WILLIAM SWORDKR 



43 



as being a straight, God-fearing 



out. Such men have formed the pride of the country side, 

 and he has left behind hini several sons worthy successors, 

 of a good father, as long- 

 citizen counts for anything. 



Christmas Eve, 1886. — A day snatched from the frost by a few keen 

 sportsmen. The frost was certainly not out of the ground at 1 1 a.m., but 

 " fortune favours the brave," and my informant relates that there were no 

 mishaps, and that the ground rode very well. Lucky dogs ! how I envy 

 them. My mouth waters now as I think of the sport they had ; and others 

 will have the same feeling who know the country and follow the line. 

 Mind you, hounds had not been out for over a week, and when they will 

 get out again remains a problem to which to-night (Tuesday, Dec. 28) has 

 given no clue. To-morrow, ye gods ! we may be sleighing, skating — 

 hunting, alas, I am afraid not. 



Running for Shalesmore 



But I must cease this drivelling, and drop you at once into Beachetts ; 

 the hour about i p.m., I believe, as my friend rode into the middle ride 

 in time to see Bailey laying hounds on to a fox that had gone away across 

 Mr. Daniel Miller's farm towards Tawney Hall. A lovely line this ; but, 

 as good or bad luck would have it, for every minute the going was im- 

 proving, this fox made good his escape. Bailey held the hounds all round 

 the meadows to Well-eves, but could not hit it off, so took them on to 

 Shalesmore, and not finding there, went on to Bush-grove, a small covert 

 at the top of Hill Hall Park. 



They had not been in a minute before he was on foot ; they rattled him 

 round once, and out he went down the hill towards Brook House, bore to 

 the right, across Mr. D. Rumball's fields, and straight across the park out 

 by Mount Church, across the road down the hilly fields to Shalesmore, 



