BOYHOOD. 77 



ment we too often allow ourselves to value less day by day, year 

 by year. 



Monday's run with the same pack made a curious beginning 

 to the New Year. Wartnaby Hall had been the meet, after 

 just such a stormy night as had caused the last anniversary to 

 reckon as the only blank day of a decade with the Quorn. The 

 morning, however, wore a far pleasanter aspect, and I fancy no 

 one will gainsay there was a scent. On the other hand, every 

 second furrow was a canal, every other ditch an overflowing 

 stream. Hoi well Mouth and Welby Fishpond were both, alas ! 

 drawn blank ; and a sorry pilgrimage went on till after midday. 

 One funny little incident there happened by the way, sufficient, 

 if not to divert the hungry mind, at least to tickle it for the 

 moment. I have already noted that at this season boys are 

 rife. This was a big boy ; though the pony was very small. 

 The former, though imbued with the most creditable ambition 

 and courage, was yet as guileless of experience as his face was 

 full of merriment, or as his harness was void of pretence. His 

 saddle relied chiefly on its crupper to maintain it in place ; 

 while a rusty bridoon bit served to pull the rider along at such 

 a pace and in such a direction as the pony might choose. A 

 streamlet flowed through a dip in the grass field beside Cant's 

 Thorns. Big boy and little pony made for this by common 

 consent — not at the sober rate which suited other couples, but 

 at a fierce gallop which brought them at once prominently to 

 the front. The boy sat well forward as they raced at the 

 rivulet ; and they flew it simultaneously. The boy, however, 

 had more way on than the pony ; and so went on by himself 

 some time before the pony had recovered from the effort. But 

 this was not all. The pony was soon captured, and again set 

 under his now muddy, but well gratified, rider — while the field 

 clustered in a corner and the pony proceeded to roam about 

 among them like a dog seeking his master. Wriggling under 

 one horse, biting the tail of another, he made the acquaintance 

 of each in turn — his master meanwhile grinning gaily upwards 

 with a naive delight that was positively killing. Now the pair 



