626 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
Ufa Hwncl. 
OPENING OF THE FOX HUNTING 
SEASON. 
Editor Forest and Stream :— 
The red fox hunting season was on yesterday, Aug. 28d, 
opened by. me. By previous arrangements with two other 
huntsmen (Hardy and Sherron), who reside on the south 
side of the Roanoke, we were to meet just after sun rise 
at the Sturgeon Hole, opposite my plantation and move up 
the river on their side to Curl's Hill. I was up by early 
dawn and iu saddle. Moving in half speed to my land¬ 
ing, with Logan and Van in chain to prevent an accidental 
strike of my old i-ed, Monitor, Bett, Red Bird and old 
Cornet suddenly raised their hoada and dashed off. They 
had scented the old red. I directed my servant who was 
leading the chained hounds to go on while I would try 
to draw them off. I attempted it only. No human power 
that a huntsmen on such occasions exerts could do so. I 
was, therefore, under the necessity of disappointing the 
company or deserting a great part of my pack. I deter¬ 
mined to do the latter. 1 hastened to my landing, collected 
such young dogs as were not too eager to be managed, took 
the boat and when half over the Roanoke discovered that 
the huntsmen were not up to time, and concluded to 
anchor midway in the stream. In a few minutes how¬ 
ever I head the cow's horn of Hardy in the distance, and 
then pulled for shore. Monitor, Bett and others could be 
heard on their trail moving up on the north side of the 
Roanoke with increasing cry which soon died away in the 
distance. I. landed and mounted a Lord Elgin colt that 
had been sent to me for the chase. As soon as striking 
the shore, Van, Logan and Mischief iiew off on a red’s 
trad, and iu a few minutes roused two reds and drove 
them furiously up the Roanoke in direction of Curl’s 
Hill, and right iuto Slierron's pack. Sherron had been 
delayed and being much behind time concluded to change 
his movements and cut off half of the ground by heading 
my pack. In ten minutes the united packs put the two 
reds into holes from which they could not be dug. We 
had ordered a sentinel to be at that hole, but like us he 
was too slow, and he had the mortification to see both 
foxes take the same refuge of safety. We did not attempt 
to unearth them. It was a hole in a bluff we had often 
sounded, avid which we always close when regularly hunt¬ 
ing these reds. Moving back down the Roanoke we 
heard Brodnax’s old Mischief, the full sister of the peer¬ 
less variety, now ten years old, on a dull trail. Mischief 
had been loaned to Hardy by her owner to raise a litter 
of puppies from Duke's Lad, a dog famed for dash, speed 
anil pluck, and was then nursing them. Our re-inforce- 
ment swelled the cry to grand proportions, and we soon 
ran upon an old red who, for one, gave us a tough and 
doubtful race. We finally put him to earth. A runner was 
instantly dispatched for spade and hoe, and the old male 
was artistically secured by bag in Sberron’s hands and 
safely brought across the Roanoke, and is now in my cus¬ 
tody with chain solid and strong fastened to stake in a 
cellar. 1 have written to Brodnax who was at my Rouse 
on the 23d, the day before the hunt, of my success, and 
to hurry and come without the delay he had fixed. The 
first week of September he was to come down and we 
were, by arrangement, to hunt my reds, and my old 
male, who is every inch a red fox. T. G, T. 
Aug. 25t1i, 1870. 
THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF A 
SPORTSMAN'S WIFE. 
S INCE one lady has safely invaded the “forbidden 
grounds,” perhaps another maj r presume to venture 
also. I too am a sportsman’s wife. Of this I was uncom¬ 
fortably made aware the day after the marriage cere¬ 
mony had been performed. It was Cliristmas ; and my 
husband’s brother gave a reception in honor of the occa¬ 
sion. While the festivities were at their height we were 
suddenly interrupted by the sound of many guns. On 
looking out we perceived a number of gentlemen and 
boys surrounding a sort of box, which opened at intervals 
to permit the escape of a dear little -pigeon, When it had 
flown a short distance one or more of them would shoot 
at it ; sometimes bringing it fluttering to the ground, at 
others, to my joy, missing it entirely, when it would 
mount high in ah- and sail off to its old home in a great 
bam not far distant. What cruel sport 1 I thought, and 
wondered how those men could engage in it with Buch 
enthusiasm. “Hurrah 1 they are having a shooting 
matoh l” exclaims my husband ; “ I must go down and | 
husband did his best to break me of this, and so far suc¬ 
ceeded that one morning I consented to fire at a target. 
He hold the gun for me and I closed my eyes (though my 
ee the fun.” A moment more and he was rushing over 
he fields and scaling fences in frantic haste to join the 
crowd, the. other gentlemen of the party in close pursuit. 
