TALES AND TRAITS 



SPORTING LIEE. 



THE PROFIT AND LOSS. 



A MAN that's born and bred a sportsman can't Iielp 

 feeling- proud of it. I slionld think it was so all the 

 world over, as I am sure it is here. A man that has " a 

 propensity" must show, and suffer for, it sooner or later. 

 I should think it was so with all, as I am too sure it has 

 been with me. At school it came out, as the M. D.s 

 say, pretty kind on me. Derby winners all off by heart, 

 foxes' brushes always to be found in the play-box, and a 

 tolerably g'ood recollection of last Christmas' equestrian 

 performances, broug'ht'^me a proper share of reverence 

 that a change in the sovereignty of the County Hounds 

 did everything to establish. A new Master for the hoimds 

 brought a new boy for the Doctor. The new boy's father 

 was a friend of my father ; and the next Saint's Day saw 

 a pair of us off for the kennels, big in white cords and 

 cover hacks. That did it outright ; his father kept 

 hounds, mi/ father kept race-horses ; and certainly if ever 

 the proper qualification for a sportsman brought becoming 

 dignity with it, here we enjoyed it in full force. Everybody 



B 



