A Hunting Sermon. 107 



that I ever remember to have seen. I remarked them 

 to hhn, therefore, when the run was over. " Good God, 

 sh'! " said he, **I saw nothmg of it.'' This man was a 

 Jiard rider, who, from his own account, saio nothing, 

 while riding his horse as hard as he could go, and as 

 near the hounds as he possibly could get— and how 

 should he ? For a man behind hounds cannot be a 

 judge of what is going on in front, and is the first person, 

 by pressing ujjou them, to bring them toa check. A good 

 sportsman will as often as possible ride parallel with 

 the pack, not after them, unless he is obliged to do 

 otherwise on account of their short turns. Thus he 

 will see all that is going on, and anticipate the probable 

 cause of hounds coming to a fault. Patience is the best 

 performer in the chase." 



Here, my friends is a terse sermon on a favourite text. 

 Believe me we have all much to learn, when *' a hunting 

 we go." It is science that many a middle aged man is 

 only just beginning to grasp the true beauties of, as 

 bodily infirmities whisper to him that he can no longer 

 hope to be in the front ranks in these fast days. AH the 

 more reason then that youth should woo it systematically 

 and sensibly, while the dash of life is still able to carry 

 him through it to perfection. Thus will he build up a love 

 for the sport, which, as years roll on, the decline of 

 his riding powers will not lessen his hunting days, 

 nor deprive him of the pleasures of a good run. Through 

 life he will know, and be known as a good sportsman. 

 Not merely a man hunting to ride. 



I have now said my say for the season 1884 and '85, 

 and can only in conclusion trust that whatever corns 

 have come occasionally under the pressure of my pen, 

 the owners thereof have been inclined to forgive, or at 

 all events to think leniently of my pecadillos— for be 

 assured that of ''malice aforethought " Borderer is 

 incapable. His pen, if it has outrun discretion, has 

 done so from over-abundant love of sport, to which 

 he has devoted much attention. 



Shakespeare tells us " That the best men are moulded 

 out of faults," so all of us can take heart, and again I 

 must call my favourite old bard to my aid when he 

 says — 



" Condemn the fault and not the actor of it." 

 If spared in health, strength, and pocket, for another 



