HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS. 8i 



across their land as though the whole place 

 belonged to them. Only a few days ago a 

 fellow worker of mine was deploring how 

 thoughtless the hunting men are, and he got 

 insufficient support to keep up the wire fund he 

 had worked so hard to raise. 



Talking of wire, the first time I heard of 

 such a thing was in a letter from Captain White, 

 telling me the astounding news of Bashall Farm, 

 Woodham (over which we had enjoyed so many 

 good runs) falling into the hands of a man who 

 had wired up every fence, and made a regular 

 bird cage of the place. 



Shortly after, one warm sunny day, we had 

 come to a check on the grass hill behind the 

 buildings. Up came the occupier, and after a 

 shower of abuse, he addressed himself princi- 

 pally to Mr. Oxley Parker (he was High Sheriff 

 that year), and the wrathful man little knew that 

 he was addressing the greatest man for the time 

 being in the County. "And as for you," he 

 said, " you, the oldest of the lot, ought to be 

 ashamed of yourself." Mr. Parker only 

 beamed on him, as though our irate friend was 

 saying everything that was courteous and 

 pleasant. 



It is comforting to know that after many 

 years the farm is in the hands of a real sports- 

 man. Not only has the way been made easy 

 for us, but, better still, Mr. Hollington hunts 

 himself. 



Mr. Parker and my father were at the same 

 school, and boys were not fed as they are now. 

 My father used to tell us how hungry the boys 



