THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 13 



have a beginning ; and what may be called the sporting 

 career of Francis Raby commenced about his tenth year, 

 when he became possessed of a couple of terriers, of a 

 good game breed, sore enemies not only to the rats about 

 the buildings, but to all the cats of the house, which were 

 hunted by them about once a week. On one occasion, 

 however, Master Francis had almost driven the jest too 

 far ; for, having chased one of them into the kitchen, with 

 his terriers close at her tail, she leaped on the table and 

 upset a tureen of turtle soup, that was on the point of 

 being served up to a dinner party. Frank, however for 

 such he was always called, as most Francises are got well 

 out of the scrape by his great popularity among the 

 servants, who either took the mishap upon themselves, 

 or laid it to that scape-goat in all families the cat. 

 Frank and his terriers, however, were much dreaded in 

 the neighbourhood by all who had favourite tabbies, as 

 a gripe from either Pincher or Vixen was very apt to 

 prove fatal. But, did Mr. Raby know of this cat-killing 

 propensity 1 and, if so, did he encourage it 1 The general 

 character"of that gentleman leads to the conclusion that 

 he would not have encouraged, in his children, cruelty 

 to animals, a vice the very reverse of the characteristic 

 of the thorough English sportsman. Nevertheless he was 

 well aware of this truism that to restrain the pleasures 

 and pursuits of youth with too tight a hand, is as pre- 

 posterous as to be angry with the spring of the year 

 because it produces nothing but blossoms, or to expect 

 from that early season the fruits of autumn in their 

 perfection ; and it must be admitted that, when he saw 

 his favourite son, Frank for most fathers have favourites 

 with a couple of terriers at his heels, and his ferret bag 

 in his hand, he was delighted beyond measure. " That 

 boy," he would say, " will be a sportsman, and one day or 

 another will see him at the top of the tree, if he lives." 

 And he had a right so to predict of him. No matter 

 whether pleasure or business be the object, whoever 

 pursues either to any purpose, must do so con amore, 

 which was truly Frank's case. No sooner did his tutor 

 dismiss him, than he was at war with one description of 

 vermin or another; and he was wonderfully expert in 

 his calling. 



As similarity of taste inspires regard, Frank, as he 

 progressed in years, formed a strong alliance with one 



