76 FOX- HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



flock to follow a single one that, probably for no reason what- 

 ever, has thought fit to shove himself through a gate or even a 

 thick fence. Whatever may be the difficulties in the way, 

 every one of those sheep will soon be after him. 



May the New Year be one of Happiness to Foxhunters and 

 to all but their enemies ! 



BOYHOOD. 



Friday, Dec. 29. — The Quorn made Keyham their rendez- 

 vous, to complete the Old Year in their grass country. Keyham 

 is eminently close to Leicester ; and so there was a handsome 

 contingent of vehicles — about enough perhaps to have carried 

 the commissariat of a small army corps. Indeed this was a 

 function that, judging by many palpable evidences of efficiency 

 in the art of provisioning, they could very admirably have 

 fulfilled. Certainly their household cavalry of to-day ran no 

 risk whatever of lengthened deprivation of food and drink. 

 But besides these, there were two other elements — much more 

 welcome, if I may be allowed to say it — largely represented in 

 the concourse of the day, viz., the farmers and the schoolboys. 

 The presence of the former in greatly improved numbers, 

 points to better times, and to a relief from the pressure of ill- 

 luck that has so long weighed them down. (Surely, if any 

 class has its proper place in the hunting field, it is the farmers. 

 They find the land, the subscribers find the money ; and thus, 

 by mutual assistance and goodwill, is the truest of English 

 sports maintained for a common advantage ; and the men 

 whose interests are most likely to be identical have the best 

 and pleasantest opportunity of meeting.) The presence of the 

 latter in their exuberant enjoyment is in itself a fillip to 

 natures more matured, that are perhaps a trifle rusted, too 

 often a little crabbed. Every day's hunting is bliss to boyhood. 

 Boyhood never goes home to growl about bad foxes or bad 

 scent. Each day with hounds is to it a dip into the vista of 

 manhood, independence, and holiday — privileges whose acquire- 