Deserted so unceremoniously, we ladies were at a loss 
to know what to turn to for amusement. I sat down and 
gazed out of a window in the direction of the “scene of 
action,” hoping and believing that my John would soon 
return. Presently I saw him coming. Ah 1 I thought, 
he cannot tear himself long away from me on this first 
day of our wedded life, and is returning to seek my side. 
Biit alas ! he had returned merely to “seek” a shot-gun, 
and, having found it, hastened bade with all possible 
speed, and I was again left “sitting by the window,” 
musing upon the inauspicious opening of our career. The 
day was far spent when he returned: he “ had had a glori¬ 
ous time,” brought down more birds straight than any fel¬ 
low there, and seemed happier than I had ever known 
him to be before. 
The wedding trip over, we decided to make our home 
in the charming village of C—. The fact that there are 
many ardent sportsmen residing'in this place has proba¬ 
bly influenced my husband to remain in it to the present 
time. Just now’glass ball shooting is the order of each 
evening, and old and young engage hr it. But I digress. 
Tins village is situated on the western shore of the Little 
Iowa, and the scenery in its vicinity, comprising forest, 
stream and prairie, rocky hills, deep ravines, sunny slopes 
and broad green meadows, is varied and beautiful, I dis¬ 
covered very soon that my husband loved most ardently 
to visit these same haunts, but it was with gun in hand 
and setter dog for companion, and not with me. How I 
envied that dog, and how long the bright days seemed in 
then- absence 1 
The monotony of my existence was at last interrupted by 
the arrival of a sister and her husband, who came from a 
distance to visit us. Now, I thought, since—fortunately 
for my sister—her husband is not a sportsman, John 
will he obliged to give up gunning for a season and enter¬ 
tain our guests. What nice times we will have, and what 
delightful drives we’ll take over this beautiful country. 
But think of my dismay when my husband began pictur¬ 
ing to him in glowing colors the delights of shooting 
ducks, hunting prairie chickens, etc.; and he so worked 
upon his imagination that my brother in-law was soon al¬ 
most as eager to go as himself, and early the next mom- 
ino they drove off for an all-day’s hunt; not satisfied with 
tins they must go again the next day. How long this 
would have continued I cannot say, had not my sister, be¬ 
ing alarmed lest the malady might be contagious and her 
husband become permanently affected, induced him to 
return home. 
My husband cared little for society, excepting that of 
sportsmen. Lf we went to a picnic. Fourth of July celebra¬ 
tion or anything of the kind, there was certain to be a shoot-* 
ing match in the near vicinity to which he would immedi¬ 
ately repair, leaving me to wander aimlessly among the 
people with few of whom I had any acquaintance what¬ 
ever. To illustrate the way in which I was forced to re- 
linguisb society during the shooting season I will give an 
instance. One ‘day we received a delicately tinted note re¬ 
questing the “pleasure of our presence” at a reception. I 
was delighted. Of course we must go ; it would not do to 
give offence, besides we had not been out for some time, 
and I was yearning for society. “John, ” I said, “ you 
will go with me to this, will you not ? You will not go 
away gunning and disappoint me, will you?” “Why, do 
you wish very much to go?” "I do indeed.” (John is real- 
l y very kind, and during the close season—would that it 
extended through the year—a more exemplary husband 
would be hard to find). ■ ‘Well, since you desire it so much 
I will try and go, though these fashionable parties have 
no attraction for me,” 
Thus assured, I made the necessary preparations. But 
the daybefore the event was to take place, he announced 
his intention of visiting bis favorite hunting grounds, 
some twelve miles distant, promising to return if possible 
in time for the reception. In the afternoon of the follow¬ 
ing day ho returned, hungry and loaded with game. 
Supper over it was late to prepare for the reception, be¬ 
sides here was this game, a part of which ought to bo 
dressed at once, as the weather was still warm, so I gavo 
up going and settled myself for an evening at home, 
picking ducks, etc. My husband sat watching me, hap- 
pier iu recounting how each individual bird had been 
brought to bag, than he would have been iu the society 
Of kings. . , ,, , 
Finally it occurred to me that I might become a • • sports¬ 
woman/’ To this end I diligently studied the columns of 
mv husband’s sporting journal, the Forest and Stream. 
1 had many difficulties to contend with, perhaps the 
greatest of these was, I was “gun-shy.” If a gun were 
fired off near the house, in spite of my better mdgment 
I could not refrain from running in and closing the 
door and holding my ears tightly tul it was over. My 
husband thought I was taking sight) and fired. Caring 
little to know whether the ball struck the target or not, 
I turned and ran to the house, for fear he might want me 
to try it again. I presume I made a very bad shot; at all 
events my husband (lid not compliment my skill. 
