SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 



161 



lads, the sons of huntsmen or whippers-in, who 

 have been bred up to the profession, and take to 

 it kindly from childhood ; although it does not in- 

 variably happen that the children of huntsmen are 

 inclined to adopt their father's calling, or are fitted 

 for it ; but when they do so choose for themselves, 

 like well-bred foxhounds, they require less trouble in 

 breaking. There is a vulgar expression, peculiarly 

 applicable to a sleepy lad, intended for this line : 

 " he has not got it in him ; " and if so, you cannot 

 put it in him ; neither birch nor whipcord would 

 avail in this case. Knowledge of the noble science 

 cannot be dunned into the boy's head like Latin 

 and Greek, unless he is anxious to acquire it. We 

 have tried many lads of respectable parentage, and 

 although delighted at first with the idea of becom- 

 ing whippers-in to a pack of foxhounds, yet we 

 could not get on with them ; some proved too 

 hasty, some too slow, and others too stupid, to 

 persevere with them ; but they did very well for 

 thistle-whipping, where they had the master's eye 

 continually upon them in the open field, and were 

 obliged to obey orders. 



The place of the second whip to foxhounds is to 

 be in attendance upon his superior at certain times, 

 at others, be left to his own devices ; and during 

 cub-hunting, he may be amusing himself by cracking 

 nuts instead of cracking his whip, whilst the hounds 

 are running covert. Boys will be boys, and we 

 must make some allowance for their frolics ; but 

 unless a lad has been well brought up at home, has 

 naturally a good disposition, and is kind to animals, 



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