56 HEDGING . ND DITCHING. 



called "hunters" are trained to this service, and 

 often become surprisingly skilful in passing 

 them. Yet, it is always accompanied with 

 danger both to rider and horse, and sad and 

 even fatal accidents sometimes occur. A plea- 

 sant allusion is made to this kind of leap in the 

 celebrated story of Monsieur Tonson, which is 

 no doubt quite familiar to most of c^r little 

 readers. 



" If e'er a pleasant mischief sprung to view, 

 At once o'er hedge and ditch away h.3 flew, 

 Nor left the game till he had ran it down." 



The winter, in England, is a convenient time 

 also to mend roads, public and private ; but in 

 the United States this is generally done in the 

 summer and autumn. Both in this country and 

 that, the farmer is allowed, instead of pay.bg 

 money for that purpose, to employ his 1 :am i n 1 



