Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-03-02
MY FIRST AND LAST FOX HUNT

least. S1T, are THESE 1Oc YOU
1t was my man who spoke, and as he
did so, he held up for inspection an i'm
inaculate pair of 'stops" in one hand and
a pair of painfully new breeches in the
other, while his countenance wore an ex-
preston of mingled fear and astonish-
ment
With en- inward sinking at my heart
turned from my morning paper and cut
let. and having nodded gloomy assent
to his query, said, That will do, James;
Law them on the SOFA
The above conversation took place In
my bachelor apartments in the Albany.
and the reason for the appearance there
III Of the aforesaid tops and breeches I
am now about to explain. am not a
hunting man. [ never could see any
joke In humping about on hard piece
of plgskin In pursuit Of draggled piece
Of vermin called fox, although some
people say the fox enjoys the fun. It is
all very well for those who like it; and
Alr. .jorrics of immortal memory may
call hunting s. the sport of things-the
image of war without its guilt and only
% per cent of it's danger" if he like,
but L conf ess [ can't see it in that light.
1t was with feelings the reverse of pleas
ant, therefore, that [ received and &C
cepted an invitation from Sir Harry Bull
finch TO stay week at bis box " in
Warwickshire, and avail myself of his
hospitality and a mount with the re-
Houned pack which hunted that country.
| pas urged to this acceptance of what
In my saner moments [ should have in
dignantly treated as a practical joke by
a slight attack of the master passion.
I met Sir Harry and his daughter Kate
I'D London, during the past season. We
had frequently met at various balls and
entertainments, and on several occasions
had enjoyed the balmy fragrance of
Bushy park and the still delights of a
boat on the upper reaches of the Thames,
but with my natural timidity [ had never
ventured to ask the question which was
forever on the tip Of my tongue, but
never got farther. The invitation held
out promises Of quiet tete-a-tetes, so /
electrified my tailor and bootmaker with
orders for the necessary "togs' with
which to carry on the campaign.
[ remembered having somewhere
heard or read that in order to acquire an
easy and graceful seat on horseback, sit
ting astride on chair and holding on by
the back was excellent practice, so, ha7-
ing called James and given him most ex.
press instructions to deny me even my
most intimate friends, proceeded tc
struggle into perhaps the highest pail
OF cords that were ever made for mortal
man, and, with the aid of brandy ano
soda and couple Of boot hooks, to pull
on pair of boots which nearly gave me
a fit of apopleXy and made my corns
burn for hours. Armed with cutting
Whip, then mounted astride the strong
est chair in Che apartment, and con
tinued the exhilarating exercise with the
firmness Of stole and a martyr, and
with only one interval for luncheon
throughout the entire day.
My train left the Great Northern sta
ton at 400, and landed me safely at my
destination. In due course found my
self seated next to the fair Kate, with M
legs comfortably stretched under ST
Harry's mahogany.
81 suppose our dull country pack vii
seem quite second-rate affair to you,
said Kate.
| was murmuring something in reply
when Sir Harry cut IN with:
AAh. ~ SoOo Al ol1AN1AkiO III
you tomorrow, my boyi A trihe playful
perhaps-hasn't been hunted yet this
season, but will carry you like bird.
ooh, yes, said Kate, " Gar is such 6
nice creature"
''Indeed!" said /. 81 am reloiced te
hear 1t. OF course you accompany us to
the neet?"
Yes," she replied, land papa has
sad that, as you were going out, L might
even follow the hounds a little way.
You'll look after me, won't you Mr.. De
Boots?"
1 promised TO do my devoirs, but in
my heart of hearts thought I should re-
quire some one to look after me.
The following morning at breakfast
which was early Oh account OF our hay
zig TO go some distance to the meet, the
horses were brought round-a sturdy,
tliick-set, auiet-looking weight-car rier,
a neat-leoking gray mare, and a bright