124 sportsmen Parsons in Peace and War 



without his getting out of the saddle, if they did not play out 

 altogether, might be looked upon as certain to give some heavy 

 falls. 



I think most would require second horses and possibly some 

 vaseline at the end of " the day." It certainly sounds rather 

 hard on one horse to ride it all day, especially if many twenty- 

 mile points were made. It is not in accordance with our 

 present-day notion, when we jump off on every possible occasion 

 to ease and rest our gees, if only for a few minutes. 



For some years Mr. Jack Michell also kept a pack of badger- 

 hounds entirely at his own expense, showing record sport, 

 accounts of which appeared in the Field and other papers, 

 attracting followers from all parts of the country. 



During the early summer nights he used to take hounds to 

 Court Wood, not far from the kennels, and hunt badger, not 

 often having a blank night, the old keeper Jim Agland having 

 previously stopped the " earths " when Messrs. Brock started 

 forth on nocturnal prowls. 



I confess my sympathies are rather with the cleanly, interest- 

 ing little badger, but hunting at night is always exciting and full 

 of surprises, stumbling along by the light of a hand lantern, 

 falling headlong over barbed wire unseen in the semi-darkness, 

 and stepping into brooks. 



I wish it were possible to collect more of the doings of some 

 of those bygone days of fine old sportsmen, I have tried 

 hard, but only a few stories of them are left, sketchy little bits 

 here and there, oft repeated. 



I understand this old huntsman was a delightful companion 

 and raconteur, with that great gift, a sense of humour, which 

 helps us over many awkward stiles. 



One story he was fond of telling showed the way his father 

 dealt with those who strayed from the path of rectitude, not 

 being a believer in preaching except from the pulpit. 



An old woman came almost daily at one time to the rectory 

 to receive some of the many benefits the rector showered on all 

 who needed help, for he never could bring himself to send 

 anybody " empty away " ; but it had been observed for some 

 time that after the old lady's visit other things had disappeared 

 as well as the " benefits " placed ready for her. Amongst the 

 things most often missing were pounds of butter. At last this 



