THE GENESEE VALLEY 



field and killing hopelessly the young plants, which the first man has proba- 

 bly injured but slightly, is too conducive to profanity to be edifying in any 

 community. 



"You may think that the honest farmer deems it a privilege to leave his 

 life of luxurious idleness and travel around half the night in the mud for 

 horses which have got out, or spend days sorting the sheep which have got 

 mixed by your leaving his gates open or fences down : you are mistaken ; 

 he doesn't. 



Of the Master: 



" The M. F. H. is a great and mystic personage, to be lowly, meekly and 

 reverently looked up to, helped, considered and given the right of way at 

 all times. His ways are not as other men's ways, and his knowledge and 

 actions are not to be judged by their standards. All that can be asked of 

 him is that he furnish good sport ; and as long as he does that, he is amen- 

 able to no criticism, subject to no law and fettered by no conventionality 

 while in the field. 



" He is supposed by courtesy to know more about his own hounds than 

 outsiders; and all hallooing, calling, and attempts at hunting them by others, 

 are not only very bad manners, but are apt to spoil sport. 



" As a general rule, he can enjoy your conversation and society more 

 when not in the field, with the hounds, riders, foxes and damages on his 

 mind. 



" N. B. The proffer of a flask is not ' conversation,* within the meaning 

 of the above. 



Of the Fox: 



" Don't tag after the first whipper-in and make one of a line of sentries 

 around a covert. How can a fox break cover, if you do ? 



" Keep your mouth shut when you see a fox until he is well away, then, 

 if you are sure it is the hunted fox, stand still, as nearly on his line as possi- 

 ble, and yell for all you are worth. 



" Don't cap on the first hounds, but let the huntsman bring up the pack. 



" Don't gallop after the fox by yourself : if you caught him alone he might 

 bite you. 



40 



