LETTER VII. 77 



said, " I will show you the fox you wished me to follow 

 in the morning ; he is only gone across a couple of fields 

 into another large wood, where I think we shall get 

 upon him again, and you will then see whether you or I 

 know most about spoiling sport." We accordingly went 

 to this covert, and soon got upon him, but, having had a 

 tolerable dusting in the morning, he showed no disposi- 

 tion to try his old quarters again, even across two fields, 

 and we soon disposed of him. Congratulations now 

 poured in, and we went on satisfactorily after this day. 

 Jem quietly settled down to his work as usual ; in fact, 

 I think he was not sorry to do so, his debut as huntsman 

 not having quite satisfied either himself or friends. 



After a few years more he obtained a first-rate place 

 as huntsman, which he wished, however, to decline, and 

 would have done so, but for my pressing and almost 

 forcing him to accept it. The month's probation he had 

 had with me was not lost time, for he had good sense 

 enough to see the errors he had committed by over haste 

 and excitement, and he is now huntsman in a large 

 establishment, where, I think, he cannot fail to give satis- 

 faction. There are, however, many first-rate whippers- 

 in who know they are not likely to make huntsmen, and 

 they show their sense by sticking to their own line of 

 business. I have known many, establishments where 

 huntsman and head whip were both growing greyheaded 

 together. 



As I have before remarked, weight and height are or 

 ought not to be of so much consideration. Character 

 and talent are the first requisites. Unless a lad has 

 naturally good abilities and a decided taste for that line 

 of life, he will never, with all the instruction he may 

 receive, turn out anythinf>\ extraordinary. He must 



