258 MEMOIR OF 



likely to be forgotten by the Rev. J. Bryan, the 

 rector of Cliddesden, near Basingstoke, as he 

 was present on that occasion. 



Russell had found a fox one fine-scenting 

 morning on the outskirts of the moor, and was 

 bringing him at a trimming pace over the w^ide 

 heathery waste of Hawkridge Common, and 

 thence into the hanging woods that crown the 

 Bade with such majestic scenery, when Russell's 

 ear w^as attracted by the wild screams of a 

 woman, apparently in the greatest distress. The 

 hounds at that moment were running exactly in 

 the direction of the hubbub ; and as Russell 

 rode up to the spot, he beheld a w^oman rushing 

 frantically after them, and catching sight of him, 

 she exclaimed in a voice of agony, " Oh ! Mr. 

 Rissell ! that there fox hath a tookt away our 

 little specklety hen ; I seed un snap un up, 

 and away to go, I did ! " 



"Then," said Russell, "I'll kill him and 

 give you another hen;" and on he went with 

 the hounds. 



The woman was the w^ife of a poor charcoal- 

 burner, living in a turf cabin, and passing a 

 lonely existence in the solitude of those wild 

 woods. On that one hen and her lively cackle, 

 announcing the good news of a fresh-laid egg, 

 depended, perhaps for days together, her sole 

 supply of animal food ; it had been as a pet 

 lamb to her ; had shared the crumbs of her 



