1 8 The Chase 



Squire Western ^:> <::> <:> 



THE good squire was a little too apt to indulge 

 in that kind of pleasantry which is generally 

 called rhodomontade, but which may, with as 

 much propriety, be expressed by a much shorter 

 word, and, perhaps, we too often supply the use 

 of this little monosyllable by others ; since very 

 much of what frequently passes in the world for 

 wit and humour should, in the strictest purity of 

 language, receive that short appellation, which, in 

 conformity to the well-bred laws of custom, I 

 here suppress. . . . 



Jones was lately grown very intimate with Mr. 

 Western. He had so greatly recommended himself 

 to that gentleman, by leaping over five-barred gates, 

 and by other acts of sportsmanship, that the squire 

 had declared Tom would certainly make a great 

 man, if he had but sufficient encouragement. He 

 had often wished he had himself a son with such 

 parts ; and one day very solemnly asserted at a 

 drinking-bout, that Tom should hunt a pack of 

 hounds, for a thousand pounds of his money, with 

 any huntsman in the whole country. 



By such kind of talents he had so ingratiated 

 himself with the squire, that he was a most wel- 

 come guest at his table, and a favourite in his sport ; 

 everything which the squire held most dear, to 

 wit, his guns, dogs, and horses, were now as much 

 at the command of Jones as if they had been his 

 own. . . . 



Mr. Western grew every day fonder and fonder 

 of Sophia (his daughter) insomuch that his beloved 

 dogs themselves almost gave place to her in his 

 affections ; but as he could not prevail upon himself 

 to abandon these, he contrived very cunningly to 



