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F IN C H M A S N O .

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[All R zgﬁt s R ese r ve d ! C H AS . S T RAKE R S o u s r i n t e s o n d o n an d R e d h ill . P r , L S PORTS ME N IN GE NE RAL ,

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H U NT ING ME N IN R T R PA I C U L A ,

T H IS VOL U ME IS DE DICATE D

T H E R OBE DIE NT S E R VANT I ,

E T T H AU H OR .

AUTHO R’ S P EFA E R C .

AID an o l d Etonian to me the other day

“ In my time (and I dare s ay yours)

there w as alw ays one particular boy in the s c h o o l noted for the habitual p o s s e s s i o n of a worse hat than any of his In my day a youth

h a named Mc was t e celebrity in that w y . His head-gear w as invariably something dreadful to con h . e o n e template When , therefore, appeared day at

n t h e - abse ce in school yard , wearing an apparently

” - “ “ bran new tile, with a lustre upon it t hat T h e

Pe e r f h e Glossy himsel might have been proud of, created quit e a sensation amongst his friends of the R D emove . Finally, octor Hawtrey, dandiest of

pedagogues , noticed the circumstance, and, bowing

ironically , said in his mincing manner I con

gratulate you , Mc on the possession at last

” ir o f . s a new hat Wrong again , , replied t hat

“ ’ ’ u It s th e o ld u n d o n e u ! nabashed youth , p T his, gentle reader, is the case with this book .

Some of these papers appeared a few years ag o in t h e ’ r P a A u th o s r ef ce .

’ o f Be ll s L i e i n L o n d o n n o w columns f , amalgam

' ‘ S o r zzn L i e o f ated with the p g f , to the courtesy whose propriet or I am indebted fo r permission t o

t o t o republish them , and whom I now beg ex

press my thanks .

Since then they have been t o a great ex tent r e

written , and many new Flowers added to the

T h t o t . e bouque author ventures think that, like

’ t the Etonian s hat, they have los nothing by being

“ ’ t h e done up . If public will only endorse that

h e t opinion , will be well sa isﬁed . C O NTE NTS .

THE MASTER OF THE H o u ND s

. GR IM BOY F OF H NT MR , THE ATHER THE U

T OM TOOTLER , THE HUNTSMAN

THE C H IR PIN GTONS OF L AR K L E Y HALL

R E V H A THE . MARMADUKE MERRYTHOUGHT, THE C APL IN THE HUNT

L MR . AND ADY THOMAS INA CLINKER

CAPTAIN DABBER

C H ARLI E WILD OATS

S S MR . AMUEL HRUB

A S L Y S ON H ON . THE DOLPHU IGHTFOOT, THE OUNGER

THE HARKAWAY HUNT BALL

MR . METAL

WILLIAM WAGGL E T ON

MR . BENJAMIN BOBBIN

R ALPH DUCKWORTH o r THE WILD FARM

M R AND S . S MR . PARKLER

THE HARKAWAY HUNT S TEEPLECHASES THE GREAT PRESENTATION DAY

THE BORE O F THE HUNT AND OTHER CHARACTER S

THE L AST DAY OF THE S EASON -A PINK WEDDING AND AFTERNOON Fo x

- T n t e d Ill u s t r a t io n s L is t of f u ll pag e i .

T H E MAS TER OF T H E HOUNDS

M r Ba n t M i B . . ggs early upse s ss luebell

M R R IM BOY . G

N o s ir I i n i n t t Wi n t o t ﬁn d s ir . , am of op o ha hey ll ,

T OM TOOTLER

i t t n t d Well , Squ re are hey fas e ough for you o ay

T H E C H IR PIN GTON S OF L AR K L E Y i Well in t h e va n we c an make o u t t h e Squire an d h s Wi fe .

T H E R E V . MARMADUKE MERRYTHOUGHT

’ When t h e coun t ry is roughest he s most a t h is ease .

MR . AND L ADY THOMASINA CLINKER

’ I m c i n n n i ! om g , Joh e CAPTAIN DABBER

T h i n e t o u t a n d n t . e desp sed o shoo s wms , hard held , by a le g h CHARLIE WILDOATS

M r s c m bl e r o n M B n . . S u has a day olly aw

M R . S AMUEL S HRUB

’ ’ M r i in ’ o n n a t m m o r n . , C p ,

H ON A L THE . DOLPHUS IGHTFOOT

It i s t S l h t t o D o t U x n it k l d a grea g see olly g p , regardless of e pe se , wh e ” v I c a n d t & c . glo es , rreproa hable breeches boo s ,

THE HARKAWAY HUNT BALL

’ T h e in n C t , n t o u u e t o t h e o c c a s m n ap a s la guage eedless say , was q equal .

M R METAL

' T t Fo x M n ha s a , for a o key

WILLIAM WAGGL E TON C t ome up , you bru e

M R . BENJAMIN BOBBIN

C i i t t M r . B i n t o harl e W ldoa s eaches obb how shoot a rocket er.

RALPH DUCKW ORTH OF THE WILD FARM

T h e m an o n t i n old hese occas o s always ac t s as judge . - t t r o L is t of f u ll pag e Ti n e d Ill u s a t i n s .

MR AND M R S . S PARKLER

i v v t ca n d w a L i t t M r s . t t a s in le Sparkler wore a scarle hab , a el e p , smok g a

i it t n t t i t i n t o . c gar , w h grea appare sa sfac o herself

THE HARKAWAY HUNT S TEEPLEC HASES ” An d n o w t hey come t o t h e wat er j ump .

T H E GREAT PRESENTATION D AY i Wi ldoat s goes a t it ﬁft y m les a n hour .

THE BORE OF THE

’ Oh S ir H n o t ’ n o t , arry , say you re dead do say you re dead

THE L AST DAY OF THE S EASON

T n t o t h e c n n at t t h e ﬁ i ha ks hampag e co sumed breakfas , large eld rode l ke n demo s . L E S F THE H NT F OW R O U .

F NCH MA N BY I SO .

T H E T R T H E D MAS E O F H O U N S .

AL F- T T E N ’ PAS O clock to a minute, and here ” o f comes my lord , exclaims one the many sportsmen assembled at the meet o f the o l d

’ NO Harkaway Hounds at Man s Land . “ ’ ? ” Punctual as clockwork , ain t he remarks Farmer “ ’

o w l e ki n s . J , admiringly Pity he isn t a bit more ff ” a able though , adds he .

s a Da i s fie ld is u Sooth to y , Lord y just a trifle too m ch of the s t a n d o ffis h order to be a thoroughly popular Master o f Hounds .

w o w n H o ever, doing the whole thing at his expense ,

as he does, and , what is more , doing it uncommonly well , and being a ﬁr s t -rate sportsman and horseman to boot

o (not that the two always g together, for there are heaps

w h o of men one knows can ride like blazes , as the saying — is , but yet are shocking bad sportsmen at heart men w h o would just as soon ride after a red herring as a fo x

o f s o any day the week , long as they can gallop and jump

’ o n e to their heart s content), no can deny his being the right man in the right place .

I ’ r th H a n n a s 2 Th e M a s t e of e .

o ff Hats is the order of the day, as my lord trots up to

T r i m bu s h T his hounds , and raveller rushing forward ff with a great sh ow of a ection to greet him .

m an o r A tall , slim of abou t ﬁfty so , dressed to per f e c t i o n u o n , and mo nted as he is a great slashing, well

w s bred bro n horse, which he its to admiration , there is

w no getting a ay from the fact that he looks all over, from the cro w n of his c u rly-brim m e d hat to the soles o f 11 1 5 - - highly polished top boots , exactly what a Master of

Hounds Should be . A year o r two ago a dreadful trick was played upon his lordship , a trick indeed altogether so painful to his feelings that he was all but throwing u p the hounds in disgust .

T h e w d Harka ay, as doubtless the sporting rea er is

w a s o f a are , are never advertised in the papers most the other packs of the U nited Kingdom are . One reason being that they ne v er have been during

d w h o their existence , an d my lor , is very Conservative in

' s e e n all his notions , don t why he should begi now .

Another is , that he thinks that by not advertising his

O ff Of meets , he keeps a lot what he is pleased to term “ T hose nasty London people, from honouring his hun t with their presence .

N o w a , one of these gentry, a bluste ring, sw ggering ,

- - loud talking, red faced personage , Baggs by name, took it into his head one ﬁne day to hunt with the Harkaway ;

f o r and one whole season , and the beginning of the one w e D a i s ﬁ l s peak of, he had kept his horses at the y e d

Bu ll e r t o n Arms at , and made his appearance regularly ,

’ o f three times a week , at the meet his lordship s hounds .

H is sonorous Good m orning, my lord, as Lord Th e M a s te r O th e H o u n d s f . 3

Dai s ﬁe ld y trotted up to the hounds , used very nearly to

. w H o n make his lordship sick Enquired his nephe , the .

D d t o ick Lavender, on a visit to my lor , as the w cantered

o n e up to the meet, ﬁne morning, and , as usual , were met

and saluted by M r . Baggs Who ’ s the red -faced party with the brown tops and the alarming voice , uncle T D ? ” hat dreadful person , ick replied my lord , with a “ grimace and a shudder Goodness only knows . My

’ ‘ ’ ’ n hu tsman tells me he s something in oil , and that s all “ w d o u I kno . And , adde his uncle , I conj ure y , ride

D R id e . O o r over him , ick over him the very ﬁrst p p

’ ’ t u n it bo n y , there s a good y , and you ll be co ferring a most h inestimable favour on bot myself and my Hunt .

t o o n Well , the irrepressible M r . Baggs continued hunt ,

e e w k after week , day after day , regardless Of all the noble

’ D a i s ﬁe ld Master s black looks . Lord y literally hated the

i a l w s very sight of him . H e was ay a as the

ﬁrst whip remarked . “ Who the blank taugh t yo u to holler said the

huntsman to him one day, galloping up a ride very irate

fo x n o t o ld because the would break , and catching Baggs

fo r at the far end shouting like mad , he had j ust viewed

the fox crossing the ride .

’ Who the blank t a u g h t y o u to holler Can t ye leave

' the ounds alone , yer silly man added he , as he plunged

' Mu ﬁ h o . w short into the wood , nearly upsetting poor Mr ,

a s w a w standing in the y . d T . hen he had ridden over a houn or two Old Barbara,

’ o n e o of my lord s favourite h unds, did not get over that

’ kick in the ribs the great Baggs s br u te of a grey mare

o n e f o r . gave to her day, a fortnight at least Th e M a s t e r o th e H o u n d s 4 f .

t d Lastly, he put a ﬁnishing ouch to his elinquencies by o n e w as day crossing pretty little Miss Bluebell , who the

o f o f favourite the hunt generally , and an especial pet his

’ o f lordship s , just as she was in the act riding at a fence , and all but upsetting her, horse and all . I ndeed , if the fair lady, who could ride like a bird , had not had her horse

s h e i s well in hand , might have had what commonly called D a nasty fall . es perately angry with this last feat was my lord , who had j ust piloted his fair friend over the

t o fence in question , and had turned in his saddle watch d her performance . H e had half ma e up his mind to ride back again over the fence and horsewhip his enemy, but

s o before he could do , Miss had set her horse going again , and in another second came boundi n g over the obstacle as “ Di light as a cork, and was once more at his side . d ” t h t o o id D ai t h ﬁe ld ? you thee that p man , Lord y lisped “

h e . d o s . I ndeed I did , my dear Miss Bluebell I

o f - trust, said he, with a paternal squeeze her neatly gloved

d o t r u s t o u n o t . D o hand , I y were alarmed have a little

’ orange brandy from my ﬂask . N o Well, well , I m

’ ’ o f glad it s no worse ; and that wretch a man , too , who s

always doing something to annoy me . I do really wish

u n e c k he wo ld break his , wound u p my lord fervently .

D r If . Watts is to be believed , that mischievous

o l d sportsman , Satan , is always able to ﬁnd so m e

d o . o n e ﬁn e work for idle hands to According ly, afternoon , after a blank day, it happened that

Master Frank Larkins , late of Eton College, Bucks ,

n o w h x and of Christ C urch , O ford , and his friend ,

D o ick U pton , als late of Eton , but just now gazetted to the

1 6 w e r e o in I th Lancers , j g g g homewards together, smoking T their cigars , and chattering like magpies . hey had

Th e M a s t e r o th e H o u n d s 6 f .

’ t o L a r ki n s s came at last Messrs . U pton and missive , his

n o d surprise and delight knew boun s . H e could scarcely

h i s s o believe eyes in fact . H is hand trembled , that he spilt half h i s ~ c o ff e e over his beautiful new velvet smoking-suit

’ (French blue, with foxes heads embroidered all over it), a nd he w as obliged to have a glass o f his best liqueur

’ D a i s ﬁe ld s c o m brandy to steady himself. With Lord y ! ” pliments gasped he .

s a id w a s ﬁr t - Well , I always his lordship a s chop

’ ’ ’ m o f s o feller, and now I sure it ; here s is jolly good

’ ’ ’ ’ e a l t h o u n d s t o o h . a , and is and with t at M r B ggs tossed

' o ff h o f e a u -d e -z ne t o t h e anot er glass toast .

T h e T next day, uesday, the H arkaway H ounds met at ” S li e r ﬁe ld p p Common , and amongst the earliest arrivals , M as the papers say , you may be sure were essrs . U pton

t h e i r and Larkins , looking as if butter would not melt in

—M r o n mouths , and M r . Baggs . B . his best horse , with his best coat , and a brand new cap on , and in a perfect

' o f fever excitement ; indeed , he hadn t slept a wink all

h h e ! D VIS Io n s night . Suc dreams had had elightful

o f o n t h e a slapping my lord familiarly b ck , an d “ Da i s ﬁe l d o l d calling him y , boy , his lordship

l o ld o f reta iating with Baggs , pal ; Lady D a i s yﬁe ld presenting his daughter Julia at the next draw

’ ing room , and a hundred other pleasant fancies . Five - ? minutes to the half hour . And is it Yes , here comes

T h e my lord . grateful M r . Baggs can scarcely keep

Off himself from galloping to meet him . H owever, he waited until the noble Master joined the crowd o f horse

men , and then came gallantly to the front, cap in hand . 3) “ h e Good morning, my lord , said . Allow me to thank

’ yo u most e ar t ily f o r your condescension in s o kindly Th e M a s t e r o th e H o u n d s f . 7

o f Y o u sending me the card your meets , my lord . need

s never be afraid , I can as ure you , of my ever I nsulting

' ’ y o u by ever unting with any other ounds but your lord

’ ’ ship s gallant pack , and if, as I Ope , my lord , some day

when you are in town , and Should be passing my

’ w a y, you ll just give me and my daughter J ulia a

look in , I can assure you , my lord , we shall

’ be most proud and appy . And M r . Baggs ,

having thus delivered himself, resumed his cap , and

m beamed pleasantly round on the asse bled company . As

w a s for my lord , he struck speechless with astonishment

u . h e and disg st At last he gasped out , Good heavens ” s a s I w r o t e t o h im -ﬂ a s k R y . Give me my sherry , obert,

W It h e r i n and , with a g glance at M r . Baggs , he took the

ﬂask from his second horseman , and swallowed half the ” contents at a gulp A thing, as the groom remarked

s o afterwards, I never see my lord do afore , early in the

’ ” T h e day, ever since I ve bin in his s ervice . story of the

Mr hoax spread like wildﬁre, and the wretched . Baggs

d a wished himself anywhere before the y was out . Lord

D a is ﬁe ld y , too , was very angry at such a liberty having

w been taken with his name . H o ever, when he heard

next day that Mr . Baggs had actually removed his horses

m Da i s ﬁe ld fo r fro the y Arms , and had left the country g ood, having given out, in fact, that in future he intended

’ to hunt with o u r Most Gracious Majesty s Staghounds — the Harkaway H ounds being t o o slo w fo r h i m his wrath

w a s appeased , and everybody agreed that when his lord

' n e x t m e e t ship turned up , punctual as usual , at the of his

hounds , and found no M r . Baggs to give him greeting, and , what w as more to the purpose, that he was never likely to be bothered by that worthy again , they had never seen 8 Th e M a s t r o th e H o u n d s e f .

T h e o f him look s o cheerful before . muscles his generally severe countenance relaxed from their accustomed hard

o n e s a s o ness into a gratiﬁed smile ; in fact , if might y ff without o ence, his lordship for once in his life looked as

pleased as Punch .

’ n o n T And w the oble Master consults his watch . ime s

’ u — - T h e o p tis the half hour exactly . hounds move n ; horses begin t o squea l and kick ; nervous riders begin t o look

R a d d l e t o n — a blue . Away we all go to Wood sure ﬁnd .

’ o f o A wave the huntsman s hand , and in g the hounds , “ and W hilst they are busy drawing fo r the little R e d R over w e will mingle with the crowd in t h e big ride and endeavour t o pick o u t a fresh Flower fo r o u r nex t sketch .

MR R IMB Y . . G O

N THE FATHE R OF THE H U T .

’ ’ ’ ” ll s i r ? n u H IN K the Ounds ﬁnd ere , i q ires

little Jack Sprouter (from London), splashing

w h o n up to a solitary horseman , is sitti g sol emnly o n his horse right in the middle of the very - - r swampy, snipe inhabited looking sc ubs belonging to

T a c kl e t o n T h e Wood . horseman addressed turns round in his saddle , eyes Sprouter from head to foot, and replies “ ffl No gru y, in a most decisive manner, , sir ; I am of ” i r n o t s . opinion that they will ﬁnd ,

H e then frowns grimly, relapses into his former statue

m like position , and proceeds to utter audibly to himself,

M r . Sprouter, who is all attention , just catching such “ — interjections as Damned railway s Never any foxes

n — — - w here o w Billy Button . Infernal counter jumpers do n ” d a — s o o n for the y H ounds going to the devil, and . T ruth to tell , the cockney is rather relieved than other

’ W Is e by the statue s reply, for he likes splashing T about in the renowned Scrubs, uncommonly . here I M r b 0 Gr m . . i oy

n o o n is danger about it , and it makes e look like

o u t -a n d -o u t - an sportsman , a tip top Nimrod , he thinks , to get back to to w n well splashed all over with

’ s o h i s o n h i s mud , he drops reins horse s neck, and

proceeds very deliberately to eat his sandwiches , and

n T h e take a suck at his mo key , as he calls it . Scrubs

o f is the place all others for sportsmen like J ack . I t

o f a o f consists large extent scrub , surrounded on three

w e t s o sides by big woods it is there at all times , after

’ i s heavy rain it in beautiful order, and J ack and Co . s horses sink into the binding clay over their hocks at

v nearly e ery step . I n former days it used to be a great

o f o n e resort foxes , in fact was of the greatest strongholds

t w o for them in the country , but lines Of railway run right

o f n o w through the heart it , besides which the shooting “ t o o n e o f w h o m is let the wrong sort, abo inat e s Sly R ” eynolds , and , as he is aided and abetted by a vulpecide

o f t in the shape a keeper, it is not to be wondered at hat o f late the Scrubs have very Often been drawn blank .

n o t Indeed, a ﬁnd there now is the exception , the

u r le . A greater contrast to each other in the two sportsmen

we have introduced cannot well be imagined . M r . Jack - Sprouter is a small , pert looking little gent , with sandy hair and whiskers . H e wears a cap , and a particularly

- -u badly made red coat . A stick p collar, with large blue

spots , surrounds his little neck, and round the collar t again comes a blue satin tie (with white spots his time), folded in a bow, the ends terminating in a fringe . His

o f a s breeches are white cord , and look if they had been

shrunk in the wash . H is boots , very badly blacked ,

t o ff h as have brown tops , and, to add the general e ect, he

bo M r Gr im . I 2 . y

T o m G r i m bo y has forgotten more than a good man y o f the members of our redoubtable Hunt know . H e lives all by himself at the Grange , where he dispenses hospitality in

- T o s e e o l d ff . a sti , old fashioned sort of way the gentle

o n e man to perfection must behold him in the evening .

Blue coat and brass buttons , pumps and black Silk socks , and s u c h a white neckcloth ! J ovial Sir H arry Bluff off ended him mortally o n e night after dinner at t h e Chir

i n t o n s t Gr i m bo p g , by swaggering up , jus as M r . y had — brought himself to anchor in front o f the drawing roo m

t o o f ﬁre , and was helping himself a comforting pinch

ff v t snu , and , gi ing him a poke in his s omach , saying, at

h w a Gr i m bo t e . same time, in his hearty y (M r y hated hearty ways ), Well , old boy, does your skin feel pretty

G r i m bo h e h . o n tight , M r y ordered his carriage th e

t o t Spot, and Sir Harry and he did not speak each o her for ever so long after .

All modern innovations , more especially railroads , he hates with all his heart and soul ; W hilst for all i n s t i t u

Fo r tions of the past he has a proportionate veneration . instance he is a staunch upholder of the now defunct prae

i s tice of duelling, indeed it rumoured that the old Squire played a prominent part in more than one aff air o f honour

i s in his younger days , and it also said that , quiet o ld gentleman as he now is , he was just as cheerful a dandy as any o f t hem in the roystering days o f Carlton H ouse and the Pavilion . Sometimes when after din n er a bottle o f good wine has warm ed the cockles of his vener able heart and made his o ld eyes sparkle with something o f n l o u their former brillia cy, he will aunch t with a m mis takable pleasure into stories of his goings-o n i n company ” T h e with the author of School for Scandal, and Beau M r Gr im bo . y . I 3

T o m T this and that . hen he will get quite excited , kick o u t o n his little shrivelled legs under the table, and go to

h o w w relate with much gusto he horse hipped M r . Lamb “ a t Bu ll e r t o n o n e skin , the attorney , , ﬁne day . It would

! o f have been all very well , but , begad I got hold the

u d wrong man , sirs , and had to pay ﬁve hundred po n s ,

! Five h u n d r e d o u n d s ! damme p Fancy that, for thrashing ! D ’ a damned attorney ear, wasn t it I t was pleasant at

. ! the time , though Gad how he bellowed when I gave it ” w a s him . Horsewhipping the attorney not the only

o f G r i m bo scrape the kind that the irascible Mr . y had to pay for . As we have before mentioned , the Squire had a

o f mortal aversion to railways , and in the early days the reign o f King Hudson he lived in perpetual dread of the h i iron road encroaching on his domain . At last s dream h ’ came true . Sitting one o t summer s night after dinner

over his wine , in company with the curate of the parish a mild youth fresh from the U niversity— they were

n o f suddenly i terrupted by the abrupt entrance Mr .

M u l be r w h o y , the butler, rushed into the room purple in

’ ’ T s i r the face with excitement . hey re come, , they re W ’ ! . come gasped he ho s come, you fool replied his

Wh h as master . y , the railway people , sir . Giles

’ ’ o f just come up to say that there s , a lot em at this

’ m e as u r i n moment, a with their nasty tapes and lines , and ” the like , down in the walley . “ ” “ Co m e o n Co m e o n , shouted the Squire, , and away - he went , pumped and silk socked as he was , not even

w w h o waiting for a hat , follo ed by the curate , caught up

be a thick stick in the hall as he passed , and trotted along

hind the irate Squire, mentally repeating as he went along an impromptu prayer against battle , murder, and sudden M r Gr im b I . . 4. oy

n fo r . death , , poor man , he did not know what might happe

w - A ay went the Squire across the bowling green , along

- - the pleasure ground , past the summer house at a hand

o u t - gallop , and at the postern gate into the road . Sure

o n enough , in the ﬁeld the other side, were four men

& c . busily employed with tapes , As the Squire , now

a t o f m a n nearly breathless , arrived the scene action , the in command o f the party w a s just pencilling down some

o n u w as h notes a h ge plan . H e a big man , a Scotc man ,

x - with a back as broad as a prize o at Christmas time . I t w a s D R u avid and Goliath over again . ushing p to the

w x o . astonished engineer , ithout a word of e planati n , M r

G r i m bo o u t o f y snatched the plan his hands , and , tearin g

o r it into three four pieces , threw it on the ground and

o n . T d stamped it his one, he went straight for the enemy ,

’ and , turning him round , gave him , with all the force he could command , a terriﬁc kick on what the Yankees

We s t e r n o f T would call the side his person . hat the

w as m a Scotchman astonished considerably, y well be imagined ; it w a s some minutes indeed before he could collect his faculties . At length he spoke . “ ” “ m u n m u n Eh , , said he , rubbing himself, Eh , ,

’ ’ o r n o t but ye ll pay for this , me neem s Sandy Mac gregor . “ ’ o ff o r Get my ground , you infernal scoundrel , I ll

o u throw y into the river, shrieked the Squire , and the

c m n t big S otch an , looking round and seei g some stalwar keepers and other myrmidons o f the Squire approachi n g f the scene of action , thought discretion the better part o

“ ’ Off w valour, and walked , vowing as he en t that he d ” heve s e t i s fe c t i o n for the assault . We forget how much

w a s this little adventure cost the Squire , but it a con r r im bo M . G y ; 1 5 s id e r abl e t o a d d h i s d is c o m ﬁt u r e w a s sum , and , to , a Bill passed soon after enabling the railway company to g o

a where it pleased , and accordingly before long it w s to be

seen twisting and turning through his domain , like the

- o f great sea serpent, in spite all his remonstrances and

’ t h e n occasional assaults and batteries on compa y s servants .

' G r i m bo D ai s ﬁe l d s Mr . y never misses a meet of Lord y

hounds by any chance . No weather stops him ; n o

i s distance is too far for him , old as he ; he is always

h t o t ere at the ﬁnish , and his horses all seem have the

’ ’ knack of going where other people s can t . You will see

’ Old G r i m bo y ride quietly up to a bu llﬁn c h that you can t

s e e through , and squeeze through it between two ash

o n e w a s n o t fo r stems, where would imagine there room a

’ “ rabbit to pass . I t s the hands as does it , as the horse

Va i n h o e s d o t h e dealer said . Young p thinks he will

same ; and , lo and behold , he comes out the other side ,

with his hat smashed , his nose barked , a piece of stick in

- o ff s a o f his eye , and a coat lap nearly torn , to y nothing

’ his horse s legs being ﬁlled with thorns , whilst old Grim

o r n b y careers away ac oss the next ﬁeld , with either a

scratch nor a tear, and as smart as if he had j ust turned

Vai n h o e s n t o o u t o f a bandbox . p would give anythi g ” know h o w he does it .

. G r i m bo Hark ! is that the horn Yes M r . y w a s - b right T h e once famous Scrubs have been drawn lank,

n o u t o f and the huntsman i s getting his hou ds cover .

Gr i m bo l Mr . y, muttering invectives against all rai ways

- h i s and all fox slaying owners of coverts, retires from f a n d o i n s o . splashy position , j the rest the ﬁeld

T h e order is given to go and draw Cranberry Wood , a

r i m bo h T h l G . e o covert belonging to M r . y imself d lights up with satisfaction when the order w e ﬁnd , and there will T OM T T R OO LE .

U N T S N THE H MA .

T R T T R ’ IS E OO LE be along with the ounds ,

s i r , says a bare armed helper to us , as we pull u p one ﬁne frosty afternoon In front of the

kennels inhabited by the Harkaway H ounds , and be

Dai s ﬁe ld f longing to Lord y , and make inquiries o r the T ’ . s i r huntsman Mister ootler be along with the ounds , .

’ ’ o ff I ll c o b If you ll get , squire, take the in and give him a ” feed whilst you sto p .

Consenting to this arrangement, we dismount and

o ff o f T o m T stump in search the redoubtable ootler . We l run that worthy to ground , as our friend , the he per, pre

w e w e dicted , in the kennel ; in fact, as tap at the gate discern him through the bars in the act of stroking w ith his

- -a n d - o f hunting whip the black tan back his favourite , hound ,

’ o n Warrior, and expatiating that sagacious animal s merits

‘ M a r r e r bo n e - n to his friend , M r . , the well known sporti g

Bu ll e r t o n —M a r r e r bo n e d r u v butcher of , having over, as he

calls it , in his gig just to have a friendly glass , a look at the

u hounds , and wish his old acq aintance , the H untsman , a

’ n d o n T happy noo year, a many em . hey have had their

glass , and have inspected all the hounds , on whose merits

M a r r e r bo n e u Mr . waxes extremely loq acious , the brown

brandy, acting on the frosty air, giving him a conﬁdence

o n in his subject that , perhaps, he would not have , an ' t r I 8 To rn To o le .

I ordinary occasion , possessed . ndeed , if the truth must ” be told , M r . H em , as the Huntsman calls him , is a far

- T o m better judge o f a baron of beef than a fox hound .

fo r T w o u t a t . ootler gets some hat put last , M r M arrer

T o m bone , notwithstanding the astounding stories relates

’ i of old Warr or s sagacity and staunchness in the ﬁeld , and

’ his encomiums o n the o l d hound s make and shape

’ ’ ’ Th e r e s th e r e s t h e r e s a head , legs , a back for you , says

’ T o m — a t o l d won t have him any price , but vows that

T a omboy is far better looking , better shaped , y , and a

’

better hound altogether, he ll be bound , than yon ugly

T o m f . o looking beggar , in return , with a snort disgust , vows that if he had had h is way the redoubtable T omboy — would have had a rope round his neck long ago n o t that

he really meant what he said , for, as he very well knew,

o ld T i n omboy was as good a hound as any the pack .

t h i s u n c t u r e T o m At j catches sight Of us for the ﬁrst time ,

and perhaps our advent at that particular moment w as

w i d lucky , as the orthy pa r, j u ging by appearances , were “ t o u t t h e i s decidedly getting heir frills as saying .

M ar r e r bo n e M r . , seeing us , bids his entertainer fare

T o m fo r u r well , and opens the d oor his egress and o

entrance .

’ ’ ’ ’ M ar n i n s i r M a r n i n D , , . on t look much like huntin , ” T “ ? o m . o u do it , Squire begins Will y come in and

’ s i r o n D T have a look at em , he goes . own , raveller

d aw ! T down , good g ake my whip , Squire . Never

’ s i r o t mind me , , I ve g another here . We then proceed

— n o w to do the hounds now praising this one, that . What

R ad d l e t o n a day that was from Wood eh , Squire Ah

’ ’ o l d D e he re s Priestess . y call t o mind o l d Pries t ess t ha t

day, Squire

To m To o tle r 2 0 .

T o m s e t passes , it is a treat to see his horse into a canter

o n as he gets to the turf, he rising in his stirrups and

’ m akm o f g m uch the hounds . Who wouldn t be a hunts

h i s man Watch him as he goes airily along, horse , a

- - i o n e three hundred gu nea , snatching playfully at his bit , and whinnying with delight as the hounds gambol about

a i r t o o o ff at his heels . With what an , , he pulls his

In o f o f w h o cap honour the ladies the house , are looking o n ! T h e w h o from the lawn swell London footman , is

o f handing the liqueurs about , an exotic recent importation ,

o f s o and whose ﬁrst experience it is life in the country, is impressed with his manners that he even s i r s him as he

- & c . comes round to him with the curacao , cherry brandy , Our huntsman ﬁnd s a happy combination o f the s u a o it e r i n ne o d o and t h e f o r t it e r i n r e the most eff ective in

‘ h i s o n dealing with ﬁeld , and adopts it according ly all “ d o u occasions . H is H oun s , gentlemen , if y please ; ”

T o u th a n le . hank y , gen tlemen , you , is quite irresistible

’ ’ fo r o u s i r Ah , my lord s hounds are too Slow y I m afraid , ;

’ o u t o f w a w a s can t get your y, poor things all he said

o n e when young Graceless rode over Barbara ﬁne day, his sarcasm shaming that gentleman far more than any amount

o f abuse would have done . T h e subject o f our sketch commenced his sp ort ing career as second horseman to that well-known sportsman Sir

o f Da n b d a l e H arry Hotspur, the M aster the y H ounds , a post for which his light weight and capital h ands

and seat well adapted him . H e had not been two

’ years in Sir H arry s service, when , quite unexpected ly, a

o f o n e great piece luck came to him , for it happened , ﬁne

‘ t t h e o f day , jus at commencement the season , that the second whip w as unfort unate enough to break his leg To To o t l r ne e . ! I

in the course of a run , and Sir Harry, not knowing

’ s t m s u e s what to do for a ubsti ute , at the H unts an s g g

’ tion told T o m to take his damaged whip s place the next

T o m a . w s day the hounds met, and do his best delighted .

w a s o f h u n t i n as h i He passionately fond g , and , he had kept s

eyes well open and his wits about him all th e time he w a s

w a s riding second horse for Sir Harry, he enabled to

c d ebu t make an un ommonly good in his new profession .

T h e Huntsman took to him uncommonly, and Lady

H otspur tried to get her husband to keep him o n per

’ m a n e n t l T y as second whip , she being much struck by om s

- good looks , his predecessor being anything bu t a beauty

to look at . H owever, that arrangement the Baronet ﬂatly

v e r u s t l declined to agree to fair play , as he y j y observed ,

being a jewel . So when the invalided whip returned to

h i s T o m T duties had to look ou t for a new place . his he

very soon got , and he whipped in the whole of the next

w h o season , and the one after that , to Major Bullyboy ,

S l o s h i r e T h e c h a r a c t e r i s hunts the p Hounds . principal tics o f the S l o p s h i r e country are enormous great strag

gling woodlands , small ﬁelds , rough , unkempt looking

l T o m fences , and a deal of ploughed and . Here learned

s aw o f u a good deal of woodcraft , and an amount ro gh woodland hunting that was invaluable t o him in after

‘ t o o fo r life . Finding the coun try rather Slow him , he

left at the end of his second season , and we ﬁnd him the

o f d T h e following one whipping in to a pack staghoun s .

T o m huntsman leaving soon after, was promoted to the

T h i m post . hree years with the stag satisﬁed , however,

o f for though uncommonly fond galloping and jumping,

a yet he still had a hankering after the old legitimate g me .

S o as he left the stag, and took to fox again , ﬁrst whip this 2 2 To m To o tl e r .

i ﬁ ld time with Lord D a s y e . After serving four years

in that capacity, it happened that the huntsman died .

T o m a t h was installed once in his place, and there he as

been ever since . “ T o m w e And now, sir, says , as bring ourselves to - anchor in his snug parlour , and his neat servant maid “ t r o f appears with a brown jug and glasses , y a glass the

’ ’ ’ n s a ale . I thi k you ll y that it ain t the washin from brew

’ a s o f ff ers aprons some the stu they sell nowadays , is

’ a t indeed it s some M r . Maltby, the brewer, gave me - Christmas time , Squire .

’ T h e u T o f ale fully comes p to om s opinion it, and

then ensues a delightful conversation about hunting, nowhere to be arrived at to such perfection as in a hunts

’ T o m o l man s parlour . N ow relates some d story ; then w e o f recall to him some reminiscence bygone days .

