98 FOX-HUNTING 



of life, but hunting either drives them mad with 

 excitement or makes them sick with funk, and in 

 either case they know not what they do. Habit 

 is everything ; and you who are just beginning 

 your hunting career would do well to acquire a 

 habit of controlling your speech in moments of 

 excitement, and of returning thanks to those who 

 do you the slightest service. If the man who 

 holds the gate open for you is a labourer or a 

 child, a small piece of silver or copper should 

 always be in a handy pocket ready to fling them 

 as you gallop through ; but if there is not time 

 for the coin, you can always say { thank you.' 

 These are the trifles on which much depends, and 

 a close observance of such little things will avoid 

 difficulties which, when they once arise, are not 

 easily smoothed away again. If you happen to 

 break a rail or a gate, and you can remember 

 where it is, pay for it at once or get the carpenter 

 of the village to mend it. Never let stock out 

 into the road, and always close a gate. On your 

 way home from hunting, you may perhaps meet 

 some stock on the road that have evidently been 

 let out by some follower of the hounds. You 

 are quite certain it was not you, because you 



