30 TALES AND TRAITS OF SPORTING LIFE. 



" Seen The Life, sir?" said "be, pulling- it out of Lis 

 pocket, reeking wet with haste and news. 



I had not, and preferred waiting for the usual Sunday 

 morning, but was much obliged to him " all the same." 

 The arrival took this as sociable, and after a very short 

 spell at his paper broke out again — 



^' Seems to have had a good meeting at York, sir !" 



It is an astonishing thing, certainly ; but four-fifths of 

 the people you meet now — pick them where you will — 

 talk about racing : and I couldn't help saying as much in 

 reply to the York commentary j but my new acquaintance 

 took it good-naturedly enough. 



^' Why, I had a bit of a race-horse once myself, sir ; 

 and somehow or other I have had a turn for it ever since. 

 A man, you see, who lives in the country, and whose 

 business brings him every hour of liis life amongst dogs 

 and horses, can hardly help being a sportsman — at least, 

 I know I could 'nt, nor you either, I'm sure, by the look 

 ©■f you." 



It seemed there was no use in attempting to deny so 

 flattering an impeachment, and having accordingly at 

 once owned to it, on went my friend faster than ever — 



*' Besides, I think gentlemen Hke to see their tenants 

 with a good horse in their stable, and I always had one 

 or two pretty fair. It was good fun, too, * making ' them, 

 and paid as well when you came to part with them. At 

 last, after I had been going on my own account for some 

 six or seven years, I got hold of a little mare that 

 promised even better than usual. She just could go a bit, 

 and the best of them began to own it — so at last, near the 

 end of the season, the gentlemen said I ought to get her 

 ready for the Farmers' Cup. There were Hunt Races 

 every spring, and a Farmers' Stake, of course; but 



