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FOX-HUNTING 



A SKETCH FOR BOYS 



Are schooldays the happiest time of a boy's Hfe ? I do 

 not think the proposition that they are so can be 

 universally accepted, for boys and schools differ con- 

 siderably ; but I fancy it may be taken as a fact that no 

 one enjoys a day's hunting more than a boy on his 

 pony. What fun we used to have ! and as we take 

 in the general features of the field around us to-day, what 

 fun the boys seem to be having still ! In our way we 

 are as fond of the sport as ever ; but not many of us 

 enter upon it with the wild delight w^e used to feel w^hen, 

 on approaching a jump, our only thought was whether 

 the brave little pony could do it ; and there was no wonder 

 as to what would happen to us if he failed. Of course we 

 used to come off gaily, after which we gaily got on again, 

 and, I think, rather liked a fall or two than otherwise. 

 Were we ever a nuisance, we sometimes wonder, as we 

 occasionally see boys who little know what mischief they 

 are doing in the field ? We hope not ; and it is the 

 main object of this paper to tell the boys something 

 about the principles of fox-hunting, so that they may 

 enjoy the sport intelligently, and make their participation 

 in it not unwelcome to others. 



The object of fox-hunting, it need hardly be said, is 