T o m t o t w e calls mind ano her, then strike in once more,

o n and so . ” T o m w as t o s Eh , says , after a pause, Eh , I glad e e

Squire Curzon looking so well the other day, when he

’ w a s staying with my lord . I didn t know he was there

‘ ’ s d a T o m ? T o o y, and said , in his hearty way, H ow are ye, I hadn ’ t seen him since I hu nted them stag-hounds years

! m ago . What a rare sort he was to be sure and y ! ’ d ! — didn t he ride in those ays H is brothers , too three

’ ’ o n em there was ; it s hard to s ay which w a s the best

’ ’ o n r a s w a s em , but I think , p p , the Parson the n eates t — o f the l o t him as rode in the Liverpool Steeplechase a

o r o u time two , as y may perhaps recollect, Squire .

’ ’ w as . T h e Of e m But , Lor , they all ﬁrst rate worst , if

w a s t w a s t o s e e t here a wors , good enough a run o u t in

To rn To o t l e r . 2 3

any country, no matter what the fences were like . I

v T h e shall ne er forget one day whe n I was with the stag .

Squire and all his three brothers was out , for, though they

’ h w a s h aw f u l o f did not come wit u s reg lar like , they fond ’ i ’ a ll o i n u m n . w e g p and j p , I can tell ye Well , had a

’ s T h e w a s t r e m e nj u o u day . pace the ounds went something

m to be re embered , I can tell ye , Squire . I got my second

’ o r horse just in the nick of time , I shouldn t have seen the

o f end it Well , Squire Curzon and his brothers , they

’ I d o n t rode, they did , as , believe any four brothers ever

’ s e e rode afore . I at last the Squire s horse was about

’ h a fﬁn T c . h e done, and I begins a of him Squire was a rare

’ o n e 0 f u n u for a bit and would Often give me a t rn , saying

S O his hounds was twice as fast as mine, etcetera . I says

fo r quietly, Well , Squire , are they fast enough you t o

’ day ? I see , just as I said it , the Squire turn from the

’ w a s fo r fence , and looking out a gate but , Lor bless yer, he was ready for me with an answer directly, he was .

“ ‘ ’ ’ F a s t ! h e n o t a i enough for me says no , f fas t

’ e - br u t e I nough , only I m on a damned cock tailed only

’ f o r T gave forty pound at attersall s last week, and I brought him o u t with these Staggers o f yours just to s e e

’ what he w as made o f ! and with that he gets into the lane

’ fo r i and goes straight home, and lucky he did , we d dn t take

r the stag for half an hour afte that . Well , who should I

t h e o f bu t come across not many days arter run I speak ,

’ i t - s o the Squ re s s ud groom , J oe Blackbird ; I says t o

’ ‘ ’ ‘ o e a t him , J , I says , wh d ye mean by mounting

’ ‘ o n - u your master, I says , a forty po nd screw t h e other day when w e had such a h a w fu l run with

‘ Wo t ” our hounds . he says, the brown as the

7 ’ ’ ’ ’ 0 5 5 d e ? T Squire rode second y mean hat s him , I 2 TOm To o tle r 4 .

‘ T h e says . Squire told me hisself he only give

' f o r T w as forty pounds him at attersall s , and he dead

’ ’ ’ — d l w a ‘ a r . o e beat could y g , indeed Well, says J ,

’ ’ l a r ﬁn a r e o ld T h e a bustin out a , well , you a softy .

’ m u s t a m m o n i n o n Squire a bin a g you to some toon .

’ ’ ‘ ’ Why, now, says Joe , a gettin conﬁdential like , I ll tell

o u a T h y something priv te about the screw in question . e

’

Squire bought him last week , that s right enough , but he

’ ’ ’ d id n t T d id n t buy him at attersall s , and he give forty

’ ’ u n d i m p for neither, for he bought the o s s from

No o c o m e s u m M ason , and he gave the small , the s m a ll

’ ‘ o e o f sum , says J , getting quite sarcastic like, t hree

’ ’ " u n i m d e r d and ﬁfty guineas for . So you s e e the Squire

’ Of ff s i r got the best the cha , after all , didn t he , “ T o m Maybe, continued , you noticed the H url o f

H a c kl e ﬁe ld R out with us , that same day at the Cross oads .

Very glad to see him I was , and he seemed pleased t o s e e

u T h e me too , an d came p as hearty as possible . Sig ht o f him reminded m e of a thing that happened , pretty

s aw near the very last time as I him , when I w a s

’ huntin them staghounds , and his Lordship kept as he

. ! does now, the Vale of H ogwash My what a day that

w as b e . w a s to sure My hounds running, but not

d w as — har , for there a bad scent being it w as j ust

o f s e e s i r the end the season , you , and the g round being very dry— when all of a sudden my lord ’ s

pack , after their fox , makes their appearance, and ’ — before y o u could s ay J ack R obinson the t w o o f em the — Foxhounds and the Staggers gets mixed up alltogether . I

In t t t t t t t o be t t h e rela ing his li le anecdo e , no slur is in ended cas on g ood

t t b t t h e t N b a . n ame of ha cele ra ed dealer, la e ewcom e M son The horse n o u bt t h e S t o o t o bu ba d bu do was a clipper ( quire was g ood a j udg e y a one), t — t F . was presumably n o t ﬁt on t his par icular day . . M

To To o t l r 2 6 m e .

Just as T o m had ﬁnished this little reminiscence o f his

- t h e stag hunting days , trim domestic before mentioned en t e r e d with a notiﬁcation that the huntsman w a s wanted outside by someone w h o w ished to s e e him with regard t o o f r - s o w e the purchase a ho se for hound consumption , “ o f o u r a t rose t o take leave host the same time . What is the time

’ Goodness gracious me ! we ve s a t here more than an

’ T o m I Off o r I hour . , must be , shan t get home until

’ d ! a s h i m ark . Ah here s the hack just I wanted . Good

’ T o m T h e n —i . t s bye , frost looks like goi g, I think too

t s o w e s e e whi e to las t ; , in all probability, shall you and

’ T N O n the hounds next uesday, same as usual , at Ma s ” T o m s k Land . , looking up at the y, agrees with us , with

t o o u r o f regard forecast the weather, and bidding us

’ w e a cheery good evening, retires into his house, and , li t - having a fresh cigar, trot gaily along, homeward bound . T H E CH IR PINGT ONS OF L AR KL E Y H ALL .

have hitherto picked out for the gentle reader ’ s

e d iﬁc a t io n “ ” only solitary ﬂowers , buttonholes ,

s o to speak, from amongst the varied assortment to be met with in the course o f the hunting season with

o u r renowned pack of hounds , but this time we must alter

o u r programme a little, and endeavour to give a Sligh t

o f sketch , not one ﬂower, but a whole bunch , all at once .

i s Ch ir i n t o n s o n e For the fact of the matter , that the p g are h and all such a united family, such a appy family, and last , “ ” but not least , such a sporting family , that it is quite

’ out of the question to separate o n e from the other . We don t

w e h think s all be going very far wrong, indeed , in saying that T o m Ch i r pi n g t o n is about the most popular man in

n . the whole county , and his wife the most popular woma

o f As reg ards the latter, a pretty good proof her popularity is that not o n e o f her o w n s e x seems ever able o r even d n an d esirous of picki g holes in her, that, the reader must allow, speaks volumes in itself. Why, even Mrs . Babbler, ’ - the bishop s wife, in whose drawing room at the palace , half the gossip and mischief-making o f the country i s 8 e h i r i n t o n s o ‘ L a r hl e 2 Th C p g f y H a ll .

’ Ol d brewed , can t ﬁnd it in her acidulated heart to say any

f Ch i r i n t o n thing bitter o M rs . p g to her cronies at her ﬁve

’ M r s w a s O clock tea table . I t was . Babbler who the sole cause of the separation for more than a year between Colonel Sprightly and his pretty young wife . I t was only by the merest chance indeed that the

Colonel at last found out his mistake . When he d id ﬁnd it o u t he hastened to make it up with the

m a poor little woman , you y depend , and they now

M r s . live together again the happiest of couples . Babbler

h e r a says that, in opinion , the Colonel is but a poor, we k

T h e f . s a creature gallant o ﬁcer himself, I regret to y , is rude enough to express his feelings since the occurrence

in the most open way, and has been heard to aver over

f - h is his a ter dinner bottle of claret that , if he had way, he should uncommonly like to burn that o l d J ezebel (a s he

fo r irreverently terms Mrs . Babbler), a witch in front of her ’ “ ” A fo r . s n husband s cathedral the bishop , goes o the

“ ’ ’ f h e s gallant O ﬁcer, why, a dashed good fellow, and I m ” sorry for him , begad I am .

’ s a N o , even Mrs . Babbler can t y a word against sporti n g

M r s Ch i r i n t o n . p g , though her sense of decorum w a s so con s id e r ably shocked one ﬁne afternoon when out for an airing

in her carriage, by meeting the hounds in the midst of a

. C . f run , and beholding M rs , her face red, her hair ru ﬂed ,

and her habit torn , come bounding over a big fence into

the road , and then across and over the opposite one, also a “ o n e big , like a ﬂash of lightning, before her own h u s ” s a M r s band actually , would y . Babbler when describi n g

’ the incident (Ch i r p i n g t o n s second horse had not turned

u w a s p at the right moment , and he consequently a bit - behind hand). Th e Ch ir i n t o n s o L a r hle H a ll p g f y . 2 9

T o s e e Ch i r i n t o n o u the p g family at their very best , y

o n must look in upon them a hunting morning . Exactly

- ’ as the big stable clock strikes half past eight o clock , down

T o m C h i r i n t o n T o stairs clanks p g himself. m is rising

-ﬁv e forty , as he says , and is just about as hale and hearty

’ o u a looking Briton as y would ﬁnd in a day s march .

Altogether a man one would rather drink with , than ﬁght

’ o f H e with , any day the week . s n o t s o slim by a good

’ o f deal, as when a shining light the Vars ity Christchurch

’ w a s o f e m drag, he the very apple j Hill s eye ; but the

’ ’ i s same spirit in him still , and though he don t shove em along in the reckles s style he w a s wont to do in the Brad

’ well Grove and Sturdy s Castle days , it still takes a man all - d his time to beat him . As a hard ri ing friend remarked of

’ o u h o w T o m Ch i r i n t o n s o i n u n t il him, y never know fast p g g g “ a lo n s id e o f h i s you get g him . Needless to observe,

-u w o r km a n get p is perfection , and he looks the all

T o m over from head to heel . As Squire enters the

- - it s bright looking breakfast room , with mullioned windows

o ak and panelling, covered with portraits of bygone Chirp i n t o n s . g , male and female, great is the welcome accorded him

M r h i r i n o f s . C t o n Comely p g , attired in the neatest habits , and looking fresh and rosy as only an English woman can ff look, smiles at him from behind the tea and co ee at the

o f T w o o f end the table . little girls (the very moral their

e o l d moth r, as the nurse says), aged eleven and twelve,

u rush forward , nearly t mbling over their habit skirts (for they are going to hunt , too , mind you) in their eagerness f o r T o m Ch i r i n t o n a kiss from papa . Young p g , aged f n s o n - ourtee , the and heir, a good looking boy, home from

h i s a n Eton , rises , blushing, from seat , for this morning ( eventful morning, to be marked with red letters in his r o L r e ll 30 Th e Ch i pi ng t o n s f a /e l y H a . calendar) he has donned his ﬁrst pair o f breeches and

boots . Certainly the breeches are brown cord , and the boots are what are commonly called butcher-boots ;

’ but that don t matter, they are real breeches and boots for all that . Lastly comes the youngest, con

o f ff s equently the pet the family, Master Geo rey , aged

f h is o f n early ten . Geo frey has mouth full sausage and a tear in his eye . Poor little man ! Christmas fare has

ff o n had its e ect him , and his mother, noticing his looks ,

’ had an idea of substituting for his day s hunting a dose o f

H o w something pleasant and a quiet day in the nursery .

o ll bo i i n ever, old Major J y y , who is stay ng at the Hall , t e r v e n e s M r i s . Ch r i n , and p g t o n promises to Speak to papa o n f . ? o the subject And what says Papa Why , hunt

’ ’ o u course , you young sinner , and we ll physic y in the

ff T h e morning, eh , Geo rey grateful pet grins with de

a t light his friend the Major, who comes second only, in his estimation , to his father, and pitches into his breakfast

i with renewed V g our, whilst the Squire, putting his big

o n watch down the table at his elbow, works steadily “ T ’ away at his . ime s up ! H ere come the horses

T o m U p get everybody from their seats , young kicking his legs about with as near an imitation o f the Major as

he can command at short notice .

At last everybody is mounted , including the younger

o f e branches the family , and a start is mad forthwith , the Squire and his wife leading the way, and the young s t e r s n l o f o f joggi g a ong behind , in charge an Old groom

r t o o f quaint appearance who answe s the name J ohn . John

n J ones is a Welshman by desce t , and has been in the

. family for years , and has now constituted himself into a

o f t o sort riding master and head nurse the children , with Th e Ch ir in t o n s o L a r hl e a l p g f y H l . 31

s a whom he is , needless to y , ﬁrst favourite . I t is J ohn

this , John that, all day with them ; nothing can be done

i s w a without John . J ohn a great character in his y ,

- nearly everybody in the country side knowing him . On h i s o n e ﬁrst visit to town with the family London season , he

i o f i o n e was tak ng care the children dur ng their ride day,

R o w w h o w a s n in the , when his master, saunteri g along , came suddenly upon them , and noticed that John touched

h is his hat to every equestrian who passed him ; arm , as

n may be imagined , being, in conseque ce, kept in perpetual

motion . “ u o n Why, J oh n , said the Sq ire , what earth are

’ you doing ? Y o u don t know all those gentlemen and

o u ladies , do you What do y touch your hat to them for “ w a s n Indeed , to goodness , I thought they gentleme ,

’ w as o l d s the ervant s simple reply . Another day he was sent up to T attersall ’ s with a

i o f small draft the Squ re wanted to get rid , including a

Ch i r i n t o n mare named Post H aste , belonging to Mrs . p g .

Well , John , said his master, when he returned ,

’ and how did the sale go o ff Who sold em Were there many people there, eh

T w a s o u r here few people till horses come , replied “ n J ohn , and then they did crowd in , in hu dreds , Squire .

I did never see nothing like it . Mr . Pain , he sold them , T but when it came to Post H aste, M r . attersall come ” himself.

(It must be mentioned here that Old John had an a ff e c

w a s i n d I n a n t . tion for Post Haste , and g at her being sold ) ” “ o f h i s Gentlemen , said he , with a knock hammer, this

s d o i . s h e Post Haste You all know about her, and what can 2 Th e Ch ir i n t o n s o L a r le l H a ll 3 p g f ey .

. Y o u w h o do also know the lady has been riding her . ” m s a Gentle en , I will y no more .

“ ’ t h i s Come, come, John , that won do, said master, much amused “ i s I declare to God it true, replied J ohn , not moving

o f h i s a muscle face, and rubbing away at a curb chain .

t o h N eedless observe, the w ole story w a s pure invention

’ o n the Old groom s part, from beginning to end . And n o w let u s imagine this hunting family arriving a t

. t h e Ch i r i n t o n s the meet H ere come p g , announces

’ T o m Mo r n i n somebody ; and it is soon M orning, ,

Off o f squire in every direction . come the velvet caps

-i n i i the huntsmen and his whippers , as the squ re r des up t o o r t h e ' fo r m e r have a friendly word two with , and a look over the hounds . My lord by this time having arrived ,

h is c and exchanged his hack for hunter, consults his wat h , “ ” i s and , ﬁnding that time up , gives his customary nod to h i s w h o o ff huntsman , forthwith moves with his hounds , followed by the large ﬁeld , towards an outlying cover

T o m Ch i r in t o n belonging to p g , which they have decided

- to draw ﬁrst . It is generally a sure ﬁnd , but to day it is “ ” e o f inde d , a case look sharp , an d no mistake about it , for scarcely are the hounds In at o n e end than the fo x is o u t t h e at other .

T h e o u t huntsman gets his hounds like lightning, and

, away they go at a pace that looks uncommon like killing , the lucky few w h o have got well away hugging them selves as they n ote the fact that the majority Of the

o u r ﬁeld have been left in the lurch . We pull up cob and

o proceed to enjoy the fun . Well in the van , alongside f

Da i s ﬁe ld w e a n Lord y , can make out the squire, his wife, d — their eldest boy the latter admirably mounte d on a clever

Th e Ch ir i n t o n s o L a r iale H a ll p g f y . 33

- — light weight hunter all three going as straight as a line , and throwing the fences behind them like a school-girl doe s - a skipping rope .

On come the laggards, powdering along like a regiment o f i s o f cavalry, but unless there a check soon , their chance

o n e ever catching the leaders seems a remote , such a rare

start have they got . Here , too , comes that veritable chip ff o ld . of the block, the youthful Geo rey

o n e Forrad forrad squeaks the young , as he passes us , his pony in a lather . Finally, appear upon the scene

’ o l d T h e the two little girls , escorted by John . little maids

i faces are quite rosy from the exercise , and their glossy ha r

i In T is ﬂy ng the breeze . hey, too , are soon out of sight .

o f Ch i r i n t o n - S o We have seen the last the p g s for to day .

o f o n e just the least taste in the world orange brandy,

more cigar, and then away for home and luncheon . V R D R R T T T H E R E . H MA MA U KE M E Y H O U G .

PL N THE CHA AI OF THE H U N T .

CHAPLAI N nowadays seems a necessary append

o f age to every association any importance, from

t o s a - the British Army down , y , the Gig lamp

’

M akers Company, with whose jovial spiritual adviser, e indeed , we are personally acquaint d, and proud to know h i u s d m , especially when he invites , as he sometimes oes , to

’ o r his worshipful company s hall for a light little luncheon , “ o f what vulgar people would call a snack , consisting the

- e x h il a r a native oyster, the succulent turtle soup , and the

’ a as m a n ting champagne . I t s abou t as good luncheon a

' o n e o f can have , and we swagger along westward after these entertainments feeling as if the whol e o f London

t o b elonged us . t Private individuals , too, as well as regimen s , societies ,

& c . . , indulge in the luxury of a chaplain

f r m i n T fo r . o Bi ake, example, M r Benjamin Bobbin , g

l c e s h a m w h o s t a a . , has made a fortune in y Bobbin thinks “ o ff i t necessary, in order to show his brass as he calls

s e t n o t it , to up as a country gentleman at once, if sooner, with which laudable purpose he forthwith buys a bit o f - o n no land , which springs up in less than half a time a

n o t all huge nondescript sort of mansion , in appearance at

’ o n e o f 1 5 unlike her majesty s prisons , and which he

- pleased to adorn with the high soun ding name of castle . “ ” t o u ff e c t I t only wants a moat be p , said M r . Bobbin M a r m a d ke M e r /th o u h t Th e R e v . u ry g . 35

“ “ o n o t t an admiring friend, and , he added , if it had

M r s been for . B . insisting upon it that it would make the

’ ’ ’ ” vo u s e s o t a d damp , blow me if I wouldn ave one .

o f Of course he has his Master the Horse, and his

Of o f ff 1 5 Groom the Chambers , and a sort baili , whom he

n pleased to call his Land Steward , notwithstandi g the fact that there are only 30 0 acres of land attached to the whole “ estate , ﬁfty of which belong to the park round the House ” h a s that Bobbin built . H e all these, and , determined not ” h i s - D to be outdone by next door neighbour, the ook, as

o f he calls him , he ﬁrst all builds a church in his park, taking care to put in it an elaborate organ and no end of painted windows . He next rummages out from somewhere a poor weak little party, whom he remunerates

’ w ith a hundred a year and a room at the t o p o f the ouse “ ” —w e — beg pardon , castle and who , from that time forth , i ’ s known as Mister Bobbin s private chaplain .

’ T h e B s w as last we heard of M r . . private chaplain that he had walked O ff one ﬁne day in company with the youngest Miss Bobbin (as ill luck would have it , the only - - good looking one of the lot). Whether the ex staylace maker will eventually forgive the errant pair remains to be seen . We believe that he is now looking out fo r another

—a n chaplain old and ugly o ne preferred . But, bless me , h o w w e ! T h e l s a o n are digressing readers wil y, what earth has all this got to do with the Harkaway Hunt ? ff Well , only this , that, if all these bu ers we have mentioned , - these retired staylace makers , these army soldiers , these

’ ’ - & c gig lamp makers and candlestick makers companies , . ,

o f w h possess an ornament in the shape a chaplain , y, we ask , should not the estimable company o f sportsmen forming t h e Harkaway H unt indulge i n a similar treasure

D —2 Th e R e v M a r m a d u ke M e r th o u ht . ry g .

w t o Ou And here, I should like know, would y ﬁnd a

o n e R e v better man for the post (an honorary ) than the . Marmaduke Merrythough t —irreverently called by the‘ “ o f T h e young and frivolous members the hunt , Bishop ” o f Soda and B . ’ R ! ” ’ H ere s the everend H allo , your grace , you re

H late ! are some o f the exclamations o u r ch aplain is m e t - h is wi t h as he arrives at the meet at a hand gallop , hack

f - o u r all o a lather . A fine, hale , athletic looking man is t pet parson . A rifle over fifty in years is he , and very

n o t lightly he carries them ; if i t were , indeed , that his

- o n e closely cut hair and whiskers were decidedly grey ,

n o On e would t take him for a day over forty . can easily

e u b lieve, on looking over the man , all the numero s stories

o f n o t R co u ld d o there are only what the everend , but what

ca n e he do . Of course he was captain Of the Eleven wh n he w a s at Eton ; and y o u migh t also be pretty certain that he

o n e - o f t made in the ten oar . Old Etonians his time alk

o f t to this day the grea battle he fought with a butcher,

’ o f o n e the pride Peascod Street, in Bachelor s acre, Windsor

T h e w as v Fair time . butcher the bigger and hea ier man

o f t w o the by a good deal , but M errythought, major, t T proved his mas er in the long run . here w as a soft bit

’ t - in the butcher s heart, and a righ hander in the sixth

o f o n e o f round , which ﬂoored the knight the cleaver like

o w n t ff fo r his bullocks , settled the ma ter e ectually, , to the

o f u n disgust his friends , the butcher turned it up most

l n o mistakab y, and would ﬁght more . So Merrythought,

ornamented with a black eye and with a sprained thumb ,

o n o ff t o n put his coat , and marched Eto , accompanied by

his admiring friends .

x an d C t w O ford hris C hurch followed, here he had n o t Th e R e v M a r m a d u ke M e th o u h t . rry g . 37 been up very long before he found himself installed as

o f D Master the rag . Jem Hills and he soon became fast

a t o f friends , you may be sure ; and last no meet the H eythrop or Bicester seemed perfect without the sporting

s o undergraduate, who was Soon destined for the Church , putting in an appearance . H e was uncommonly fond t o o o f donning the silk as well as the scarlet , and many a time w as his s m art jacket (pink with bl a c kh o o p s ) the ﬁrst to

’ o f catch the judg e s eye at Aylesbury, well beloved und er i t graduates . We rather think that was just about that period , between leaving Oxford and entering the Church , that he s o distingu i shed him s elf by riding his friend Sir R eginald R attlebone ’ s brown horse Blueskin in the Liver

a n pool Steeplechase . U ncommonly steadily d well the

o f w a s embryo Archbishop Canterbury rode , too , and it j ust on the cards that he might have w o n had he not been

’ cannoned against and knocked over at Becher s Brook ,

h o . w the second time round Captain Coper, rode the

s o winner, told him years after that he looked like winning up to the time o f his fall that he almost gave up his own

’ ” r r e chance as lost . I t ain t gene ally known , naively

’ marked the Captain with a grin it ain t generally known ,

’ t w as o l d don t cher know, tha I not only riding Peter the

w a s r id i n th e l o t — u Great , but , by J ove , I g , sir sq ared

’ ’ ’ e m a ll o f , every mother s son em , by Jove , except you ,

u M errytho ght, and I should have tried it on with you ;

’ o u t but , to tell you the truth , I didn t think y had the ghos

’ s aw of a chance , and until I you knocked over at Becher s

’ ’ a Brook (it wasn t an accident , I m fraid , eh I trembled T fo r . m y money, I can tell you hat memorable occasion was our worthy chaplain ’ s very last appearance in cap

w a s l and jacket . He took holy orders, and du y appointed The R e v 38 .

r t o s o o n aft e r a nd t a curacy , preached his ﬁrs sermon b with great applause , especially distinguishing himself y u psetting the pulpit-cushion o n t o the head o f old Betty be t w h o . Martin , happened to fas asleep underneath Old

o u t o f Betty hobbled church in a great hurry, and could not be persuaded for a long while that the roof was n o t o r o f n o t coming down , that the end the world had “ bo e come . Well done , my y , well done, said the Squir ,

o r. t h e clapping the blushing curate back, after service, t - “ as he emerged from the ves ry door . Well done, my

’ o u o n T am o S h an t e r o n boy ! y shall have a mount ,

’ T o u uesday, and y don t get such a chance as that every

’ l e t u m day, me tell you . Our friend liked the curacy

T h e o f commonly . Squire the parish was a sportsman all

v s o o er, and his chief, the rector, was always away, he

’ t n hunted , and sho , and ﬁshed pretty early the same as

t h e ff t o k ever, only di erence he made being wear a blac

o f t o u t t t o instead a scarle coat hun ing, and have the colour o f his top s altered from a creamy to a brownish T t t hue . ha , he thought , gave hem a more clerical

w a s t o o appearance . H e rather glad to change, , because

Ol d n o n the Oxford recipe was a very expe sive e . We

’ w o r - don t kno whether no apricot jam and champagne, formed the principal ingredients (in those days it w a s a

’ popul a r n otion that the sporting ligh t s o f the Varsity

u fo r -t never sed anything else their boot ops), but anyhow

w as w as o f it expensive, and he glad a change . At last came the fat living in the gift o f an o ld uncle that he was lying in wait fo r in fact it was the promise

o f d t o it eventually that induce him go into the Church . A month o r s o after and we ﬁnd him comfort ably installed - i n the snug R ectory hous e belonging t o t h e pari s h o f

k M r th o u h t R v M a r m a d u e e . 40 Th e e . ry g

t o - consis ing f a double bass , a violin , a trombone, a bas

T h e R o f soon , and a clarionet . everend was fond music , and the performance in the gallery o f a Sunday upset

w a s at him terribly (he celebrated Oxford for his singing , and the style in which he used t o favour the company with “ Nix My Dolly ” and other popular songs would

always bring down the house at supper and wine parties).

T h e w band then was promptly done a ay with , to its ’ — R members great indignation their leader, Amos ose by

w h o t D name , played the clarione , turning issenter in

d n o t isgust, that it mattered much , seeing that shortly after he g o t ﬁve years fo r taking a p o t -shot at o n e o f Lord Daisy

’ t field s keepers , who happened to come across him jus as he had knocked a fine fat cock-pheasant Off his perch o n a “ ” fir - o n e o f tree shiny night in the season the year, as

o ld T e o the poacher has it in the song . hat feat a c m

li s h e d o u r t R t p , energe ic ec or proceeded at once to go

t o round with the hat, with a View buying an organ , and

o t - g the necessary funds in less than half a no time ,

o w n T h e making up any deﬁciencies from his pocket . n e w organ appeared t h e new schoolmas t er played it ;

M r s t t . M errythough ook the children in hand ; and

w a s very soon the singing good enough for anything .

n fo r Everything the being put shipshape in the parish , the

R r e c o n l s e d o f t h e o ld everend fully g the sense saying, t t Business ﬁrst , pleasure afterwards , he hough t hat it w a s about time that he began to s e e t o t h e furthering o f his o w n amusement s ; s o accordingly some fresh stables were built two more nags added t o t hose he had brought with him ; and shortly after Christmas the R everend M armad u k e w a s enabled to make his ﬁrst appearance with the Harkaway H ounds in a becoming manner, and

M a r m a d u ke M e r h o Th e R e v . t u ht ry g . 4 1

most regular has he been in his attendance ever since,

i s scarcely ever, indeed , missing a day . In fact, he a

w a . a s n model chaplain in every y Watch him now , , havi g

Off t o s a changed his hack for a hunter , he moves y a

o f word to the noble Master the H ounds , and say if the

’ o f o u r subject sketch don t look like business all over, from the crown o f his hat to the toes o f his very perfectly

a n d varnished boots , , if you only wait until they ﬁnd, and “ you get away with them , taking the Bishop as your pilot , you will be pretty certain to ﬁnd yourself at the end of the day recalling to memory those l ines o f Major Whyte M elville ’ s

’ When t h e c ount ry is roug hest he s most at his ease ; t h e v t l When run is se eres , he rides ike a man . t h e c t t t h e t And pa e canno s op , nor fences defea , ll t b t o t o t . This rum one fo ow, his bad one ea About a week before the Derby o u r Chaplain and his

family betake themselves t o town for a month o r s o

No t h for the M ay M eetings , as he will tell you . t at we

n o u r ever remember seeing him ear Exeter Hall , in life .

’ When in town the R everend s programme for the day i s something in this wise : after breakfast he will saunter

-M allw a r d s i s down Pall to his club , which , of course , the

d . Oxford and Cambri ge Arrived there , he will repair to

a n d the smoking room , read the paper over a quiet weed .

i s fo r S o When he has done that, it about time the park .

o f h i s he will repair home take one or both daughters , and

w a m a saunter down Piccadilly, stopping on the y, you y

’ Fo r e s s be sure , at Messrs . to have a stare at the Sporting

T h e s i t prints . park reached , he will down and watch with a critical eye the cavalry as they pass i n review be — — fore him home again to luncheon club again , and

t w o — o another cigar, and a talk with a friend or g home Th R e v M a r m a d u ke M e r th o u 2 e . ht 4 ry g .

fo r o r . dress dinner, and opera theatre as the case may be Y o u are sure t o run against him in the paddock at

o f Epsom every day the summer meeting, looking more like an owner o f o n e o f the favourites than a cou n try — parson his white tie, indeed , knowingly folded in a diamond shape , and hardly excelled even by that wonder “ ful choker worn by the late ginger Stubbs , excites the

n o t t o s a o f T h e admiration , y envy, all beholders . R everend, though not a better as a rule, always likes to , “ ” t o n D have his enner something for the erby, and it

n o t t o would be very unwise follow my leader, and do

o ff as he does , for he is never a great way the winner

t o o n e when he does take it into his head back .

o f o n t h Eton , where he has a boy , course sees him the 4 o f a J une , re dy armed with a pocketful of sovereigns , for he is a r are hand at tipping schoolboys ; and as we ﬁnd o u r w ay t o a friendly drag t h e ﬁrst day o f Asco t R aces,

t o with a view luncheon , an eye winks cheerfully at us from over a huge double-handled mug ﬁlled with cham pagne cup , which cup , by and by, being removed , with a “ o f t w prolonged Ah sa isfaction , discloses to vie the

o u r w h o ruddy face of reverend chaplain , is beaming with

. smiles , and apparently as happy as, a king After Ascot

R t o the everend begins think about going home again , where ﬁshing and shooting keep him going until cub

o f hunting begins , whi ch amusement he never misses a

a t day, getting up most unearthly hours in order to be at the meet . L e t us have a quiet peep a t o u r Chaplain in his o w n

W i n ﬁe ld o n church at g . It is September, and we are a - short visit to him for some partridge shooting . We t are attending the Sunday afternoon service, and tha h e R e v M a r m a d k t T . u e M e r h o u h t ry g . 43

o f second glass brown Sherry after luncheon , and the h s a eat of the day combined , have , to y the truth , made

T h e - us uncommonly drowsy . old fashioned square pew,

T h e too, we are in , is uncommonly comfortable . hum o f - o f a a bumble bee buzzing around , and the snore fat b farmer in the pew ehind us , seem to act like lauda

o u r w e num upon senses . In two seconds are sound asleep .

- Off A prayer book suddenly drops the seat with a bang , and wakes us up with a start . H ave we been snoring, we

? D w e W wonder ear me trust no one observed us . e

o f must have been asleep a quarter an hour ; for, as we rub o u r w e R e v eyes and endeavour to wake up , hear the

’ e r e n d s clear voice bringing his no d oubt excellent sermon “ : : to a close thus And now, my brethren Mark the

— a diff erence between these two men Esau was a g e n t l e

t w as man and a spor sman , but Jacob, my brethren , Jacob ” e w a J . MR AND D T . R LA Y H O MASI NA CLI N KE .

Y ! T ’ ’ J ove ommy, we re ﬂoored ; and we re late

’ o n T too . What earth s to be done hese are

’ o u R awful rails , y know . Will ufus do em

’ after me , d ye think We are bound to be late if we turn

W a w e Old e h back . hat sh ll do , boy,

’ ca n t Oh J ohnnie, we turn back , you know, and such

’ Oh n o ! s h a day, too , as it is , Let s have a y at them ,

o l d . a t . s a dear man Give me a lead , once, sir I dare y

’ ” you ll break the top rail .

W l t ll t h e i N ow, anyone not being well acquainted mem

o f o u r o n bers renowned hunt, reading the above conver

w as sation , would naturally imagine that it being carried

o n s e x t between two of the male , in which case hey would

be entirely wrong, for the two speakers are respectively a - remarkably good looking young gentleman , exceedingly

- well got up in hunting costume, and who answered to the

o f o h n n i e — o f name J full name, M r . J ohn Clinker , Fernleigh

- - Lodge the other , a very charming curly haired , blue eyed ,

- a w h o thoroughly English looking young wom n , answers “ ” - n o f T to the masculine sounding ame ommy, and who T is no other than Lady homasina, the fascinating and

- o f hard riding spouse the aforesaid J ohn , commonly called

J ohnnie Clinker .

’ Lord Da i s yﬁe l d s hounds are o n this particular morn

s u ch t o o as Th o ing ( a hunting morning as it was, , Lady

o a s i n a Cli n ke r r a n d L a d Th m . 46 M . y

‘ t h e s u t about it, aforesaid navigator have playfully p u p

o ak a all along the line for miles , a great strong post and r il , and it is the sight o f this formidable obstruction that s o a p

o u r t w o o f pals for a moment hunting friends . At the sight

- a n d the red coat the navvies are up in a moment , begin to

’ f o n e chaf . Eh , lad shouts big fellow with a grin , y e ll

f -a hev to gan back, arm Johnnie o fers half

o n e o f Off bu t crown to them to pull the top rail , - the ganger, a big angular looking Scotchman , coming up , sternly forbids anything of the sort . N oo , says Mr . Sandy

‘ “ M T av i s h c o n s i n t o n o n a c c o o n t , I wunna giv me y ,

’ ’ ” i n r u r t t o d e m e e . mun , g the company s p p p y

’ ’ o u o u Oh , y won t, won t y replies J ohnnie, in answer “ ’ ff o u t n t o . o u this rebu , getting of patie ce Oh , y won t ,

’ T o u t o f won t you hen get the way, you ugly Scotch

o r sinner, I shall ride over you . And, turning round with o u t more ado , he gives his horse a good run at the rails , and gets over cleverly, nearly knocking over the big

H i s Scotchman as he lands . hunter hits the top bar, but

’ s o it doesn t much as bend .

