134 SPORTSMAN'S PHILOSOPHY. 



idea that danger was connected with it, he went forth in the 

 uniform of the city train bands, to which he belonged. 

 Being told that the hare was coming his way, he boldly 

 laid his hand on the hilt of his sword, and replied, with 

 perfect self-possession, " Is he, sir ? let him come ! " 



And now a word of advice to your well qualified sports- 

 man I beseech you, good sir, to bear bad weather and 

 inauspicious winds with imperturbed philosophy. When 

 the adverse day comes, as come it will ; when the dark 

 clouds gather round your desolate cottage, and the rain 

 comes lashing and hissing along the moor, and the heather 

 is uprooted by the blast, do not give way to despondency ; 

 but rest your toil- worm limbs, and be thankful that you 

 have fire and shelter. Sit you down with your arm in 

 your mantle (that is, your plaid), with the composed dignity 

 of Aristides. 



It is totally unavailing to look sulky, and to pace up and 

 down the room, exclaiming at every step you take, what 

 horrid weather ! how very provoking ! I never knew this 

 sort of thing have the least effect upon the elements : 

 betray not, I beseech you, the impotency of Xerxes, but 

 fall back upon your resources. Read some amusing or 

 instructive book, or if a book is apt to draw you to sleep 

 (as it does full many a sportsman), get a piece of canvas 

 nicely prepared by Mr. Browne of High Holborn, and 

 paint your men and your dogs if you can ; if you cannot, 

 why then clean the locks of your rifles, sort your fishing 

 tackle, and make flies ; or if you are of a self-complacent 

 character, you may summon your hill-men, and make it 

 out, not in direct terms (you know how to manage it, I 

 dare say), but by skilful inference, that you are, out of 



