The Puekeridge, 107 



THE PUCKERIDGE.* 



Accessibility from London is a point that we liave 

 endeavoured to keep in mind in referring to eacli of 

 the countries hitherto considered. Our sphere has^ how- 

 ever, so far, lain beyond the scope of a day^s hunting 

 from Town : and accordingly can only have had interest 

 for men desirous of planting themselves where at 

 least a month of hunting may be attained, to the 

 oblivion of all minor, or (may we say it ?) more sordid 

 pursuits. But there exists a large body of ardent 

 sportsmen, who can only take their recreation by the 

 day ; who can only break in upon their week of labour 

 by extra work on five days, that they may secure the 

 sixth for a holiday ; and who have also, by nature or 

 by effort of will, the power to absorb themselves for 

 a few short hours in the thrilling incidents of fox- 

 hunting, and yet afterwards to recover mind and 

 thought from the thraldom, the moment they return 

 to office or re-enter chambers. The faculty is be- 

 gotten, of course, of necessity : and the credit is due 

 to circumstances, and to the sporting spirit which 

 makes the best of a situation. The man is fond of 



Vide " Stanford's Railway and Hunting Map," sheet 16. 



