O LEAVES FRO^r A HUNTING DIARY 



frost must have done its work. At Hatfield Heath things were more 

 cheerful, the grass was soft and the hedges beginning to drip, so we 

 waited with quiet confidence for the appearance of hounds at 12, and 

 could not believe our ears, when one of the staff rode up with the news 

 that hounds were not coming. Not coming ! why not ? was echoed on 

 all sides, but the reason was apparent as we returned to Harlow, for there 

 the frost remained as bad as ever, though three miles further south the 

 country was perfectly safe for horse and hounds — and this is the beginning 

 of our mild winter. 



David Christy, Junr., on " Maybelle " 



I have never seen a Christy on a bad horse, or known a 

 Christy who was a bad horseman. Here we have another 

 portrait of a good man on a good animal (a five-year-old). 

 Son of Mr. David Christy, of Stanford Hall, about the oldest 

 follower of the Essex Hounds, he takes after his father in his 

 love of hounds, but perhaps cares more for stao-hunting- than 

 his father ever did. He generally has a young 'un on hand, 

 and " Maybelle " is a specimen of one that he has bred and 

 made himself By " Chelwood.' by " Rosicrucian," dam a 