’ ! w o u t I m coming, J ohnnie he hears his ife call “ h i m s a R s h e behind , and before he can y Jack obinson ,

s e t o m has her horse g g , Increasing her pace as She nears o the f rmidable post and rails, and in another second is at

T h e his side . navvies are delighted , and cheer with might

m a m and . Without even being asked , the biggest of them at once proceeds to break down the opposite rail, much to

n o f w h o the indig ation the tall Scotchman , vows vengeance ” against yon rackless young faller, as he calls J ohnnie , ff h o f O . w , with his wi e, is now half a mile “ ’ ’ as s e e Eh , but yon s bonny a lookin lass as iver I ,

n a o u t says a admiring navvy as, h ving watched the pair

n d L a d Th o m a s i n a Clin k r r . a e M y . 47

f t o sight, he resumes his work ; a remark hat is echoed by

all the company .

T o return to o u r sporting young couple .

T h e whole hunt were delighted two years ago , when it w as found o u t that J ohnnie Clinker and his newly

T e r n l e i h married wife , Lady homasina, had taken F g Lodge , T and intended to hunt regularly with the Harkaway . hey

’ fo r were both well known , and great favourites , J ohnnie s

papa, Clinker, sen . , owned a large estate in the county, to

s o n which his , being the eldest , was , of course, heir ; and

s T w a not Lady homasina the daughter of Lord Lovelock ,

w h o lived in the adjacent cou nty

Lady T ommy was a favourite with everybody . She s e t everybody going (and we think it will be generally allowed that country people want a deal o f

waking up at times). Who w a s it urged o n and bullied all the bachelors in

' t h e county until they consented to give that capital ball a t

T Bu ll e r t o n t ? the own Hall of , in November las T Lady ommy, to be sure .

’ Who g o t up and headed the subscription for the Ladies Cup at the H unt Steeplechase Meeting (the most popular ? race of the day, as it turned out) T Why, none other than Lady ommy .

’ s h e s Yes , is here, there, and everywhere, You ll e e her dancing the very last dance o f all at half-past three in

’ the morning ; and you may go to the meet o f my lord s

T h o r n m a n b T hounds at y hicket that identical morning,

’ ’ an d s e e T there I ll wager anything you ll Lady ommy,

accompanied by her faithful J ohnnie, chattering like a mag h . s e t t o pie, and looking as fresh as paint J ohnnie and alk

o f each other more like a couple boys than man and wife, M r a d 48 . n d L a y Th o m a s zn a Clin ke r

t o o f the great amusement everybody . H er detractors

T i s declare Lady ommy bad style, and dreadfully fast .

s h e w e e bu t s h e Perhaps is a bit slangy, is none the

fo r - worse that . It is a pleasant sight o n a non hunting d ay t o s e e her ladyship turn o u t for an afternoon amongst

- - her pet poor, thick booted and ulster coated, with a huge

o n e basket ﬁlled with good things in hand , and a thick

t o stick with a crook it in the other . She is accompanied o n t these occasions by a whole ribe of dogs , ranging in

species from the retriever to a Yorkshire terrier, and ,

s h e if he is not Shooting, will probably be escorted by the

w h o faithful Johnnie, , in that case , carries the basket, and slouches along by her side in a submissive manner, with

Ci In h i s o n e a huge gar mouth . As they enter end of the

o u t — m a n village , the curate bolts at the other that good

o f R o f is itualistic principles, and mortally afraid Lady

’ T w h o ff o u t o f ommy, , as she says , cha s the life him . T ! ally Ho Yonder he goes laughs her frolic ladyship ,

s h e o f - as and J ohnnie catch sight his long coated , squashy

u d R hatted ﬁg re , stri ing along in the distance . ight glad

s e e are all the people to her, you may depend . Old

T w h o f o ff Dame rot , lately shu ﬂed this mortal coil , was asked by the parish doctor o n e day whether s h e ’ D wouldn t like to see the clergyman . N o, said the ame,

’ ’ s h e but w o u ld s h e didn t know as wouldn t rather not , she

n e t w a s like o thing, that she would , and tha to see the

s h e T little ladyship , as called Lady ommy, once again . ” “ o ld t Deary, deary me, said the poor woman , the Sigh o f her curly hair and her purty face seems to do me more

’ d o ff o r good , it , than all the doctor s stu sermons in the ” world . Part icularly well pos t ed in all sp ort ing literature is her M r a n d L a d Th o a i lin k . m s n a C e r y . 49

o u ladyship . On her bookshelves y will ﬁnd nearly every work connected with sporting that h as ever been pub — l i s h e d a ck M tt o n S o a S o n e As k M a m a j y py p g ; m . ” T o n e o f here they are every them . Said little Lord Numskull to her o n e day (he had just “ : Old been plucked , poor young man) If those slow

’ o r r o c ks s coaches had only examined me , you know, about J

’ o r Be ll s L i e o r o f Hunt, f , something cheerful , instead all

’ o n m - n o o n e that antediluvian rubbish , that, p y soul , can

’ remember, I should have passed all right, I m sure I ” should . “ o u Oh , y are , are you replied her ladyship .

n o w Supp ose , , I examine you a little . Let us, Lord

’ o r r o c ks s Numskull, take, by way of commencement, Mr . J ! Hunt . Now then . Attention

“ ‘ W o r r o c ks Question I hat happened to Mr . J on the Cat and Custard-pot day

t o Ah you know that . Yes ; quite right ; go up the t o f o p the class .

Question 2 : Describe as accurately as possible M r .

’ Pi n c h Jo r r o c ks s great run from me near Forest . And o n went her ladyship with her questions , until her hus

: T o u band stopped her, saying Shut up, ommy, y bully

h as o f you ; N umskull had enough examiners lately, without you , I know .

We left J ohnnie Clinker and his wife , just having cleared in gallant style -the post and rails belonging to

m as h e m a n d - -u R w e the S Crumple em p ailway . So

o n T h e must forrad , and catch them up . hounds have

’ a n d O ff T T met , are already to draw inkler s Gorse . ink

’ ’ o n —i t s S o o u r ler s Gorse lies a hill a sure ﬁnd . , on pon y w e can s e e a good deal o f the fun in a quiet sort o f

E d a d Th o m a s in a lin ke r M r a n L C . 50 . y

u s o t h e n o t i n way . Ah , I tho ght ; hounds have been

’ cover three min u tes before Harry the whip s cap i s seen “ ” t h e t h e o e — T -h o ! in air, at bottom c rn r, and ally yonder he goes ! Th e t hief o f the world gives a ﬂick “ o f t o s a a m t o t t o his brush as much as y , If I be se tled

’ ” t o d o o u day, you ll have all y know, my ﬁne fellows .

’ T T o m T wang, twang, twang, goes ootler s horn . H ere come ! ! the hounds My word , what a chorus H orses are m ad with excitemen t ; even o u r pony begins t o ﬁd g e t a t t bou t . We can see the whole hat akes place in the v T D i s ﬁe ld . a t o alley below here goes Lord y , close the

u T To m T t o ho nds , as usual . here goes ootler close

t o him , and here g , just behind him , J ohnnie Clinker and

T — h o u his wife, Lady ommy her orse, apparently a little t

o f — n o w w e her hand leading . And that have seen o u r friends in a good place in what promises t o be a ﬁr s t -rat e

w e t - run , will bid them bo h good bye .

2 a t a in D a bbe r 5 C p .

o f ﬂ e a- R - his bitten , oman nosed , grey hunter, waves his

t o w h o hand gaily his admiring housekeeper, waits at

s e e o ff a n d o s the door with folded arms to him , j g steadily

’ o ff to meet Lord Dai s yﬁe ld s hounds at T ilbury Cross R oads . D f - Captain abber is a short, stout, power ully built man ,

with a stubbly beard and moustache o f a mustard and

pepper hue, and a t the presen t moment is attired in a

o f . cutaway coat dark green cloth , with brass buttons W - hite cord breeches , and brown topped boots adorn a

o f - 1 5 pair very serviceable looking legs , and the whole

topped up with a velvet cap . As he himself expresses it , “ t he was foaled in the county, and as he has sho and

v hunted , ﬁshed and walked , and dri e n pretty well all

h i ﬁ - o f w h over it in the course of s ft y ﬁv e years existence , y

o o f he may be said t be conversant with every inch it, and

in return to be pretty well known in it himself. ’ No w o f o u r , it was the original intention friend s — — parents as worth y an o ld couple as ever lived t o send

w a s w a their hopeful son (who their only child , by the y) t i o f in o the Church , when he had arr ved at years dis

t o f cre ion ; and , with this Object in view, they began ,

course , by thoroughly spoiling him . Being a strong t healthy urchin , with a endency to low company, and

o f m e n always brimful the ost xuberant Spirits , he bega by the time he was twelve years o l d to get a triﬂe o u t o f

“ t s o Off t o heir hand ; they sent Master Charles school ,

with a view to sobering him down a bit . H e evidently

fo r possessed no scholarly tastes , however, he ran away

o n e w as t w o o n e from the ﬁrst , and expelled from others ,

after the other .

T h e t w o t Old people wer e nearly brokenhear ed , as may a i n D a bbe r C pt a . 53

w a s be imagined , when their darling returned for the “ e T second time on their hands , marked incorrigibl . here

o l d was no doubt about it, as the nurse expressed it, the

o R o o s h i a n t b y was a regular young . What to do wi h

w a s him now was the question . It no use thinking about the Church ; it was all they could do to induce him to

c o r occasionally enter one , and then only by bribery and

’ T h e w a s ruption on his mother s part . boy evidently not a fool . Why should he not s ucceed if trained for mercan tile pursuits ? “ Who knows ? ” observed his fond “ and ever-sanguine mother : perhaps dear Charles may

D be eventually turn out a second ick Whittington , and ” come Lord Mayor of London in process of time . Her

’ husband shook his head rather dubiously at h i s wife s

w a s remark however, he thought there no harm in giving

n the lad a trial . Accordingly, a seat having been duly fou d - for him in a large counting house in the City, and an

arrangement made with a highly respectable family, in

a n d o u r Bloomsbury Square, to board lodge hero during

w his sojourn in town , with strict orders not to allo him a

- w a latch key on any pretence whatever, the youth s

n e w launched on his career, the fact being duly impressed upon him at starting, that, if he only behaved himself and worked hard , he was bound eventually to become a very gr eat man . “ ! o ld Alas the castles in the air built by poor M r .

D s ix and Mrs . abber were destined before month s

were over to come with a crash to the ground . One ﬁne day t h e fond o ld couple took it into their heads to go up to London w ith a view to giving dear

n Charlie a pleasant surprise . Havi g ordered rooms

e Ol d at the Golden Cross, wher the coach stopped, i n a bbe r 54 Capt a D .

D w a t w a abber, leaving his ife the hotel , wended his y

t o o n t o into the City call Charlie, and invite him dinner and the play that very evening .

H o w bo t o s e e t o glad the dear y will be me , be sure,

o o ld thought the w rthy gentleman , as he plodded steadily

’ ’ along Cheapsid e ; I ll ask em to give him a holiday t o

o u r morrow, and his m other and me will have him all to

’ ’ o f i t — T selves , and we ll make a reg lar day do the ower

’ ’ 0 M o n m e n t — s e e London and the y we ll a little life, in ” t h e o f ! ! fact, three us . H a ha

D n o t t o n o w Mr . abber has been the ofﬁce for three

’ weeks—laid up with pleurisy a t his father s place in the

t o - o r country . H e is expected back, however, morrow — ’ d a s a I I t the next y . Who shall I y called won ” o u leave any name, thank y , faintly murmured the poor

s a o ld o f h i s o l d man . M erely y an friend called .

f s i r T hat will be su ﬁcient . Good morning, , and thank

o u y .

l D o n t t t t Poor o d abber, get ing into the s ree , at once ook a hackney coach and drove straight to t h e boarding-house

t h e in Bloomsbury . As he expected , precisely same

T w a s n o t a n swer awaited him here . hat all, however .

W hen t h e mistress o f the establishment t urned up and

’ heard from h i s fat her s o w n lips that Mas t er Charlie was

s d t o not where he w a suppose be, a sudden light seemed

t n o f t o dawn upon her, and forthwi h such an accou t his

’ ’ - n w as t . D son s goings o poured in o Mr abber, senior s, ears , as fairly horriﬁed him . When the landlady, tight ening

n o t her lips and drawi g in her breath , g as far in her “ N o w narrative as : , I think I can guess what has become - f o f Betsy ! (alluding t o an under housemaid o a frivolou s a ta i n D a bbe r C p . 55

d i s p o s It Io n and prepossessing appearance who had dis appeared Oddly enough about the same time that Charlie

o ld h is a had) the man , gathering up hat and umbrella, f irly

bolted from the house . When the prodigal s o n did return (the poor boy had

been to Margate for a little fresh air, at which vivacious - watering place, just about the same period, the abandoned Betsy might also have been seen ﬂ a u n t in g about in an alarming h a t and fea thers) his father talked to him

o u like a book , y may depend, and Charlie, struck with

remorse, promised to return to his duties in the City and

w a s be a good boy for the future . But it no good . In spite o f all his good resolut ions he at length came to the

h - w as conclusion t at quill driving not his forte . A hunt ing-saddle he liked much better than a th ree -legged stool “ ' M t o h w a s to sit upon , and a J oe anton andle inﬁnitely

preferable to t h e ofﬁce ruler . Accordingly h e discarded

- t h e o r h the counting house in City, rat er, to be strictly h s a t h e -h accurate , I s ould y, counting ouse in t h e City

h i m discarded .

n o w T h e o l d folks at home , , did not know wha t on earth T to do with him . hey tried him at engineering, they tried

n him at land surveying, then they tried farmi g, but ﬁnally

o n e Charlie chucked them all up after another . H e

o f l o t fo r liked farming certainly the best the , he found the big grass meadow at the back o f the house w a s the place of all others to shoot pigeons in , and he amused him self and his friends accordingly .

o r T hen he started a steeplechaser two, and broke down his o w n fences and rode over his own wheat with the greatest pleasure in life, whilst giving them their gallops . Ca t a in D a bbe r 56 p .

t fo r o n e T hings at las came to a full stop at the farm ,

ﬁn e day those eminent pugilists , the Whitechapel Wonder

w o f r u fﬁan s and Curly Bob , ith a select horde , appearing in the neighbourhood with a view to settling t heir little ff di erences by an appeal to their ﬁsts , and casting about

o ff s u d for a convenient Spot to bring their little mill , d e n l m w h o y came across that sca p Charlie, happened to be shooting partridges in a turnip -ﬁe ld next the road ; d he , quickly seeing how matters stood, forthwith invite

u s e o f h i s them to make any land they thought proper,

d l o t o f and accordingly, taking him at his wor , the whole - d them marched into his eighteen acre grass ﬁel , and

ﬁxed the ropes and stakes without more ado , kindly giving their host , in return , a seat in the inner ring free ,

gratis , for nothing . I t was a capital ﬁght , and the White chapel Wonder quite put all his previous performances in

the shade , for, getting his opponent on the ropes in the

o last round , he half killed him before he let him g . T hough pleasant while it lasted , Charlie found it in the

’ n lo g run rather an expensive day s work, for, besides

losing ﬁfty pounds on the ﬁght , the mob broke into his

o ff house , and walked with everything they could lay

o n hands , and ﬁnished up by playfully setting light t o all

n o t T the ricks in his stackyard ( insured). o make

’ matters worse , as he lay tossing in bed at eleven o clock the

w h o next morning with a rattling headache, should send

w h o up his card but his infuriated landlord , , being an

w a s active magistrate , naturally indignant at such goings

o n . High words ensued , the worthy beak telling Master Charlie that he would not allow such a young blackguard as he w a s t o remain tenant o f a farm o f his

any longer ; Charlie, in return , requesting his landlord to Ca t a in D a bbe r p . 57

T h ff t h e . e go to devil sheri shortly afterwards walked in ,

T h e and collared the redoubtable steeplechase horses .

o l following week there was a sale , and then the poor d Dabbers found their hopeful son thrown on their hands

T h e once again . last disappointment about ﬁnished them .

n D l f o l Not lo g after , old abber died , and was quick y f lowed by his wife, and Charles then found himsel the proud possessor of Ivy Lodge, a snug little house ,

with about three hundred acres of land attached to it , and a nice little fortune of some ﬁfteen thousand pounds .

T h e as ﬁfteen thousand pounds lasted , the reader may

’ Im a m e g , having an insight into our friend s mode of life ,

w e as many months . (A bad Cambridgeshire , rather think ,

co u d e r ace w as gave him his p g . ) Ivy Lodge announced

in the local papers as to be let, and its owner disappeared T altogether from the scene . here were all manner of

conjectures as to what had become of him . Some said he ﬁ had turned soldier, and had gone to Spain to ght with

General Evans . Someone else heard he had been pressed

w a s for the navy , and serving as a common sailor before the T mast . hen came a report that he had been in England

all the while, after all ; and a story got about that he had

o n T been mixed up in some ugly transaction the urf, and

Off had been warned Newmarket Heath . For some years

w as nothing more w a s heard of him . Ivy Lodge tenanted

fo r by two Old maiden ladies, and Charlie was nearly

o n e gotten . Suddenly, ﬁne day, he turned up, like a bad “ ? o f shilling, as What do you think A Master Stag

t o o . hounds . In the neighbourhood of London , His opening meet was announced with a ﬂourish o f trumpets

o f in all the Sporting papers, and it coming to the ears

h i s o ld t o some of friends in the country, they determined a t a in D a bbe r 58 C p .

t w a s be at his ﬁrs t mee and see h o w he did things . I t as

’ t a well they did , for, as it happened unfor un tely , Charlie s

m — T h e ﬁrst eet was his last . I t happened in this way

as w as n o w w h o r Captain , he called ( y wherefore nobody k new exactly ), like a careful man , had taken the wise precaution o f having all the s u bscriptions t o his hunt paid — in advance short credit, in his opinion , making long

. w as o n friends Our friend , then , enabled to appear his — t opening day in high feather brand new coa , brand new

n e cap, brand new breeches and boots , brand w everything . N ot only that ; ﬁxed in his saddle w as a splendid silver

- o f hunting horn , presented to him by the members the new hun t t h e night before at a big dinner given in his

T T w a s honour at the Ship and urtle avern . I n short, he f W n o o . w end a swell ell , the sporting Cits ere all

a t o f assembled the meet, Charlie, in the centre them , sitting o n his horse amongst his hounds as cocky as you ! please . What a great man he felt that day Napoleon

t o H o a t the battle o f Marengo was nothing him . w his “ ” ﬁeld admired him ! What a splendid pack o f dogs ! “ exclaimed o n e enthusiastic o l d innocent ; Magniﬁcent ’ ” T Ounds, cried another . ( hey had only cost a pony a t

’ “ ” l o t h ! Aldridge s , the whole . ) What a splendid unter h ’ t e . remarked another, pointing to Master s horse At “ ’ ” last came the cry o f H ere s the deer cart ! and sure eno u gh the great lumbering vehicle w as seen coming alo n g

n T h e in the dista ce . Master trotted forward , with a self

t o s aw satisﬁed air, meet it . Approaching nearer he at a

’ w as glance from the driver s face that something wrong .

’ ” s o ? as Well , what s made ye long said he, sharply,

’ t s o the man pulled up short . We ve been wai ing ever

o u c an l o o k long ; turn him o u t as quick as y ; come,

n a b r 60 Capt a i D be .

n - w t r farmyard to avoid a asty looking fence , and ere he e and then impounded by the indignant agriculturist , who declined to let them go until they stumped up a sovereign

T h e apiece . next day our friend (who killed his hare, by the w ay) g o t a series o f most indignant letters from his

- o f stag hunting friends , some them indeed being actually mean enough to ask for their subscriptions back . So he

u took the virt ous indignation tack , and gave up the whole

n o f thi g, kindly making the H unt a present his valuable pack of hounds .

w as Charlie now at uncommonly low water, everything

seemed to go wrong . Jones , whom he had backed ' J enny o n for as much as he could get for the Cambridgeshire, with a view to keeping him comfortably for the win t er, failed to get a place even . His watch and chain , even

o n the presentation hunting horn , disappeared a long visit

’ c o n ﬁd i n h i s to his g uncle s , and his green coat, cap , and

- - his lily white cords and brown topped boots , might have been seen any day in the week airing themselves outside

o f the fusty emporium M r . Solomon Isaacs in H olywell T street . here is a story told of him about this period ,

o n that, whilst a visit to a country house, the footman appeared one morning in his bedroom to lay o u t his

& c . clothes , , when the following dialogue took place between the t w o “ ’ s i r s e e Footman Please, , I don t no clean shirt .

No ! Charlie (sitting up in bed) clean shirt Why,

’ where s the o n e I sent to the wash o n Saturday

: t w o Footman (grinning) Please , sir, it come in .

o n : Charlie (subsiding to his pillow) Came in two , - ? fo r did it I wish to heavens it had come in four then ,

’ ’ ” i t s o n e I v e the only got . Ca t a in D a bbe r p . 6 I

’

Our worthy friend didn t know what to be at . He w a s

t o o h fo r n w a s f eavy steeplechase ridi g, he too ugly o r an

’ artist s model ; at last, as he turned it over in his mind in

o n e bed morning, he had just settled with himself that he

would shave o ff the scrubby moustache and h e ar d he

a s usually sported , and advertise for a situation coachman

’ in a respectable family (wouldn t he r o b the cornbin ! he - ’ thought to himself), when rat tat came the postman s

knock at the front door, and by and bye the dirty servant

- - — o f all work appeared bearing a letter fo r the Captain a

t w o letter, too, with a black border inches deep at least .

’ T h e worthy Captain s heart beat as loudly as the tick o f a D utch clock as he opened it . I t proved to be from the

- o f well known ﬁrm lawyers , M essrs . Weezle and Stote, Of

’ In n Lincoln s , acquainting him with the fact that his aunt , T T M iss abitha ipcat , had lately departed this life , and

o f had left him , with the exception a few triﬂing legacies ,

h e w a s all s possessed . Charlie in ecstasies ; he was set up

’ fo r again life . H e d turn over a new leaf altogether, and “ ’ o f h i s h a n d be a good boy for the rest days , g if he

’ u o w ouldn t ; he quite made p his mind t that . When he

o u t had dressed himself, he went straight , and ordered him self a capital dinner at a certain snug chop-ho u se he was

o f aware . H e also ordered a bottle of champagne, a luxury

he had not tasted for goodness knows how long . H e

o ff w then swaggered to order his mourning, and dra

o f the lawyers a little ready money on account . Over his

c offee and cognac that night after dinner he puff ed his

T h e o l d cigar, and arranged all his plans for the future .

’ s o ladies lease had just expired , he would be enabled once

T h e more to inhabit Ivy Lodge . following week all w as

w as s ettled . Mrs . Plummer installed as major domo , and ‘ a t a in D a bbe r 6 2 C p . u nder her able management everything w as soon in apple

o u r f pie order, and friend the Captain found himsel

t o s e t e nabled up as a country gentleman forthwith . H e

w farmed a little, shot a little , hunted a good deal , and ent to church as regularly as clockwork . H e was church

fo r t w a s warden a time (fancy hat l ), in which capacity he

t — t o o t h e most energe ic rather much so, indeed , for vicar, wi t h whom he nearly came t o blows o n e ﬁne day in the vestry .

w h o One personage there is in the county , as he says ,

’ o f t can t abide the sight him , and that no other han the

Dai s ﬁe ld w i t w h o o f noble Lord y to , never tires “ ” h o t t D relating w tha horrid M is er abber, as he calls

o u t t t a t him , served him ha time the coun ty races some

Dai s ﬁe l d few years back . N ow be it known that Lord y

t h e R in his younger days , when he was H onourable egi m w a s o n e o f ald Cowslip , the most accomplished gentlemen

o f h i s t n o t riders ime . Croxton Park would have been

n o t o n o r t w o itself had the H onourable w a race each day . I n fact in every race eligible for the gentleman rider there

w a s t o . his name be found amongst the performers H owever, when he succeeded t o the title he t hough t it more becoming his station to relinquish his favourite pursuit, and the only occasion he now thought ﬁt to appear in silk was

’ once a year a t the race mee t ing held in his lordship s

W o r t l e bu r o w n Park at y . Great was the cheering when

D ai s ﬁe ld o t t o Lord y , g up perfection Sich a neckcloth ” s ich s e e s u r e li e and smart boots I never did , , remarked

Bu t t e r bo o n o n e o ff Farmer y occasion ), would carry the

H unt Cup . Well, about the second year after Captain

Da t t o bber had se tled down live quietly at Ivy Lodge, t h e r a e s e a s o n m e c cam round usual , and the nu b rs going Ca t a i n D a bbe r p . 63 u p for the Hun t Cup it w as seen t hat there were only

iz t w o v . : runners ,

’

I . L D ai s ﬁe ld s S ir e O cr i m s o n a n d bl ack ord y bay horse Marmaduk ( wner), ca p . ’

2 t . D L abl a c h e O bl u e e d be lt a n d ca . . Cap abber s brown horse ( wner), , r p

’ L abl ac h e w as N ow, the redoubtable Charlie s steed a conﬁrmed roarer, consequently it looked any Odds against his g etting the severe t w o miles and a half o f the Hunt

f o n Cup course extravagant odds , therefore, were of ered

s n o t t his lordship mount ; tha there was much betting, it

o n e o f t h e o l d being good country meetings, where people came t o meet one another more for goodfellowship D than t o make money . own the course they went in

o ld L abl ac h e t heir canter, his lordship ﬁrst, grunting and

L bl h e . a ac wheezing along after him Now, though was

o f such a bad roarer he possessed a good turn speed , and

’ w as Dai s ﬁe l d s s o , besides, better bred than Lord y horse, accordingly as the pair were o n their way t o the post o ld

m Charlie Sidled up to his lordship , and proposed aking a waiting race of it, and not to really gallop until the bend fo r home, by which means they would make perhaps a semblance o f a race so as to amuse the country folk . His ’ R - lordship , eyeing his opponent s oman nosed steed with “ M o s t some contempt, agreed to the proposal . happy , D ’ ” M ister abber, I m sure, replied he with a polite bow, fo m f r y lord w as always the pink o politeness .

T h e Off next minute they were .

’ ’ ’ W h o M a s r s l o o v a r s t e r y , old p mear, Jessie, could go ” o n nor that theer, remarked a chawbacon , looking with

t t w o his mouth open , as the pair went lobbing along abou “ ’ ’ ” N OO a-c o o m i n v a r s t e r miles an hour . they re along ,

as d w w h Said he they roun e d the bend, and, eh hat y you 6 Ca t a in D a bbe r 4 p .

’ ’ s a S O — — L abl ac h e s don t y folks rub their eyes old great,

’ i s o n k ugly head a level with his lordship s nee, and what

o l d D i s is more, that sinner, Charlie abber, sitting as still

o n N o Da i s ﬁ l h . t s o e d w o as a mouse his horse Lord y ,

t o t i o f sits down ride in earnes . Memor es Croxton Park

h i s and the Bibury Club , ﬂit rapidly across brain , and he

i does all he knows , wh ch is a good deal you may depend .

NO T L abl ac h e good . hey near the Stand . Old draws

’ H i s . o u t level lordship s whip is , but it is all over but shouting . Steel and whalebone are not a bit o f use this

t h e o n e o u t W time ; despised shoots , and ins , hard held , by a length . ” Cu s s him ! g asped Lord Dai s yﬁe ld t o himself as he

t o returned scale . “ ’ D o n e o ld S t n e ck b u it e r / t h e , iﬁ , y j p ejaculated de

r av e d D . p abber, putting his tongue in his cheek So intensely disgusted was Lord Dai s y ﬁe l d that he k vowed he would never ride again , and he ept his wo r d ;

It o f indeed, everyone agreed was too bad that horrid

Captain to serve my lord such a shabby trick . - And now w e will bid Old Charlie good bye . Let us

o suppose the hounds ﬁnd in Scrub Wood , and g away at a rattling pace . “ Off Ah , I thought as much , grunts the Captain . ”

Be n d e r b . S o t o t o y saying, he proceeds take a

-ﬂ a s k lengthened swig at his sherry , lights a cigar, and

’ o f turning his horse s head , makes the best his way into the high road . Once there he pounds steadily along in

fo r the direction he thinks the fox is making , and as he is right nine times o u t o f ten it is not unusual fo r him to “ R very often arrive there before Sly eynolds himself.

t h e T hen comes the break up , and Captain , sticking a

R CHA LI E WILDOAT S .

T ’ S T ’ very late , sir he yve nearly ﬁnished

s i r breakfast, , and the horses are just

’ ’ - T h e u u a comin round . Sq ire s sent word p

s i r M is t e r Ch a r l e s twice, , to me to let you know .

’ ’ ’ i t s (bawling in the sleeper s ear), gone ten , sir ; it ave r a ly ” W h a t s h e r r u ? matter N ot time to g p , is it

’ Y e z z i r h aw fu l t ; it is , indeed . You ll be late; M is er ” Charles ; you will , indeed , sir .

“ - - - ! w a s . aw aw By Jove no idea it so late Yaw ah .

Get me a brandy and soda , Wiggins, will you, and tell m y uncle and all of them not to wait, and order the hack ” to come round in a quarter of an hour .

r o a n ’ o f a n x 1e t And Wiggins , disappearing with a g y, the ‘ t is sleeper once more turns round, with a grun , and fast

t w o asleep again in seconds .

r e - Five minutes elapse, and enter the faithful valet .

d o ! . Oh , Mister Charles M ister Charles , wake up , Sir

’ ’ ’ T s i r hey ve hall started they ave, indeed , . You ll never ” get there in time .

’ ’ s a S O Lor bless me, you don t y What do you mean

G O o f t e a by not calling me, eh and get me a cup and

T o m some toast , and tell to bring the hack round in ten ” minutes . h a rlie Wild o a ts C . 6 7

S o s o f be d an d saying, M i ter Charles springs out ,

splashes into his bath , without any more delay . — o f 1 5 o u t At the end of half an hour for, course, it of the question for such a heavy swell to dress in t e n — “ ’ . i t minutes the lazy one clanks downstairs Yes , s a — — ’ cold morning Ve r y and a glass of curacao won t be R T ’ a . miss . Yes , just a drop of brandy in it , obert hat ll w ? Oh do . Wiggins , here the doose are my mittens ,

all right, here they are . And at last the gay sportsman

’ h e s o ff V ge ts o n his impatient hack , but not yet . Stop

“ ’ he cries ; I ve left my fusee-box upstairs ; just go and T get it , will you , one of you . hankee “ n o w And , with a Cut along, old girl , to his hack , away goes young Nimrod at a hand gallop, to the great

o f w h o b e o ff relief the servants , want to to a bicycle

o ff match that has been arranged to come that morning ,

w whilst the family are a ay at the hunt , between one of the footmen and the simple carpenter of the villag e , the

’ lacquey in q u estion ha v ing ventured a quarter s wages on the result .

o n e Charlie Wildoats , the subject of our sketch , is of those happy-g o -lucky erratic young gentlemen one s o often meets . H e never seems to know his own mind two

. i s minutes together Punctuality, it is needless to say, a

w virtue utterly unkno n to him ; indeed , his uncle and guardian , whose heir he is , and with whom he is supposed “ W 1 5 I to live hen he at home , goes the length of saying,

t o o really believe, I do really believe , that Charlie will be

f o r h is o w n l ! s late funera , begad One never know R where to ﬁnd him . One day one meets him at ome, thro w ing confetti at his friends fro m a balcony in the

Or s o W i s C . Next eek he ﬂourishing in the Vale o f

F—2 h a r lie Wild o a ts 68 C .

