164 HORSES AND HOUNDS. 



In a provincial country, not quite so many years ago, a noble- 

 man was persuaded by his bead keeper that the foxes, not 

 satisfied with killing half his game, had actually become so fas- 

 tidious, that they required venison for their suppers, and had 

 commenced an onslaught upon the fawns in his park. My lord, 

 not being a fox-hunter himself, althougb professing liberal 

 opinions in politics, without any particular inquiries, seized 

 upon this lame story as an excuse to commence operations 

 against the foxes, and, accordingly, orders were issued from 

 bead-quarters for their destruction forthwith. 



A fox hunting squire, whose lands and coverts adjoined, and 

 w^ho also possessed a herd of deer rather more numerous than 

 bis noble neighbour, took great umbrage at this wanton destruc- 

 tion of foxes upon so sballow a pretence ; and seized the oppor- 

 tunity, at a public dinner, where many sporting gentlemen and 

 farmers were present, of commenting upon such a liberal pro- 

 ceeding. All expressed their astonishment at any one believing 

 such a cock-and-bull story, but they were still more surprised 

 when the squire exclaimed, " True, gentlemen, quite true, upon 

 the word of the keeper. No one will believe what ravenous 

 brutes these foxes have become ; dainty dogs, not satisfied with 

 venison for supper, but the villains must have bacon for break- 

 fast, and I expect next, they will have one of my Scotch bul- 

 locks for Christmas ! You may judge, gentlemen, of the lengths 

 they will go, when I tell you that one of my tenants came to me 

 with a very long face yesterday, and said he hoped I would give 

 orders directly for the foxes to be shot, or he must give up his 

 holding. 'Why so, John Grubber? ' Because, sir, there's no 

 standing 'em any longer ; I don't mind a fowl or two, or may 

 be a goose at odd times, but that don't suit 'em now-a-days, they 

 be come so ventursom like, and strong with it too, you wouldn't 

 believe it, sir.' 'Well, then, John, what are you driving atl 

 Out wdth it.* ' Well, sir, you wont believe it, nor any one else, 

 but this is all about it. I were awoke yesterday morning, quite 

 yarley like, just as it were getting grey light, by a desperate 

 scrimmage and squalling in the pig-stye. Says I to ]\Iary, my 

 missus — you knows Mary, sir? 'Quite well, John, and a good 

 housewife and missus she is, too, and a comely-looking one into 

 the bargain.' ' Well, sir, I says to missus, " What the dickens 

 is the matter with the grunters ?' " Nothing the matter Avith 

 them, John, they are only rubbing one another up a bit ; do ye 

 lie down again." Just then such another squeal, which Mary 

 couldn't help hearing as well. "Odds bobs," says I, "this'll 

 never do ;" so out 1 jumps out of bed, and throws open the 

 window as looked into the yard, and what d'ye think I sees, 



