THE T.IFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



instinct which impresses young animals with the notion of tlie 

 situation of their natural weapons, in the first place, and, in 

 the next, of using them, even before they are properly formed 

 — for a young cock will spur at his adversary before his spurs 

 are grown out, and a calf, or lamb, will push or butt with their 

 heads before their horns are sprouted — I fear we have no right 

 wantonly to expose one animal to the fury of another. But so 

 it will be to the end of time. That perfect calm, that uninter- 

 rupted felicity which some persons would wish to introduce into 

 the w^orld, is but a chimera — a beautiful one, I allow — but only 

 appearing possible to those who judge of things according to their 

 imagi)iation alone ; since every one who forms a cool judgment 

 on the subject will see that the earth was never designed for 

 such a state.' 



'I do not quite agree with you, Hargrave,' observed Lord 

 Edmonston ; ' I think ' 



' Beg pardon, my Lord, for interrupting you,' said Jem ; and, 

 touching our hero on the shoulder, thus quaintly addressed 

 him : ' Beg pardon, Mr. Baby, but I should like to hear your 

 bars rattle a little down this next hill. Excuse me, sir, but, on 

 the last, you committed a fault which most young coachmen 

 commit — you let your leaders draw, which of course makes it 

 worse for your wheelers. Always let your bars rattle a little, 

 going down hill.' 



' That near leader over-pulls me,' said Frank. 



' I observe he does,' replied Jem ; ' pull his rein three 

 inches through your hand, and grip it tightly with your 

 thumb ; and when your horses are on their collars, keep your 

 wheelers up to him, and he will not pull you so much. 

 But I'll alter his coupling-rein for you when we get to 

 Sir Harry's.' 



' That's right, Jem,' said Hargrave, ' let us have no more 

 cocking at present ; give us something on the road.' 



' A little of your history,' added Lord Edmonston. 



' Why, that will be rather a longish story, my Lord,' 

 replied Jem ; ' I think we had better leave it till we are on 

 the road homewards. A little of Sir Harry's beef, and a 

 glass or two of his good ale, will make my tongue run more 

 glib.' _ 



' Like a nowly-greased wheel — eh, Jem ? ' said Jack 

 Webber. 



298 



