lill 



48 



NOTES OF THE HUNT. 



Wiman, thoughtful, first, last and all the time, came 

 round in a way half magisterial half valet de chambre -ish, 

 bearing an open bottle of Jockey Club for our handker- 

 chiefs. 



But was there any need to bother about perfume, 

 when the scent of the woods penetrated our hearts and 

 brains ? — What mattered the creases in clothes when 

 they were smoothed out of our foreheads ? — Who cared 

 (much) for the polish of boots when the sheen of health 

 was in our eyes ? — Nay ; perhaps it may be said, with 

 reverence, was there not, deep in our souls, a glow of 

 thankfulness and a desire to worship, which rose superior 

 to dress. ? 



We were presentl)^ off, down the lake, six canoes 

 full. Wiman in the van, who led us also in singing his 

 favorite hymns. Chandler was heard in beautiful ac- 

 cord. // avait des larmes dans la voix, this dear friend 

 of ours, as was once told of Rubini : " there were tears 

 in his voice." The same has been said, too, by Thackeray 

 of Goldsmith's and Gray's best verse: "It charms 

 and melts you ; it is indefinable, but it exists ; and is its 

 property, as fragrance is of a violet, or freshness of a 

 rose." Speaking of Goldsmith, wonder if Willie knew 

 that the gentle Doctor used to conjure, with three hats, 

 a shilling under each, and suddenly made the three ap- 

 pear under one hat, with the words " Hey presto Cocka- 

 lorum! " which is at least an ancestor of Willie's phrase 

 of incantation. 



Arrived at Gouldie's, there was no steamboat and no 

 H. P. Dwight, which was another disappointment. 

 Having had to make the crossing of Cooper's Lake by 

 two trips of the too few canoes — for we had not port- 

 aged any boats — it was eleven before some of us reached 