Aylesbury with the Baron , riding with a loose rein , at the

o f h i s o w n doubles in the vale , utterly regardless neck and

’ o f his horse s , and , probably, in the course the day coming t o immortal g r ie f i n the R ousham o r some o t her equally celebrated brook . Another day, strolling into your gun

’ ’ maker s , you ll find him talking away like a house a fir e o f t a n d to the proprietors the establish men , ordering express rifles and other murderous weapons , “ ” o f o f l . o d regardless expense Sick England , man , “ — h n he will say , going in for big game elep a ts ,

W ! T o m m tigers , and hat not , eh Blazer and Billy Ca p

’ ’ o l d bell, that s the party . Why don t you come too ,

? 10 chappy And , and behold , a week after, as we are seated

o f T o n quietly in the stalls the Frivolity heatre, looking

w h o at the new burlesque, s hould come swaggering

t he in , rather red in face , with a huge camellia,

o f as big as a cauliﬂower in his coat , and late, course , “ Ol d m a n but our erratic young friend . N ot going, , after

all , he tells us in a hoarse whisper . U ncle old , and

’ D h i m all the rest of it . idn t like to leave , you know ”

o n . ? hard lines the ancient What Miss Nelly de Vere,

n ée w h o Baggs , has a part in the extravag anza , is in a

o f e w e s h e great state xcitement , notice , directly catches

o f sight him in the stalls . She sings straight at him , and

s o t o even goes far as Wink at him occasionally, While

Charlie, who has evidently been dining, applauds vigorously, more especiall y after her walk round and breakdown in

the ﬁfth scene . d ’ We left our young frien at his uncle s front door,

O ff T h e late as usual , just starting for the meet . reader can imagine how he hustles his unfortunate hack

No t along . a soul is . in sight as he pulls up at the h a r lie Wild a ts C o . 69

n u T ’ T re dezvo s except his groom . hey ve drawn ilbury

’ ” D G r e e n ﬁe l d s t t ean blank, Squire man jus told me, tha W o r t h y i n fo r m s him a s he gets Off the n o w smoking hack ; “ ’ h o r f and they ve trotted to Willoughby Wood , where

’ ’ ’ s a s i r they re sure to ﬁnd , they y , and you ll catch em up , , if you go through the gate yonder, and along by Farmer

’ ’ ’ Joskin s . So, taking the servant s advice , Charlie, hastily

o s mounting, sends his horse along best pace ; through old J

’ w kin s stra yard , into his meadow beyond, over a stile into a

o f lane, ver the ence the other side, and in due time makes h is appearance in the principal ride of Willoughby Wood ,

o f now ﬁlled by the members the hunt . What a lazy

T o m beggar it is ! says Larkington . I wish we had

o u found and got away without you , adds he . Knew y

’ D s o wouldn t ﬁnd at the ene , returns Charlie , took it

ld ff D ai s ﬁe ld o u t In o . sleep , you mu Lord y and his huntsman alike look upon our d a n d iﬁe d friend With dis ” Y o u m a s trust . ight just well holloa hold hard to a

brick wall as to Charlie, and woe betide the hounds when he is close to their sterns, for he is extremely likely to be

’ o n the top of some of them if they don t l ook sharp and get o u t h i s of way . Every hunt in England knows him and

H OW R his little ways . Old Squire asper, who hunts the

R u m m a e m s h i r e g country, loves him Our friend made a desc e nt on that country last year, and , ﬁnding the company

pleasant and the champagne good at the principal inn ,

w a s - stayed there for ﬁve weeks . H e as ﬁt as a buck rat up

a sink all the time , as he elegantly expressed it , and seemed to take a glory in riding at all the biggest fences he could

o r n o t pick out , no matter whether hounds were running . ’ — Of c o urse he rode over a few o f o l d M e aly m o u t h s as he

e c all — u o n e i r r verently e d t h e Squire ho nds . At last h a r li Wild o a s 70 C e t .

t h e t t n t day latter fairly losing his , emper, old him poi blank that he d trouble h i m t o pay his subscri pt i on

o u t T like the rest if he intended coming again . hat

d a i t e very y, as happ e n d , the hounds had a wonderful t d run , the bes th e y had had all the season , in eed ;

n n ﬁfty minu t es without a check , wi di g up with a kill

n w h o u i the open . Our friend , , as sual , rode like a

t o demon , trotted up the Squire after the hounds had t broken up heir fox, and, clapping the worthy gentleman o n the back as if he had known him all his life, said,

“ ’ o ld t w a s r u n Well, boy, hat a devilish good , pon my

th a t d e vilis h soul , it, was ; a good run , and does you and

bo w - your wows credit ; it does indeed I tell you what ,

’ ’ when I g e t ' home I ll hunt abou t a n d s e e if I can t ﬁnd a

’ o u if I o pony for y , and do I ll send it you t morrow, by

J ove I . will H ow delighted the Old boy w a s at this speech may be imagined . l Charlie was considerab y sold once, though , when

o n e o f staying in a certain country house , by his

o ff t h e w a d little jokes not comi n g at all in y he expecte . T here happened to be staying, amongst others , in the

d o l d m S c u m bl e r house, a quiet, emure little gentle an , by

S c u m bl r w a s . h name . M r e unlike the other guests w o

fo r u t e were there , simply s ch amusements as h house

ff N o a orded . ; he combined business with pleasure , and

' e Whilst the house party wer bus y shooting the covers ,

o r n fo x driving Wild partridges , pursui g the every

a t e lie r day, he was engaged in a temporary , touch

u l o t o f ing p and restoring a the , Old family

t o ld pic ures . At dinner the gentleman would put

t . in his appearance , and very pleasan he would

m n an d ake himself, for he had travelled in ma y countries, Ch a r lie Wild o a ts . 7 I co u ld talk about pretty nearly every subject that cropped u - o u t ppermost . I n the billiard room he came uncommonly

a n d strong, he astonished Master Charles very considerably the night he arrived by beating him twice running at

— t o o — billiards very easily, and Charlie fancied himself v s - o n e ery much at the game . I n the moking room , with

’ o f the host s biggest cigars in his mouth , and some brandy - and soda in a glass the size of a stable bucket at his elbow, the little old gentleman would come o u t stronger than

ever . His stories , as the night grew older, waxed fuller

o f in ﬂavour, and , told very quaintly, in a thin pipy sort “ voice, they what is called fetched the gorgeous satin

- - and velvet coated young gentlemen vastly . One night

o t o f a n d the Whole party , having g tired billiards blackpool - adj ourned in a body to the smoking room , the conver sation forthwith turning on hunting (as it happened the h ounds were to meet in front O f the house the following

T h e morning). artist listened with pricked ears to the

talk, and at last, after a meditative pull at his tumbler and

ff o f a long pu at his cigar, he announced his intention g i vi ng h i m s e lf a holiday for once and coming out to s e e them “ I haven ’ t seen a red coat or a pack of hounds

fo r u years , said the old gentleman , and pon my word ” t o it will be a great treat me . “ ! s h a ll h i And , by J ove you , struck in Charlie , in s

o u boisterous way ; and I tell y What, my Old cockalorum , ’ t ’ I ll mount you on my chestnu Inare Molly Bawn , I m

’ ” o f blessed if I won t . All manner questions the artist — “ asked Was she quiet Did she rear Would s h e kick

n o t Did she pull at all ? Of course . A baby in arms ” might ride her, declared Charles , notwithstanding the fact t ha t Mo lly h a d played n o end o f games with him o n more 7 2 Ch a r lie Wild o a ts .

o n e i . . than occas on Comforted by that announcement, M r

S c u m bl e r Off o f swigged the remainder his soda and brandy,

t o and , bidding Good night the assembled com pany , took himself o ff to bed the better to ensure his nerve fo r the morni n g . “ ! t What a lark it will be exclaimed Wildoa s , as soon

’ w a s o u t as he well o f the room . M olly Bawn s as fresh as

’ ’ o ld ff paint, and I don t suppose the bu er s been outside a ” s T o o hor e in his life before . bad , Charlie remarked o n e o f of his friends . By J ove that brute yours will settle

’ ’ ’ o ld —i t s n o t the poor chap fair, pon my soul it ain t said “ T o ! another . all of which Charlie simply replied , Bosh “ adding that the mare would be certai n t o kick the Ol d

o ff o n ﬁv e gent before he had been her back minutes , and ’ — being kicked o ff ai n t a n ything might happen to him Off ” — a n o w a moke at Blackheath d e s s y it has before . So

o ff saying he took his ﬂat candle, and marched to roost,

as he called it .

T h e morning broke ; the breakfast came ; the hounds

T w a s u o f arrived . here the us al inﬂux scarlet coats into

n - n the dini g room such gobbli g and guzzling, champagne - l drinking and curacao nipping, chattering and aughing .

At last they had all done, and away everybody started to

T h e draw for a fox . belt round the park being drawn

w a o f w a s m blank by y commencement , a move ade for “ ’ the H ome Wood . By George , they ve found , I do ” ! w h o e believe exclaimed Wildoats , was in a small rid engaged in a desperate ﬂirtation with Lady Bla nche

Fa ke a a Fo r h s o e w . t e y moment ngrossed was he ,

that he had clean forgotten the hounds, the artist,

o n everything indeed . Come , Lady Blanche, I do

’ e t s believ hey ve given u the slip . Crash through

7 3

e the underwood they W nt accordingly, and what a sight

‘ m e t t h e i r eyes when they arrived at the end of the wood !

s o ff d r u n n i n like n o t Four ﬁeld are the houn s , g smoke , and

o r fo r t h e above Six seven people along with them , half

ﬁeld have been left behind in the wood , Charlie forgets

all about poor Lady Blanche, and sends his horse along as if he w a s riding for his life ; the hounds maki n g a

turn , gives him a slight advantag e he quickly makes — use o f ; he i s within two ﬁelds o f them and what ! “ w h o o n Why, earth is that chap in the brown shooting jacket and wideawake-hat riding quietly and well close to

the hounds , and taking fence for fence with the huntsman

’ ’ i t s I t can t be ; but by Jove , it is ; that blessed Old artist , ’ ’ — I ll be hanged if it isn t o n my chest n ut mare By ’ ? J ingo, Who d have thought it Look at that exclaimed

s a w - he, as he brown coat sending Molly Bawn at a great

’ white gate, which the mare jumped like a bird . Charlie s

horse was getting pumped , and no wonder ; his second

w as horse nowhere to be seen , and the hounds seemed to

get further and further away from him every minute . At D last it was all up with him . own came his horse with a f o . plump in the ditch , the landing Side a nasty fence

w a s fo r H is fun over the day . Some yokels helped him

o u t to get his horse , and , getting into the road , he wended

o f . his w ay sorro w fully home . In p rocess time M r

S c u m bl e r w a s seen riding slowly up the avenue o n M olly

Bawn , that clever animal done to a turn . Charlie hurried ” o u t to meet him . Why, hang it , man , said he with a slight “ o f o n tone annoyance, I thought you had never been a f ’ o u . horse in your life , y told me Why, when I le t em

D o a lw a s you were riding like a bird . you y ride like that Ch a r lie Wild o a ts 74 .

. t . S c u m bl e r Well , my dear M r Wildoa s , replied Mr , “ ’ o f the faintest vestige a grin passing over his face, I ll

l o u T h e I w a s br o h . u t u a s a te l y all about it fact is , g p

’ r o o m o u t t o g . So I think you ll agree with me that I g h

know something about it .

H OW Charlie Wildoats was chaff ed in the smoking !

room t hat night can be imagined . H e took it in good

t c u m bl e r S . par though , and swore that old was a trump

’ T h e bold artist has had many a good day o n Charlie s

n d a ags since the Molly Bawn y , for the oddly assorted

pair have become fast friends . I n fact, going to pay

S c u m bl e r a visit a short time ago at h i s studio in Berners

Street , there was Charlie , to our great astonishment , a — - huge cigar in his mouth , sitting red coat , top boots , and — all for his portrait, to the worthy painter, which portrait

w e hope to s e e o n the line at Burlingt on H ouse very

Shortly .

t o T T o return Willoughby Wood . hey ﬁnd sure

a nd w e enough , , getting outside the covert as quickly

’ e o u r a s w can , from pony s broad back watch comfortably f ! all the V i cissitudes o the chase . By J ingo the fox has

. T h e crossed the river, I do believe H e has, too .

h T h e leading ounds plump in , the rest follow . huntsman

goes at it full tilt , the ﬁeld to a man turn away and gallop

f a o . in search bridge Stay, I am wrong . One man in t t scarlet , evidently ra her behindhand , comes straigh at it , i a hundred m les an hour, notwithstanding its swollen ? . t o state Who can it be, I wonder I seem know t h e

ﬁ t o o . gure , “ ’ w h o i t I ll tell you be, zur, says a gamekeeper

w h o i s o n t o o f o u r i standing the p a fence, at S de, as the horse and rider land With a loud splash righ t in the middle

M R . R SAM U EL S H U B .

! ’ LL right , squire My old horse don t kick , says

o f a cheery voice in front us . We are wedged in the middle o f the crowd of hors e men enter

R ad d l e t o n o u r ing Wood , and as mare playfully nibbles

o f h e r w e o u t the tail of the horse in front , naturally look

T h e o f h for a squeal and a hearty kick o u t . owner t is

- - - ! well mannered animal is a j olly looking, middle aged

t a n d stoutish man , clad in a green coa , brown cords , butcher boots ; his head i s covered with a low-crowned felt hat, a Manilla cheroot adorns his mouth , and he - is none other than M r . Samuel Shrub , the well known

o f D ai s ﬁe ld sporting landlord the y Arms , the principal inn

f o f Bu ll e r t o n o the to wn .

T h e D ai s ﬁe ld y Arms , besides being used by all the

th e o f r - county people, is sporting house the count y side .

Bu ll e r t o n , as everyone knows , lying right in the heart of the Harkaway country , besides being within easy reach o f O f o n e o f three other packs fox , and staghounds .

is M r . Shrub , then , a most important, as well a s popular personage ; nothing, indeed , in the sporting line being apparently able t o take place in the county without his assistance and advice .

IS o f t t o there a meeting the hun be held , where does i t “ M r S a m u e l h r b . S u . 7 7

take place bu t in the largest room o f the Dai s yﬁe l d Arm s Where does o u r race committee arrange the plans for

m i t s its annual spring eeting, and receive entries , forfeits ,

& c D i ﬁ . a s e ld Why , at the y Arms , to be sure .

o f (Secretary and Clerk the Course , Mr . Samuel Shrub . ) T — l hen Should that reck ess soldier, Captain Wildoats , “ o f T i the Bays ( imber W ldoats , as he is called , because

o f h i s ﬁv e - partiality for riding over barred gates, posts

h o - and rails , and g backed stiles whenever he gets a chance),

- i s break a collar bone, and a rib or two , as not seldom the

’ t h e o f — case with him , in course his day s amusement What becomes o f the gallant ofﬁcer Is he conveyed in a faint ing state by the next train back to town ? o r is he taken to l o f . the Swan or the Ange Not a bit it . M r Samuel

o f n Shrub takes precious good care that . It is the a cient cognac from that worthy man ’ s ﬂask that brings the

captain to after his cropper . H e it is , and none other,

w h o rides in person beside the ﬂy w hich conveys the

i Bu ll e r t o n n o t damaged capta n back to , and , in fact , does let h i m out of his sight until he sees him snugly ensconced - - in the funereal looking, but comfortable four poster, in the

f i T h e o f state room o the Da s yﬁe ld Arms . doctor the / h place and M r . Shrub then rub their ands with mutual

’ o b s o satisfaction , for it is at least a three weeks j . Not

o f w h o mine hosts the Angel and the Swan , abuse freely ” n that dashed impostor, as they irrevere tly call Shrub ,

h i s and his tricks and dodges, over their brandy and water

that evening . I t is an impressive sigh t to s e e the air with which he

i s carries round the plate in church (for M r . Shrub a

a n d s a churchwarden , much respected , as they y , by the r l h ub M . S a m u e S r 78 .

‘ " R t o ﬁll t h e o f h i s t ector), and enough bosoms fellow owns men with envy, hatred , and malice .

Di l e s a l Of a g g , the l nd ord the Sw n , swells with anger

' - r i s Di l e s c at the sight (a bad tempe ed man g g ), and clut hes his great fat church-service as if he Wo uld uncommonly

k a h li e to br in the excellent Shrub W ith it . N ote too t e scowl he gives “ as he almost “ shies a cr own-piece into

a the pl te when it comes round . Our wily churchwarden

h im o u t serves , though , by pretending he has not seen the gift , and then , discovering his mistake, begging his c pardon with much apparent con ern .

’ H e s w t o o o u r kno n , , in London is sporting landlord ,

. o n let me tell you Let the reader imagine himself, a D bleak , cheerless afternoon in ecember in the exceedingly “ comfortable smoking-room o f the J unior Mars and N ep ” T R f h . a o t tune Club here he will behold Lieutenant g , e

o f R Lancers , and Captain Famish , the oans , soused in a

o f - - couple arm chairs , smoking their after luncheon cigars , and discussing the aff airs of the nation . H aving settled everything to their mutual satisfaction—from the arrange

o f f ment European di ﬁculties gen erally, to the great superiority o f the understandings pertaining to charming

o f T v little Miss Poppet , the Lollypop heatre , o er those

' D e n e e S n i s o f t h e belonging to Violet Courcy ( g g ), — Frivolity the lower limbs o f the latter being contemp “ ” t u o u s l e br o o m s t icks ! y described as lik , by J ove they turn their attention to hunting .

S R a f ays Lieutenant g to Captain Famish , lazily pu ﬁng

i t d i s a huge cloud of smoke from his lips , and watching porting itself as it curls itself away in a v ariety o f rings “ ’ d t h e c s a o l e f l e r n towar s eiling, I y , , do you thi k

’ l i o u n d s ll t o - h go morrow, e

l h r u b M r . a m u e S S . 7 9

Po n my soul , I dunno , replies Famish , removing his cigar from his mouth , and turning a very bloodshot look “ ’ o f ing pair eyes towards the window . Let s go down

into the hall , continues he , rising and giving himself a

’ o s e e hearty stretch . Let s g down into the hall and if

’ ’ ” t o l d r there s a telegram from tha wascal Shrub the e .

i s Accordingly the pair descend , and sure enough there the expected telegram staring them in the face . From S l S ll P t amue hrub , Ha or er,

D a i s ﬁe l d N t Cl . y Arms , Junior Mars and ep une ub Bu ll e r t o n , - t u t . L t o t t o Fros breaking p fas My ord sure hun morrow.

” ! R a Hooray exclaims g , in great glee, thinking how

’ ﬁv e - -Ol d o f he ll shove that chestnut year his along .

’ H a- ! r e e l n hum I don t know, y , says Famish , pulli g i “ ’ h s moustache meditatively . I don t believe they ca n

’ t O- c a n t o t hunt morrow . Frost have g out of the ground

’ ’ ’ B l i e v e i t s yet awhile . a dodge of old Sammy s to get u s

down there and drink his infernal champagne No, no, I

R a shall wait a bit afore I go down , g , my boy .

T h e m u s t fact is , if the truth be told , that though a

n hard man enough , whe ﬁt and well , the bold Captain

’ ’ Fa m i s h s n n o w u erves are just not q ite the thing, don t

’ n you know, and he can t help thi king how disagreeably

n o n m fresh his two ags will be the orrow . H e did not bargain either for the frost breaking up quite s o soon ; consequently for the last ten days or s o he h as been making

o f freer with sodas and brandy, and the small hours the

s a morning, than is conducive to riding with comfort, to y

n . nothing of bold ess, over a country

i s i n h i s Old Shrub element on a hunting morning .

’ 7 ” ’ ’ ’ M o r n i n m o r n i n M o r n i n c a t i n m o rn i n , squire, or , p , M r S a m u e l h r u b 80 . S .

t o is his greeting a stranger . If without hair on his face in

o f the shape a moustache, he addresses him as if he took in

- o f at a glance that he is a depu ty lieutenant , chairman

o f o f Quarter Sessions , and owner no end broad acres .

H OW o e Bl o bbs delighted little J Figgins (Figgins and , St . ’ - B C . Swithin s lane , ) was , on his ﬁrst appearance with o u r - justly celebrated pack, at being add ressed by the wily Shrub as squire ! ” H e has aff ected the country gentleman

T o o f ever since . hear him talk the weather and the

t o crops his friends in the City is a caution . H e even d r e s s e s — — the part double stitched Melton coat , with long skirts , birdseye necktie folded three times round his neck and terminating in a bow, and drab gaiters over his - double soled boots . T o the stranger adorned with a moustache is given the

o r military appellation of captain , sometimes even major, — colonel a complimen t greatly appreciated by no end Of

’ M r . Shrub s chance customers . ” o n All gone , squire, says he , as we trot gaily up t o

e n r o u t e his door ( to the meet), and pull up for a moment

fo r . o n . a chat with old Sammy All gone , squire

’ ’ ’ Not untin myself this m o r n i n ; got a touch o f the o ld

’ ’ E n e r complaint , squire . J ust seen Lord y Ill and Lady

’ ’ ’ H e v a Off d in the ﬂy . All the ard ridin division own

h a u t h o r from town . Colonel Somerville, the great , squire

— M e lt o n M o w br a o u Bo x wrote y , y recollect ; Major ;

’ H o n e r abl e R - obert Brimstone arder than ever, they

s a M r s . o u y, with the stag ; Slyboots , y know, squire (here

fa t Mr . Shrub , looking very sly, puts his foreﬁnger to the s o f h i s o f ide nose, and nearly winks the left side his face o f?) ’ ’ ‘ - — And some o f them n -a-a r s t y J ews Ca n t a bid e

T E D T T . H H O N . A OLPH U S LI GH FOO

Y N R N THE O U GE S O .

o u r ALLO suddenly exclaims friend , Charles

w h o o n Wildoats , foot , busily engaged in

’ tightening his horse s girths , looks round , from

-ﬂ a s beneath the saddle p , with a red face and a very large

D o n t o s e e the tip of his tongue , whose approach it is that

w h causes his horse suddenly to ﬁd g e t about . Hallo y

’ ‘ ’ here s the old original Younger Son , I declare bless his

Old ! d o t o heart Stand still , , you idiot (this his horse) “ ’ ’

D . You ve seen Old olly Often enough before, I m sure ” o l d o u o n Well , you sinner y , goes Charlie, as a slim , - well dressed man , much moustached and whiskered , whose age might be anything between ﬁfty and sixty a certain haggard look about the region o f the eyes telling its o w n

tale, and probably making him appear older than he really w a s n o w o f , rode up and . joined the group sportsmen

o f o f Oaka l e o n e assembled in one the big rides pp Wood,

of the largest covers in the Old Harkaway county, and

’ which Lord D ai s yﬁe ld s hounds were now drawing fo r a “ ’ . o u o u o f fox Well , y Old sinner y , who d have thought

o u seeing you Why , I thought y were larking about in

o r o u Paris some other equally naughty place, and here y

t Oaka l e as t a s are, urning up in p p Wood , looking vir uous h e H o n Ad o T . l h u s L i h o o t p g tf , 8 3

’ if you d never done anything wrong in your life . What do you mean by it , eh

T h e o r t o Honourable Adolphus , , give him the name he

D o n e o f is best known by, olly Lightfoot , is the most popular characters in the county . A brother o f the

T r o t t u present Viscount p , he lives when he is at home , which is not very often , by the way, in a pretty little house

T h e Pr é m called , bequeathed to him by an elderly aunt so e f D years be ore . Artful olly is extremely fond o f informing

i s people that he , what he is pleased to term , a poor devil o f T s a a younger son . hus , when asked , y by some good clergyman , for a subscription to a new organ for his

o r church , perhaps tempted to buy something very sweet

w a o f h o r s e ﬂ e s h - in the y by a silver tongued dealer, he will reply to the former in the most Open-hearted manner “ s i r imaginable My dear , nothing, I assure you , would give me more pleasure than subscribing handsomely to your new organ . I dote on music . I positively adore it ,

I do, indeed and the organ , in my opinion , is the grandest , the very grandest instrument in the world . You will

—a scarcely believe it , but when I was a boy at Eton

’ D Pr ae d happy boy at rury s (you have read , of course) - I constantly on a half holiday, when my schoolfellows were devoting t hemselves to football and other amuse

’ ments , used to rush up to St . George s Chapel , at

fo r o f Windsor, to attend afternoon service, the sake hearing the anthem , and if I could only succeed in getting - u w a s . p into the organ loft, my happiness complete (Dolly forgot to add that on o n e memorable occasion he - got into the organ loft before the organist arrived , and amused himself in the interval with sticking the keys o f

h t t t s o t o n t e ins rumen t oge her with beeswax, hat playing

0 —2 Ad o l h u s L i h t o o t H o n . 84 Th e . p g f

“ it w a s impossible during the service . ) I feel sure you will understand me and enter into my feelings when I tell

’ u yo that, having only a younger son s portion , it really is a s much as I c an do to make both ends meet . But if ﬁve

o r s a — — shillings , y half a sovereign half a sovereign is any

’

w h i s o u . good , y , here it , don t y know And away will go D ’ — the worthy rector with olly s half sovereign , or, what is

o f more likely, the promise the same , in his pocket, quite

’ impressed with that elderly reprobate s conversation , d telling his wife , indee , when he reaches home , that he don ’ t believe half the stories they tell of that gentleman ’ s

-o u goings .

T o - o u r ff the horse dealer friend takes a di erent tone ,

No ! though the principle is the same . , dash it all “ ’ ffl s a Sna e, he will y , you m ust draw it mild , pon my sou l

’ ’ you must ; that s an uncommon nice horse and I ll take all

s a you y about him as gospel bu t three hundred guineas ,

o u o f s o n y know, to a poor devil a younger like myself t f ’ o u o . will never do . Quite the question , in fact I m n o t

o f w h o one those chaps rolling in money, buy t heir nags

w a h d o just in the same y t ey their boots and gloves , and

’ ’ NO u n . when they do get a good , don t appreciate him , ’ ff I m di erent . A good horse is a luxury to a p auper like me ,

‘ ’ w as bu t h i s o n e and, if I to y you re now showing me , I

u o f should la d him to the skies , and never tire telling h w o . people all about him , and I bought him of Why ,

’ you ll hardly believe it , but here am I at this momen t actually reduced to smoking Mexican cigars (Dolly w a s at that identical moment smoking o n e he had paid Benson “ — ten guineas a po u nd for) at threepence a piece three

a o u — pence piece , I give y my word obliged to retrench in

fﬂ e o u . o w S n a fact , all round Come n , , y and I have had a

H o n Ad o l h s L i h t o o t u . 86 Th e . p g f pleasure and denies himself nothing if he possibly can help

o f h i s fo r it , he takes great care constitution , , the moment

Off he feels that he has been overdoing it, he leaves and

Pr é fo r T i retires gracefully to the a while . his s what he “ ” i pleasantly terms taking a pull . Not h ng like a run in

o f - the country, and a course new laid eggs , fresh milk ,

’ m t o f o early mo s , and all tha sort thing, if you re a bit ff ” f . o r s o o colour, says he And , after a fortnight volun t ary

D o f rustication , olly, being tired country life and feeling ” R i s that ichard himself again , will once more hie away

o f to the pleasures the town . H o w in the world he manages to d o all the things he

o f does in the course the year, without breaking down , is

to us , and numerous other people, a perfect marvel .

a d a Cosmopolitan in his tastes to L egree, nothing p p ar e n t ly can go o n in the shape o f amusemen t without

i s o n e o f a" his being there ; he those men , in short, th t

o u o o u y are perfectly certain t meet wherever y go . W e really believe if w e were to make a journey to the North

t o - w e D u s Pole morrow, should ﬁnd olly there before .

’ ’ m You ll meet him at eleven o clock p . . at a reception at

f o u the Foreign O ﬁce , and an hour afterwards y will ﬁnd him assisting at a glove contest between t w o aspiring

’ - o ff novices at Billy Daw s well known crib the Haymarket .

’ We never yet went t o Cremorne o n a ﬁne summer s night

w e without seeing him , and the only time ever ventured

w e inside the Casino in Great Windmill Street, which did

o f w h o w a s at the instigation a graceless nephew, anxious “ ” to initiate us into what he called life in London , the very

w e w a s D w h o w as ﬁrst person came across naughty olly, whirling what the police -court reporters call a stylishly ” dressed young lady along at the rate o f a hundred Th e o Ad o i H n . l h u s L h t o o t p g f . 8 7

-u miles an hour, in the wind p galop . At all the prin c i a l o u p races he puts in an appearance, y may be sure .

s o 2 t h o f Cowes knows him ; does Scotland, on the i

August . D H e comes south about oncaster time, and from that

t i s right away to Chris mas he visits in turn , and welcome in all—for he is capital company—the best country houses in England .

w e o u r One J uly, wanting a little change, took it into head to run over to Boulogne for a few days . We went

n o t accordingly, and , being able to get a room at the

Hotel de Paris , put up at another hostelry, whose name w e E t a bli s s e forget, situated exactly opposite the famous T h . e o u r t o ment day after arrival, betaking ourselves the little restaurant o n the pier for the purpose o f

w h o w e luncheon, should ﬁnd, presiding over the very noisiest party o f ladies and gentlemen we ever came in c o n

t D u tac with , but olly Lightfoot Nothing wo ld satisfy him

‘ w e but that we must j o i n h i s party at once . And are bound to s ay w e never enjoyed a dejeuner more than this particular

T h e — o f — o n e . ladies English actresses all them were over at Boulogne taking holiday— high holiday indeed—and

o n e were apparently , and all , enjoying themselves to their

’ s o s o w a s t o hearts content, much that it quite a treat

H o w t a s e e them . hey pitched into the soles la Normand ff and the sweet champagne, and laughed and cha ed ; bless

h i s Al D t o o . their little hearts ! olly, , was in element

t i t w a s a w e s a t toge her, bout the cheeriest meal ever

t o o n e w e t o o u r . down , and recall minds with pleasure T hat evening Dolly engaged himself to dine quietly with

o u r t o Bu t t e r c u s h i r e us at hotel, hear all the news from p ,

’ t h e o h . No w a s e said , opposite to us at table d h te were d o l h u L i h t o o t . o n A s , 88 Th e H . p g f

seated about the most serious family it w a s ever o u r l o t t o

contemplate . It consisted of papa, mamma, two cubs

m of sons just merging into anhood , three girls in their

teens , and their governess . T t here they sat , without opening their mouths excep to

eat . Mamma looked crushed , the boys looked sulky, and

w h o - the girls , were pleasant, rosy cheeked damsels enough ,

W e were evidently kept under . very quickly decided that it w a s t u fﬁn The fa her, who was so g rim a g ” v l n u fﬁn He ne er iked no fun nor , o f a c who was the cause all this , and we pitied his family

c o r d i n l - . T h e g y H e was , indeed , a morose looking party . words of the ballad-writer applied equally well to the said

family , for c l l They each had a fa e as ong as a adder, a n d certainly t t t t Fa her and mo her, sis er and bro her, ” N ev er spoke a word t o one ano t her . e o f xcept when any them wanted anything, when the word w a s passed down in a whisper to the poor little governess , being the only one of the party w h o understood the lan

guage of the country, with orders to ask for the article

’ ’ w a s required . Miss Brown s (that the little governess s name) face would then be suddenly suffused with blushes u ntil she looked like an animated peony, and she would then , conscious that not only were the eyes o f the Serious Family

‘ ’ ’ o n o f t a bl e d h ot e her, but the whole the as well , murmur forth a request to the waiter t o bring d u pang or der

’ T o a r o l eau as the case might be . which the g g n would

o f “ invariably reply in a condescending tone voice, ! o m

? w o n m i n e e t brad yas ; , mademoiselle

D w h o Now, the volatile olly , , never being able to be

' t w o m n u ze s serious for together himself, had a natural

’ h T o n Ad o l h s L i T e l . u h o o t 9 0 p g tf .

Nothing like the good roast-beef o f Old England !

’ ’ D D s o on t you agree with me, ma am inquired olly . And

n T w o a he went o . minutes more and he w s taking wine with the parent birds (having ordered a bo t tle o f cham

a u pagne for the purpose), and by the time the poulet

D w e o u r cresson stage had arrived , not only olly, but

o u r selves into the bargain , were, to unbounded astonish

o n ment, the most familiar terms possible with the whole

family, including little Miss Brown .

W w e d hen rose from inner, cards were exchanged

D a t o s e e between olly and the serious gentlem n , and the

’ former s face a s he handed his bit o f pasteboard to the

w a s . other, with an elaborate bow, worth a good deal It

w a s plain to the naked eye that the name worked wonders .

D w a t o u s e h i s o w n olly, in fact, had it all his own y , and (

words), walked over the course . T h e Simpsons (that w a s their name) h a d in t ended t o

o n t o take a quiet stroll the sands , and then bed ; but

D o f T w a s olly would not hear it . here a dance at the ” t o t o . Etablissement , and it they must all go And it

D o n M r s . they did go, olly leading the way with Simpson

his arm .

o f T I t certainly was a case what Mr . J . L . oole would “ ” call Going it with the Simpson family that night . I

am sure they had never had such a lark before, and possibly

’

t . n o t since . No withstanding Mr Simpson , senior s , stern

s o n o f o a m bli n admonition to his N g g , George, mind

w e o f , in the course the evening, beheld that youth and his brother investing their pocket-money like men at the ” T h e t o o little horses . quadrille, , with the entire Simp

w e s o n family , shall ever forget it

D n E olly, k owing several young nglishmen present, Th e o n Ad o l h u s i H . L h t o o t p g f . 9 1

’ t o u t ! rotted them for the Misses Simpson s beneﬁt, and the consequence w as that those damsels danced away t o their h ’ “ earts content . J udging by his looks the Domestic ” T o f w yrant did not half like the look things ; ho ever, for

w a w a s d once in y he not allowe a voice in the matter .

o f o f Finally, at the end the entertainment, instead going

t o o u r n quietly home bed , volatile acquaintance insisted o the whole family accompanying him to the famous tart shop in the town , an attention highly appreciated by the

o f o u younger branches the Simpson family, y may be

! h o w D certain . H eavens (incited thereto by olly) they

’ o n pitched into Madame s insinuating pastry . I t did e

o f s e e . good to them I n short, if ever that gay specimen

D d o f a philanthropist, olly Lightfoot, eserved well his

w as o n . NO country, it that eventful evening wonder that

poor, crushed Mrs . Simpson expressed her opinion to

’ t w o us in conﬁdence , as we walked home at o clock in the

. w as t morning, that the Honourable Mr Lightfoot the mos

o f s h e perfect member the aristocracy had ever beheld .

D n o olly is , in fact, popular wherever he goes , and

s o o f Bu t t r u where more than in his own county e c p s h ir e .

T h e s u ch fu n t s o ladies all like him (he is , hey say, and delightfully w icke d ); the men swear by him as the best f D o . good fellows ; and children positively adore him ogs,

t o o u r too, always take him at ﬁrst sight a good Sign , in

humble opinion .

T o m With dependants also he is a great favourite .

’ T ootler s cap comes Off with a sweep and his whippers-i n

D t o grin double, when olly canters up the meet ; the game “ t o o keepers , , always take care he is put in a good place ’ at their masters battues . He can shoot uncommonly “ ” i s t i bu t w e straight, and no doubt he a good p , fancy it. Th e H o n Ad o l h u s L i h t o o t 2 . 9 . p g f

w a s a is the pleasant y he has with him , as they y , that

works the oracle for him as much as anything . With

be regard to his hunting, the Honourable would have you lie v e that he had long ago lost his nerve and now never rode

T . a yard . his , however, is altogether wrong H e is some

- i n n ﬁe l d what erratic his behaviour in the hunti g , it is

s a m a true that is to y , sometimes he y be seen when the

o f hounds ﬁnd and go away, instead following them ,

piloting a whole lot of little boys and girls along a line o f

o f gates and gaps , and sending all them into ﬁts of

n laughter with his fun as they gallop alo g . Another day he will have a ﬁt of the blues o n him and will go straight

home after the meet .

T w o days afterwards , perhaps , he will be caught in the

n right humour and will ride like a demo , showing more o f

them the way than will Show him , you may depend . I n

fact , he really is a very ﬁne horseman . I n former days no o n e w as better known in all Leicestershire than the

D n t o h is H onourable olly , and though , owi g means , his stud was but a limited o n e compared to most of the others

there, there were very few could beat him , even there ,

As a gentleman rider, too , both in steeplechases and o n

h i s T h e the ﬂat , he made mark . former amusement he

u has, of co rse, long Since abandoned ; but occasionally,

’ even now, he will make his appearance in a hunters

o n race, the ﬂat , and he nearly always ﬁgures in

’ o n e - o f silk in the gentlemen riders race the day, at

ll r t o n the Bu e annual meeting . I t is a great sight t o s e e D o f olly, got up regardless expense, white kid

gloves , irreproachable breeches and boots , etc . , kissing his hand to the ladies as he walks his horse past the

- gran d stand .

o Ad o l h u s L i h t o o h e H n . t T p g f . 9 3

Practical joking is a favourite amusement of his , and his little bachelor dinners at the Pr é usually ﬁnish up with some

’ o n e D thing of that sort . In notable case, however, olly s little

o ff w a o f joke came the wrong y , it was a regular case sold ” D T w a s . again , in fact . his is how it Old Captain abber, whom w e have already had the pleas u re of introducing to

o u t our readers , whenever he dined in his immediate neighbourhood always made a practice of driving over in

o f a chaise antique pattern , drawn by a sturdy black pony

’

Mr s . o f . mature age Plummer, the Captain s fat house

t h e r keeper, often protested against this arrangemen , telling master that s h e was s u re that some night o r other he would

w a s be waylaid and robbed , besides which , it not at all the

o f h i s correct thing, in her opinion , for a gentleman position

T o to drive about like that without a liveried servant . which the Captain replied that he feared no man ; which

w a s true , for old Charlie, besides being what they call

ff - w a s h i s o n a sti built fellow, a rare hand with ﬁsts ,

a occasion , as a po cher whom he once caught redhanded “ o n e d a y could have testiﬁed he rather liked a breather, “ ’ I v e indeed , than not . And as for appearances he added , l ” t o o O d . S o got to care for appearances , Plummer the house

u s e keeper, ﬁnding her remonstrances of no , held her peace

for the future, and left her master and the black pony to “ s a gang their ain gait, as the Scotch y . N ow it so D happened that our volatile friend , the Honourable olly ,

h i s also possessed a black pony, not at all unlike neighbour

’ u the Captain s in appearance , tho gh intensely unlike him in

. w a s manners and general deportment He best described ,

o n e in fact , as not a bad to look at , but decidedly a

’ u n t o o f rum drive , for, having a very capricious will his own , if he took it in his head not to go in the direction he w a s h e o n Ad o l h u T H . s L i ht o o t 9 4 p g f .

o n wanted , no power earth could make him . You might ﬂog

o u t h e — him until y were black in face move he would not .

w as o f His owner, though , fond the brute in spite o f his faults , and though he was always vowing he would shoot

o r him sell him , he never did , and the black pony c o n s e t quen ly passed his time very pleasantly, his principal work being t o g o backwards and forwards t o Bu ll e r t o n

t fo r t h e whenever hings were required house, such as ﬁsh , o r parcels from the station and such like . T here was o n e — ’ t hing that Old Satan t hat w as the pony s name—had a more rooted aversion to than anything else, and that was Of ’ water . Knowing that peculiarity his , Mr . Lightfoot s

o f men never dreamt attempting to cross a ford with him .

