OR, THE WORLD HAS CHANGED! 175 



river, at half past 10, o'clock p. m. I select this one because 

 it was short and business like. 



As the hour approached, I mounted my Bucephalus, and blew 

 up the dogs, they were all keen, in for the hunt, and in 

 finest trim. As I wended my way along the country roads, I 

 could hear the winding of the horns of my comrades as the 

 cheery sounds were wafted over the hills from their different 

 routes. We were all promptly on the ground. There 

 were Tom Lewis, Dave, Mack, Sloan, Joel Patterson, and my- 

 self — all had our favorite dogs. We were sitting on our horses 

 discussing the route to be taken ; the dogs were flying round in 

 wide circles over the crisp grass and frosted leaves, in the 

 bright moon -light., Joel Patterson had a dew drop in his 

 pocket, with which we all moistened our lips. Joel had hardly 

 returned the jewel to his pocket, when Tom Lewis' little bitch. 

 Lady, struck a trail, down near the old school house. Tom 

 yelled out, " I heard you my little Lady," and we all moved off 

 in that direction. We passed old Jeff in the field, (close on 

 our right, diligently snuffing the ground,) and saw him sud- 

 denly raise his head heavenward, and quivering from head to 

 foot, cried out, in doggerel : 



" He's been right here, for a fact; he's been right here, I smell his track." 



Now Rattler opens out across the branch, and the cry 

 becomes general, as each dog gets a sniff of where rey- 

 nard has been loitering. Now Hector and Bailey turn 

 loose together, dowm the ridge ; they have got the run- 

 ning trail ; they make tow^ards the fish trap, and the whole 

 pack have fallen into line, and the music has commenced* 

 Talk about Gilmore's, or Barrack's bands, I love to hear them ; 

 but if both of them were going on at Grant's park, and this old 

 time dog music heard about the Soldiers' Home, I'd make for 

 the home. Now every thing is in, and its " Yah-rah-ya-rah-ugh- 



