HARE-HUNTERS OF THE PAST 25 



Court set round with Holly-hocks and dipt Yews. 

 The Hall was provided with Flitches of bacon, and 

 the Mantelpiece with Fowling pieces and Fishing rods 

 of different dimensions, accompanied by the Broad 

 Sword, Partisan, and Dagger, borne by his Ancestors 

 in the Civil Wars ; the vacant spaces were occupied 

 by Stags' horns. In the window lay Baker's Chronicle, 

 Fox's Book of Martyrs, Glanvil on Witches, Quin- 

 cey's Dispensatory, Bracken's Farriery, and the 

 Gentleman's Recreation. In this room at Christmas, 

 round a glowing fire, he entertained his Tenants ; here 

 was told and heard exploits in Hunting, and who had 

 been the best Sportsman of his time ; and although 

 the glass was in constant circulation, the traditionary 

 tales of the village, respecting Ghosts and Witches, 

 petrified them with fear. The best Parlour, which 

 was never opened but on some particular occasion, 

 was furnished with worked chairs and carpet, by some 

 industrious Female of the Family, and the wainscot 

 was decorated with portraits of his Ancestors, and 

 Pictures of running Horses and Hunting pieces. 

 Among the out-oihces of the house, were a warm stable 

 for his Horses, and a good Kennel for his Hounds ; 

 and near the gate was the horse-block, for the con- 

 veniency of mounting." 



This is a pleasing picture of the old-time Squireen or 

 Yeoman, a class even now not quite extinct. Here and 

 there, in quieter parts of England and Ireland, one 

 may yet come across a belated specimen of the little 

 Squire or wealthier Yeoman, living in some quaint, 

 old-fashioned house in which his forbears have dwelt 

 before him for centuries. More probably than not he 

 is a hare-hunter and takes his pleasure in the field, 

 following with absorbing interest some old-fashioned 

 pack of blue-mottled harriers, whose wonderful 



