Fox-HuxTixG 203 



to kill foxes, and this is a business in which a pack of 

 foxhounds takes the keenest delight. In order to realise 

 the incidents of a day's hunting, we had better, perhaps, 

 imagine ourselves at the meet, and we will get there 

 earl}^ A few mounted men and a couple of ladies are 

 before us, and a few carriages are also here, the occupants 

 being anxious to see what can be seen on wheels. There, 

 standing by his pony's side, is little Tommj^ Stout ; and 

 here, surely enough, galloping up as hard as he can go, 

 is little Johnny Green. We know the disposition of 

 these two boys : how one was thoughtless, cruel, and 

 mischievous, and put pussy in the well, and how the 

 other pulled her out ; and probably, by watching the 

 proceedings of the pair, we shall see what a lad ought to 

 do and what he ought not. Already, indeed, there is 

 something to be learnt. Tommy, with regard for his 

 pony, has trotted quietly up, and has thoughtfully got 

 off its back to give it as much rest as possible ; Johnny, 

 who has unnecessarily armed his heels with a pair of 

 spurs (taken surreptitiously from the saddle-room, we 

 may be sure, for his father would not have permitted him 

 to wear them), has galloped every yard of the way, and 

 taken a casual turn round a meadow, the gate of which 

 was left open, in addition. His pony is hot and panting 

 in consequence ; but Johnny never thinks of this, and 

 forces his way through the group, pushing against the 

 hind legs of a lady's horse, which switches its tail and 

 threatens to kick. 



But here come the hounds, sixteen couples, surround- 

 ing the huntsman's horse, and many of them, you see, 

 looking up lovingly into his face. As he came along he 

 has been throwing bits of biscuit to them, and calling 

 them by their names, recognition of which they have 



