72 Hunting in the Golden Days. 



position of useful and odd man in this establishment 

 with an honorarium of three shillings a week and the 

 full run of his teeth at his master's expense, he could 

 not complain that he was required to do anything that 

 was not strictly in accordance with the conditions on 

 which he was engaged. For on rising in the morning, 

 his duties on a non-hunting day were to light the fire 

 and to boil the kettle for his master's breakfast. He 

 would then go into the kennels, feed the hounds, then 

 on to the stables, and after dressing [and feeding the 

 horses, return to the house for breakfast, which meal he 

 partook of with his master, as that gentleman preferred 

 to have him with him whilst eating, as too much time 

 otherwise was occupied over the repast. He also found 

 that Payne's appetite was held within more reasonable 

 bounds than it would have been, had he breakfasted 

 alone. After this hasty meal the cow had to be milked 

 and the pigs fed. After this an hour or more was spent 

 in the house, making his master's bed, cleaning the 

 knives, forks, boots and shoes. The tackle and hunting 

 leathers had then to be done, and after much smudging 

 and rubbing, this would bring him up to about dinner- 

 time. In the afternoon he did little odd jobs in the 

 garden, planting potatoes, earthing up celery, or what- 

 ever came to hand, for he was an all-round man and could 

 turn his hand to anything. Then there was more feeding 

 in the stables to be done, the hay and straw to be got in 

 from the barn, and many more little jobs, too numerous 

 to mention. At the end of the day his master would 

 ofttimes call his faithful henchman a lazy dog. After a 

 time Payne got tired of all work and no play, and 

 suggested that as his master did not appreciate his 

 services, that he would like to leave at the end of the 

 season. 



