Dick Christian again, 57 



jumped in Leicestershire was a bullock fence and 

 hedge with ditch and back rails near Rolleston, on 

 Jack-a-Lantern. People got up a story that he once 

 jumped a lock on Jack, but it was nothing of the sort. 

 All that family never pulled an ounce ; The Lantern 

 they were all slugs. There was Young Family. 

 Jack, and Charlotte Lantern ; she was a sweet mare, 

 but none of 'em like the old horse, when he was in the 

 humour. Mr. Boultbee, of Tooley, bought Jack for a 

 stallion, but he had a bit of riding out of him. Mr. 

 Smith didn't half like it. Some one asked him if he'd 

 seen Jack take his fences ; and he says, quite angry, 

 " Hang the fellow! I never thonght he had a7iy jumping 

 left in him, or he shouldn't have had him!' You scarce 

 ever see him with a curb-chain ; if he had one, he'd 

 cover it over with wash-leather. Once he was a 

 great man for snaffle-bridles ; then he turned round, 

 just as he did with the size of his hounds. Latterly 

 he'd ride with curbs with long cheeks — very severe. 

 Sniall curb chains are the worst things in the world ; 

 they deaden the mouth. The links should be single, 

 and large. I've seen Sir Harry with them like the 

 links of cart-gears. I wonder how many bridles I 

 had made for him } He always scolded if I told any- 

 body else of them ; he used to say, " Don't tell 'em, let 

 'em find out!' 



No man that ever came into Leicestershire could 

 beat Mr. Smith ; I don't care what any of them says. 

 He was always for being away as quick His style of 

 as possible ; best fox, he says, always Hunting. 

 broke first. He'd get away with three or four couple 

 of hounds ; then they'd come to a check, and the 

 run was spoiled. The whips could never get the 

 others out of cover fast enough for him ; he was 

 always too quick a drawer — drew over his fox scores 

 of times. He was always a bit of a roarer since I 

 knowed him ; no great horn-blower ; he had a bit of 

 flageolet in his horn the last few years he hunted. 



