Echoes of the Hunting Horn 



hunting days are long past but who keep their hunting 

 memories refreshed by the very presence and com- 

 panionship of an old foxhound. Drafts of such cast-off 

 hounds are very often a welcome acquisition to a 

 recently-organized hunt for breeding purposes or for 

 training un-entered puppies. Any drafted hounds left 

 over, after such wants as these have been attended to, 

 are handed over to the kennel flesh-man, whose very 

 trade makes him something of an expert, and they are 

 " put down " as painlessly as possible. 

 Truly indeed be it said 



" The hardest work when the season ends 

 Is a Huntsman casting staunch old friends. 

 The world may sneer ' sentimental clown ! ' 

 But it breaks my heart to say ' Put them down '." 



Soon the kennel is a hive of activity where every 

 variety of youthful, canine devilment is evident. The 

 puppies are in from their walks ; young rascals who have 

 been reared by the local farmers. They have scant 

 knowledge of discipline after months of care-free exist- 

 ence, lolling around lazily, chewing old slippers, mauling 

 flower-beds, autographing kitchen tables with clumsy 

 paws, chasing rabbits, and only obeying their name-call 

 when food accompanies it or an indignant broomstick 

 follows it. No longer are these the " great big lolloping, 

 lovable things " that were the adoration of children and 

 the scourge of kitchen authorities. From now on they 

 are inhabitants of a kennel, members of a pack, in fact, 

 foxhounds. They still have those big dreamy eyes and 



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