RECOLLECTIONS OF GEORGE CARTER. 99 



sir, very good. ' Fox hunting ! and there ain't nothing 

 like it, or I shouldn't be here.' Blessed as the old man 

 is with health and vigour, and with every faculty but 

 one — sight — may the toast have its accomplishment." 



It never did. It is not an uncommon wish with 

 man for long life : it may possibly be too long. There 

 are evil days in which he may find " there is no pleasure 

 in them," and though there is, doubtless, frequently 

 good to be derived from these evil days, and the Great 

 Disposer of all things knows the times and seasons 

 far better than His weak and erring creatures, who too 

 generally are blind to His mercies, still, it is but human 

 nature to fret under discomfort, and so rebel against a 

 Power that ruleth all things. 



The last few years of the old huntsman's life were 

 not cheery. Blind, and much alone, confined to his 

 ('hair, and eventually to his bedroom, as he had a 

 difficulty in getting up and down stairs, he might be 

 justified in the remark he often made, that it was 

 the hardest ivork he had ever done in his life. He 

 had, too, several severe attacks of illness towards the 

 last, which threatened to bring him to his end, but his 

 iron frame withstood them all ; he still enjoyed his 

 chats and frequent visits from myself, and one or two 

 others who occasionally looked in on him ; and his 

 love for hunting was as keen as ever. He wanted 



