The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-10-14
But one thing is certain, he could not compare,
With our Isaiah" for hunting deer -


After we had finished driving 'sDog swamp
we were reminded by certain indispulable signs,
that il was soon-"high twelve p
Although the suns rays were not very 70
| tent, they were sufficiently so, 10 admonish Us
that whilst little rest in the cooler shades
would do no harm TO the painting pack, and the
"cordlal breeze thereof might serve TO mosten
their dry and far lolng out tongues, '.cordial
breeze of another kind might perhaps, do no
very great harm 10 the rest Of the party
With true spiritual wisdom, then, we pro
| ceeded 10 discuss the contents Of certain lllte
junk bottle, produced with great care from the
leathern pouch OF a certain little Ethiopian,
whose peculiar province IL was, by an adInira-
bic arrangement made in the early part of the
day, TO act not as our Spiritual Guide, but as
Spiritual Comforter on the occasion
Our horns furnishing very convenient subsli-
tutes for cups, we found no difficulty in very
speedily and eaectually refreshing tired ma
ture ~
Il is said that William the Conqueror was
the first to introduce horns to the notice Of our
Saxon Fathers for cheering the hounds ! won
der whether he was the first TO adapt il, also, 10
the equally important Of taking a horn!
This is, indeed, grave question, A very 6t
subject for the investigation Of any Historical
Society. If the subject is much longer neg
lected, shall feel bound myself one OF these
days, 10 write an article upon IL for the benefit
and special ediicaton Of the rising generation
Directing our course homewards, our dogs
with fresh recruited strength, put up in the diff
ferent drives that lay directly in our route, no
less than thirteen deer, in addition To those al
| ready started and seen
One of the drives home, being through tole-
rably open wood, bordering for some distance
| an old field behold the prettiest sporting Incl
dent of the day-at all events, the advantage
was mine to see, and enjoy all that was going
on. could see the hounds busily this way and
that spreading and ranging round in all drec-
| lions, examining with curious nose each hush,
or tutt of tangled grass. Every now and then
one of them would give out doubtful note
then the whole pack would hurry through the
| woods with general rustic of the leaves, then
all would be still again But cheered by the
drivers voice, the sagacous animals again
'splied their anxious !" their curling tails
Aourished in the air, higher than before, the
scent evidently becoming fresher. All at
| from their loud threats one universal chorus
burst, and away they sprang. Two large does
that had been basking in the bright sunshine by
the side of the wood, never dreaming of moles
taion or pursuit in these retired glades Jumped
up, and urged, to their speed before the driving
pack, went flying along the margin Of the wood,
within my view the whole time. The dogs be
ing close upon them-heads and tails up--the
forest echoing with their loud thunder, and the
L
same time, made the scene as animating
one as ever witnessed of the same kind There,
too was my favorite "Trimbushn again--the
busiest among the busy, as if he felt it was his
peculiar province always TO lead the cry.
Suddenly the deer doubled, and came back,
bounding across the field. toward the spot whore
was standing shaking their dappled sides more
and more, with every effort to outstrp their pur-
suers.
Two of our party seeing that the deer had
now fairly left the wood and had literally taken
the field. mounted their horses, and galloped up
TO meet them, knowing that they could not run
back from the proximity of the dogs that thu.
dered in the rear. They both got good sho,s
Although from the direction they approached
coming directly between me and the deer they
entirely cut out my chance Nevertheless it
was pretty sight, maugre the disappointment
The elder, being one of the veterans | alluded
to at the beginning of this article, hating his
horse, and firing with all the GOODNESS characte-
ristc of age and experience; whilst the other,
like the boy Ascanius gaudens equo
"At puer Ascanius, meds in valbus acrt
Gaudet equo,"
with all the fire and enthusiasm of youth, cal
lantly pushed on IN pursuit at the top of his
horses speed, till within twenty yards, then
suddenly dropt his reins, aimed and fired /
was so close as TO perceive that his aim had
UeeH uHtTIlHS. OFeTtdken III u very snort dis
lance BY the pack, the entrails of the deer were
taken out, and the dogs RECALLED "a well earned
perquisile for their toll
Having now seen thiry-six deer and bagged
four-we ought 10 say horsed -four (ior il is usu-
al TO swing the killed deer on the backs Of horses
in carrying them honey 1--WE thought we had
sport enough for one day, so resolved TO sound
retreat
Now many may think, although we had sport
auff tua nd M n,,ito ri (,
day. Out of thirly-six, four is perhaps a small
number TO procure. 1t is but fair, then, that
should eXtenuate this seeming want of skill on
the occasion, by the explanation lhat the woods
in which we hunted We're for the mos part very
thick-impen etrable-and with but few keep
tons, the country ''was new and an untrIed
scene" TO all the party.
AS the evering shades prevailed we reached
the hospltable mansion whence we started in the
morning. We found sumptuous repas, pre-
pared, smoking on the table
] Many good and true men, and orthodox sports
men, too, Of opinion that this is the best part
Of the days hunt, Without wishing 10 s,ttlc
the question: (chacum son gout) | am free 10
confess II Is by no means to me an unwe leone
part Of it,
| III, as certain wit said
Good wine-good friends or cling dry,
| Or any other 7, ason why"
are all good reasons for taking a drink we can
not see why good wine, good friends, and being
hungry as well as dry not equally good rea-
sons for making good night of IT, after good
day.
How delightful to review in memory's mel
lowing glass each little incident of the morning;
no longer little, but magni6ed into importance
by our mellowing glass-to recall each joyou.
scene, and 10 recount in social gaIrulty over
the full bowl, individual uumphs. The song
and joke alternately prevailing, too, TO cast far
behind the lingering cares of life, and con,c
quently 10 put US in better humor with ourselves