236 IRISH SPORT AND SPORTSMEN. 



and Mr. Stubber, of Ballinahie, a Protestant clergy- 

 man, had a pack, and hunted deer, foxes, and hares. 

 He was passionately fond of the chase, and scarcely a 

 day elapsed without the " sporting parson," as he was 

 aptly designated, having a spin with the '* beauties." 

 He had a very large fortune, and lived many years to 

 enjoy it and the glorious pastime he loved so well. A 

 good story is told of him which I cannot refrain from 

 giving. He was confined to his room a considerable 

 time before his death, and nothing pleased him more 

 than to hear the cry of his hounds, and as the kennel 

 was situated close to his residence he frequently en- 

 joyed the treat. On the day of his demise he ordered 

 his huntsman to bring the hounds to the hall door, and 

 to turn down a hare. The pack having been laid on, 

 "tackled to work with a will," and, giving great 

 tongue, set out in hot pursuit ; Mr. Stubber was de- 

 lighted, and turning round in his bed, said to those 

 around him: *' Oh ! is not that heavenly music." Mr. 

 Stubber was not the only clergyman who kept a pack 

 of hounds in the country, as Parson Smithson hunted 

 foxes and deer with his own hounds some seventy 

 years ago. Odd as it may read, it is true, that this 

 Reverend sportSinan was for years stone blind, yet he 

 hunted almost every day, and rode remarkably well 

 across country ; his servant was always in immediate 

 attendance, and used to inform him what sort the 

 fences were which stopped the way. Mr. Smithson 

 had perfect hands, and was, of course, always well 

 mounted on an old trained hunter. 



His hounds were A i ; he loved their music, 

 and bred for melody, and would immediately draft one 

 that hunted mute. " Don't hear Rattler to-day ; 



