CHAPTER XV. 



A CHRISTMAS WEEK IN HAMPSHIRE. 



HAMPSHIRE, from a hunting point of view, is rather a 

 weak brief to take up, some people will say. Well, 

 perhaps it is ; but in common honesty I have to 

 admit that I have some enjoyable recollections of 

 that county of ploughs, hops, and woodlands. I had 

 better say at once that of the greatest Hampshire 

 woodland of all, the New Forest, I do not propose 

 to speak in this paper, but rather to see if I can 

 recall some pleasant days in the open. 



Passing by my first season in Hampshire a short 

 one, and one of the worst on record everywhere I 

 come at once to the second, which was five years later. 

 As before, Aldershot was my head-quarters. This,- 

 probably, is about the very worst centre for Hamp- 

 shire hunting especially for those who do not use 

 the train. 



Christmas week, however, afforded some decent 

 sport. It began really on the Saturday before. On 

 that day the H. H., meeting at the Golden Pot, 

 found a fox at Shaddon a few minutes before one. 

 Of course, he wanted to make for Weston Common 

 that bugbear of hunting in north-east Hampshire. 



