The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-12-21
Popular Gales,
CHRISTMAS-EVE.

"Of tonight Mail train. eh? Why,
Talbot, old fellow, you will lose the very
cream of the hunting. Nice open weather,
with the scent breast-high, and the horses
in their best form. We draw Appley
Gone on Wednesday, sure find and
splendid country, | want you to show
these Melton dandies at Lord Whipham's
the way over Bullingsley Brook. 1t is a
pity to leave us just now Thus spoke
our veteran NJ. +. H., thorough sports
man, and genial, warm hearted gentleman
of the old school, with whom had been
fayorite ever since he first rated me, at the
ripe age of ten, for riding my shaggy pony
too close to the leading hounds
|, Talbot Carew, whose name figured in
the Landed Gentry as second son Of Fran
els Carew, ESD, of Harbledown Court, and
in the Army Last as lieutenant in light
cavalry regiment, looked rueful enough, |
dare say, as assured the good old master
Of the hounds that there was no help for
it, and that with all my desire to stay until
the frost should put stop to our sylvan
enjoyments, 90 must The fact was that
my regiment was under orders for India,
and that before We sailed my father had
urged me to accept an invitation to spend
the Christmas with an uncle and aunt of
mine, certain Sir Charles aud Lady IRE
herne, who lived a long way of, in the
west of England, and whom it so happened
THAT had not seen since my school-boy
,days. | had no particular desire to devote
ny last days in England to visit at Bran
shaw Hall, where had never before been
guest, and it was especially unplessing
to me to leave home just then. We lived
in one Of the most famous of those grass
shires' which form the paradise of fox
hunters and the emporium of weight-car-
rying hunters aud hounds of high degree I;
while Brainshaw was situated in Blank
shire, which, as every one knows, is n
rocky, healthy, and eminently picturesque
county, where fox-hunting can only be
pursued under difficulties
My parents were, however, so anxious
that | should not refuse my uncle's we'll
meant invitation that ! reluctantly made
up my mind to accept it and us there were
sundry matters to transact in town, with
reference to equipments, outfit, etc, and
as we expected to embark for India early
in the new year, | was Obliged to hurry up
To London at once to attend to the needful
preparations, and to be in time to reach
Bramshaw before the Christmas festivities
should fairly begin. When il began to
snow heavily on the day of my leaving
London reflected that the fine scenting
weather ia our own country was over for
the present, and that had not lost many
runs BY my unwilling absence.
With all that, could not help looking
upon my visit to Bramshau as as unmiti-
gated annoyance. had seen, as have
already remarked, very little of the rela-
tiyes under whose roof ] was 10 be dom-
ciled, and 10 all their friends, az well as to
the part of the country in which they re-
sided, was total stnnger. The Ire.
hernes were people who had for several
years led quiet life on their own estate,
and the district in which they lived was
one that had a reputation for tenaciOusly
keeping up ancient usages and customs
exploded in parts Of England more infused