22 Sportsmen Parsons in Peace and War 



collected a large number at one time of Parson Jack Russell's 

 celebrated fox-terriers. They were rather mischievous little 

 creatures and played havoc amongst the poultry, managing to 

 catch them even through the bars of the kennels when any 

 birds were inquisitive. 



When still a child, my first day's hunting with the York and 

 Ainsty was on a big sixteen-hand horse of Mr. Hustler's, with 

 a hard mouth but some repute. My friend was anxious I 

 should try him. All went well until hounds found, then I 

 became aware my saddle was too big for me and my mount too 

 much for me^ — he was finding a difference between 9 stone and 15. 

 As soon as I was in hail of Mr. Hustler, I informed him I feared 

 I must take the horse home, as I could not hold him and might 

 bring him, or ])Ossibly some of the field, to grief, or disgrace 

 myself by over-riding the hounds. The advice given to me by 

 the horse's owner was, " Let him go, don't try to hold him." 

 Happily, nothing dreadful occurred. 



After a few j^ears of enjoyment at Acklam, the home of his 

 youth, Mr. George Hustler's whole-hearted hospitality began to 

 upset his balance at the bank a little uncomfortably, and his 

 elder brother, who liked neither hounds, horses, nor young 

 people, began to lecture him on his expensive tastes and ex- 

 travagance. This went on for a time until it became unbearable, 

 and my hunting parson decided to shut the place up and let 

 his brother come back to it if he liked. And so Acklam once 

 more lapsed into silence, and Mr. George and his family went to 

 live near Oxford, where they bought a place called Weald Manor, 

 and continued hunting and being cheery from there. 



The following gives a little idea of the amount of sport he 

 enjoyed. On Monday he would go to stay at Oxford, hunting en 

 route with the Vale of the White Horse. On Tuesday, Wednes- 

 day, Thursday, and Friday he hunted from Oxford. On Satur- 

 day he returned to Weald Manor, hunting en route with the 

 Vale of the White Horse. On Sunday, though not at the time 

 holding any living, he preached two, and sometimes three, 

 sermons. Finding time between his huntings to collect some good 

 and rare china, also queer and ancient silver specimens. After 

 the house would hold no more, he packed these treasures away 

 over the stables. 



As usual, he had a mount or two for friends, and a nephew 



