the characteristics of the well kown and highly respected man whose virtues it celebrates.

LINCOLN COUNTY, MO., July 23,1888

JUDGE HENRY T. MUDD – Dear Sir: Your notice and remarks upon the life and death of our most estimable friend Judge Charles Martin contained in the last issue of the FREE PRESS receives a ready response from myself and, I doubt not from the many friends of Judge Martin in Lincoln who so highly appreciated him. I loved him as a friend, upright, correct, and judicious in the discharge of every public duty; honest and pure in heart, and, as you justly remark, "According to the Divine precept, no man hungry or needy has ever passed his hospitable home that, he did not reach out his hospitable hand in relief." My mind in this reflection instinctively reverts to a visit of a nephew of mine in 1864. Charles McElroy, son of my sister Ann McElroy, who came to spend some months with me, came from Cap-au-Gris in a wagon as far as Judge Martin’s by whom he was kindly received and hospitably entertained, and on the next morning furnished with a horse to pursue his way to my house. This little fellow, then 14 years old, deeply felt and appreciated the kindness he had received, and, I doubt not, today, although it has been 24 years (he a man of family and engaged in a profitable mercantile business in Carthage, Mo.) that he would cordially unite with us in venerating the life and memory of our departed fiend.

I hav sent a copy of the paper containing your letter to my brother Gilchirst, who doubtless remembers Judge Martin as one of the solid, useful men of our county, for he has a distinct recollection and regard for his long tried and true friends of Lincoln. He, too, has an appreciative heart in recounting the life’s and virtues of our deceased friends, as tributes to their morale excellences and usefulness in their day and generation, and as memorial for the imitation of the living.

Yours very truly,

A Campaign Story Refuted

The following letter from Capt. T. R. Reid to Judge H. T. Mudd and his reply thereto will explain themselves:

FOLEY, MO., Sept. 21

JUDGE H. T. MUDD: You may be somewhat surprised at my query, but, during a political discussion this morning, a citizen of Silex stated that you intended to vote for Harrison and Morton. Being somewhat inclined to doubt this, (we hear so much of influential men changing their politics) in this instance I have taken he liberty to write you, remembering that you, as well as my father, were old line Whigs together. I want to know as to the truth of this statement. A reply either to me or through the FREE PRESS will greatly oblige.

Yours truly,

T. R. REID

EDITORS FREE PRESS: You will please do me the favor to publish the above card just as relived from my old friend, Capt. Tom Reid.

O see an array of Democratic candidates to be voted for on the 6^th of November in your paper, from Mr. Cleveland down to coroner, none of Whom I shall scratch an done especially I shall not scratch is our gallant Richard H. Norton, born and reared here in our county, and is still here with us and for us.

I am glad to see in your paper what Col. Green Clay of Audrain county (our able and dignified candidate for state senator) is reported to have said in a speech in Troy in regard to Mr. Norton and his nomination. I was with Col. Clay as a congressional delegate, three days at New London and seven days at Mexico, and had much talk with him in regard to our duties and obligations to the Democratic party as its delegates and he well knows whereof he speaks in regard to Dick’s liberal and honest bearing and even self-sacrificing devotion for the welfare of the party in the district and before the convention.

and money in three hard canvasses, and for our delegates to have let the nomination pass a third time to far weaker men than either of them, or wear themselves out further in a deadlock, it is not wonderful – it is quite reasonable – that some plan or arrangement should have been adopted by which one of these gallant and able young men should have been nominated instead of a weaker man that we did not want. They certainly considered that they were doing the best that could have been done under the circumstances, for the best interest of the Democratic party of the district. And I am of the opinion, as expressed by the Clarksville Sentinel and other Democratic papers of the district, that he or they who set themselves up as dictators or otherwise in opposition to what the convention has done, or the method and manner in which it was done, if they have any political or other aspirations in view as resulting from it, will find themselves badly left.

I hope I have fully answered Capt. Tom, and am sure if his good father were still living, we would be found running in the same groove in the grand old Democratic party, as we were formerly in the grand old (Henry Clay) Whig party.

