44 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



tion as that of the right from the wrong way, I con- 

 fess that I like to see an alacrity, a cheerfulness in 

 compliance, bespeaking real willingness in a servant. A 

 huntsman's whole life is illustrative of " the pleasure of 

 pleasing;" and the "love me, love my dog" principle 

 may be easily discovered in his deportment. We know 

 how much, how very much, the temper of young horses 

 and other animals depends upon their mode of treatment. 

 I might carry this further, and advance a few hints to 

 parents and nurses, upon the management of children, 

 which might not be inapplicable ; but, keeping at present 

 to the brute creation, and more especially to our subject, 

 the hound, you will find that the temper and disposition 

 of your hounds may be traced to the manner of your 

 huntsman. Hounds, of course, differ, like all other 

 things in Nature ; and some few, very few, like vicious 

 horses, may have a natural ferocity, indomitable. I 

 have heard Sir John Sebright affirm, that there is no 

 mastiff, or bull-dog, by nature more savage than a fox- 

 hound ; and it is by patient gentleness of usage, com- 

 bined with firmness of command, and a method of 

 enforcing obedience, that a whole pack is rendered not 

 only docile, but that mass of engaging, attractive, loveable 

 creatures, that they are generally found to be when a 

 kind huntsman, or master, throws himself amidst a 

 hundred of his darlings. If you see hounds shy at the 

 ap})roach of a huntsman, and difficult to be drafted ; if 



