A BROKEN RECORD. 381 



of battle — a long delay took place within the fortress of thorn 

 and privet. The enemy lay close and declined the challenge. 

 At length there was a break-away in the most desired of all 

 directions — the horsemen on the hilltop closed up for a charge — 

 and it seemed Flecknoe-and-Shuckburgh for a hundred. But 

 hounds were otherwise occupied : and their object led them 

 forth another way, viz., towards Braunston Village. 



And here I surrender the thread again to other hands. 

 Stay, but I have a parenthesis, before I close the window and 

 return to the solitude of crippledom. You have seen how it is 

 sometimes advertised " A gentleman having himself been cured 

 of this, that, or the other malady, is anxious to extend the 

 benefit to other sufferers, and will accordingly forward pre- 

 scription on receipt of stamped envelope." Now, my charity on 

 this occasion is genuine ; and I don't want your stamped 

 envelopes. Here is my recipe — not to cure, but at least to 

 palliate — insomnia, the worst attendant, the sorest phase of 

 broken bonedom. It is not the knitting of the fracture, it is 

 not the misery of imprisonment, it is not even the diabolical 

 action of splint and bandage, that wear the soul and strain the 

 nerves of the prisoner. But it is the ticking of the clock 

 through the long still hours, when thought is exhausted and 

 merely hovers over trifles, or settles itself upon some atom of 

 no concern. The weary eyelids and tired mind can no more 

 apply themselves to such reading as properly legitimises the 

 midnight oil, than the enfeebled patient may take refuse in 

 such sedative as a bottle of port. But to fidget the nio-ht 

 through — and night after night— is distressing as it is in- 

 jurious. How, then, brother fox-hunters — for surely you may. 

 any and all of you, be on the accident-list in turn ? And I 

 write knowing well, aye and with multiple proof on every hand, 

 that we belong nowadays to no such class as mere 



. folk that love idlenesse 

 Anil not delite have of in businesse 

 But for to hunt and liauke and play in medes 

 And many other such idl« dedes. 



