308 RURAL SPORTS. [PART II. 



gregate that the vices haunt. A hunter or a 

 shooter may also be a gambler and a drinker ; 

 but, he is less likely to be fond of the two latter, 

 if he be fond of the former. Boys will take to 

 something in the way of pastime; and, it is 

 better that they take to that which is innocent, 

 healthy, and manly, than that which is vicious, 

 unhealthy, and effeminate. Besides, the scenes 

 of rural sport are necessarily at a distance from 

 cities and towns. This is another great consi 

 deration ; for though great talents are wanted 

 to be employed in the hives of men, they are 

 very rarely acquired in these hives : the sur 

 rounding objects are too numerous, too near 

 the eye, too frequently under it, and too arti 

 ficial. 



374. For these reasons I have always encou 

 raged my sons to pursue these sports. They 

 have, until the age of 14 or 15, spent their time, 

 by day, chiefly amongst horses and dogs, and 

 in the fields and farm-yard ; and their candle 

 light has been spent chiefly in reading books 

 about hunting and shooting and about dogs and 

 horses. I have supplied them plentifully with 

 looks and prints relating to these matters. 

 They have drawn horses, dogs, and game them 

 selves. These things, in which they took so 

 deep an interest, not only engaged their atten 

 tion and wholly kept them from all taste for, 



