Mr. A. A, Young. 237 



Mr, Young the fact that his eyesight had undergone a 

 sudden deterioration. In the full belief that it was 

 impossible for him to mistake a hare for a fox under any 

 circumstances, he one day ""tallied '■' a hare crossing a ride 

 in Sywell Wood. Chaffed by a friend upon his mistake, 

 he offered to bet ten pounds that he had not been 

 wrong. The bet was at once accepted, and the hounds 

 were left to decide the issue. On being brought to the 

 spot, not a hound spoke or showed any sign that a fox 

 '''had passed that way."" The next morning's post 

 brought to the winner of the wager a cheque for ten 

 pounds, and on the following the loser received back his 

 cheque torn into ten separate pieces. On a loose piece 

 of paper was inscribed the legend, ^' Bets on certainties 

 go for nothing.^' 



The cause of the mistake in one hitherto peculiarly 

 long-sighted now became apparent ; a limited but un- 

 noticed failure of vision had taken place, which from 

 that time necessitated the use of glasses. Singular to 

 relate, from that date, some thirty years ago, no further 

 alteration of the eyesight has occurred ; and the passage 

 of poor puss across the ride still marks the moment when 

 the discovery was made that time had robbed the optic 

 of some of its power. 



To such an extent did this true sportsnian carry his 

 love of hunting, that he was always delighted at seeing 

 the remains of poultry in the neighbourhood of any of 

 his covers. Turning over with his stick '^ disjecta 

 membra " of some late inmate of his own poultry- 

 house, he would say with a grin of satisfaction, "Well 

 done, Charlie, my boy ; you got hold of a fat one that 

 time ! " 