Respectfully

Letter from T. Reid

Lagrange, Mo., Sept, 29, 1888

Is it not well to try to show up all such reports as that in regard to Judge Mudd? They are told for the influence which they have, and, doubtless, they do have an effect, for I am free to admit had it been the truth about Judge M., I should have begun to wonder whether I was right or wrong in supporting Cleveland and Thurman. Because I have known Judge Mudd all my life and have always thought him well posted upon the needs of the government and the questions of the hour. At the same time I knew that he was as honest as to his convictions that he would not allow arty affiliations control his vote in opposition to what those conviction really are. With an apology to Judge Mudd for what may have seemed to be a slight doubt as to his Democracy, and with a hurrah for Cleveland, Thurman and all the rest of the Democratic party, I remain

Yours etc.

Mr. Sweeney was married in Rockville, MD., in the year 1837, to the daughter of Mr. George Sands. He came to Lincoln county in 1838, and for a few years followed the occupation of a farmer, after which he engaged with Mr. Wing as foreman in his tanyard in Troy for many years, he being a tanner by trade. For the past thirty years he has kept a retail grocery store in Troy. Through life few men have borne a more irreproachable character for truth, honesty and fair dealing with the people than M. Sweeney. No man ever doubted his word or charged him with unfair dealing in th his business relations, or his moral, upright rectitude as a neighbor, citizen and friend. He leaves but two children, Mr. George Sweeney of Troy and Mrs. Robert Elder of Millwood, both of whom may well look back with pride and pleasure at the blameless life of a good father whose virtues and purity of character through life are worthy the imitation of those who live after him.

He was buried from the Catholic church at Millwood at 4 0’clock, P.M. on the 19^th inst., where a large concourse of people attended his funeral. May he rest in peace.

Died in Whiteside, Mo., on the second day of April 1889, at the residence of his son, Dayton, Judge Soloman R. Moxley in this 86^th year of his age.

Thus paseth away another of our most respectable and venerable old citizens and former able and dignified members of te County and Probate courts of Lincoln county.

Judge Moxley was born in Virginia September the 2^nd, 1803, and married to Miss Mary V. Bowley, his first wife in 1830 of whom a son and daughter were born. He moved to Lincoln county Mo., in 1836. His first wife died in 1837 and the following year he was married I Lincoln county Mo., to Miss Mariah L. Verdair, a native also of Virginia, of whom were born seven children, five are living and also one son by the first wife, six all, five sons and one daughter, Maggie A. the wife of James F. Pogue, a merchant at Whiteside, Mo. The five sons are James V., John A., Warner W., Dayton J., and Howard M., all are married and much respected by all who know them.

An elder daughter Lucy A., grew up and was married many years ago to Doctor Samuel H. McKay, the father of Doctor Soloman P. McKay of Mackville, Mo.

Judge Moxley has followed the occupation of a farmer through life, has been a widower for the last ten years, since the death of his second wife, and for fifty years a citizen and taxpayer of the country.

He was elected four times as County Judge and one term as Probated Judge, making 20 years in all, during which time no man has ever filled a public trust committed to him with more fidelity and care for the best interest of the people than Judge Moxley.

He has been a Democrat through life and gave his last vote for Cleveland and Thurmand.

Three of our most venerable and respected old citizens, and former County judges have recently passed away. Judges Martin, Basket and Moxley all of whom lived to an advanced age and have left after them a name and character that may well be emulated by their children and others after them

DEAR SIR: - Your very kind letter of the 29^th ult., informing me of the death of Judge Baskett, your father, and reminding me of the long and friendly relations existing between him and myself, is to hand.

Perhaps there are but few men living who had known your father longer or at least better than myself, or had higher appreciation his purity of character and Christian life.

Perhaps your good aged mother, who survives him, might remember my first visit to their house in February, 1843, past forty-six years ago, where I spent the night and enjoyed the hospitality of their comfortable home, it being the first of the four years I assessed our county – we both having moved to this county but a few years previous.

