THE RULING PASSION. 233 



various kennels, about eighteen or nineteen inches 

 in height, and then commence breeding a pack to 

 my fancy, by crossing them with an old-fashioned 

 blue mottled Towler. I should, of course, expect, 

 with such smart young ladies in their teens, un- 

 commonly wild work for the first season ; but by 

 keeping silence and letting them get through their 

 first lessons without assistance, the currant jelly 

 would soon be found in requisition. Very little 

 trouble is required in breaking young hounds to 

 hare ; it is a sweet scent, and all dogs will take to 

 it naturally, rabbits being the only riot to be 

 avoided. 



A friend of mine, an old Master of Fox -hounds, 

 some few years since, took a whim into his head 

 that he was becoming too heavy to ride hunting, 

 and accordingly sold his pack at the end of the 

 season ; but having no other pursuit, he felt time 

 hang heavy during the summer months, and from 

 lack of his usual ride in exercising his hounds in 

 the morning, he became exceedingly inactive and 

 sleepy, seldom breakfasting until nine o'clock, and 

 was gradually increasing in weight, from a cart- 

 load to a waggon-load, when he was seized with a 

 severe bilious attack, and the doctor called in, who 

 set to work with calomel, blue pill, and the usual 

 accompaniments of black draught, &c. &c., at 