T o f hey had all them , including their Honourable master,

t n o had a try at various imes , but it was go , and at last t - H ’ having s opped , dog cart and all , with the onourable s

t - t h e o f k t r swell s ud groom in middle a river, and ep him the e r t i t for three mo tal hours before he would stir, hey gave up

w a s fo r as a bad job . Satan pronounced incorrigible, and the future w as allowed t o run loose as far as water w as c o n

T h e t t cerned . younger son hen , feeling ra her bored and cudgelling his brains as to how he could have a bit o f fun at

’ b o f someone else s expense , suddenly ethought him a plan .

No w o ld C D w t , harlie abber, henever he drove hat way ,

o r t s t t h e either by day nig h , in ead of coming along road like

a w as t h e t o f s - an ordinary mort l , in habi u ing a cart path that ran t hrough a neig hbourin g farm and brought him

t o s . H e t e s down the river ide would h n , by cro sing a

u o f s s c in s i t w o co ple ford , uc eed av ng himself nearly miles , and - w hat he thought a good d e al more pike in t o the

. No w t h e w a o f s bargain , H onourable was ell aw re thi

’ c t c e o f t h e C t ai s an d i t s t c k h im t at it b pra i ap n , ru h w o uld e

h e o n d o l h i h t o o t T H . A u s L 9 6 p g f .

ﬁnally the stableman told o ff to reconnoitre came back with

the i n telligence that the Captain had driven straight

w a s n e a r l . through both fords , and by this time y home A “ ” roar o f laughter went up at the news . Well ! ex D claimed the disappointed olly to his laughing friends , ’ ! hang me, if that ain t the rummest go I ever knew

After t hat w e had better go to bed . As he lit his candle he could not resist making an exceedingly bad D joke . What the evil does old Satan mean by it said

D t o he . When the gallant Captain abber came down

o f breakfast in the morning, and was informed the change

o f ponies , he chuckled hugely to himself, for he had heard

’ all about Satan s peculiarities , and having promptly

Oliv e r e d a t t e m t e d , as he called it , to the trick they had p

to play upon him , he , without loss of time , dispatched the following note by one of his men

IVY L ODGE,

Wednesday . D L EAR IGHTFOOT,

Y o u a r v t t o e e iden ly o liberal wi t h t h e s t ron g bee r in your serv a n t s u hall , for o fool of a man popped our pon nst ead of mine be ween y r y y , i , t t h e t t r t t I n o t i shaf s of my ap las nig h , and did d sco v er i t in t h e dar k , t I t t t h e b l w o g h houg h eg g ar as uncommon s o . I now send h m bac h u w i k . K d t t b b in ly re urn my beas y earer. Y t l ours ru y,

C D A HARLES BBER .

P -I’ S . v e . t m a n t o t t o t h e d I old my be sure and s ick roa , as know ' y t b t a t e t o our pony doesn as a rule care a ou facing w r, h ug h he came t u h g t e t n h t p l t b w t m e hro h fords las ig as easan as possi le i h . Bu t t , I l t a n d here always had a wonderfu way wi h women horses .

T o t h e L t Honourable Adolphus ig h foot .

’ T t c , e h o l d here that ll f him said Charlie, with a grin , as he fastened the envelope down with a lick o f h i s great

t o . tongue and handed it Mrs Plummer to give his man . Th e o n Ad o l h u s L i h o o H . t p g tf . 9 7

T w a s here no doubt about it, the Captain had the laugh

o n D w a entirely his side, and olly, for once in a y , found

o w n ! himself hoist with his petard . Confound you ” o l d ! ﬁs t you brute, you said he, shaking his at the

w h o w a s unconscious Satan , pegging away at his corn in

“ ’ - a I his loose bo x as unconcernedly s possible . t s all your ! ’ ’ fault I ve a devilish good mind to have you shot, pon

fo r o f o n e my soul I have, making such a fool T H E H R K W H T A A AY U N BALL .

ROM the number o f carri ages o f all sort s that come rolling into the usually quiet little town

o f Bu ll e r t o n o n , this bright J anuary afternoon , a s t ranger o f an ob s ervan t nature would at once come t o the conclusion tha t some t hing o u t o f the common w a s

o n T Bl o bki n s going . Little ommy , traveller to M essrs .

M u ll e r u bs n yg , the celebrated pickle merchants , scuttli g

’ briskly along from o n e grocer s shop to another in quest o f orders , is so struck by the general commotion and the

o f un u sually busy look the High Street, that, pulling up in front o f a s m ar t e l o o ki n g groom just emerging from t h e

- o f Dai s ﬁe ld t stable yard the y Arms , he accosts him wi h

’ ” t o - o u ? What s up day , do y know, Mister

“ ’ ’ ” Ar kaw a t h e y U nt Ball , to be sure, was reply, in “ s a somewhat sneering tones , as much as to y, I should ” have thought everybody knew that . “ ’ -a- T a s A once year splash, I spose said ommy, he

’ prepared to resume his walk . “ ’ ’ h a n n u a l ff Yes , it s a a air, replied the groom ,

t o lighting his pipe, preparatory a stroll through the town .

o t N ext t the H un Steeplechases , the Hunt Ball, given

I 0 0 Th e H a r ka w a H u n t Ba ll y .

o n t o o f t e a t o going indulge in a cup , in preference her

o w n s a r at iﬁ apartments, needless to y to the intense g

i t s cation of jolly owner . D t i t arkness se s in , and with some snowﬂakes make

ba ll o e r s their appearance, leading those g who have elected

Bu l l e r t o n o f to put up for the night at , instead undergoing

t h e o f martyrdom a long drive home, to congratulate them

o n o selves their good p licy .

’ n o w N ine O clock comes, and carriage after carriage

make their appearance in the town , and , having deposited

T t o their precious burdens at the own H all , disperse

ff m o f w the di erent inns , the snug taproo s hich are soon

t a n d o f full , al m os to overﬂowing, of J ehus J ohnnies all

’ m shap es and sizes , from Lady Sheepshanks agniﬁcent

’ London coachman , twenty stun if he s an ounce , to M r.

’ M r H r d - s . a u s u l o l d w h o and p shrivelled p litt e retainer , is n o t only the family coachman but looks after the

o n poultry and the pigs , does the garden , and emergency

waits at table , an d all for a consideration that would ” scarcely keep the Lond o n man in baccy .

’ T e n o f T o clock , and the principal room the own H all

T h e - is ﬁlling rapidly . ball room is decorated with the

o f usual festoons artiﬁcial ﬂowers , pink muslin , sporting “ ” m — — t devices , and ottoes Floreat Scientia, etc . withou

which of course no Hunt ball would be considered perfect .

F H D i ﬁe l o f M . a s d T h e noble . . (Lord y ) and the rest the stewards are busy welcoming everyone as they enter the “ T o f room . Little J oe rimmer, the mighty We the

u lle r t o n Ga z e tt e t o o f B , is seated at a table at the p the

o f fo r stairs , busy putting down the names the visitors

’ t w a s insertion in Sa urday s paper . (It the learned J oseph ,

e g w h o t n t h if w recollect ri ht . las year, in reporti g e Th e H a r ka w a H u n t Ba ll y . IO I

’ e d iﬁc a t i o n Bachelors Ball for the of his read ers , spoke

o f it as having bee n give n by the Benedicts o f the

county . ) “ ’ ’ O t s u r — Sir Arry and Lady p Lord George Spratt , bawls the waiter stationed at the door w ay of the ball

. N O room Cunning little J oe shakes his head . , no ,

’ ’ ’ — o a x i s that won t do that s an , that , exclaims he . Lord — ’ George Spratt indeed l there s no such name as th a t in

’ the Peerage, I ll go bail . - d Lord George, a tall good nature dandy, late of one

’ o f o f Her M ajesty s regiments footguards , hearing his

m na e mentioned , turned roun d to ﬁnd out What was

h e s a t . cause N eedless to y he was highly amused . ” a s s h aw is S w a t t I can you my name Lord George p , “ ’ s o c w i s t e n e d s o said he, at least I was ; , if i t s wong,

’ ’ 1 m e d o n t c h e r k n o w don t blame , . Many and profuse were

’ -o f- the man letters apologies , but for all that he w as far from being convinced that the Peerage contained the name o f Spratt within its aristocratic pages .

n o w T And , the room being pretty full , Messrs . ootle

’ and Bi n n e y s renowned band strike up the opening bars o f D a i s ﬁe ld a quadrille, and Lord y , taking pretty M rs .

T o m Ch i r i n t o n w p g under his scarlet ing, makes his way to the far end o f the room ; Dolly Lightfoot and Lady T homas

v is - -v is o ina Clinker follow as their a . Before y u can s ay

R o f J ack obinson , ﬁfty couples dancers have taken their

o f places , the leader the band stamps his foot, his merry

men strike up the music , and the ball begins in down

t T h e right earnes . quadrille over, waltzes , polkas , and

i n gallops follow one another rapid succession , and the

o f fun gets fast and furious . N ot a Flower the Hunt is

t t - u absen . One would have hought a ball room wo ld be a r ka w a H u n t Ba ll 1 0 2 Th e H y .

t o o ld D hardly the place ﬁnd Charlie abber in somehow ,

w but here he is nevertheless , hovering round the door ay, and making tender inquiries a s to W here the oyster-room

Fo r is , and when it will be open . , as Charlie well knows, o n e o f the insti t utions o f o u r H unt Ball is a small room s e t apart fo r the consumption o f the native oyster an d

t o f t h e u t h e brown s out period , and mighty pop lar this t particular apartmen is , especially with the elderly

’ o f gentlemen , some whom don t leave the room until the

o u t l D oys t ers have run . H ow many dozen o d abber

t o manages swallow during his stay, we should be afraid

s a bu t w e t n to y , should imagine th at, wha with the atives ,

o f o f the supper he subsequently disposes , and the quantit y

o f t champagne he consumes in the course the night, he mus

t fo r -t t Of have more han paid his ball icke . course , Lord Dai s yﬁe ld resents the presence o f Cap t ain Dabber very warmly . H e has never forgiven him and never will for the w ay he j ockeyed him On t hat broken -winded screw “ f a t a o T h e i o his the H unt races some years g . fellow s

n o t a gentleman and has n o business here ! says his

t m t o lordship in his most empha ic anner, a friend in the

- i h i s supper room , eye ng unconscious enemy pegging away

t o fo r at a cold turkey as if he had had nothing eat a week .

b - -b h i s t f T h e Captain , looking up y and y , with mou h ull ,

’ t d bo w and ca ching my lor s eye, makes him a polite , a M E H . o piece o f civili t y the noble . takes n t t h e slightest

o f t t t o not ice . I mpuden rascal he mu ters himself as

o ld as s he leaves the room . Pompous says t h e shame

D o u t h i s fo r less abber, holding glass some champagne .

s i r Champagne , says a waiter, addressing an elderly

t t w h o gentleman in the Badmin on Hun uniform , has j ust

—w n s t rolled up . Champagne, ell, upo my soul , I scarcely

H t B ll 1 0 4 Th e H a r ka w ay u n a .

V o r D t irgin ( capering elder, as olly Lightfoo calls

t h e w h o i s her), H onourable M iss Caradoc, sitting next to

o l d her, whose withered cheeks are painted and powdered

t w h o like those of a clown in a pan omime, and at the present moment is extremely put o u t because n o o n e has been

t t o gallant enough to ake her down supper, cordially

o n agrees , and adds a few especially spiteful remarks

o w n her account , having reference to the curly head and appearance generally o f the merry Lady T homasina . — I n another minute though and w e are really delighted t o w e — record it, as are all good deeds the hungry Old

’ fo r w h o lady s face brightens up, should suddenly present

- T o m Ch i r i n t o n w h o himself but the ever popular p g , , if the t truth mus be told , has just been sent across from the

o f - opposite side the room by his ever thoughtful W ife . “ ” ! t n o t What exclaims he in apparen horror, been

’ t o D e down supper yet, my dear M iss Caradoc on t t ll ’ — me that ! please don t What h ave all t h e men including — ? T t myself been about ake my arm his moment, and ” i t o d d bu t h come along . And is an thing, w en the - gallant T o m leads the now s at i s ﬁe d spinster back t o her o l d t s h e m position agains the wall, see s quite a different

o l d s h e person altogether ; her eyes sparkle, smiles

i n ce -n e z s h e benignantly round and , adjusting her p ,

t d e a r T declares tha , in her opinion , little Lady homasina, w h o a t that moment has j ust whirled by in the arms o f

t o f u it e t young Cour ly the Blues , is q the pre tiest person

t w h o t h e f in the room . After tha , will doubt e ﬁcacy o f the glorious Vintage o f Champagne

I t o f t is now getting la ish, and some the Flowers o f the

o l d G r i m bo M r s h i r . C i n t o Hunt, such as dear M r y, as . p g n f i t o t . t t t calls him , have had abou enough Pre ty li le Miss Th e H a r ka w a H u n t Ba ll y . 1 0 5

t o f u o n Bluebell has ac ually managed , after a deal pers asion

Ol d her part, to inveigle the gentleman into dancing a quad

W o f rille ith her in the course the evening, and the Father o f i s the H unt, now it is over, immensely proud of the feat ,

o ff h i s n o t and goes to carriage as pleased as Punch , only with himself but all the world in general, more especially the pretty little Bluebell, on whom he would certainly have bestowed a fatherly kiss, had he had the chance . If it is true, thinks he, what Miss Mouser conﬁded to him not long Since—that it is a case of a match between her and Charles Wildoats—he ’ ll give the dear little girl such a present as never was .

T h e n o w n o f room is begin ing to thin rapidly, rumours a nasty night and snow falling are rife, and people are b getting to their carriages efore it gets worse .

-a n - a n Half hour more, and the H arkaway Hunt Ball is

o f T h e o f T event the past . indefatigable members ootle

’ n d Bi n n e s a y band , having ﬁddled away all night with l on y port Wine to sustain and keep them going, are now enjoying a hearty meal , well earned if ever a

meal was , with plenty of champagne to wash it down , in

- T h e the supper room , which they have all to themselves . champagne they could have had before had they wished ,

bu t o n i ff o f , its be ng o ered to him at the commencement

h e o f t evening, by one of the stewards, the leader the band replied that they would prefer port wine while they were

o n i f playing, as being better to work , but that, agreeable , they would wind up with some sparkling ” at the ﬁnish f o the entertainment . T here is no mistake about it, it is a very nasty night, a

w h o a r e very nasty night indeed , making the good folk driving home wish they had taken up their abode fo r t h e 1 0 6 Th e H a r ka w a H u n t Ba ll y .

t h night in the own , and those lucky ones w o had elec t ed — t o n o w stay where they were including Charles Wildoats ,

’ an engaged man (for Miss Mouser s surmise conﬁded t o

G r i m bo t M r . y urned out to be correct), and j ust then occupied in playing nap and drinking gin-sling with a

m o f o ld select co pany friends as noisy as himself, in ’ — Sam m y Shrub s sanctum congratulate themselves tha t

n o t they have a long drive in the snow before them . And t hose ballg o e r s snoring away comfortably aft e r

their exert ions in the cosy o ld -fashioned bedrooms of the

Da is ﬁe ld r Bu ll e r t o n y Arms and the othe hotels , certainly have the pull over their h o m e g o i n g friends fo r numerous are the disasters t o be heard o f t h e next day t o some o f the

latter division .

’ Miss Mouser s horses fell over a donkey fast asleep i n — the middle o f t h e road the only o n e n o t damaged o r

t h e i frightened in any way being donkey . Jock Merr

w n t h e Bu ll e r t o n - t h e man , better kno as Post boy, and

o f u t o independent J immy the neighbo rhood , managed

t w o upset Cap tain Glanders , M rs . Glanders , and the t M isses Glanders , into a deep di ch , three miles from home ,

a n d s a o f , the pole being broken , to y nothing the traces , the unhappy quartette had t o make t h e bes t o f their w ay

o n home foot .

’ T h e t o Captain s language , needless say , was quite equal

o b t the occasion , and his equanimity was not improved y

’ Jock inform i ng him that he had upset ould Admiral

t a n d t h e e T rimmer hat night week, M aj or and Honourabl

’ T o n Mrs . Mousetrap the week before that . hey re both

’ o u em greeter folk than wot y be, said J ock coolly lighting “ s a h e f h is pipe, and they didna y the hard words as

“ T h e C . o n h i s all yo u hev . aptain walked after family,

Th e H a r ka w a H u n t Ba ll y . 1 0 7

the time growling like a bear with a sore head . A sudden happy thought occurred to Jock . H i shouted he when the angry Captain had gone some ﬁfty yards . ! H i You mun hev the carriage to sleep in , if you like

’ till m o r n i n Yis or no Go to the devil roared back

n o w the furious Captain , and tell your dashed master

o n e h i s if ever I get into of dashed conveyances again , may ” I be dashed .

’ ’ fu l e s w ar ld Ah , well , there s some in this as don t know

’ ’ - ’ wot s good for em . Good night, Cap n , and better man

’ H

e e . s o ners to And saying J ock, having previously tied the t w o o ld screws to a neighbouring gate, coolly opened the

c o m door of the carriage , Shut himself in , and slept away fo r t a bl y until morning .

T t o o be fe l hat was an uncomfortable adventure, , that

ff r n T h e S t u s w o . the y that sno y night , rather mor ing

o f ff o f ff occupants the Stu y equipage consisted M r . Stu y

a M r s t f (an extremely fussy, irrit ble old gentleman ), . S u fy ff (an excessively nervous lady), Miss Stu y, and a young gentleman from town , supposed to be engaged to that young

T h e person . parent birds were both fast asleep , and the engaged couple were pretending to be, whilst they squeezed each other ’ s hands and made the best eyes they could at each other in t he dark when the carriage ! . ! suddenly came to a full stop Pa wake up Oh , ! ’ Adolphus, do wake pa I m sure something has hap pened ! ” ejaculated poor little M iss Stuffy in imploring

accents .

Pa o f ffi at And being woke up with a good deal di culty,

W hi s o u t last let down the indow, and , putting bald head , “ ’ ’ o u t n o w ? bawled , What s matter What s matter

W o u t t e hat are y s opping for A voice, thick in u teranc 1 0 8 Th e H a r ka w a H u n t Ba ll y .

“ t t l m s u r e id o n and beau ifully scen ed with rum , replied , — kn o w w h e r e w e a r e H ere w a s a pretty go eight miles from home ; t h e coachman drunk as an o w l ; the footman (a new one) not knowing a yard o f the w ay ; and

f u n ! T o n e snowing like here was only thing to b e done , and that w as fo r poor o l d Stuff y to t u rn coachman

f a himself, which he did , solacing himsel by busing the

w a coachman all the y home, and discharging him in the morning . Small consolations for being laid up for a fort n o f ight after, with a Violent cold and an attack gout ,

. brought on by exposure to the elements .

n o t t If the weather, however, was all tha could be

H a r kw a w as as desired , the y Hunt Ball , it always is, an — unqualiﬁed success as all such cheery reunions should be .

u s a So, long may it ﬂo rish , y we .

O W

( 1 0 9 )

MR T . M E AL .

’ ‘ H T o n A S a fox , for a p y , remarks, fo r the

o f - - beneﬁt the scarlet coated , cigar smoking

crowd assembled in a ride in Oakover Wood ,

- - - m a Sharp looking, grizzly haired , middle aged an o f - rather prepossessing appearance, attired in a well cut black

- coat , white cords , and brown topped boots , the said boots

n being extremely thi , and looking more adapted fo r the

- -ﬁe ld H is steeple chase than the hunting . hat i s stuck in a knowing manner rather o n one side o f his head ; a

o f - cutting whip , instead the orthodox hunting crop , is grasped in h i s dogskin -gloved hand and he i s mounted - on a weedy looking thoroughbred bay, possessing

o f - a pair exceedingly doubtful looking forelegs, and an

e extremely wicked e y .

’ T fo r m o n ke hat s a fox , a y , exclaims he , rising in his

V ’ s a V h o l l price, and looking round as if to y , take me T his time the melodious voices o f three or four hounds in the deep dell to his right are heard , giving tongue in a more decided manner than before, bringing all their com

o u t i s rades to their side at once to ﬁnd what the matter . See ! Bellman and Boisterous come up in a deuce o f a

o f o f hurry, jealous some the younger members Of the — — pack ; and R avager t o o steady Old R avager bristling

t t H o o ic k t o R h o o ick wi h impa ience . avager, cheers M e t a l M r . 1 1 0 .

i t a T o m T t . oo ler Have at him , Old man By J ove , is

fo r ! T h e R ﬁnd certain this time ancient avager, whose

t o o Opinion is thoroughly be depended upon , gives vent t

o n e w his feelings in prolonged note, hich in a second is t aken up by the eager pack .

’ ‘ Th e r e s a co a l—bo x fo r o u o r y , exclaims u cheery W t but slangy young friend, Charles ildoats , jus arrived ,

o f as late as usual , with a grin delight , he chucks his cigar away, and gives his mare a hearty slap o n her

w h o i s t glossy neck , which the mare, rembling with

t a t t h e o e excitement , acknowledges with a playful bi e t o f - ’ . ! Ye s his highly varnished boot Surely that s a halloa , “ there it is again ! An unmistakable T ally h o th is time comes wafted o n the breez e to the ears o f o u r sports

Da i s ﬁ l men i n the ride . Lord y e d comes crashing and d smashing through the hazel stems in a esperate hurry , and gallops down the ride as hard as ever his horse

t o T i s can lay legs the ground . here a rush o f

W W h o cavalry after him , headed by Charlie ildoats, , “ t o as he says , always likes be all there when the ” o u r bell rings , and lastly comes friend in the black

s t e e l e c h a s V - i n coat and p y boots , whose icious look g

u m o r t w o thoro ghbred had stopped to kick for a inute , but w h o n o w goes along smoothly enough ; his rider with his hands well down and his fee t stuck o u t in true

i s t h e f . . o N ewmarket style M r Metal , for that name our - black coated friend , is by vocation a bookmaker, in his

n case apparently an uncommonly proﬁtable professio , and a great sensation he made when three years ago he made

o n w a sudden descent the county, bought hat w as called — by the auctioneers the Bi n ﬁe l d Estate which estate — comp rised about 70 0 acres o f land pulled down t h e ex

t a l M e . I I 2 M r .

’ T h e t o n er e e t Major s relic then , looked the Metals , p

ll e o f o f ﬁ , in the light a species social vermin , and , in con

s h e t o s o n sequence, took especial pains warn her hopeful ,

Fi t z fo o d l e Bl e n ki n s o o f Bloomsbury p , a youth singularly

- h o w mild and tame rabbity disposition , goodness knows

o n o n many times a day, no account ever to cultivate ,

n . o r any prete ce whatever, the acquaintance of either M r

M iss Metal .

T t o o o n d heir appearance at church , , the ﬁrst Sun ay t after their arrival , caused great excitemen amongst the

M r s Bl e n ki n s o natives . . p and her friends had pictured to

- themselves a stou t , coarse, vulgar looking man , with a

t o - e tendency tight trousers and horse shoe pins , a com

n i e d - ﬂ a s h il p a by a snub nosed y dressed damsel . Instead o f which they were quite ﬂabbergasted to behold in Miss

— u n c o M etal a remarkably good looking, ladylike girl , m

o n l o f m y well dressed , from the top her pretty French

bonnet to the tips of her very neat boots ; and in Mr .

t u r ﬁt e M etal , the blackleg, the , the everything bad , a par t i c u l a r l - o l - n w h o t y quiet lo king, sedate y attired perso , migh

as indeed , from the solemnity of his attire, have passed — pretty nearly anything o n e chose to fancy a great

London merchant , for instance , a lawyer in large practice

- m a n -c u anything, in fact, but a betting . H is well t Poole-made black coat contrasted most favourably with the

-ﬁ t i n T r l t . u t e t o n baggy, ill g garments belonging to Mr , the

w h o rich banker, Occupied the pew opposite . M r . Bleater, the curate , looking up from reading the lessons , caugh t

’ e e w as s o pretty Miss M etal s y , and struck all of a heap,

o n t that he lost his place the spo , and blushed in a pain ful manner under his spectacles . Bleater arranged with himself forthwith that he would call o n t h e morrow a t M a e t l . 1 M r . I 3

Fi t z fo o d l e Cockamaroo Hall, and as for Bloomsbury

Bl e n ki n s o w a s p , he a gone coon from the ﬁrst moment he

o n s e t eyes her . H e also determined to make acquaint

’ ance w ith the newcomer s charming daughter imme f d i a t e l o . y , if not sooner, in spite mamma and everyone else

u How nice it would be , he tho ght , chasing butterﬂies and

- h e r fo r hunting for stag beetles , with a companion .

(Bloomsbury was a great entomologist . ) He wondered , too ,

s h e - if liked tame rabbits , and guinea pigs , and bees . Yes , he

h e s h e thought s looked as if did . How delightful it

t o would be get her over to luncheon some day, and take — — her with him after w ards all by herself o f course t o feed

i s l s l ! h s . numerous pets Oh , y , y Bloomsbury

M r . Bleater, the curate, called the next afternoon , and

w a s asked to stay and dine, which invitation he accepted .

n o t i s H e did , it true, quite understand the horsey talk and racing reminiscences told him after dinner by his d id host, but he understand that the claret he drank a

’ o f o f skinful quite came up to its owner s description it , ” ff when he called it ﬁrst chop . A sti brandy and soda and a big cigar about did for the curate, whose utterance S w as ! . a triﬂe thick as he aid , Goori M r Metal ; goori , s i r ! d ac Very pleased , indee , to make your (hiccup) ” u a i r an s h T h e n q . rector then called . Would it be aski g

too much if M r . Metal could give him a few ﬂowers and evergreens fo r the purpose o f decorating the Church fo r the forthcoming harvest festival No t a bit ! Go t o my

’ ” a s k ead gardener, replied M r . Metal, and him for what ” T h e R . a s ever you want , and welcome ector thought, he w a s as h i s about it , he might well produce subscription list for the new organ . H e did so accordingly, and M r.

e t o f l o t o f - M al , instead , after a haggling and cross ques M t a l M r . e I 1 4 .

t i o n i n -a g , and grumbling, producing a miserable half - — sovereign from his waistcoat pocket like t hat stingy o l d d o g T u r t l e t o n (who has forty thousand a year at the very — least ) did the other day simply observing that he liked a

s at horgan in a church uncommon , just down and wrote “ ” fo r o n the rector a cheque a pony, as he called it, the “

t . spo . M r M etal thus stood in , to use a slang expres sion , uncommonly well with the church , but the ladies in h is neighbourhood would not have him o r his daughter at

s o any price, notwithstanding ; they had to depend

o n o w n entirely their personal friends from town , and D sundry gay bachelors , like Captain abber and Charlie Wildoats (t h e latter an Old acquaintance o f the book

’ f r o . o u t maker s), company M r . M etal used to come in great force o n t hose festive occasions when he had a few

w as t o o friends to dinner . On those occasions nothing

T h e m e n o o good for him and his guests . , as h e called it

’ w as t t written in his daughter s very bes hand, as taugh at

s h e the very exclusive school at Brighton , in which had

m e n o o w as passed several years , and an uncommon good it , for Metal possessed a cook w h o had received h e r educa tion under no less a personage than the great Fr an c at e l li

D w h o himself. Old Captain abber, knew what was what

o f as well as any man living, would have two helps

d e Vo la ille o f S upr em e , and give a growl satisfaction as

T h e he gobbled away at it, like a dog over a good bone . — haunch o f venison would have a history just sent — him by Sir Charles Flu tter (Sir Charles owe d

T h e Metal a bit). grouse came from a prominent member ’ — ’ o f the J ockey Club s moor : and the claret wasn t there a “ — ’ hist ory about the claret ? Poor Lord Dreadnough t it s ” his s a t claret, would y Me al, heaving a sympathetic sigh ,

I I 6 M r M t a l . e .

l s a w e Well , Mr . M eta , y , as we come across him in the

o n D D a paddock the erby y, gravely looking the favourite

’ o u f . o ? over What do y think him , eh Well h e s a

’ - h i s race horse, that s about what he is , is reply and

’ what is more to the purpose in my opinion , mind ye , he s

’ ’ co n s is t e n t T o s s . bu t a little here hain t much on him , f ” what there is o him is good . Volumes could n o t express

more . Shooting he patron i ses a lit tle now he is a real landed

t s a proprie or, but we are bound to y he is but a numb hand

h o w at it , and reckless “ ! ’ Mr . Metal , M r . M etal , good Gad your gun s at full

cock ; are you aware o f it we exclaimed to him o n e h o t

m Septe ber day, as we came up to him , leaning over a gate ,

o n o f with his chin resting the m uzzle his breechloader, bot h barrels of which are at full cock ! “ ” s o w as Ah , they are , all he said , coolly looking down ,

and seeing we were right, and resuming his former

W e s e e position . fully expected to his brains scattered

o over the next ﬁeld every minute . An elaborate lunche n

o u t o n would be sent these shooting expeditions , and sometimes o u r metallic friend would be extremely puzzled by the wonderful productions o f the art is t in his employ

— - f a n e lli the afore mentioned pupil o F r c at . One ﬁne day in September we recollec t watching t h e luncheon being

f e n d o f t urned o u t o the basket . Out came no good things ,

o f amongst others a raised pie majestic proportions ,

Visions o f enormous truffles as big as walnuts ﬂ i t t e d

u r . through o mind . Our mouth watered (We are passion

n o t ately fond o f truffl es . ) Metal did View the production

in the same light .

c h t t h e z t h e Hallo he ried , w y, wha bla es does cook M r M e t a l . . I I 7

’ m ean by sending me and my friends cold pie to h eat !

’ ’ T o t t e d ake it back and ave it this minute .

People who pretend to know declare that M etal , in his

o f earlier days, once occupied the important post a boots

at a country inn , and the story goes that an impecunious

W t o party hom he had sometimes given assistance , being

‘ o n t au n t e d h i m o f refused one occasion , with the fact his

having himself once served in that menial capacity . “ ’ He is reported to have answered , Yes , you re quite

’ w a s right . I once a boots , and I ll tell you what it is, — ’ m y ﬁne feller it s my private opinion that ify o u had been

’ Boots like me, twenty years ago , you d never have riz an

’ ’ ” Yo u d h a be e n Bo o ts n o w inch . . ( 1 1 8 )

WI LLIAM WAGGL E T ON .

d t W a l e t o n . along with yer, o , Mis er g g I

s e e never sich a man in all my born days ,

’ ” u m bl s i r never . Oh , I y beg pardon , , says , all

t o in a breath , the pretty chambermaid belonging the

Fu r z e ﬁe ld Ch o r lbu r o n o u r Arms at y , as entering the

ff - o f - co ee room that snug hostelry , about half past nine

’ ’ o n e n s h e t o f O clock , ﬁne wi ter s morning, , in a grea state t t giggles, cannons agains us in the doorway leading there o , e vidently fresh from an in t erchange o f lively badinage

with somebody within .

As e t h e t w walk into apar men t in ques t ion, w e behold an - e lderly gentleman , attired in a dressing gown and slippers ,

o f t o n w ith nothing else impor ance , warming himself,

o f in a gentlemanly manner, in front the ﬁre, and par

f o f ff t t aking o a cup co ee and some buttered toas . Hallo who are y o u is the rather startling ques t ion

t o u s w e he puts , as , wishing him politely good morning,

’ t k o u o n t o . edge up the ﬁre Ah , don now y , he goes ,

u a n d after w e had informed him , looking us p down t “ T w e . w ith , as thought, a somewha supercilious air hink

t n I s aw yo u at the ball las ight . Came with the Slow

’ o u ? D—d w a s t o o boys , didn t y bad ball as usual it , .

-ﬁv e s o Been to it every year for the last twenty years , I

t t o t ough know something about it, eh Old s ory . Bad

Willia m Wa le t o n I 2 0 gg .

’ ’ s i r ? t h o n l Sir, who s jest gone hout, Oh tha s y M ister

h e W a l e t o n . w o t s i r g g , sir N obody minds says , . Wery

’ i c o o l i e r i t s i r w o . p gent, Sir ; don t m nd he does , Comes

’ h e v e r fo r o u ere y year he do this wery ball , sir, same as y

’ ave and the other company . Great sporting gentleman ,

s i r r e a t t n . ; yessir, g spor ing gentlema , sir T his w as o u r ﬁrst introduction to the very eccentric

t w e subject o f o u r sketch . Since hen have seen a good

o f deal him , rather more , indeed , than we particularly

t h e r e care about , for, as waiter at the inn very justly

o f t h e marked , his habits life are, to say least , very ” i c o o li e r i s p , and in consequence his room very Often a

deal pleasanter to quiet and sedate personages, like myself,

. o u r t o o w a for instance, than his company In case, , it s

w e rather unfortunate that, very soon after had made

o n e W a l e t o n acquaintance with another, William g g should for some reason o r another have taken a very decided

t o o r w e e liking us . Why wherefore could never mak o u t T h e t . consequence being tha we were honoured by a

o f w e good deal more his company than cared about .

n o u Like the renow ed Soapy Sponge, when once y got h im into your house i t was extremely difﬁcult to get him

o u t .

o n o u r t Once, indeed , re urn from the Continent, we

o n o u r found him , arrival at home, comfortably installed

- in our house , having been there just ten days . Our man

— ' told us he had ridden up o n e Friday h e l iv e d a bo u t

o ff — o n o ﬁfteen miles and being t ld we were away, all h e “ w a s said , Oh , never mind ; he supposed he could ha v e ” T h e a bed that nig ht . servants accordingly put him and his horse up . H e unfortunately took a fancy to some

; t d a claret the butler brought up for him and the nex y, Willia m Wa le t o n gg . I 2 I

’ t o t s a tha domestic s astonishment , not to y disgust ,

o f o u r announced his intention staying until return ,

’ o u t which intention he carried to the letter . “ — T h e ﬁrst time I ever met him confound him ! “ o ld Bl u d e r o n e s i r relates Colonel y , was September, ,

w a s many years ago, and I going up to town by the after noon coach that used to run in those days from Bu ll e r t o n

. t o W a l e t o n to London Well, we stopped take up g g , w h o w as waiting by the roadside, with a pointer dog at

. T h e his heels , and a gun in his hand inside o f t h e coach

s o w a s . s i r empty, he and his dog got in Well , , w e were

— o u going down Brockley Hill y know Brockley H ill , and

o f i s what a devil a steep hill it , eh Well, w e were going

’ down steadily enough , the two chestnut leaders (rum uns s i r t o , o u drive, I can can tell y ), for a wonder, going as

ba n ba n quiet as sheep, when , g , g went t w o loud reports

. from inside the coach Away went the horses, frigh tened

’ u t o f It o their wits , and no wonder . s only a mussy w e

’ o r d weren t upset, and all killed drowne , for there w a s a thundering great pond at the bottom o f the hill in those

’

. . l days It s done away with now Wel , as soon as T o m

’ H o ll s t i c k y , the coachman , could stop em , he pulled up to s e e , o u w a s s i r what was the matter and what do y think it ,

W a l e t o n l Why, that dashed fellow, g g , had oosed o ff h i s J oe — — ’ o u t a s Manton of winder both barrels to clean em, he h said ; and he t en had the audacity, dash him , to as k

w e what the devil were stopping for, and told T o m t o

as w a look sharp and make up for lost time, he s going t o ’ ” t o the opera that night , and didn t want be late .

