HORSES TO JUMP 71 



Though it may not be the rider's fault if he 

 breaks his horse's back, it is if he breaks his 

 horse's heart and rides a youngster to a stand- 

 still. We may all have done it, but it is criminal. 

 For the benefit of fox-catchers, I must append 

 some, of the verses from " The Dream of an old 

 Meltonian," by W. Bromley Davenport, M.P., 

 which describes a hunt on a youngster : 



Hes away, I can hear the identical holla ! 



I can feel my young thorobrecl strain down the 



ride, 

 I can hear the dull thunder of hundreds that 



follow, 

 I can see my old comrades in life by my side. 

 Do I dream ? All around me I see the dead 



riding, 

 And voices long silent re-echo with glee ; 

 I can hear the far wail of tJie Master s vain 



chiding, 

 As vain as the Norseman's reproof of the Sea. 



Vain indeed I For the biiches are racing 



before us — 

 Not a nose to the earth — not a stern in the air ; 

 And we know by the notes of that modified chorus 

 How straight we must ride if we wish to be 



there I 



K 