One morning my husband informed me that he was go¬ 
ing to hunt up some quails that he had learned were in 
an old field not a great way off. I decided at once to ac¬ 
company him. Donning my hat and cloak—it was in 
late autumn or early winter—we set out joyfully enough, 
How fast John walked ! I kept up with him for a while, 
but soon grew weary of wandering around among the 
cornstalks, which, by the way, is neither romantic nor 
pleasant. But that husband of mine was in liis ele¬ 
ment. With gun firmly clasped and eyes flashing, lie 
stalked on, regardless of cornstalks or my panting exist¬ 
ence. He saw only the dog, which was running about 
and sniffing the air in all directions—in fact we were fol¬ 
lowing the dog. Presently we came to the willows on 
the river’s bank. Here Queen paused ; but at the master’s 
cohimand she again proceeded, slowly creeping. Pre-'- 
sontly there was aloud whirring sound, and a great num¬ 
ber of quail rose among the trees. My husband fired, but 
without success; the bevy divided and flew in different 
directions. My husband searched for them a little but 
did not find them again. By this time I was completely 
exhausted, and sank half fainting at the foot of a tree. 
After resting for some time I was able to go home, but I' 
had lost all desire to become a “ sportswoman.” 
Time passed by, and a sweet son blessed our union. 
We welcomed him with joy. “I shall not he so lonely 
now,” I thought. A few years hence and my boy will 
be old enough to be company for me while his father is 
gunning.” Butalas! hearing an unusual commotion in the 
sitting room one day, I went to ascertain the cause, and 
beheld that infant—die could not yet walk—seated on the 
floor, his arm out stretched, and in his hand a broken pis¬ 
tol, which he pointed at various objects, screaming, 
"Bang! bang! bang!” His father was beside him, con¬ 
vulsed with laughter. “Ah!” he said to me, “if this 
child lives he will see more fun in his boyhood than ev¬ 
er his father did. He must have a gun as soon as he is 
able to carry it, and I will take him hunting with me.” 
My heart sank within me, and thus ended my bright an¬ 
ticipations. 
My experience with dogs—or a dog, rather—began when 
Queen was brought home from a neighboring city, a mere 
puppy in my husband’s arms ,and deposited for the night 
in an old barrel back of the house. It required just about 
five minutes for her to tear the staves apart and make her 
way into the house; and she has been a privileged inmate 
of.it ever since—not that I wished her to be at all, but be¬ 
cause my husband desired to have her treated very much 
as a member of liis family. When I suggested to him that 
the dogs I had known and loved in my childhood were 
not permitted to enter the house except upon special invi¬ 
tation, he informed me that those dogs were ignorant and 
uneducated, and but mongrels of low degree ; while his 
was of royal parentage, and the blue blood of old Eng¬ 
land and Ireland coursed grandly though her veins. She 
must bo treated with deference, and given the liberty of 
the house. I submitted without further expostulation. 
O the annoyance that I have suffered from that blue- 
blooded dog ! She would leave her footprints, exquisitely 
modeled in mud, all over my clean kitchen floor: she 
gnawed the toe off one of my nice new shoes, and bitholes- 
in the carpet. If a visitor was coming she knew it the 
minute the gate latch rattled, and would rush to the front 
door and bark loudly, in spite of my best efforts to control 
her. Finally, when I saw any one coming, I would call 
her into a back room and close the door between. But 
she soon began to see through my little game, and then 1 
could not possibly induce her to come out, and would be 
obliged to take hold of her collar and drag her. This was 
not an easy thing to do, as she made all the resistance pos¬ 
sible, and I generally met my visitor with a very red face. 
When I went to my husband for sympathy he would 
smile blandly and ejaculate, “ Smart dog! very intelligent 
animal! ” If I left her at home when I went down town] 
she would howl dismally till I returned. She was ex- ] 
tremely fond of barking at people. I have known her 
to chase a half-grown boy up on a fence and keep him 
clinging to the topmost board, while she would stand off 
a short distance and hark iu intense delight till I came to 
the rescue. She was not vicious, however, and would 
never bite any one ; and if a small stick was thrown at 
her she would run to me in great fright. She was of no 
manner of use to me, unless it was to frighten away the 
tramps. She would not even drive the chickens out of 
the garden. I have repeatedly sent her after them, and 
she would start off willingly enough, but when she got 
within a short distance of them she-would stand still and 
hold up one foot and look at them. My husband called 
this “ pointing,” and admired it exceedingly. 
My husband has a wav of preventing his dog from bark¬ 
ing nights, which he thinks is excellent. I myself have 
never Decome reconciled to the method; though there is 