Everybody in the county, indeed , has got a story of some

’ r o r sort to tell o f o u friend s sayings doings . Even those

o o ld Pr i m l e i h t w dear things, the Misses g , Sisters o f the I 2 2 Willia m Wa l e t o n gg .

D o f - ean Maryborough , who live in a red brick house, over

t h e o f looking river, just outside the town Maryborough ,

o f h o w o n e h o t never tire relating shocked they were,

’ summer s day , as they were Sitting under their big mul

- o n berry tree the lawn , when they suddenly s aw a ﬁend

i n w h o t o u t o n t o human Shape , urned , inquiry , be none

t W a l e t o n other han the depraved William g g , deliberately

fo r undress and betake himself to the water, the purpose o f enjoying a swim . H ow they would have though t

o f fo r w as nothing that it only natural , but when it came , “ “ w h e n d it came, sai M iss Penelope , with a shudder, to that d readful person running roun d and round the ﬁeld

n n o n n o th i n o n be with othi g , literally g , to dry himself,

n o cause I suppose he had towels, it really, you know , ” be o n d my dear, became y a j oke . One can well imagine ,

t h e o ld l indeed , two poor adies , hastily snatching up their

o u r books and shawls , and fairly bolting into the house as

w as friend seen coming round for the third time . T here is, indeed , scarcely a soul in the county whom he

n o t r w a o r has oughed up the wrong y, either by word deed

’ T o m Ch i r i n t o n even cheery p g can t stand him , and , if he

t o f t catches sigh him riding up the avenue owards the house ,

t o h u retires his sanctum , and locks imself carefully in , ntil Di u t . d n o t he ﬁnds the nwelcome gues has departed he ,

t o o t . , liken that worthy and energetic magistra e , M r Slow “ w ith o u t th e w is d o m w as man unto an Owl , only I t

fo r t o t o n o t a bad simile , , say the truth , the worthy beak, as

n o t - his countenance, is at all unlike that sagacious looking

a s bird , more especially when he is occupying the throne,

o f o f . chairman the bench magistrates Of course, what o u r e c c e n t r i c f r i e n d had said came round in due time t o the

P S l o m o f . . . w a n ears the great J himself, and Mr ever since

Willia m Wa le t o n 1 2 4 gg .

’ s o w h t h e o l , d ff h l once a year y shouldn t mu enjoy imse f, ’ c ” eh So let s go in and pit h into his pop .

’ T h e Da i s ﬁe l d s breakfast over at last , to Lord y great delight, the hounds proceed to draw for a fox in a plan t a t i o n o l d Y e ll o w bo kn o w s in the park , where y says he

o n e there is . H e ought to know certai n ly, seeing that the noble animal in question only arrived the night before ,

u and was only turned out half an hour ago . S re enough , scarcely are the hounds thrown into covert when a halloa

fo x w T from the far end proclaims the is a ay . hree times

—s t u e ﬁe d round the park the poor half p brute goes . At - last he makes for the kitchen garden , to the head

’ a g rdener s great annoyance , and ﬁnally takes refuge in

h t - Ye ll o w bo — o n e o f the o houses . Old y is delighted like

d o — s e e the little g in the nursery rhyme to such sport, a n d the farce ends by the unfortunate fox being lugged o n to the lawn and broken up , amidst the plaudits o f

Y ll bo C o — n o w e o w . y and the band , who are in a gloriou s

o f state champagne, celebrating the event by a grand “ ” o f performance See the conquering hero comes . A thick voice in the crowd here cries o u t for three cheers

Y e l l o w bo for M uster y, and these having been given , tha t

worthy acknowledges them with a series of bows . H e would like very much to make a speech , but that Lord

ai s ﬁe l d w h o o f i t D y , has had more than enough all , bids him

- i good bye just as he is clear ng his throat to begin , and

o ff C o c kl e ﬁe l d trots his hounds best pace to Spinney, to try for a fresh fox .

o u r T T o return to friend and the Banker . hey met o n e ﬁne day at the usu al weekly gathering o f the magis ff trates , and , as they were discussing di erent matters in

W a l t heir private room, it chanced that William g g e t o n i m Wa l e t o n Will a gg . 1 2 5

’ n ? asked if anyone had a pencil . Who s got a pe cil “ quoth he . H ere is one, very much at your service,

Y e ll o w bo m replied M r . y , in his pompous manner fro ff - the top of his black and white checked, sti looking neck “ o n e cloth . H ere is , very much at your service , M r . ” W a l e t o n g g , handing him, as he spoke, an elaborate,

- h i s o n heavy looking gold one, with crest a large onyx o n the top . Pah said William , with a sneer, taking

f o f it up and sni ﬁng it with an air the deepest disgust . — Pah s t in ks o f Lombard -street s t i n ks o f gold ! Who ? the dickens would use a thing like that H ere, give ” me another, somebody .

Y e ll o w bo We ll . M r . y turned pale with anger . , Mr ” “ W a l e t o n th a t g g , said he , after a pause, after speech , ” o u o r either y I must leave the room .

’ l t o n Yo u W a e . Very good . leave it then , rejoined g g

’ ’ ” s h a n t I , that s very certain . And the infuriated

o n banker, whose hair stood end at such behaviour to o n e o f his importance and wealth , actually did leave the

o f room there and then , to the secret delight the other

beaks . Another o f his gre a t delights is t o get hold o f some

’ o u t stranger hunting who can t ride much , and pilot him .

And pilot him he will too, to such a tune that the novice may think himself remarkably lucky if he gets through the

W a l e t o n day without coming to grief, for William g g is a

consummate horseman himself, and seems to be able to creep and crawl (if he can ’ t jump over) through any con

c a bl e o u t - e i v place . He wears hunting a high collared

w scarlet coat, a large yello handkerchief is folded round

T i s n o h i s . t neck , and he sports a velvet cap here a ﬁeld

n o t o r a fence in the coun t ry t hat he does know . I n a t o n I 2 6 Willia m Wagg le .

t o f o n o f h bu t run he akes a line his w ; wide the ounds ,

Off t o still never very far , for his wonderful hands seem have

the power o f shoving his horse just wherever he pleases . Besides being a good and bold rider he is a good sports

i h v W man e ery way, whether hip ping for trout, following

o r i the hounds , ranging the stubbles w th dog and gun .

W a l e t o n T o William g g , in short , would be, to use m

’ Ch i r i n t o n s p g words, a devilish good fellow if he were H “ ” h i s not so confoundedly quarrelsome But it is nature to , D W ’ as octor atts has it, so we suppose he can t help it .

T h e hounds are not running . Everybody is going over a gap in a large fence , and we are preparing

s o W a l e t o n o n w . our pony to follo suit N ot g g , who is o n a n e w horse he has just bought, and means to have the — fence a large o n e . We hear him soliloquising to his horse “ ’ ! No w d thus look here, you fool , here s a big itch th is

’ ’ o n — side , and I think there s a big ditch the other there s

. o u a good big fence , as you can see , betwe en If y make

’ f o a mistake you ll come to grief and hurt yoursel . C m e

o u up , y brute

M R . BENJAM I N B OBBI N .

COU PLE of years ago the Great S m as h e m and

- - — Crumple em u p R ailway Company having pre v i o u s ly obtained the permission o f Parliament t o — do s o proceeded to start a line from London to the

o n o w n North their account , they having, up to that

time , been merely associated with another company, pay

ing them , in fact, very heavily for permission to run

’ s e e their o w n trains over the other s line . As anyone can

o f by looking at the map , their new line railway goes twisting and turning right throug h the very heart o f the

Harkaway country .

No w , there is not a more charming place in the whole

’ county than Oakley Hall, the home for I don t know how

T h e many generations past of the Gooseys . Gooseys are

G o o s e descendants of the celebrated Godfrey de y , who

G o o s e s came over with the Conqueror . y by the score are buried in the little church in the park—Dame Mar

G o o s e D G o o s e garet de y , ame Constance de y , H ugo

Go o s e R Go o s e Malvoisin de y , his son , eginald de y , and

heaps more too numerous to mention . I t was during the

m o f period when that erriest monarchs , Charles I I . , oc e n f pied the throne O England that the na m e o f de G o o s y e

o f became altered to that Goosey, and we believe it came about pretty much in this way : Th e head o f the family

h e at t period mentioned was a Colonel George de G o o s y e 2 M r Be n a i n Bo bbi 8 . m n 1 j .

’ o n e o f R Prince upert s most roaring cavaliers , a bos o m

o f friend wild George Goring, and a great favourite with

T h e w as w a s a s His Majesty . Colonel , aristocrat as he ,

’ ’ a s o n d ignorant a dog you d meet a ay s march anywhere, and as he had a playful habit o f drinking hard all day

o f a n d o f w a s glasses this , stoups that (what a stoup

’ t o we don t exactly know, but suppose it have been a sort o f article answering to the soda-water tumbler o f o u r time)— besides consuming at dinner enough claret and

t o w a s Burgundy satisfy ten ordinary cavaliers , he gener

i n o f w as ally a state fuddle , and when he in his cups the

o f spelling his name would puzzle him very considerably .

o n So a hot night at the club , when the jolly Colonel had

’ U s lost all his ready money, and his I O in consequence

t o began circulate, he would Sign his name Simply George “ ” o r y o f Goosy, Goosey, the and e the last syllable “ ” v o o H i s and the de in fron t pro ing t many for him . friends w h o were honoured with his correspondence natu rally thinking that he w a s the best judge as t o h o w to spell

’ o w n s o h o w w a s his name, followed suit, and that s it done , as the conjurers say .

No w - - u the richly timbered and beautifully und lating park, as t h e glib -tongued auctioneers delighted to call it in their

t o advertisements , belonging Oakley H all, happened to

o f come right in the track the new line of railway, and

o n e accordingly ﬁne morning Colonel Algernon Goosey, the then proprietor, received formal notice from the worshipful board o f directors that they were going to run

o f T h e their line right through the bott om it . Colonel w a s w a s -a- at ﬁrst furious . H e particularly cock hoop just t fo r h i s B hen as it happened , had not horse Gil las just w o n t h e T w o T t housand Guineas, upse ting all the favour

1 0 M r . Be n a m i n Bo bbin 3 j .

t ! ’ dead hea No it ain t . Jack in the Box has w o n ! U p

— —o u goes his number 4 the telegraph board , the favour “ o f ite second , beaten by the shortest heads . Capital ? ” “ race, was it not and Come across t o the drag an d ” w h o have some lunch , Old fellow, says the Colonel , is a

T h e . w as w as rare plucked one Colonel hit hard , there no denying it ; s o conﬁdent had he been that he h ad n o t hedged a shilling of all the money he had backed Gil Blas

. h ad o ld w as for H e no children , and the place heavily

mortgaged . Why not sell it outright, now this railway w as going to spoil it in a picturesque poin t o f view H is - t o o o ld a next door neighbour, , Admiral Hunks , he knew got

h i s t h e tremendous price for place Since railway had come .

’ Why shouldn t he go and d o likewise T hus r e as o n i n g w it h

’ himself, the Colonel accepted the railway company s terms , and forthwith proceeded to put Oakley H all into t h e hands f - o . ff Bu t t e r w e ll n Messrs Pu an d , the well known auctio eers , t with a view to sale, and soon here were such advertise m Th e Ti m e s Fie ld t ents in and as never were seen . Wha an earthly paradise they made it o u t t o be T h e

o f ff Garden Eden w as nothing to it . M essrs . Pu and

C o . , in fact, gave it as their private opinion that had Adam

t o seen it he would have let Eden at once a moral certainty, and taken up his abode at Oakley . Our friend the Colonel w a s sitting over a late breakfast o n e i ﬁne September morn ng, and had just ordered his

u t e b tler to tell h keeper he would shoot that day, when a noise o f carriage-wheels in front o f the house announced T t o f i . the arrival an early vis tor ingle, tangle, tingle wen “ ’ - 0 the hall door bell . Who can it be at this time day

M o r n i n Po s t thought the Colonel, laying down the g , an d stopping o n the w ay a piece o f devilled kidney he was M r Be n a in B bbi m o n . 1 1 . j 3

t abou to put into his mouth . I n came the footman , bear

o n ing a card a silver salver .

’ s i r Come to see the ouse and grounds , , said the man ,

handing the card to his master .

T h e Colonel , taking it up and glancing at it, found printed thereon

M R BE BB N . . N N BO P. JAMI I , J , OL L Y C K OU S H HO H E, R N G BI MI HAM .

Show him in , said the Colonel, and in another

r e - - minute the servant entered the dining room , ushering

. in M r Benjamin Bobbin , and , bows being exchanged , the

t o o w proceeded t business . “ First o f all y o u must be hungry and thirsty after

’ your railway journey . Won t you take anything said t he host .

T s i r . hankee, , replied Mr Bobbin , I think I w ill pick

’ t o a bit, if you ve no objection , for, tell you the tru th , the

drive in the fresh morning hair has made me u n co m mon — ’ peckish downright hungry, in fact . But don t order

’ ’ h a n t h i n k O No ! t . o f c o ld y , pray don t A bit partridge, - ’ and a mossel o f that ﬁn e looking a m I s e e o n t h e

’ 11 d o ’ sideboard yonder just me, thankee, and , if i t s

’ ’ , o r o f andy I shouldn t mind a glass two Shammy,

t o . just wash it down , yer know (Mr . Bobbin had an idea “ that it w a s quite what he called the cheese in polite

society to drink champagne on all occasions . ) “ ” i “ h s . B Certainly, said host, smiling ring a bottle f o . champagne, said he to the butler 2 M r Be n a m i n Bo bbi n 1 3 . j .

n t o M r . Be jamin Bobbin having eaten and drunk his satisfaction , proceeded to business . H e had made a

’ ” “ ’ e a c o n ﬁd in l h i s e a p of money , he said , g y, to host , a p o f w as t o r e money in the iron trade, and he now about ” tire and live in the country . H e w a s accordingly looki n g about fo r a property t o

’ Pu ff o r s suit him , when M essrs . magniﬁcen t advertise “ ’ ’ o l d h a n c e s t r a l ment attracted his attention . An ouse like

h r th is is just the very h a r t i c l e t at m e and M s . Bobbin ” o u t n w a s on the look for, said he, looki g round , as he

o f D e Go o s e s spoke, at the portraits defunct y , which “ ” “ d o ak- covere the panelled room ; and if, added he , there

’ as o n should be such a thing a ghost the premises , I don t

mind telling you , between ourselves , Colonel , that it will be a n addi tional i n d o o s e m e n t to me t o purchase ; n o t that

’ ’ ’ h a n x i o u s o bb o f M r s B s I m at all myself, but i ts an y . . , ” yo u h u n d e r s t an d .

o ld u r e Well, the house is eno gh , in all conscience,

n w as plied the Colonel , thinki g what a rum chap Bobbin ;

’ “ and I dare say there ’ s a ghost knocking about Some

’

s a s aw o n e . where, though I can t y I ever myself How

s e e t h e ever, come and look round , M r . B obbin , and

place for yourself.

w a s - m an o f M r . Benjamin Bobbin a fat , vulgar looking ,

ﬁft -ﬁv e o r s o D abou t y . ressed in what he thought the

’ o f height fashion , his necktie was fastened with a sailor s

h w a s a s u knot, stuck in whic a huge pearl as big a waln t ,

surrounded by brilliants . H e wore a white waistcoat a massive gold chain kept guard over his extensive stomach

black trousers , with a stripe, covered his extremities , and his rather nubbly-looking feet were encased in the patent leather boots o f the per iod he sport ed lavender-coloure d

b n r Be n a m in Bo bi . 1 34 M . j

Master Bobbin (a plebeian-looking youth jus t leavin g “ ’ t w o d o w n Harrow), and Miss Bobbins ( Fifty thou my ’ ” 11 t gals have when hey marry, their parent informs every — o n e ) i n due course o f time settled down in their new

o f t h e o f home, and instead manly ﬁgure the Colonel,

t n o w t h e walking his ﬁelds , gun in hand , migh be seen

- u f vulgarly attired M r . Bobbin , p ﬁng and blowing through

m - o f the angold wurzel , in search partridges, missing every

’

t o . shot , the keeper s great disgust

About the ﬁrst thing Mr . Bobbin did after his arrival

s t o ff o u r Dai s ﬁe ld w a a ront friend , Lord y , mortally . H e

o u t w a s had only been hunting once , and that with the

o n Brookside H arriers , which occasion the huntsman came h ’ t e . o f o r round with cap So being, as he said , fond s e s

’ i t o n and ounds , and wish ng do the right thi g, he penned an

t o Dais ﬁe ld w a s epistle Lord y , enquiring if his a sub

o r scription pack ; , did his huntsman come roun d at the end o f t h e day wi t h his cap the same way that the huntsman o f the harriers did My lord w a s

o f furious course, and never took the trouble even t o an swer

t h e o n t his letter, which he threw into ﬁre the spo . Nothing

t o i n daunted , M r . Bobbin proceeded lay a stableful o f

o f horses, quite regardless expense . Nothing under t hree t hundred guineas would temp him, and the dealers giving “ t h e f each other o ﬁce, some uncommon dear bargains he

o t o f T h e - . w l t o t f g hold s el s ud groom he g a terwards ,

t t t h e straigh from Mel on , when he saw nags , expressed his opinion t hat there were only t w o in the whole l o t

T o f worth their hay and corn . hese, course, he kept aside

’ ’ ” r o w n I n fo . t s o T his use use, ommy ; it s no use, said

o n e - a t Bu ll e r t o n t o he, market day , his friend , Sir Charles

’ Br u t sher s coachman , as hey were having a frien dly glass

bi n M r Be n a m in Bo b . 1 36 . j

T h e dinner party and the ball were tremendous s u c c . . esses , and the Bobbin family decidedly scored Mrs

w h o o n e o f Colonel Bluebottle , was Of the leaders fashion “ T h e Bo b in the coun t y, expressed her opinion that

— r e n o o s o f bi n s e s ar v e n o o s a v , , my dear, are p mere p - - o n v e e r course, but worthy people, the whole , really y ” worthy people , indeed .

r s o f w as M . Bluebottle herself, course, qualiﬁed to be a

o f t judge, being a daughter a ham and beef shop proprie or

o in the Borough . Bluebottle had c me across her at a

’ t a ble d h t e - d at some German watering place, and ﬁnding o u t o f ff that she had got lots stu , as he elegantly called it ,

t . he quickly popped the ques ion , and soon after married her

t o n e M r . Benjamin Bobbin , though hardly wha would

o f t fo r call a sportsman , is a Flower the Hu n all that, and ,

h as as k t o in fact, he written to us to be sure include him

o u r in sketches .

H e adds , in a postscript , that his friend , Charles Wild

i t o t t oats , has prom sed use his bes inﬂuence wi h Lord Da i s yﬁe ld to try and induce his lordship t o bring his hounds to m eet at Oakley Hall one day soon ; and if they

. t do, winds up Mr Bobbin , wha a ﬂare up I w ill have t o be sure ! ” ( 1 37 )

R H D RT T H E D R ALP U C KWO H OF WI L FA M .

F we were called upon to-morrow to point out the

o f best specimen , in our Opinion , the typical sporting Yeoman (we like the word)a m ongst the many good fellows o f that class who hunt with Lord

’ ’ Dai s ﬁe ld s y hounds , we Should , without a moment s hesita

R D o f tion , name old alph uckworth , the Wild Farm . T h e extent o f the said Wild Farm is n o t more than ﬁve hundred acres , at the very outside, neither is the house a

o n e very large , as farmhouses go , at the same time it is

i n s id e o u t exceedingly comfortable , and picturesque , and well in keeping with its cheery and prosperous—looking

o f tenant . It nestles down in a little corner its own , close

s o by the riverside , close, indeed , that , standing at the back

o u s o . door, y could throw a ﬂy into it if inclined Altogether, it is a very snug place ; bright in summer, with its little

ﬂower garden , gorgeous with scarlet geraniums and yellow

- T h e calceolarias , and cheerful looking even in winter . men — — about the place, too, all look as, indeed , they are well

o f o n fed and contented, and most them , you would ﬁnd, R a l h D u ckw o r th o th e Wild F a r 1 38 p f m .

o n T h enquiry , have lived the farm from early boyhood . e

land , too , is well done by . It is ﬁne rich soil, and always

seems to produce ﬁner roots and wheat than elsewhere . And yet o ld R alph does not seem to pay m u ch personal

t o attention to farming Operations , but appears leave most

matters of detail to his men . Indeed , his principal o c c u

at i o n n o t o r p apparently, when hunting coursing, is gallop ing about the country (he is hardly ever seen o u t o f a

— as gallop and a devilish good pace, too, he once observed

t o someone w h o twitted him o n that score)o n a cert ain r at

’ f A bac h e l o r R t o . r e tailed horse his , alph s es ablishment is p

r - n sided over by a widowed siste , as comfortable looki g a b woman as her rother is a man , and just about the very

o r o u best hand at making cherry brandy, orange gin , y

o f ever met . Having partaken a countless number o f

glasses o f t hose seductive cordials at various t imes o n o u r

w e a V isits at the Wild Farm , are well qu liﬁed to give an R ’ opinion . We should add that alph , like M r . Sponge s

h o r s e d e al i n . g friend , M r Benjamin Buckram , possesses a snug little independence Of his o w n ; consequently he is well able to maintain the hospitality it is his delight to

t o extend everyone, and indulge in his favourite sport to

’ o f i o his heart s content , without any qualms consc ence n

the score o f undue extravagance . “ What is this pet farmer o f yours like in personal ap h p e ar an c e w e fancy w e can hear t e reader exclaim at

this point . t - o f Well , he is a s out , hale looking man , middle height,

o n o f bo w stand i ng a pair rather legs possessing a large,

o f t round , pleasant face , a complexion the colour por wine,

n and white hair . H e has never been seen in anythi g but a

- — o n o n s c himney pot h at felt weekdays , silk Sunday an d

R a l h D u ckw o r th o th e Wild Fa r m p f . 1 39

i he sw ngs about Sixteen stun , into the saddle, whenever

h is - he mounts his hunter . We must add , that port wine

t o fo r complexion is in no wise attributable drink, though R fond of conviviality, and social to a degree, alph is really as

T o s u m temperate a man as ever breathed . him up : his age

o r — is Sixty, more less probably more ; he is a sound

Churchman ; whilst in politics he is the staunchest o f T ories . Finally , he probably has not an enemy in the

— Bu t t e r c u s h i r e R world certainly not in p . alph , though

s o n o f nothing like keen about it as hunti g, is very fond a ’ — day s coursing in a quiet sort o f w ay h e us u ally has a brace of fairish greyhounds somewhere about the premises — and it is a favourite game o f his to assemble some of the neighbouring farmers w h o are fond Of the sport (it is a

e n l a r ~ curious fact , that farmers , though they are always g

n ing on the mischief done by hares , are early all lovers of

the leash)and have a course over his farm , always proliﬁc

T h o l o in hares . e d man n these occasions always acts as

judge, and , the moment the dogs are slipped , rides to them

like a man . H e does not go in for red or white ﬂags in “ bu t T h e the orthodox style, to hear him shout , black

’ “ ’ ” o n o r T h e ! t o dog s w , fawn s got it and View his

o ld jolly face , positively beaming with pleasure, as he

t o rides back the coursers, is worth going miles to

. t o u witness H is judgmen is never cavilled against, y

may be sure . T hough he possesses the r ight o f shooting over his

o w n n o t farm , he is gunner himself ; indeed , whenever he

i s e wants his birds killed , he good nough to come gallop

d o fo r ing up to ask us to it him , at which w e are always

as fo r delighted , it is a remarkably good farm birds ,

t h e e ven in bad breeding seasons , hedges being o f t h e 1 0 R a l h D u ckw o r th o the Wild Fa r m 4 p f . o ld - ff o f fashioned straggling order, a ording plenty shelter, a n d t h e cover invariably being good . On these occasions w e are expected to take lunch at the farm (t o bring o u r o w n a ff o u m a grub would c use dire o ence, y y be sure) ; a n d o f , seeing that the lunch is always a most substantial n o f ature, ﬁnishing up with dessert, and port wine a fruity

o f o f character, combined with a good deal body, and

o u which y are almost in duty bound to partake, it may be

a t e r w e easily imagined, that f lunch feel much more

s it u inclined to down nder a hedge and smoke a cigar,

o . than t t ramp t h e ﬁelds after partridges Knowing,

w e o n therefore, what have to expect these occasions, we take very good care to g e t well into o u r birds before o n e ’ T h R D o clock . e name of alph uckworth will always be

o u r w a s o n e . g reen in memory, if it only for circumstance W e were riding one hot Sept ember afternoon along a

- w o u r bridle road that went through his farm , hen to

w e s aw astonishment suddenly the farmer himself,

t o n e h i s -ﬁe ld at ended by Of men , working a turnip , gun in hand .

T r an s ﬁx e d e B - with astonishmen t w pulled up . y and “ ’ s aw Us by he , and walked up . I m uncommon glad to ” “ ’ s e e o u I v e o t n y , said he, for g a friend comi g down

t t o - t a r t r id from own night, and I wan a brace of p

S O o ld o f . t ges very bad I ook this gun mine, and

’ ’ ’ o u t e m started , but, lor bless you, I can t hit , how

’ Off a t . o u ever hard I look em Will y get your pony, and kill us a brace ? I shall take it s o wery kind if you will ? ”

T w as t o s o w e his an appeal impossible resist , down

w as got , and proceeded to handle the Old gun . It a queer,

o ld - - bu t fashioned looking weapon, well balanced, and very

a l h o th Wild F a r m 1 42 R ph D u ckw o r t f e . W t o f bu t e . woods , in poin fact, all joined each oth r ell, they had not been in covert ﬁve minutes before a holloa from t h e far end announced that the fox had been viewed

t e - ﬁr s t w h o away, and in a trice h whip, was hunting the pack in the absence o f T o m T ootler (rendered temporarily

h o r s d e co m ba t from a fall the last day they were out , and “ ” o u t consequently staying as the Eton boys call it),

brought the hounds up , and away they went, best pace .

fo x Guessing pretty well the point the would make for,

w e t away pounded in that direc ion , accompanied , as usual ,

l o t o f o n e o r by a whole dear little boys and girls , and two

w h o o n Old boys and girls , too, for that matter, , relying

o u r o f s o knowledge the country, and ( they tell us) our

- o f well known sagacity as regards the run the fox, are good enough to honour us with their company o n these

w e w occasions . Well, away all went, now do n this

lane , now down that , then a short cut through a

o f farmyard, and a line gates , anon pulling up to

s o o n . w a s o n e listen , and It during of these stoppages ,

o n r o f this particula day, that , hearing a clattering boys

w e o u r w h o behind us , turned round , when , to surprise,

bu t o u r - o ld Should gallop up ex huntsman , Harry Gold “ ” h i o lliki n s ! s . acre , and friend J oe J Hallo said we , “ w h o u t w o y, what brings y young fellows along the hard

’ o f o r high road , eh Have some em pounded you , are ” “ o u o u t ? r o n e y thrown Neithe the nor the other,

’

o n e . squire, replied Harry, with of his woodenest grins “ ’ We w a s h av i n a h a r g u m e n t with that Silly old fule of a R alph Duckworth he would hev it as the hunds had

t w o o n e l o t w a s got separated in them woods , and that a

’ r u n n in their fox in the fust , at the werry same identical

’ ’ ’ ’ o n w as d r aw i n a t moment s the rest em the t other, and R a l h D u ckw o r t h o th e Wild F a r m p f . 1 43

t ’ tha they killed and left him directly they heard Ned s horn .

’ o n u s s e e -a- l e av i n We both half dozen hunds the wood ,

’ ’ h av i n s e s that s right enough ; but as for killed , as he ,

’ n s o T h e o ld that s all onsense, and I told him . man

’ o f h e s betted us a new hat apiece that right, which Joe

’ ’ and me accepted , and I m blessed if we didn t leave the

’ ’ o ld v o w i n poor feller a pokin about the wood , and and

’ ’ s w e ar i n a s he wouldn t leave it until he found the dead

’ ’ - o u d fox . I told him that he and his old rat tailed s s lose

’ themselves if they didn t mind , like the babes in the wood ,

’ ’ ’ ’ and t hat s o m e u n u d coom in the m o r n i n and ﬁnd em both covered with leaves by the robin -r e d br e as t e s s e s

’ ” o ! ! ! d o r i n the night . Haw haw haw laughed the

n hoary narrator, slapping his thigh with i tense relish of his o w n little joke . “ ” s e e s ir T o m T You , , broke in old Joe , ootler being

w a o f hill, and Ned Stumps not being quite in the y it like ,

’ ’ ’ Ou n s x e c o u t the I p got a little of his hand , and when

’ ’ o ld R h e e r d m silly alph em , they was a run in hare , no

’ ’ T w a s a- doubt . hat s what they doin , depend upon ” it .

w o t T days after this conversa ion , it chanced that we made o n e o f a shooting party engaged in beating these

t o f R i dentical woods . We had old the story old alph and

w h o w as his hunt for the dead fox to our host, much amused thereat . His keeper , of course, knew all about

h i s it, and had assisted , indeed , in the search , which , by “ ” i a s - manner, he ev dently looked upon a wild goose chase .

w e e h e at e r s Well, wer walking in line, and all , in the c o f ourse the morning, through some young wood, when

o u r o w h o w as o n t o suddenly h st, my right, shouted out us “ ” t o ! t t o come here We wen accordingly, and there our as 1 R a l h D u ckw o r th o th e Wild F a r m 44 p f . t o n i s h m e n t w a s o f w h o the body a dead fox , evidently , from the signs about him , had met his death in the legitimate w a Al . l y the other guns came up to have a look, and then “ t h e R cry went forth of Bravo , alph ” a o u r Le ve him just as he is , said host to the keeper, and o n e o f you run u p to the house and tell somebody to s tart o ff on a horse at once to t h e Wild Farm with this

T h e note . Squire tore a leaf o u t o f his memorandum book as he spoke, and scribbled a few hasty lines to

’

R . o u r alph W e then resumed shooting . One o clock

w e s at t o came , and had just down enjoy that which

’ was certainly not the worst part o f t he day s entertainment , n o u r o f amely, luncheon , when the sound a horse galloping w a s o u r heard , and in another minute jolly Old friend

, R D d h is - alph uckworth appeare , rat tailed horse in a lather, and he himself with his jovial countenance more

h e e rubicund than usual from t haste he had made . Wh n

’ o f o u r o ld t n o he heard ﬁnd , the fellow s deligh knew

n o bounds . Not hi g would serve him but he must g and

n look at the fox with his o w e yes that very instant . H e

n o r s u h e would neither bite p , he declared , until did ; and ,

w a s fo r seeing there no help it , the head keeper forth with took him aw av t o where lay all that remained o f B - -b R . poor eynard y and y the worthy pair returned ,

fo x bringing the along with them , and then , quite satisﬁed ,

R h is - l o n e o f Old alph , having given rat tai ed favourite to

e at e r s n o u the h to walk about , wanted more pers asion , but

s at down with us and s e t to at t h e good things put before him with the air o f a man w h o felt he had thoroughly

t o earned his food . We omitted add that at t h e same t ime that o u r cheery host despatched his messenger t o t h e house t o send Off a mounted m a n t o fetch Ralph h e

1 6 R a l h D u ckw o r th o th e Wild Fa r 4 p f m .

’ t w h o l o t o f a t have known bet er, , putting up a horses

Bu ll e t r o n w as t o f , in the habi mounting all his rough

’ o n o u t m riders them , and sending them with y lord s

t t o e hounds , wi h orders ride over everything they cam

t o T h e across , with a view sale . farmers very naturally objecting t o having their fences broken down and their

n o t c o m wheat ridden over when hounds were running,

t o Da is ﬁe ld t o o n plained Lord y , who spoke the dealer

‘ the subject , declaring if it happened again he would take h is D hounds home . Mr . ealer, being a bumptious young

o f n o t u t cockney the most aggressive type, was a -bit p

o u t h is . , and fairly staggered my lord by impudence T here w a s n o alternative but t o s e t R alph Duckworth at T . t him his he did , the resul being a Slanging match

t w o t o s a between the , in which , we are bound y, the R o f . cockney dealer got far and away the best it alph ,

w a s o n however, not to be done . Later in the day, the

w h o dealer himself was riding leisurely at a fence, when

u a a i n s t o f should cannon p g him (accidentally, course but ‘ )

R D ff o f alph uckworth , with the e ect nearly sending him f horse and all into the ditch . A fresh interchange o ff compliments took place, the a air ending by the irate farmer fetching his adversary such a crack between the

b — o f - eyes with the utt end his hunting whip , as caused that worthy t o vacate his saddle and roll o n to mother

Th e earth in an insensible condition . victory was a

o n e decisive , for the dealer removed his horses from

’ Bu ll e r t o n Dai s ﬁe ld s c o n shortly after, and Lord y hunt

’ sequently knew him no more . Let us n o w bid adieu to o u r o ld friend ; and long may it be before that stout o ld ﬁgure in the roomy black frock

coat , very open at the chest, the Bedford cords, and the R a l h D p u ckw o r th o th e PVild F a r m f . 1 4 7

o f o l d as R the school, alph Duckworth o f the Wild

Farm .

- 1 . 2 ( 1 48 )

AND M R M R . R R S . SPA KLE .

