ance to countenance even the chance of injury to his crops and fences at a later period in the year. "A true sportsman," he would often say, always studies to avoid injuring his best friend, and that is the farmer."

66

It was a gallant sight, let who will gainsay it. For leagues around sportsmen of every degree came to the meet, as thick as bees to their hive at sundown. Horses of faultless symmetry, and with blood as pure as that of the Ptolemies, to the bony and rough quadruped whose fodder and precarious living had been cropped from foalhood to ripened age on the bare common and banks flanking the lanes in the vicinity of his owner's dwelling, were there, ready to test their respective merits in the approaching struggle for priority. Scarlet, and green, brown, blue, and black-the costumes of the motley crowd varied as much as the colours of the kaliedescope. Arrayed in dashing red were the scions of aristocratic families, and in the more sombre hues stout British yeo

men, with lusty strength in every thew and sinew, were mounted for the sport, of all others, that they love the best.

In carriages, gigs, carts, and even lumbering wagons, were congregated beautiful women, both young and old-for are not the old the gray ruins of beauty? and to see their bright glances and crimson-tinted cheeks, and to hear the din of many tongues in "musical discord," expressing hope, fear, and conjecture: it made the heart glad and buoyant to witness that right merrie companie."

66

And now "here they come," resounded from all quarters. The first signal of the approach of the hounds was given by an urchin perched on the topmost limb of a towering tree, and then, making his piping voice echo and ring far away, he cheered and hallooed as heartily as if his interest was as deeply absorbed as any in the approaching event.

From a defile leading on to the large open space where the horsemen and vehicles had

assembled, the Squire, accompanied by John Hardy and Master Tom, became visible. Henceforth, however, we must drop this juvenile appellation to our hero, as the beard, soft and thin as might be a spider's web, already begins to sprout on his upper lip.

Mounted on his favourite hunter, a powerful jet-black mare, the Squire rode at the head of his hounds, looking every inch a sportsman, albeit some remarked, that his seat was not so firm as formerly; and instead of the erect and manly carriage which attended his gait in days of yore, he now stooped forwards, and appeared bent with the iron hand of Time. About fifty yards behind came Job Sykes, with two-and-twenty couples of the choicest hounds; and at a little distance in the rear, followed his son James, in the capacity of whipper-in.

Hats were raised and beavers touched, as the Squire mingled with the group; and, after many friendly greetings were exchanged,

Job received instructions to throw the hounds

into the adjoining cover.

It is needless to say that John Hardy was displaying his equestrianship on the back of Blossom, the squabby cob, kept in propriety and a due state of order by his attendant, Mike Crouch, the earthstopper, whose authority was combined in three feet of stiff ground-ash which he carried in his hand. Our hero, who was now commonly called "the young Squire," formed the focus, however, for the general admiration; and as he rode through the throng with his appointments as complete and perfect as good taste could render them, from the glittering bit in his horse's foaming jaws to the polished spurs buckled to his heels, many a maiden's pulse fluttered quicker than was its wont, and the blood mantled in the cheek like the pink of the apple-blossom. And was there one among that light-hearted crowd whose eye sparkled brighter than the rest when his caught hers and " darted light into each other?" Well! perhaps there

was, and, if so, time will recall all hidden se

crets.

"Hoik in, there!" cried Job, crashing through a bullfinch as if it had been made of tissue-paper." Hoik! wind him!" and every hound rushed to the summons like needles to the magnet, and flew into the furze-brake with a dash that showed their true blood and spirit, and for which they were so justly celebrated. As may be anticipated, the last fixture for a sure find," although, from the great and merited popularity of the master, few, very few blanks, had to be recorded throughout a series of seasons.

the season was 66

Scarcely had the hounds been in cover a short five minutes, when "Hark! a whimper. Yes, they've found," was heard to brust from more than twenty lips.

66

Gently, gentlemen," said the Squire correctingly; "let them get well at him."

There was now a silence, which seemed to give a denial to the raised hopes of many.