WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 145 



Then follow a couple of toasts, the stockowner's 

 and auctioneer's usually short and an adjournment 

 takes place if it be stock, to the yards ; if corn, the 

 cloth is cleared of all but the wine, and the sale pro- 

 ceeds there and then. In either case the sherry and 

 the cigars go round persons being employed to press 

 them freely upon all ; and altogether a very jovial 

 afternoon is spent. Some of the company do not 

 separate till long after the conclusion of the sale ; 

 the American or colonial agent perhaps stays a night 

 at the farmstead. In the house itself there is all 

 this time yet more liberal hospitality proffered : it 

 is quite open-house hospitality, master and mistress 

 vying in their efforts to make every one feel at home. 

 These gatherings do much to promote a friendly 

 spirit in the neighbourhood. 



In the summer the farmer is too much occupied to 

 think of amusement. It is a curious fact that very few 

 really downright country people care for fishing ; a gun 

 and a horse are as necessary as air and light, but the 

 rod is not a favourite. There seems to be greater 

 enthusiasm than ever about horses ; whether people 

 bet or not, they talk and think and read more of horses 

 than they ever did before. 



In this locality Clerk's Ale, which used to be rather 

 an event, is quite extinct. The Court Leet is still held, 

 but partakes slightly of the nature of a harmless farce. 

 The lord of the manor's court is no terror now. A 

 number of gentlemen, more for the custom's sake than 

 anything, sit in solemn conclave to decide whether or 