A very good editorial on his life and death appeared last week in the FREE PRESS, but I think it almost due from me to say something on the death of my old friend whom I had known so long and well, the more especially during the four years we were members of the county court together, and hone better than myself could know of, or appreciate his good judgment and honest solicitude for the welfare of the people and the faithful discharge of all the public trusts committed by the people to his care.

But few if any of good old citizens have gone before us who have left a better example through life for the imitation of his children and others who live after him than Judge Baskett.

With my best regards and respect for your venerable mother and all the family, I am.

                             Most Respectfully,
                                      HENRY T. MUDD

SULLIVAN: - Died, July 28^th, 1880, Margaret aged twenty year, and seven days later. Ellen, aged eighteen, the daughters of Mrs. Mary Sullivan, widow ot the late Jeremiah Sullivan.

Margaret and Ellen were the eldest of six children of their widowed mother. These dear children, just arriving at womanhood, had endeared, themselves not only to a good kind and affectionate mother, but to the whole community around them as models of Christian obedience to the church and by their rare degree of intelligence in assisting their mother in the management of the affairs of the family. And they were beloved and respected, too, because of their chaste and dignified deportment and the innocence and purity of their lives.

They were both buried from the Catholic Church at Millwood, attended by a large concourse of sorrowing neighbors and friends, all of whom deeply sympathize with the afflicted mother in her bereavement. May they rest in peace.

There is now considerable speculation as to which one of the county papers will starve out. Starve! An editor starve? Gentle readers you are unsophisticated. Just hold your breath till you here of such a thing. Did you ever see a dead mule? Did you ever see a sycamore tree that had been struck by lightning? You may look for these things, but as long as people pay their subscription in stove-wood, dried apples and onions, don’t you never look for a starved editor. His clothes may be seedy and ragged, and his credit gone, but still he toils on with a clear conscience, doing good for his community, and standing off his creditors, till in the fullness of his period the Lord shall call him home, where delinquent subscribers and persons who know how to run his paper better than he can never come. – Elsberry Advance.

EDITORS FREE PRESS: The above clipping from the Elsberry Advance I think worth reproduction. I fine it laid away loosely in my diary since the time it appeared – I don’t know how long back, but since the fourth newspaper was started in our county.

Since Editor Powell penned the article no doubt some dead mules may have been seen, and perhaps some sycamore tree may have been struck by lightning, as far as I know. And although many subscriptions to his paper may have been paid in the commodities mentioned, and his clothes may be seedy, Editor Powell is still at his post, no doubt doing good service for his community. Long may he stay and prosper.

No editor of a country newspaper who can write an article so full of sarcastic fun, courage and grit ought ever to be in danger of going down.. They ought to be paid in dollars and cents for their services, as I hope he is; but I’ll bet Jim Powell five cents that even he can’t write another article as good as the above.

HENRY T. MUDD
Millwood, Mo., July 20, 1889

MILLWOOD, Oct. 1, 1889

EDITORS FREE PRESS: Early this morning Master Albert Mudd went out into the field to get up the horses and saw a large red fox come out of his burrow under a last year’s hay rick in Judge Mudd’s meadow. He did not have time to go after Uncle Mat. Shocklee and his gray mare, but galloped over and told Dr. Wommack, who blew his horn and came at once with his six famous hounds. These were soon on the trail, with the doctor and Albert in close pursuit – keeping in sight or hearing of the dogs throughout the whole chase. After a beautiful run of an hour and a quarter over fields, hills and dales, Reynard made back for his burrow under the hayrick. The last half mile of this chase was perhaps the pretties and most exciting ever witnessed, with "Madam Tweet" some twenty yards in the lead of the pack, all in full cry and poor Reynard making desperate efforts to reach his home in advance of the wide-mouthed hounds. But it was a hopeless case with him, for he was caught within a few jumps of the hayrick. The doctor rode through Millwood in triumph with his victorious dogs and carcass of the fox. Uncle Mat. And the gray mare, not getting word in time, did not reach the scene until Reynard had been killed.