FOX-HUNTING IN ENGLAND. 231 



ring up seemed to do it good, for he had never 

 before seen such an even stand on that field. 

 Another will argue that while hunting does give 

 him some extra work in the repair of hedges and 

 gates, and while he sometimes has his fields torn 

 up more than he likes, yet the hounds are the 

 best neighbors he has ; they bring a good market 

 for hay and oats, and, for his part, he likes to get 

 a day with them himself now and then. Another 

 raises a young horse when he can, and if he turns 

 out a clever fencer, he gets a much larger price 

 for him than he could if there were no hunting 

 in the country. Another has now and then lost 

 poultry by the depredations of foxes, but he never 

 knew the master to refuse a fair claim for dam- 

 ages ; for his part, he would scorn to ask compen- 

 sation ; he likes to see the noble sport, which is 

 the glory of England, flourishing, in spite of 

 modern improvements. At this point, and at 

 this stage of the convivial cheer, they bring in 

 the charge at Balaklava, and other evidences that 

 the noble sport, which is the glory of old Eng- 

 land, breeds a race of men whose invincible daring 



