THE BADGER 



cubs he saw killed will never again run in 

 and out of the wood on the hillside as of 

 yore. I look into his room the following day, 

 and find him in his night-shirt busy extract- 

 ing the tail-bone from his trophy, and he 

 stops in his work only to ask when the 

 hounds will be out again. 



The power of enjoying hunting of any sort 

 is no evidence of want of tenderer feelings. 

 It may be that the days of sport are 

 numbered by the exigencies of what is 

 termed the progress of civilization ; but 

 whether men's hearts will be braver, their 

 bodies and minds healthier, or their natures 

 kindlier and happier for the change, only 

 time may show. All this is something in the 

 nature of apology ; but, excuse or none, thou- 

 sands are conscious that the nearest approach 

 to pure unmixed pleasure that they ha\e 

 known has been derived from the chase, 

 where cares are forgotten, pulses quickened, 

 eyes brightened, and the mind refreshed. 

 About conscious or unconscious vicarious 

 sacrifice with regard to the badger I will 



not say more than this, that the baiting of 



t6 