H EN it came to t h e ears o f the good people o f

Bu t t e r c u s h i r e Cr a c kl e t o n o n e o f p , that Court , the numerous country seats of that well-known

t t o S t iff n e c ke ornamen the peerage , Viscount , which has

w a s been shut up for many years , and consequently a dead loss to the county in the w ay o f festivities o f any

fo r sort , had at last been let a term , together with its

ﬁr s t - t o rate shooting and ﬁshing, a wealthy young gentle

Of o f o f e man , the name Sparkler, a thrill joyful exp ctancy ran through their midst . Fond matrons m arked him

fo r R o r down at once as an e ligible mate osey, Blanche, o r m o f Violet , as the case ight be ; whilst fairy visions balls and garden parties o n a large scale disturbed the natural rest o f all the yo u ng ladies themselves .

e x t r e m e H e is ly good looking ; quite young , has only ” —a n d s o ! just attained his majority, indeed rich thus

M r s . o f spoke Gapeseed , the great purveyor news , and

o f w h o w a s champion gossip of that part the world ,

’ T i m m i n s s making an afternoon call at the , clasping her

s h e hands ecstatically, as spoke , and turning up her eyes

s e e o r t o until you could nothing but the whites , , be strictly accurate , the yellows ; for Mrs . Gapeseed , being “ ” n o t what the doctors call rather a livery subject, did ,

s t in consequence, posses t hat clear skin and bright op ic

1 M r n d M r s a r 0 . a kle r 5 . S p .

h e r o w n brand she mentioned in person , the worthy soul f w as o u . , course, very particular abo t it in other people ) ” “ - - “ n o O , o Well , , replied her friend , I should hardly

h a d o u imagine that he , y know, judging, at least, from what M r . Sheepshanks w a s good enough to tell m e . H is

m h i s father, it see s , made money by manufacturing boot ” — o r M r s . jacks , stay, said Gapeseed, tapping her fore

head and considering a moment, stay, I rather think it w as bo o t n a il s o r h o b n o t o r w a s nails, bootjacks , he said

bl o cki n ? A n s h e it boot g y how, continued , brightening

’ w a s up ; it don t matter . I feel certain though it s o m e th i n s o o f w o u ld g to do with boots , , course, that be

’ rather vulgar, wouldn t it

I n similar fashion to this, young M r . Sparkler and his m oney bags were d is c u ssed in half the drawing rooms in

t e r c u s h i r e a n d e Bu t t h . p , latest intelligence regarding his

s h d movements w a soug t after by Mesdames Gapesee ,

T m n . C . im i s, o , with the greatest anxiety “ ” h e n s h e ? w a s W w a , coming the question they all

ac h e m . asked e h ot r, ﬁfty ti es a day ~ o f o l d - l t o w it N ow the editor that estab ished paper, ,

ll e r t o n ( h r o n icle B u t t e r c u s h i r e Ga z e t t e the Bu C and p , has

e w o f i s a playful habit (e very we k, hen short what called

“ ” ' ch m t an c b - - w e copy (whi circu s e , y the way, should

z f ‘ f o f imagine to be o tolerably requent occurrence), ﬁlling up his vacan t sp ac es wvith extracts from the various f f d a . n s o society pap e rs o the y In fact, the co tent his

v aluable journ al alway s seem made up as follows

n m T h e t w o outside sheets , back and fro t, advertise ents ;

emanating principally from auctioneers , money lenders ,

o f T h d . e quack octors , and vendors patent medicines

o n e o n inside : t w o leaders ; political , the other some M r a d M r . n s k . S a r l e r p . 1 51

o f n subject local interest, such as the painting by ight, in

’ o f broad red and yellow stripes, his worship the mayor s

o r o f front door, by some irreverent wag, wags , cheerful temperament ; o r the stoppage o f the clock at the T own

Hall . T hen come a couple o f columns o r s o devoted to

o n police news , and two more to the goings at the

villages round about , such as penny readings , rows at

vestry meetings , between the vicar and his churchwardens “ o f D (the latter, course, headed isgraceful Scene in a

o r T some such exciting items . hen there are letters to the editor (usually o n the subject o f

’ n T . i s r drai s) here a poet s corne , and there is a whole ” column headed Wit and H umour, which possibly might

be found amusing, if the reader had not already been

m bo n m o ts ade familiar with most of the contained therein ,

T h e through the medium of one J oseph Miller . editor

w a has still plenty of space , and this he ﬁlls up in the y ff w e . have described , viz , with cuttings from the di erent

society journals . T here w a s no o n e probably in the whole o f Buttercup shire with whose views this little arrangement on h i s part fell in with better, than our friend Mrs . Gapeseed

T o f hat estimable lady, besides being an ardent lover

’ — n o t gossip , for gossip s sake life, indeed , would have been — worth having without it, in her opinion was still better pleased at getting it on the cheap as it were . It gave it a

s h e sort of extra relish , getting for a penny what would have otherwise had to give eighteen pence or two shillings for ; for the editor of the B u t t e r c ups h ir e Ga z e tt e did not conﬁne himself to extracts from one journal but went

bili n . boldly in for all the sixpennies , the whole , in fact

M r s . Every Saturday morning then Gapeseed , after her 1 2 M r ‘ a n d M r s a r kle r . S 5 . p

t o t h e t o i usual visit kitchen g ve her orders for the day, ” w as t t o won , with the Gazette in her hand, to retire

e n s c o n s e d her little morning room , where, having herself

s h e o f in an easy chair, would assume a pair spectacles , and

r o with a placid smile upon her countenance, forthwith p c e e d t u to enjoy a quie morning with her favo rite literature .

t o . On the Saturday following her visit her friend , Mrs

’ T M r s t o immins , . Gapeseed , according custom , had settled herself down with toes o n the fender and the paper in her hand . She had primed herself with all the

o n -d its R w as latest anent the oyal family, and now well into the tittle-tattle concerning folk in a less exalted

f s h e w as t station of li e, when suddenly brought up shor by the following “ par ”

’ Th e e u n e s s e d o r e o f j e the period are certainly, as T ‘ ’ T . . . s a . Mr J L oole would y, going it Last hursday w e alluded in o u r columns to the recent marriage o f t h e

t s o n o f o f youthful Viscount M udlark, eldes the Marquis

’ o f ‘ Greenwich , to Miss N elly Bligh , the Hilarity T T heatre . his week w e have t o make a similar a n n o u n c e m e n t r , Mr . Geo ge Sparkler, the wealthy young

t o v commoner, whose name, owing an occasional o erﬂow o f animal spirits , has been rather frequently before the

o f o n public late, having Monday last led to the hymeneal

Do t l altar, M iss Golightly, we l known at the Music H alls

- o f as a serio comic singer great versatility and verve . She is best known by her song Of the “ Boy with the Even

o f ing Papers , her characteristic rendering which ditty

T h e took the town by storm some s i x months ago .

fo r happy pair left in the afternoon Paris , where they

propose to spend the honeymoon , after which they will

’ C r ac kl e t o S t iffn e c ke s settle down at n Court, Lord beauti

1 M r a n d M r s r kl r . S a e 5 54 . p .

M r n s . Sparkler were expect ed t o arrive at C r a c kl e t o

o n Court a certain day, and were pretty certain to attend

’ ’ o f Da is ﬁe ld s NO the meet Lord y hounds at Man s Land ,

t h e o n e o f morning but after, the universal cry the neigh ” w as We w ill be th e r e bours .

w e r e And they there, too,to some tune , as the hunts

T o m T w h o man , ootler, had not been honoured with so

fo r M r s w as large a ﬁeld some time, declared . . Gapeseed t here, you may depend , occupying, indeed , a seat in her

’

M r T m m i n s G . s . i s . friend barouche (Mrs , herself, only “ ’ sporting a nondescript sort o f vehicle o f the o n e o s s ” v 1 e w o f shay order), and , to insure an extra good , the t o bride, that enterprising lady had taken the precaution

- bring her opera glasses along with her . All eyes , with o n e accord , were turned towards the point whence the party from the Court were bound to come, and at last , a fter much straining of eyes , a cry came forth from the — carriages o f H ere they come reminding o n e somewhat o f the murmur that goes up from the crowd o n a race course when the favourite for a great event emerges from t h e paddock to take h is preliminary canter . U p went

’ “ M r s e e ! . o s Gapeseed s glasses t her eyes . I can her

s h exclaimed e . “ Ca n o u ? Mr s T o n t o y said . immins , clambering up

the seat in her excitement, and secretly envying her friend

o f - s h e the possession her opera glasses . What is like ” d o s h e tell me, exclaimed , quite unable to restrain her curiosity .

S h e— n o I surely must make a mistake . Impossible

i s ! Mr s . It , I declare I do declare exclaimed Gapeseed ,

Sinking back into her seat, with a horriﬁed countenance,

n t h e - “ s t o . and handi g Opera glasse her friend . I d o de

kle r M r a n d M r s . S a r . 1 56 . p

’ ” f o f Was t riend Charlie s , the immediate remark amongs

T h e h the men p resent , ounds immediately after moved

Off fo x w as a found in the very ﬁrst cover they drew, and o n e o f o f the best runs the season the r esult .

M r s . e Little Sparkler went lik a bird ; in fact , she and T Lady homasina Clinker, their respective husbands , and

W o f Th e l at Charlie ildoats , had the best it throughout .

i e t ter gentleman , after d nn r hat night , informed his uncle, — “ ” with whom , as we have related, Charlie hung out , as

a t — i h a e m he called it , when he was home nswer to an — quiry as t o what the new comers were like fo r the o ld

m e t . gentleman , having Mrs Gapeseed one ﬁne day, had

t Tr u th heard wha that veracious journal, , would call some Queer stories about them —that Doddy Sparkler was

’ at t a capital chap . Knew him Eton , don you know

o f t t h e t Shoddy, course but wha doose does that mat er if

’ ’ h i s w h a feller s a good feller And as for wife, y she s a

’ t s h e dear lit le woman , pon my soul , is , U ncle John ; and , ”

o u s i r s h e t h e . I can tell y what it is , , can ride like devil Of course it w as the o ld story the men all swore by the

u1 n o t poor little woman , but their wives wo d have

T n o t . . a her at any price hey would go ne r her , in fact

s h e However, seemed perfectly happy with her horses and D ” her dogs and her birds , and above all her oddy . She w a s t o o a perfect Lady Bountiful in the parish , as the

m rector could and did testify, and probably did ore good

- t o her poorer fellow creatures in a day than Mrs . Gape i s t n . eed , with all her os entatious charity, would a lifetime

fo r Dai s ﬁe ld w as As Lord y , he charmed with the little

- ex m u sic hall Singer .

Off- o n e She asked him , in her usual hand manner, day o u t hunting, to come and dine with her some night, M r s a r kl d . S r a n e r , M . p . 1 57

o f and to the great astonishment everybody, not

only did he smilingly assent , but he went , and Charles

o n e Wildoats , who was Of the party, declared the next day that he could n o t have believed that o ld Da i s yﬁe ld

t h e n - could have laughed as he did when , in drawi g room

f M r s . a ter dinner, Sparkler dressed up in the old

- ’ familiar war paint, and sang for his lordship s especial beneﬁt her celebrated song of the Boy with the Evening

Pe e e r s p . When between the verses , in the style that always brought down the house at the music halls in the

o ld s h e o f days , rushed up to my lord with a bundle

newspapers in her hand , and thrusting them under his

“ ’ ’ o u t s u r ! S e s h u l nose, screamed , H ere y are , p dish

u n ’ - - . Strange p r o c e e d i n g s hin ther Di vorce Court this day ! T h e c o -respondent d i s ki v e r e d hunder the Grand ” Pi an n e r ! the delighted o ld peer laughed until the

tears ran down his face, and , as Wildoats declared , until his white chok 'er (a very formidable aff air) became positively

T t h e limp . hough , as we have before observed Sparklers

’ — o r — rather, M rs . Sparkler don t go down with the

o f ar e ladies the county, they amazingly popular with

T h e o f t . everyone else for all hat pair them , I feel quite

sure, might ride over all the wheat in the county, and

w a n o t smash every gate that came in their y, and a

farmer would be found to s ay them nay . Mrs . Gapeseed having heard sundry rumours o f this lit tle attempt o f t t ours at portrait painting, axed us wi h it at a dinner

’ “ T i m m in s s o n e t . party at the ﬁne nigh Of course, M r .

s h e Finch Mason , said , puckering up her mouth into what no doubt she thought a most captivating grin o f course

’ you won t include amongst your port ra i ts those very d r e adful young peopl e at Cr ac kl e t o n Co urt ? S u ch r kl r r a n d M s . S a r e M . I58 . p goings o n (here s h e closed her virtuous eyes and p r o

’ c e e d e d to fan herself) I m told there are as never were ! I feel quite certain that if poor dear Lord S t iff n e c ke had only had the slightest idea what sort of tenants he

t o had got hold of, he never would have let the place T them . hat dreadful woman will burn the house d Ow n ’ ” “ o n e o f s h e these ﬁne nights if don t mind . Indeed , I “ w e fo r shall though , replied , you must recollect , my

’ d e a r . . ! w e dear Mrs . Gapeseed ( Mrs G indeed can t

o ld o f abide the woman), that with the internal economy

C r ac kl e t o n Court I have nothing whatever to do , they will

‘ appear in my little book simply as Flowers o f the

’ M r s H unt , and as both Mr . and . Sparkler wear scarlet o u t hunting, they ought to be rather brighter ﬂowers

’ t s o than usual, don t you hink

t e e le ch a s e s 1 60 Th e H a r ka w ay H u n t S p . dust ﬂying about—one might almost imagine oneself

Da is ﬁe l d o n the road to Epsom . Here comes Lord y , - t i n . h i s well appointed mail phae on ; here comes Johnnie

- Clinker, tooling a heavily laden coach , with pretty little

T o n - bo x . Lady homasina, looking her brightest , the seat

o n t h e Wildoats is close behind his , roof ﬁlled with f T d andies o the same p attern as himself. hen comes a

t o . barouche, drawn by four horses , with postilions match B t - It is the obbin equipage, and the foo people shout

o f o ld Bo b H ooray as it passes , much to the delight

w h o i n r bin , bows return , and rewa ds with a shilling a ragged little Arab w h o i s turning a series o f catherine

Wheels at t h e side Of the carriage . ” “ ! t Hi , there Another coach comes along, ooled by

D w that lively millionaire, oddy Sparkler ; his ife, with a R cigar in her mouth , by his side, and what old alph

D w h o i s o n uckworth , j ogging along the turf at the side o f o n - the road his rat tailed nag, aptly described as rather

o n h a mixed l o t t e roof. Conspicuous amongst them is “ t D T h e u that volatile gen leman olly Lightfoot . yo nger

- t h e son is in Splendid form to day, and is cause Of much

t h e o f t h e hilarity amongst occupants drag, j udging from W - the noise and laughter that emanate from it . o h o

” “ ’ m y boys , from the youthful Jehu followed by, Why don t

o u t o f t h e w a s t o o id ? as you get y , p from his lady wife,

o f t h e ﬂ the leaders are all but atop Bill Spriggins , ying

’ - h as u higgler s spring cart, which suddenly l rched across

the road , its owner being already in a very advanced state

o f t o f inebriation , and in the very best empers . Need

t o s a n o t o u t o n n less y, he is a bit put ; the co trary , he

h i s o u t points to a large stone jar between legs , and yells “ Mr s a e W a t e . o u o t o t h e deligh d Sp rkl r, ill y hev dr p , Th e H a r ka w ay H u n t S t e eple ch 1 6 1

my dear T h e whilom pride of the music-halls is n o w

fo r thoroughly in her element ; the moment , indeed , she

o n almost fancies herself back again at the hall , over the Sur

rey side, exchanging pleasantries with the gallery . Need

s a less to y, the disreputable Spriggins is no match for her f ” when it comes to cha f, and retires , utterly defeated , after

a o f . very short bout it, and on goes the drag rejoicing Of course all the houses in the neighbourhood are

ﬁlled with visitors . Every inn , too , in the town of

Bu ll e r o n T h e t is crammed to the muzzle . secretary and

' o f r D a i s ﬁe l d clerk the course , M . Samuel Shrub , of the y

A o f rms, arrayed in the glossiest new hats , smartest of

- o f . neckcloths, and brownest top boots , is in his glory

T h e innkeepers , one and all , are doing a rare trade ; in

I T h e t . fact, the Whole town is in a s ate of excitement

D a is ﬁe l d o f y Arms is , naturally, the centre attraction , for

o f i t is the headquarters the hunt committee .

- - - - H orsey looking men , clad in down the ro ad looking

o w n - t c ats and kno i g looking hats, hang abou the front d o n e oor, and talk to another with such a mysterious air -as to give one the idea that they are concocting so m e

- d eep laid scheme of the utm ost importance to the nation .

o f Vagabonds all sorts , from goodness knows where , p ervade the streets . N o steeplechase meeting can

T h e S eemingly take place without their assistance . m t o o ighty Ginger is there , , having arrived overnight

s o band and all , and has spent , he says , a very pleasant — v — r o ﬁt a bl e n o e ening p as well , doubt enlivening the H company at the D ai s yﬁe l d Arms with his ditties . e is

’ telling everyone to be sure and back Lord D ai s yﬁe ld s

f o r w h o t o horse Cock a Bondy the H unt Cup , is be l o u r . ridden by friend , Char es Wildoats 2 h H a r ka w a H u n t S t e e le ch a s 1 6 T e y p e s .

s i r Go d s t . A rue gentleman , , a true gentleman bles

’ “ ’ i m i i m say s Ginger, feel ng ly . Well , I knew , I did ,

NO s i r d o n o t when at Cambridge, sir . , , I play the ” banjo , says the distinguished minstrel , turning round , and replying W i th much dignity to a young farmer w h o ” o n fo r o n has called Ginger a toon , as he calls it , that

s i r d o n o t favourite instrument . N o, , I play the banj o ;

’ ” v u l a r it s g . I perform only hon the Spanish guitar, at

w h o u h which grand speech the country bumpkin , tho g t ff a it ﬁne to cha Ginger, retires , much abashed , midst f h i o s n o t n . the j eers comrades , and wishes he had spoke

’ - Who s this with the battered looking Visage, attired in

f r o c kc o at a , apparently much too tight for him , and wear

- o n h is ing a particularly tall, rather greasy looking hat

Da w o f o f head Can it be Billy , professor the noble art

- - o f self defence , the once well known champion the light ? i t weights Yes, is indeed that distinguished ornament

n o to society, and other . t H ow is it he is here Why, the fac is those trouble some gentry, the Middlesex magistrates , having somehow

’ o r another heard o f Billy s somewhat disreputable goings o n h i s at little crib , as he calls it, in the neighbourhood o f u the Haymarket, have , in a playful humour, am sed

t s o themselves by aking away his license , the redoubt

able Billy, being at present lying idle as it were, goes from race meeting to race meeting, hunting u p

t fo r former pa rons , and reciting his woes as an excuse “ ’ t o Y o u u s appealing their pockets . couldn t lend a ﬁver, ” s i r ? t o , could yer says he, insinuatingly, sidling up

w h o Wildoats , has just emerged from the hotel, and is

’ o n t Yo u now lighting a huge cigar the s eps . couldn t

’ ’ ’ e s i r ? d e s r a t e s i r l nd us a ﬁver, , could yer I m p ard up , ,

Th e H a r ka w a H u n t t ee le ch a s s 1 64 y S p e .

ﬁe l d — n s there is a fairish seven , eight , nine , ten run er — ! T capital inkle , tinkle , goes the saddling bell .

T h e o f voices the betting men are heard from the ring . “ I ’ ll take odds ! ” “ I ’ ll take seven to four ! ” “ Odds ’ “ ’ ’ I ll take Will h a n y o n e back a outsider ? Won t

n o bo d o n e . y back yells one ﬁelder , as if in despair

T o u t here is a hottish favourite , seemingly, and it turns ’ T d t . . o be Mr H Walker s bay horse, i pperary Joe, ri den - T n . by M r . J ack omkins , a well k own local performer

’ - - - H e t J ack is a broken down ne er do weel . has tried pret y

o f — nearly everything by way profession farming, auc t i o n e e r i n h o r s e d e al i n g , g ; he has had a turn at them all , but has failed, and now gets a living, nobody knows exactly how . At all events , this is certain , at the present T moment he is entrusted with the mount on ipperary Joe ,

o n e h e ﬁr s t and as the horse is a good , and himself is a t t h rate horseman , the alen forthwith instal him a o t

a t t w o t o o n e t favourite, and commencing , in a very shor

’ o f o n t h e time it is a case odds . I n short, public won t

o f T o e Bu t hear anything else but ipperary J . hark ! there

’ ”

. ? is a row in the ring What s it all about Why,

o l d w h o Shrub , owns the second favourite, Betsy

o u r Baker, is objecting to friend Jack, as not being

“ ’ a in t a properly qualiﬁed gentleman rider . H e a

’ ” s a gentleman rider, I don t care what you y , says Mr. “ t ’ ’ Shrub and if he wins I objec s , that s all, and what s

Da i s ﬁe l d more , says the doughty landlord of the y

“ ” ’ . ! Arms , I Objects to his starting Hooray H ere s a ” R “ lark . efer it to the stewards , is the cry . H ere, ? ” M r . Wagg, what do you say “ ! J ack not a gentleman rider Oh , nonsense , says “ T o m . s a is Wagg, thus appealed to I y he a gentleman . r ka w a u n t t e e le ch a s e s 1 6 Th e H a y H S p . 5

’ s e e I know his sisters , I tell you ; em every Sunday in church . His sisters wear silk stockings , therefore they

’ m u s t w h be ladies, and if they re ladies , y it stands to ” s t reason Jack m u be a gentleman .

’ W a s o f . A roar laughter followed Mr g g decision , at

f o ld t h e end o which Shrub retired in high dudgeon ,

ff o f amidst the cha the company .

T t r o n hat little argumen settled , th e horses eme ge to

h e T T i t course, headed by the redoubtable Jack omkins p p e r a r y Jo e looki n g and going S O well in his canter that h e

s i made a hotter favourite than ever . ’ ” “ “ ’ ” Th e r e o ! A c a it a l t it t ? y f p start Oh , isn pre ty “ ’ s a . T o n e ! e y the ladies here s down Oh , dear, I hop ’ ” “ ” h e s n o t ! T hurt ipperary Joe wins ! is the cry, as

h e o n e t horses are s een coming to the last fence but - . “ ’ ’ l ! n ! H e s pul ing hard Why, he ca t hold him But , ’ ’ ” ’ “ H e s ! t what s this pulling him No , he ain I t o u An d i s ell y he is , sure enough , amid the execrat on o f w a T the cro d, th t scamp of a J ack omkins (pulling hard at his horse) allows Shrub ’ s mare to come along s w as ide, and to beat him by a length . Never such a

o f deliberate case roping . A perfect rush is made by the infuriated populace to get at the rider o f the favourite .

T i s o ff t w m kli n Jack omkins his horse, and in a g makes a

t h e - s rush for weighing room , amidst a shower of stick and stones . H e is pale in the face by this time, and just gets

o f in in time, whilst the door is promptly Shut in the faces the enraged mob . What a r o w t o be sure Where is “ ? o u t o n e he Come , you sho u ts , and ’ ’ ” “ o u w e ! we ll murder y , blowed if won t Break the

’ ” a d door down , mates, n let s limb him , holloas

B ! cr a s h a n d an o t her , ang bang ! bang ! ! in g oes the 1 66 Th e H a r ka w a H u n t S t e e le ch a s e s y p .

n o t w i t h s t a n d i n ' W ild o at s t h e e door, g and stewards wer

t t o rying with might and main , their shoulders against it,

t h e m o b o u t D i t t a t a t h e t o f keep . own wen l st, foremos

t h e m o b o f o ld tumbling, in his haste, right over the body

D w h o l Charlie abber, had been hur ed down in the charge .

z o u t o f h is Charlie, whose breath was nearly squee ed

t o f h i s t body, promp ly seized the ear enemy in his eeth,

m i n t h e r t r at uch same manne a errier would a , and held o n like grim death un t il t h e r u fﬁa n yelled with pain:

fr e e t ﬁ h t o n M . w h eanwhile, there is a g going Wildoats , o

fo r t r a b m o is ready dressed the nex ace, is mist ken y the b

‘ T an d m a d e fo n h i m fo r . an d Jack omkins , a rush is H e

T o m Ch i r i n t o n t o S r m p g , shoulder houlde , knock the o b

‘ 1 down a s fast as they com e u p : Do wn they g o like nine-

’ T h e o f : t o o r t o h is pins . Bishop Soda and B , ushes friends a t an d t t t o ssis ance, comes jus in ime ﬂoor a coward ly

’ ’ fellow w h o is aiming a blow at Charlie s h ead with his “ S ! o u o u a tick . Ah y would , would y s ys the parson a i m an a t o n e ga n , coolly knocking his down with straigh from the shoulder as he rose from the ground , and came

n o w at him . And a valuable ally suddenly makes his

t h e o f Daw w h o a ppearance in shape Billy , elbows his

a t t h e w y in o room with more force than politeness . “ ’ ” No w t t t t ? hen , wo s all his here abou is his polite “ t d o o u t inquiry , and wha the blank y all wan in here ,

o u t w a abo n e s ? Gi t h o u t ? y rumbus ical g , will yer and

’ ' ’ d i n o n t - t r e a . don t come a my p aten leathers Oh , you ll — ’ t W i t t . d o o u d o t again , will yer ake ha then here y

—i n t h e - t o r -t like it, mister bread baske the tater rap , ’ o n d o av e , s o m e le a s e w hich Come , my bloomer, more, p

’ ’ ” o t a h a m d W o t o u w n . ! . d o . y Well, I re lly surprise

b e t h e . w t h e Pr o ; And , using suchlike playful adinag hile,

r ka w a H u n t S te e l e ch a s es 1 68 Th e f l a y p .

T o m is immensely popular with the natives . Who

’ o n ﬂ e a- — W h comes here the bitten grey y , it can t be

’ ’ ’ — — i t s o u r yes it is who d ha thought it why , actually — o l d friend Charlie Dabber none the worse fo r t h e f r a ca s — i n the weighing-room th a t Mister D abber as Lord Daisy

’ ﬁe ld T h e i s calls him . Captain s fat housekeeper, M s is

t h e Plu m mer, is there, having been driven over by gar

d e n e r a . in . gig, borrowed specially for the occasion She waves a handkerchief encouragingly t o her master as he

” u t canters down the co rse after the o hers .

’ ’ T Off Ou t t t h e t hey re at last . wi h glasses, and le s look a t the Flowers o f the H un t for t h e last time this

T h e season . ﬁrst fence is cleared without a mistake .

T h e o n e t w o o f t second , a big , brings hem to grief, and - N f i . o w o r t e now they come to the water jump . Charli

T o m Ch i r i n t o n Wildoats is making the running, p g , riding

t o ! steadily and well , nex . Over they g . Well jumped

N OW D ! Th e o ld for the Captain . Go it, abber grey

’ i o u t o f s it , that s very clear, but the Captain rides

H a-h a-h a valiantly at the brook for all that . roars the

i o f crowd, for the grey comes ﬂop nto the middle the “ brook, chucking the Captain over his head . Oh Cap

’ d e a r s a —d o s a tain dear, , Captain , y you re not killed y

o u y re not killed , screams fat M rs . Plummer, rushing up to the dismounted sportsman as he emerges from his cold

e m br ac m h i m and muddy bath , and g most fervently “ o f w amidst the uproarious mirth the company . I kne ’ ’ - ’ ’ n o good would come 0 this nasty o s s racin at your time 0

’ ’ ’ o m e w i m e a life . Come, along , come now, there s d ” o . t good man , U p wi h the glasses again , for the “ ’ ” t o f horses are in sigh once more . Four em in it .

’ ’ ” c i t c t h t d -o h ,I t s a ra e, s a ra e ! cry e exci e lookers .

T H E R T R T T D G EA P ESEN A I O N AY .

U R Da i s ﬁe ld noble and popular Master, Lord y , havi ng entered upon his twenty-ﬁft h year o f

f w as s e t o n o u r o ﬁce, the question foot (by

R o f if w e everend Chaplain the Bishop Soda and B , mis ’ n o t w a s T o m Ch i r i n t o n take ; if it wasn t he, it p g ) whether now was n o t the time for the members o f his hunt t o show their appreciation o f his qualities as a

sportsman , and the liberal manner in which he had

s o o f hunted the county for many years free cost , by pre

t o f t h e n sen ing him with some memento worthy occasio .

’ fo r l It speaks volumes the noble ord s popularity, when we mention that the propos al met with the heartiest

l o approval by everybody both high and w . T h e next question t o be considered w as what form the proposed f w a s . o testimonial to take Each subscriber, course, had

n t o w a s his o w notion as what it Should be , and intensely

disgusted if his idea w a s not adopted . One proposed

o n e . . thing, someone else another M r Benjamin Bobbin

o f said a service plate would be the very thing, in his

’ “ ’ fo r t o t o umble Opinion , his lordship and down his ” h a r e -l o o m successors as a , a proposal which his friend

’ n o w l a m i d e l a m a is o n Charles Wildoats , , at once knocked o n the head with t h e remark that my lord had already got more o f t hat commodity than he knew what

d o fo r to with . Someone else proposed a shield his sideboard ; another proposed a centrep i ece f o r his

- r s Mat c h u m s i s dining t able ; whilst M . Mountjoy (thi Th e Gr e a t Pr e s e n t a t io n D a y . 1 7 1

e n t r e n o u s o strictly , and must g no further)would have been only t o o happy t o present his lordship with an o rnament fo r the foot o f his table in the shape o f one o f her two lovely and accomplished daughters , either of whom

s h e would , felt sure, make him a most admirable

o d d w a s o u r o ld Countess . It may seem , but it farmer

R D w h o friend , alph uckworth, ﬁnally settled the question . “ ’ o u r R T o m What s y opinion , alph inquired Chirp i n t o n o ld Bu ll e r t o n g , coming across to the man in High

o n e . Street , market day “ I h i s e Well, says , give my lord pi ter, replied ” “ ‘ R D o f I alph . irectly I heard the idea, he continued,

’ i o f m s e lf o f s a d . t y , a looking up at my print Old John

’ ' o n R W ‘ o u n d Ward Blue . uin , ith his favourite Betsy

’ th a t s beside him , that hangs in my parlour at the Wild ;

’ 0 ' I t o the sort thing Should l ike contribute to . Get some painter feller down to take him o ff in h is hunting

’ o n t c o s t o o m , , mounted Peter the Grea , that brown o s s

’ ’ f h e s s o o f r a s T o m T o his fond , with p p ootler and the

’ whips and the ounds i n the distance, and then we could

’ l o t Off o u s e e have a printed , don t y , squire, and each o f ” n us could have o e to frame and hang up . ’ “ T h e t o n spor ing Old farmer s idea took , as the

s a no t T o m Ch i r i n t o n Yankees y , only with p g , but

w as with everyone else, and at once acted upon . Lord

’ Da is ﬁe ld s y consent had next to be obtained, and , that havi ng been readily accorded (though my lord rather

t o j ibbed at having give Sittings), nothing more remained ” t o o f n o t but get hold a painter feller, at once, if sooner . h f w as t e o . S c u m bl e r One quickly found in shape M r ,

’ o n W whose memorable ride Charles ildoats mare,

w e t e t Molly Bawn, men ioned in a pr vious chap er, and t o I 7 2 Th e G r e at Pr e s e n t a t io n D ay ;

' h e o f Was t interest whose owner, indeed , the artist indebted for the commission in the present case .

t o Well , the picture being at last ﬁnished , much the

’ t o n o w w a s noble sitter s relief, the only thing be done to

d u T a present it in e fo r m . his i m portant ceremony it w s

Fa t ﬁe ld H o o f ; settled should take place at all , the ab de M r

’ Y e ll o w bo W a l e t o n s n o t y, the banker (William g g friend), that that gentleman was by any means a good specimen o f t h e Of o f representative sportsman the period , but the fact his having a larger house than anyone in those parts ,

e o n e o f t h e made it come in very handy for the p u rpos , as

committee sagaciously remarked . T h e capitalist was delighted beyond measure at the

h is i t great event taking place at house, as enabled him once more to cut out all his neighbours , and come

’ o u t with the elaborate breakfast o r d ej e u n e r that he s o D a is ﬁe ld h o a . w w s delighted in Lord y , on the contrary , ,

o u r o f as readers are aware, a very shy, reserved sort man ,

f . d l looked orward to the day with anything but e ight . H e would ever s o much sooner have preferred the

t o picture be sent to him , and then to have acknow

o f w a s ledged it with a polite note . However, that, course,

u t o f u o f o the question , and not to be tho ght for a moment .

T h e important day at length arrives , and the roads leading to Fa t ﬁe l d Hall are all alive with sportsmen o f — all sorts horsemen in scarlet, horsemen in green , horse

i n men black, horsemen in blue are seen wending their

f ev ' w a . o y to the meet Vehicles , too, ery description there

- - o o u t . are, fr m the stylish mail phaeton and the well turned - drag to the . seedy old brougham and the four wheeled

o r s h e r t o o f chaise, shay , as p efers call it, Mrs . Bris

’ - e t . a t i . k , the butcher s wife Wh a lovely spring morn ng

o n D a 1 74 Th e Gr e a t Pr e s e n t a ti y .

w h o w as i n o t o f t h e Bess , the retriever, fast asleep fr n

’ ’ “ ! ! S O ﬁre . By J ingo , I ve got it We ll have a drag f T T h e o . w e will ! A drag ! very thing, course hey never ﬁnd at Old M oney-bag’ s (as he irreverently called

Y l o o n a e l o w b . M r . y) N obody cares either such an occ

d o o r sion if they not, besides which everyone will ’ t have their skins full of pop ; and won they ride Oh , ! ! t h e my eye, my eye what a lark it will be and

h e h e ll fo r depraved young man rang t a brandy and soda,

o f and threw himself o n the sofa in an ecstasy delight .

Over another weed he very soon arranged all his plans , and before his dressing b ell rang he had got everything as nearly pat as possible . “ W h o should he get t o run wi t h the drag W h y long

’ T o m n o n e - r l Sp r i ger, of his uncle s under keepe s , wou d be

t h e k . very man . He new he could run like a lamplighter

’ v e r c h a — o f Yes, he d be the y p would know every inch ” t h e t o o t t o ! ground, . Wha a lark it would be, be sure

t ff t o O . and he wen dress for dinner, as happy as a king

t t t i t

T h e o f Y e ll o w bo House y is , indeed, in an uproar, and

h e i s o f t banker in a fever excitemen t . H is lacqueys have — g o t their State livery o n whi t e coats with blue small clothes and pink silk stockings, and are running up against

s o each other, sending their powder ﬂying about in doing

T h e i s in every direction . stout butler perfectly crimson

x in the face with his e ertions, and looks more like apoplexy every moment .

o t t h e t fo r i n Our Cr esus has cer ainly done hing well , t h e r i s s e t o u t dining oom a truly magniﬁcent breakfast .

o f —o r o f Everything the heart man stomach man , I

s a — t e e T h e a should y can possibly desire is h r . sidebo rd r n t a t io n D a 1 Th e Gr e a t P e s e y . 75

s o positively groans with plate ; in fact, there is much gold and silver ware in the room that o n e might almost

’ fancy oneself at the hall of the Goldsmiths Company .

