Melton Moivbray. 193 



portant item in respect to the health of the inhabitants, 

 I must admit, but one that does not affect me at all, 

 inasmuch as I cannot call to mind ever having imbibed 

 any of the fluid in question during my visits to the 

 metropolis of hunting. 



Be it how it may, there is something peculiarly 

 enjoyable in the prospect of a day with a well-known 

 pack, and better still when the reality equals the 

 anticipation. Poets of all ages have sung the plea- 

 sures of the chase. Even Milton speaks of 



" Listening how the hounds and horn 

 Cheerly rouse the slumbering morn, 

 From the side of some hoar hill, 

 Through the high wood echoing shrill." 



Well, it is not the custom of the frequenters of Melton 

 to rouse the slumbering morn, as our forefathers were 

 wont to do. " Nous avons change tout cela." We rise 

 at a respectable hour when the sun — if there is any — 

 has aired the world, and after a comfortable breakfast 

 and a glance at the morning papers, which we find on 

 the table ready for our perusal, we mount a clever hack 

 or jump into a dogcart with a knowing-looking hog- 

 maned cob, or, if very careful of ourselves, go to cover 

 in a well-appointed brougham and a pair of steppers ; 

 but anyhow, we go, and nothing is more delightful, in 

 my opinion, than a canter of six or seven miles on the 

 back of a performer when en route for a first-rate 

 fixture on a cheerful winter's morn. 



Awaking early I drew my curtains to find that 

 " The grey-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night, 

 Checkering the eastern clouds with streaks of light,'' 

 but alas ! when 1 mounted my horse there were no 



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