44 MEMORIES OF THE SHIRES 



If the love for an occasional bet is in your blood 

 and you also are keen on racing, it is a very difficult 

 matter to abstain altogether. There is no harm 

 in having a bet if you always make it a rule never 

 to risk more than you can lose without inconvenience 

 to yourself or to anyone who is dependent on you. 

 Remember that backing horses is a losing game, 

 and though you may win at first, you are certain 

 to be out of pocket in the end. The immoral side 

 appears to me to be contained in the attempt to 

 make money without working for it, and as we 

 are all meant to work, by doing otherwise we try 

 to defeat the ways of providence. 



If you must have a bet, you might satisfy your 

 conscience by making it a rule, that in case of loss 

 you are prepared to sacrifice some luxury you 

 usually enjoy. 



It was in the autumn of 1879 I left the sea, and 

 it was some time during the following winter that I 

 bought from Morris, the Melton butcher, a little bay 

 mare, who carried me many seasons. During the two 

 following seasons I hunted her regularly two days 

 a week — usually Friday with the Quorn and either 

 the same pack on Monday or the Cottesmore on 

 Tuesday. 



Being one of a large family I never had much 

 money, and, of course, with no prospects of in- 

 heriting any, I ought to have settled down to hard 

 work. That I have been able to hunt from that 

 time until now was due entirely to being fortunate 

 enough to get the job of hunting correspondent. 



It is from these weekly contributions I propose 

 to cull any news or other matter which I think may 

 prove of interest. Although my duties as corre- 