At o n e end o f the large drawing room is s e t o u t o n a

- large easel , with plum coloured cloth tastefully draped

o f Da i s ﬁe l d . round it, the presentation portrait Lord y

T o n here is his lordship , as large as life , depicted his celebrated hunter, Peter the Great, and surrounded by a

o f T h e few his favourite hounds . big clock in the stable “ ” a s yard , making nearly much noise as Big Ben , strikes half

No w past ten , and the hungry sportsmen begin to arrive .

! T h e in tens , now in twenties , the cry is still they come

t o f u gravel in fron the house is soon in a nice state, cut p ,

T h e indeed , like a ploughed ﬁeld . volunteer band posted o n the lawn has learned a new tune for the occasion , and ff strikes up with terriﬁc e ect, the big drum playing the

o f very deuce with some the excitable horses . See little

t o ff o f J ack Sprat is kicked right in front the hall door, just

t o o as he was riding up with such an air, , and the only girl he

a t o u t - ever loved looking him of the drawing room window .

Everybody gets seated at last, and clatter, clatter, clatter

Po ! ! go the knives and forks . p pop pop go the champagne

o n o f H o w corks all sides the room . they all eat and drink One would really think they had none o f them tasted

’ T D w h o food for weeks . here s old Captain abber, has eaten

s e e o ld until he can hardly . Look at him , the greedy cor

o f morant, he has just waylaid a footman with a dish quails

o ff o n e in his hand, and is now engaged working them , after the other, with intense satisfaction to himself. At last every o n e o f has done, and by and by a sound like the rapping a handle o f a knife o n the table i s heard from the end o f

Y bo t e ll o w . the room where sits the host, the grea Mr . y ' a t io n D a 1 7 6 The Gr e a t Pr e s e n t y.

” l n a t s il e n ce ! S i e ce I cries everybody once , and

G r i m bo Silence being at last obtained , Mr . y, the veteran

o f o n the hunt , is seen getting his legs to make a

speech . - t h t In a few well chosen sen ences , very muc to the poin ,

' o f Dai s ﬁe l d he proposed the health Lord y , winding up by

o n o f begging him , behalf of his fellow members the hunt ,

t o t as o f & c . accep a slight token their esteem and regard , ,

& c t s o . , the portrai which they had all seen and much t admired tha morning .

br i e ﬂ -b o f My lord responded very y , eing a man few

o n e words . H e thanked them , and all , for their kindness ,

o f in thus thinking him . Th e beautiful picture they had s o kindly presented to

h i m l t h at s a morning, needless to y, he should treasure

T o n e beyond everything . here w a s only fault to be fo u nd

in l r . S c u m b e fo r it , if his friend , M r would forg ive him

s o t saying , which was , that that alented artist had ﬂattered

“ ’ h i m t o o o f ! ! much . (Loud cries N o N o ) I won t ” s a u y the same tho gh Of my horse, said my lord with a

“ ’ s fo r r t h i m h e s mile, no a tis in England could ﬂatter , the ” “ ’ best I ever rode . (Hear H ear ! And I ll give you four ” hundre d for him this minute ! from Charles Wildoats . ) i ” “ Old . Gr m bo My friend Mr y, went on his lordship, who has forgotten more about foxhunting than I ever knew — N ot a bit o f it from the veteran) is good enough

s a -ﬁv e to y that , during the twenty years that I have

hunted the country, I have done so entirely to your

. s a satisfaction All I can y is that, if such is the case, I

am as much pleased as you are . I can assure you all of

o n e i s t thing, which , that I have done my bes , and that it ” e a ll has b en along a labour of love .

“ 1 78 Th e Gr ea t Pr e s e n t a tio n D a yi

‘ ' w o at s t o o t t t t ! o , for ha ma er roared Old J e Mills o f

at t o o f h is Cherrytree Farm , the p voice, amidst shouts

o f o . e approval fr m his brethren ) W ll , ladies and gent le

’ m e n I o n t w e t t h e s , w ast your time by but ering subject

‘ o f fo r n o t o o f my toast, nly would it be a case painting

’ t h e ' l il n o t t h an k m e y, but I feel sure that they would

S o o u n s o . t for doi g I call upon y all, ladies and gen lemen ,

’ t o ﬁll your glasses to the brim and, when you ve done t t o h t h e t o t h e Of hat , drain t em to dregs, health those

’ o f Dai s ﬁe ld s jolly good fellows, the farmers Lord y Hunt , c oupli n g with it the name o f my dear Old friend R alph

D w h o t o o n uckworth , has done his level best jump the t o o f t t s p me ever since I ﬁrs began to hun in these part , ’ ” n o t e t an d I n t bu t has succeeded y , do t in end that he should .

n s a And, the toast bei g drunk with enthusiasm , down t

Charlie . Old R alph had just g o t o n h is legs t o reply o n behalf

o ld o e o lliki n s at e t e o f the farmers, when J J rose the sam im “ o f o ! Go o n R e ! & c . a midst loud cries Sit down , J , alph

u o ll ikin s w h o B t J , had had quite as much drink as

t t o d o t o u t he knew wha with , declined be p down at

t o f any price, and having announced his in ention singing

n t t h e a so g, forthwith proceeded to give them, amids loud ” “ f Wh o —h o o o . laughter the company, John Peel p

t o o f V e shouted he at the p his oic when he had ﬁnished , and w t overbalancing himself, the orthy agriculturis fell back t wards, chair and all , and immediately subsiding in o Sleep,

t w o o f d w as carted away by the gorgeously attire ﬂunkeys . T his co n t r e t e m ps w a s the signal f o r a general exodus o f “ t o the company, and now the cry was horse Cigars “ ’ t h e m an w h o w as were lit , and soon it was, Where s ” “ ” leading abou t my mare ? H a ve y o u s een my horse 3 ’ ' Wh e r e fs m r d o m ? Han t h e f o h e s r y g g ell w, neve about when o n e wants

W t s i i n h i s t Charlie ildoa , a huge c gar mouth , tro s

s o n t r l round from the st able his g rey hun e , ooking like

n h as t goi g all over. H e arranged everything beau i f ully; His man w ith the drag has started o ff . some

" ' i " m i an d ) rli h e . l OOks at ; t h e t i e p Cha e, as ﬂushed faces

- t o h i n ks w h a t around him , chuckles himself as he g j ostling

n d n an d f t h r u s t i n s t h er e l : be a pushi g, g wil among them “ i ) h d u n d s fai r l l Off W Mr w he n . . the are y ell, Charles ,

d h o w o u l s i r o l R D t I unno y fee , , says d alph uckwor h , “ ; t o e . r e d t h e h o w o u v ry in face , riding up I dunno y

bu t If e e l as c r id e ' o v e r feel, if I ould any mortal thing, ” A a t t and d o . t I length s ar is made, forthwi t h t h e

t o t hounds proceed draw the bel round the park .

No s o o n e n far e t is In they in than here a whimper.

o n t h e m Th e another sec d whi per becomes a chorus .

r ' t h e t t h e hounds clambe over park palings in o road .

’ ” H e s u away over the grass, as s re as blazes, says T o m

T t e o ootler as he Slips hrough a gat . F rrad, forrad he

T o m h as n t o o cries ( had something to dri k, , and is in a

o f e t n h i s h o high state xci ement), se ding rse a t a formidable fence o u t o f the road “ Fo r r a d o r r a d o n f A useless cry his part, for the

ar e n hounds run ing away from him as it is . Lord Daisy

' ﬁe ld a T h e o f , Ch rlie Wildoats , Bishop Soda and B

T h e S o n W Younger , J ohnnie Clinker and his ife, a n d - T o m Ch i r i n t o n h i s t o p g and , are close him . Old Charlie

' fo r e Dabber . once is puzzl d ; he h as n e v e r known a

‘ t h e t r “ fo x t t i , o n e i s t n ake par icular line h s aki g. This ’

[ m , s s aid f h e is no bag an I ll wear, to himself, an d

‘ o n d n al n t o w a s Th I u s s i n t o n Wo p u i g o g rd g ods, whi t h e r

N—z . Th e Gre a t Pr e s en t a tio n D a y.

' t t t h e fo x w . i o h e r he hough . ould most l kely g , neve

o f s aw anyt hing more them all day .

' T h o n r t e hounds keep , unning harder han ever .

’ ” u t i t o ff a t t t s T o m T : Car make all , mu er ootler ;

' ’ ’ sh ouldn t n e ver ha t hought t here d bee n such a scen t

u h o t s t n o s ch a day a his here . And w t hey come t o t h e

Bl e s s i n t b n w h ic h . o u r h as famous g Brook , . friend Charlie

h e t t aken care t o bring in t o t line . Wildoa s goes a t i t

an d t Mr s ﬁfty miles an hour, ge s over handsomely . .

Ch i r i n t o n ! t h e B o f B p g follows him, ishop Soda and

t t l bu t lands shor , and ge s a fa l, is quickly up again .

‘ T e n . t at bu t Splash , splash , splash hree g i all once ;

’ t h e h o t as s what are odds it won t hurt such a day t hi .

“ ’ ' o s s s T r n e ar l c o m e s H old up , , roar o n , as his horse y

T h e t h e i s t fo r s o down . country in rear do ted ever far

n s o f d i s c o m ﬁt u r e with redcoat s i various tages . At last

t h t u t bu t fo r e h ounds hrow p heir heads , only a

t w h o a m r min u e . Wildoats, has in miraculous anne

o t t t o a fo r o n g his seco nd horse, cheers hem holloa, t h e

t n i s a hill yonder, g es iculati g like mad , ﬁgure he knows

’ o r t o f - w h o h as f tha his uncle s under keeper, run with

h a s t o t h e drag . A c onfederate just urned u t a bag

’ D is ﬁ fo x r . a e ld s , as previously ar anged Lord y horse i s

’ ' T o m T c an s c ar c e l dead beat ; ootler s y raise a trot,

a t t t t t s o T o m t o ff and las s ops al oge her, ge s , and runs

e m t along as best he can . Fiv inu es more, and the

r u n t h e w h o h s t u e ﬁe d i s hounds into bagman , , alf p as he ,

i s e d o t poor bru te , turn d by a sh e ep g righ into the very

o t h e W h - f . o jaws pack hoop worry, worry, worry ! ” “ ’ o o k n fo x t e w m T o m T le Fresh l i g , re arks oot r, c ar n t

’ ” ’ e n e . r u T ha swopp d ither Capital , wasn t it, o m

' s i “ W d o at w t a in . l h t i a c ays Charlie il s, i h gr , g n g ig ar . It

r t a t io a Th e Gr e a t P e s e n n D y . 1 8 1

w a s s i r t o o T o m a capital run , , rather capital, replied , looking up into the other ’ s face with rather a sly expression

’ o f countenance Y o u didn t happen t o smell any h a n is e e d ’ ? did you , Mister Charles , a comin along, I suppose

n o Aniseed , . What should put that in your head as if

’ T m l . o anyone wou d do such a thing H ere, , here s a triﬂe ” r t h e in rememb ance of day, and Charlie slips a ten ’ “ ” t h e t s a T o m pound note in hun sman s hand , and I y, ,

‘ “ ’ w s a i adds he, ith a wink don t y anyth ng about th e — ’ ’ — aniseed d ye twig I le n o w e a it I w a s s u r e o f i t never did I believe that there would be such a good fox

’ Y e ll o w bo s e as that from M r . y cov rts . He never has nothing but them bagmen for us . All right, M r . Charles

’ — w e mum s the word and, after all, had a rare gallop , didn ’ t we And thus came to a satisfactory conclusion “ what was always spoken o f afterwards as the Great ;

" e Da Pr sentation y . T H E B R E OF T H E H T O U N .

N D R C R AC R S A OTHE HA TE .

all t h e bores in o u r renowned H un t (and w e

s a t t h e t posse s several), George G nder akes fron

t G m e ber h . eorge is a bachelor, and lives at ho w i h i s t an d th mo her sisters , and if he only succeeds in boring t hose highly respec t able ladies half as much as he

o f . t w h t h t o be does the members the H un , y, ey are much

’ t t a u t H e i s t h e r pitied , and ha s all bo it . proud p ossesso o f w e - t w a peculiarly ood n looking coun enance, earing a per

e t u al t o f t - p unmeaning sor grin , and a wild , vacan looking e e W y . H e also sports an eyeglass . hen hounds hang a t d o t h e t o r bou all day, as they often in fores some other

o f o u r is h is t l e t the big woods , then bore in ele m en . Only

e t o f o u e r him once g hold y in a big ride, and he will n ve

o u o f t in leave y . I magine a group spor smen assembled the

f R ad d l e t o n o W . principal ride ood Oh , lord here ” t ! s comes tha infernal bore, Gander suddenly exclaim

W t a s t o f o u r t Charles ildoa s , he catches sigh friend j u s

t u r m n ‘ a n d i t o f g the corner, bear ng down on , the little kno

’ “ ‘ i t hi m a t s port smen H ang t ! I can t s and any pri ce .

’ ’ ” ” ff F r e m ar vs I m o . oxes deuced scarce, seemingly, k

George; having greet ed the company . An idea has crossed

’ ” “ ’ ‘ m o n a it l b bad y mind , he goes , th t wou dn t ﬁ half a W t d o o s a t . u n ot ion to urn down a few jackals ha y y ,

? W t d o o u n ? W o f j ones ha y think , Brow , eh ill any

‘ 8 h e Bo f e o th e u n 1 4 T f H t . 1

‘ cw e t u r e W t h e h as w éw w i n ‘ m e i n a ith eyeglass, he been y g

' c m e n a perfe tly shocking manner, making miss everythi g;

’ ' bo t h e r w i n m e W k wight and left , and g hether I don t thin

' ' ' g w o u s e could n o t be t urned o u t i n w o o d S l ike pheasants . ” f t h e u n I' I he tackles me again , said nhappy guardsm a ,

d e s w a t e Ik n ’ o w I w a s s hall do something p , Gander

an d ‘ d e s e r t e d forthwith remonstrated with by his host , the

a t o o n guardsm n as requested, only, probably, fasten

c As another vi tim immediately after . everybody says ,

is t o t w hat be done wi h such a man and echo answers ,

“ ' What, indeed

T hat stou t sport sman wit h t h e velvet cap and the yellow f silk handkerchie round his neck, whose j olly red face and , w hite whiskers and moust ache remind o n e somewhat o f t h e pictures o n e sees in the illustrated papers o f Father R t o ld . Chris mas , is John ooster

' T h e r e i s no m ore enthusiastic membe r o f t h e Hunt;

‘ o l d r w u than o l d J ohn . A cheery bachelo ith a sn g l ittle independence o f his o w n ; he lives in a pretty .

- t a little rose covered co t ge called H oneysuckle Lodge , - and devotes the whole o f his energies t o . fo x hunting an d

as i s o n nothing else . Old J acky, they call him , mad the

. ld . o r s o a o o w a s t n subject , indeed A year g , the man ake

s bu t o f t h e t o dangerou ly ill , , i n spite doctors , managed

T h e o f t o pull through . wags the H un are very fond f

o ld o u t o n t h e t o f drawing the boy subj ec his recovery , f o r t h e o t t . f beneﬁt any s ranger presen H e, in turn , is

o f t h o w never tired , rela ing he astonished the doctor by,

' t t o t o in ex t r e m i s a ques ion he put him , when supposed be

’ ‘ ' ’ ’ " D ! t ? o f octor says I , is here any opes Opes

’ ‘ ’ ’ ' f n n t zn o ? . o t what says he Why , opes g , be su re, ’

Th e Bo r e the an t 1 86 of H .

“

' ' by an y s tays ; w ith a broom i n ~ h e r hand an d a p air o f o ld o n i s n o t m o c v t t h e slippers , the st apti ating sigh in

bu t is world . She possesses a husband somewhere , he

' n r a n d c n t o h e r o w n t s h e eve seen , a cordi g accoun i s n t o n o n entirely depe den her w exertions fo r a living . is h i d And if perseverance worth anything, t is accompl she

d e o e n S h e n la y deserv s t g t o . pai t s port raits o f horse s w s h e o n w henever can succeed in getting a commissi , hich

l s h e i s b n o i n e a s ki n o u y means backward g for, y may

’ ’ o t S depend ; and , once having g into a man s table with

o f u its full complement hunters , it is ncommonly hard

’ t o e t o u t u s h e n Lt h e t u g her ntil has pai ted whole s d .

f ' T hen s h e has generally g o t s ome rare o ld p o r t t o

: — “ — d ispose o f a bargain Sherry t o o ar e yo u a ” sherry-drinker ? S h e has g o t ten do zen s h e wants

’ t o t o . t s h e 1 c ke d sell , some ex raordinary Amoros tha p

' ' ' u p quite by chance lately (s h e is n o t a t l ibert y t o ‘ — men t ion h o w ) that s h e i s n o t exagge rat ing when s h e

’ t o u it o u t e t ells y is sherry y don me with every day . “ W t o u l e t S o u a Captain ildoa s, y really must me end y — couple o f dozen bottles only seventy -ﬁv e s hillings 4

n I w o u - d doze ; kno y are a sherry drinker, and a goo

' ‘ e fo r o u m e judg , y gave me , I remember, so e excellent win

' ' ' Ou t f o f o n e d a w f o u your ﬂask, y, hen I felt rather aint , if y ” “ “3 r — r o n t he o ld : z b h e r s h e r r ec llect . Ha g Je e el and y said

“ ’ Ou r a w ou s friend , fter ards; y never tasted uch ﬁlth in

S l r Ib e l i e v e was i h your life , . it noth ng but Marsala, wit

' ‘ ’ on e o f the o ld gal s bo ots chucked in t o give i t a ﬂ av o u r

’ t d t h e l o t s e r I presen e to my man , and , as he s a good

a v e n o t t o m bu t vant , strongly d is d h im drink it hi self, i ” t o keep i t f o r h s en e mies .

" ’ ‘ — o ' rs t o o at e o u o . t a d o z e n Ciga , y , a sm ker I ve g . Th e Bo ne o t he H u t f n . 1 8 7

' bo xe s of Ma n iﬁc o s e s h o u ld s o o u t o g Imp riales, I like y

' ’ ’

. d o o u o u c bu t e e 5 try I assure y , y ouldn t y h m at B nson

’ ’ r w t fo r e o C a rlin s for double ha I m asking them . Hav o n e bo x an d f o u w a t t h e r st on , I eel sure y ll n e , and ly ” u m e as d ﬁve g a poun .

H o r s e ﬂ e s h t o o s h e a s e a s c s , , d bble in , p rh ps more uc es

' ' l a n t h i n e l s e o ld an d h x fully than y g . H er curious port, e w - w t bro n paper cigars , are pretty well blo n upon by his " s h e h as / so m e t h i n time, but really g decent sometimes in ' — ’ the w ay o f h o r s e ﬂ e s h ladies hacks and clever c obs

—t o d l s o s e o f on principally p commission .

W e t o t o M r s k t regret have add that ; Cac ler, amongs

a t i s s her m ny and varied accomplishmen s, a notoriou

' m - r s c a n d a l m o n e r a n d t o n e ischief make and g , more han farmer o r trad esman has g o t t o thank her fo r being th e

e o f w i caus unpleasantness bet een husband and wife . Buy

s t ing and elling things, though , are her strong poin s ,

a t h e t t o p rticularly la ter, as a good many people know

h o ld h ru t . s e eir cost As Shrub say s , can lie just like t th .

W Bu ll e r t o n hen horse and cattle fair comes round ,

o u t o h o ch e a e m n y are sure ﬁnd Mot er Chatterb x there, p g

i e o r c o w someth ng, eith r a pig a pony , perhaps a . Some people even declare s h e once worsted the proprietor o f a

o f W o n 1 e s 1 n t o drove elsh p , single combat ; however, as

’ at w e s a - th can t y , though , knowing the strong minded

’ e W e w w e t s o . lady as do, don think it highly improbable

o n e o f s e x o f certainly never met her more capable , taking

’ i m h e o w n t . a e u e s t r l a n s s her par As reg rds her q , appears ’ ’ ’ m e e t s o f Da i s ﬁe ld s h u regularly at the Lord y o nds, when

{ hi s t an c e o f anything like within her abode ; and, when L ’ ’ 11 n e o f a s they ve found and gone away, she ll take a g p [ " ” o u n d al o n t h e l b a t o f and p g ard g ro d with the bes em, h e Bo ne o th e H u n 1 88 T f t .

‘ o n the s t r e n g t h o f whi c h we think w e ar e ? qui t e j us t iﬁed

o n e o f in numbering her as of the Flowers the Hunt .

T t w o 1 n t hose very noisy swells scarle , whose voices

’ o n e hears above everybody s else in the big ride o f Scent

' W n o f ood, are respectively Mr . Markland Mo k, M onk B t Lodge, commonly called aron Munchausen , and a re ired ” B o r t h army captain named arker, Bowwow, as ey

d e t o dubbed him in the service . It would be hard , in e d , s a is f t o y which the greatest talker, and more di ﬁcult still

is o f t . determine which the biggest liar the wain Perhaps , w as regards the last accomplishment, Markey Monk ould carry the day by most vot es ; he is decidedly t h e mos t a m u s in as f t t a g r his power o invention is much grea er h n

’ t hat o f his rival -the latter s lying consis t ing more o f t h e br a l n T h e t w as t gg g , blustering kind . Cap ain jus such t W ’ B t C another, in fac , as Mr . inkle s a h friend, aptain

D . fo x t o owler Imagine the have gone away, and Bow w o w Barker well wedged in amongst a crowd o f horse

t t o t t w t men , all brough a s andstill in a lit le narrow ride, i h a - t at o n e o o u t bridle ga e the end , through which only can g

Yo u at a time . t he n s e e this might y sportsman a t h i s best . T hough he knows perfectly well he cannot possibly get t h is d o s o hrough horses , even if he wanted to , which he does “ n o t o f Ge t o n t t , he is unceasing in his cries here in fron

’ D o I Fo r e t o f o u get on , sir heaven s sake g out the way, y , s ir ! ! o n , on the grey J ust my luck Here am I my best

’ a e t m To o horse, and c n t g to y hounds provoking

t o W e and so on the end of the chapter . hen he does g t

u o f fo r thro gh , he makes a tremendous Show making up

w a lost time, and the y he makes play across the first field, a n d t t . Th e over the firs gap , is a cau ion first fence he

' B r o e 1 0 The o e h H u n t . 1 9 f t

' s s . w t r w e u h i choolboy ould e m it , never heard iss e from s - i w as , e o n e a nventive lips in th smoking room , night, at

c e w e . T e ountry house , wher were both guests . h conver s ation turned o n . the extraordinary thin gs sometimes found “ i n t h e bellies o f ﬁs h when caught : Ah struck in the

’ B Ill t o u fe ll o w s aron , ell y a funny thing that happened

’ n o t o me 1 Wales last year . (Markey had s me ; property in

o n e t h e principality . ) I was moo n ing about day all by m y

s m u n n e e elf with y g , whe , casting m y y towards the river,

. t s e e w h o w a s fo r wha should I but my keeper, ﬁshing the f h e o a s a . ous , just act playing “ lmon Shouldering

m u n a d y g , I walked t owards him , n got there just in time

h i ﬁ h —a - ‘ t t o s e e him land s s thir ty pounder. Wha shall

d o w h i r s i r t I ith i n, enquired he, “ Shall I ake him up

o h o r fo r t the ouse just as he is, shall I split him open

’ ki e i n t o l d . pp r Indeed goodness exc aime Owen

ﬁ h s e e T bu t . homas , he is a ﬁne s I declare I did never

’ a b t t —n o is a e er , nevar Yes, replied I , he good

’ No h o u fo r . e ﬁs . Supp ose y split him kippering soon r

o u said than done . Owen had his knife in him before y

s a R could y Jack obinson , and as he opened him , what do ’ o u t o f ? y o u t hink ﬂew his inside You ll never guess . “ ” Do o u Y e s e y give it up , w all shouted in unison ,

W w a 1v e . w e all g it up hat s it , Markey A brace “ f ! o f a o partridges he answered , a brace p rtridg es , as I _

’ 7 h is live . By J ove exclaimed laughing, and , of course, “ w as a astonished audience ; well , that rum go if you ” “ w a T o m T like . By the y , squeaked little rimmer, after

' s o f c Of a pause, from the dep th his armchair, what be ame

’ h e O f ld Y o u t t brace birds , o fella didn t tell us tha , dont “ c h e r kn o w t o Ah , I declare, I qui e forg t the partridges ; ” t h e r o u r , l e g lad y eminded, me rep i d unblushing narrato Th e Bo r e 0 : H u n t } k 1 9 1

o u t Well, when they ﬂew , as I have described , I up with ’ i d t ” s h o t e m r h t a n le . my gun and g f Well, after

’ r 1 s i n h i s that, said our host, g from chair as he spoke, I ll

Off . o u f take myself to bed, I think Good night , y ellows !

’ ! C —ff t o - Good night, Markey I m going into morrow,

’ ” and I ll buy you a kettle in the course Of the afternoon . “ ? ” What do you mean exclaimed Baron Munchausen,

’ t t starting up , you don t mean to go insinuate tha , ’ for o ’ n o u im be li e v i n i n you do t credit my story, do you , y g ’ u ﬁd e l Oh dear no . I don t do bt your word fo r o n e

o u r moment, replied grinning host, . winking, as he spoke, b ’ ehind the Baron s back, at the assembled company.

n o w e If it had been anybody else, , I might hav

— o u n o ! had my doubts what but with y , Perish

Of the thought Glad that, said the reassured Markey, “ o u sinking back into his chair, for I pledge y my word

’ i t t it i s o n m h o n o u r ! is rue, , p y ( 1 92

T H E T AY E LAS D OF T H SEASON .

A P N K D D N G AN D AN R N O F ! I WE I AFTE O N O .

IT H l n fo r a ﬁr s t - t e the ﬂoor good order dancing, ra

band (this latter a very important adjunct), a

- fo r nicely done supper (Gunter choice), irre

r o a c h abl e o f p champagne , lots pretty girls , and nearly every

n body i the room knowing everybody else, what more enj oyable institution is there than a county ball

N or i s that all .

t o t t t We are inclined think tha hose errible personages ,

- t h e t h e match making mammas Of period, ﬁnd these

a s cheerful reunions uncommonly useful well . Many a man w h o has been dangling after a maiden the whole Of

n o t t o the hunting season , very likely quite able make up

o r t o o his mind , what is equally probable, afraid p p the

o n o n e o f t o question , is very apt these festive occasions t make up h i s mind with ex raordinary alacrity . Perhaps n o t

o f being a good dancer, and aware the fact, he watches wit h feelings the reverse Of pleasant h i s charmer being whirled

t r o is t e m s ﬁr s t about in the p by Jones Of the Lancers , a Th . e rate performer, and whom he hates like poison ( green eyed monster comes in here a s a wonderful assist an t t o t h e

- e -i h - w iles Of the would b mother law . )

n s o f t h e c t h H e d Jones Lancers (in conﬁden e, as e

1 Th e L a s t D a o th e e a s o n 9 4 y f S .

it w a s currently report ed at an e arly period o f the evening

(on the authority o f a lynx-eyed maiden lady answering t o “ the name o f Mouser) that at last (that is how s h e and

o u t o u r thers genially p it) friend , the volatile Charles Wild

o t o T h e e ats , had proposed pretty Blanche Bluebell . astut T Mouser was perfectly correct . Before the own H all

c t t w o t h e t t h e o f lock had s ruck , bride elec and man her c hoice had been congratulated by half the people in the

r oom .

t t t T l o f We rather hink ha it was Lady homasin a C inker,

t h e w h o o n t h e a t fertile mind, , learning f c that the wedding

w a s t o o ff t likely come shor ly after Lent , immediately s uggested that it w as an Opport unit y n o t to be los t ” “ ’ o r o d f a Pink Wedding . I ll g and consult Lor

Dai s ﬁe l d s h e l y about it this instant , said , in her usua “ l impetuous manner, and tell him he must make a specia

’ h I kn o w meet for that day at t e bride s house . he will if I a s k t him pre tily .

’ o u t e n t o T Bet y one he don t, Lady ommy , remarked “ M t t t o f ajor Moustache ; my lord ha es all ha sort thing , ” y o u know . “

D . s one with you in gloves , replied her ladyship Sixe

’

m t . l y size, and I should like sixteen bu tons , please You l

o u e xcuse me, Major Moustache , I know, but let me tell y

’ D o y o u don t know Lord a i s yﬁe ld quite s well as I d o .

’ ’ fo r m e o u ! t e ? H e ll do anything , bless y won he, Johnni

D ai s ﬁe l d l (appealing to her husband). Yes , Lord y shal

’ o t o o u r bring his hounds , and then we ll all g the church in

s e e o ff k t o hunting costumes , Charlie turned , go bac

fo r s e e r t H oughton Manor breakfast, the happy pair sta

f o r o u r e their honeymoon , mount ﬁery steeds once mor ,

’ o x a n d proceed to draw Mr Bluebell s coverts for a f . Th e L a s t D a o th e y f S e a s o n . 1 9 5

’ T n o w hat s my programme ; and , Major Moustache, give M F H me your arm , and take me to the . . . We shall ﬁnd ” h i m in the supper room , most likely .

s a D ai s ﬁe l d w h o ff Needless to y, Lord y , , prim and sti

w as s a t hough he , could never bring himself to y No to

o n e T a lady, much less to such a pretty as Lady ommy,

t o acquiesced at once the proposal . As he gallantly

put it, his hounds and himself were equally at her lady

’ ship s service .

T w as t d his eminently satisfac ory, and all that now remaine

T w as to be done, as Lady ommy very justly observed,

e for M ajor M oustache to pay up his bet, and for the brid

and bridegroom in embryo to name the day .

T w a s t . t t his easily set led Both the con racting par ies ,

o ff being exceedingly well as regards worldly goods , there

w a s no earthly reason w h y t here should be any u n n e c e s

s . ary delay in their nuptials Accordingly, the ﬁrst

Wednesday in April was ﬁxed upon for the wedding, and

D ai s ﬁe l d i fo r Lord y be ng duly informed thereof, arranged

t o t h e h i s hounds meet that day at Houghton Manor,

’

o f . residence the bride s father, Mr Bluebell , to wind up

the season .

And now, all the preliminaries being arranged , there was tremendous excitement in the neighbourhood amongst

the numerous friends o f t h e betrothed . Such discussions

- and heart burnings as to wedding presents as never were .

T here w a s Laura Lorrimer crying her pretty eyes o u t because Florry Granville had ﬁxed upon t h e very same S h e t o present . had already written for it , in fact, ” - - b t . T horn ills , in Bond Stree Horrid g g girl , sobbed poor

’ ” “ Da u be n Laura I ll never speak t o her again . Violet y

gave o u t that s h e had bought a present for the bride 0 —2 1 L a t a o a s o n 9 6 Th e s D y f th e S e .

s h e w as o n e o f that quit e certain no else would ever dream , and declined to s ay what it w a s ; thereby driving four t een o f her bosom friends to the extreme verge o f

— T h e curiosity not to s ay envy . same with the male

s e x . Frank Morton was furious because Jack Fothergill had bough t t h e bridegroom the very same souvenir “ ’

t v iz . . tha he had, , a silver cigar case I can t change ” “ ' c w e s t it , growled Frank, because I ve had Charlies

’ ”

m o n o w a m e n w av e d o n t h e o u . and g g back, don t y know

t a t ! Well , the even ful day came last , and what a day ” t h e s u n Happy bride whom the shines upon , runs the t old saying, and if there is any ruth in it, the fair maiden in t his case cert ainly had good reason for

fo r rejoicing, such a spring morning as that which greeted

s h o u t o f o n her as e looked her window this , her

Th e s u n t w a s . wedding day, surely never shone brigh ly ; the trees and hedges were already sporting their spring c ostumes o f emerald green ; violet s and primroses crowded the banks and woods in endless profusion ; the rooks were cawing away in the big elm trees ,

R t o f o w n holding a Home ule Parliamen their , j udging by the noise they made ; t h e wood-pigeons c o o ar m o r o u s l t o t y each o her in the woods , whilst the air resounds wit h t h e notes from t housands o f o u r feathere d

friends , the song birds ; the blackbird , the thrush , the lark , and the linnet , all apparently seeing which can sing

. n o t T o m the loudest Altogether, if exactly coming up to

’ T o f ootler s standard what a hunting morning should be, there is no denying that it is t h e day o f all others fo r a wedding .

Little Bridlington Church presen t s both inside and

8 Th e L a s t D a o th e S e a s o n 1 9 y f .

T s t h e h . m u t IS . S e heard his be bride, and the bride it

i s n o t s o w e t o in hunting costume, will not attempt de f s . o u o cribe her dress Leaning the arm her father, a jolly Old gentleman beaming with smiles and d uly attired like

t s h e o f w a the rest in scarle coat, etc . , makes the best her y ,

t o accompanied by her bridesmaids , the altar, and the cere

n o t w e . mony forthwith proceeds . Charlie Wildoats was ,

s o u a s regret to say, quite well p in the marriage service

w a s i n — t h e e — h e well , racing calendar, for instanc for when

o f w h o o f f asked by the Chaplain the H unt ( , course, o ﬁciated)

Ch ar l e s t t o Aubrey, wilt hou have this woman be thy ”

e t c . wedded wife, , he replied, Oh , certainly, which

t o f w a unexpected answer, delivered in a most mat er . fact y, caused the bride and her at tendan t bridesmaids to tit ter o u t “ t o t o u t ff right, the best man nearly burs into a gu aw, and a good deal o f giggling amongs t the rest o f the wedding guest s . At last they were made man and

o f wife , and after the usual signing names in the vestry, - the newly married couple, to the strains of the Wedding ” t o t o f t t M arch , proceeded make the bes heir way, amids

o f t T the congratulations their friends , to heir carriage . hen t “ a regular s ampede ensues , and the cry is , My horse ,

fo r my horse, my kingdom a horse Some o f the more t reckless seiz e upon the ﬁrs steed they can lay hands upon .

’ D t w h o s e e h i s olly Lightfoo , can t servant anywhere, jumps

’ o n o ld D ﬂ e a- Charlie abber s bitten grey, and considerably - a stonishes that highly respectable animal by t h e w ay

n ’ h e spri gs him along . Others follow t h e Honourable s l x i s “ audable e ample, and it very shortly a case o f Cat ch ” w h o catch can , and the devil take the hindmost . We will

t f ' pass over the wedding breakfas . Su ﬁce it to s ay t hat the f health o the bride and bridegroom (t h e only t oast) w as

t o h a s o n 2 0 0 Th e L a s D ay f t e S e .

“ ’ H o w e No t added he, looking round . is it he isn t h re

h as come to grief, he

h R e t e v . t t Why, yes , he has, laughed Merry hough

’ didn t I polish him o ff t his very morning

o f h o w t o f t o Why, course s upid me, be sure replied

h i s I d e c l ar his lordship as he once more mounted horse . e

t d o t that for the momen , you know , I had clean forgo ten the Pink Wedding .

WHO-HOO P !