Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-09-11
A VIRGINIA ANEcDoFg.
Hunt and Sunday Lesson, Together
with a Whipping.

VIRGINIA AEEcDorg.
A Hunt and Sunday Lesson, Together
with Whipping.
Sunday? Yes, it was on Sunday,
and because it was on that day l got the
first whipping of my life and the only one.
Sister and Katie was IA and l IO-had
nothing to do of that quiet Sunday after.
noon. Father had dinner party, some
neighbors who had come, and we did not
care for the restraint of the drawing. room.
We were dressed in our best, short waists.
long sashes and bows, and were to make
an appearance afterward. 1t was q lovely
cool afternoon, and We thought we Nigh.
take just little stroll and pick some straw.
berries. | think when | said to sister.
Let US pick some berries I had some
idea of rabbits Katie consented, so off
we went, swinging our summer hats. and
soon came to the berry patch, not quar-
ter of mile from the house. The berries
were ripe aud sweet, and we picked and
picked them. Unjust say l was halt, dis.
pointed at sighting no rabbit. Katie,
said l, are rabbits so very good that they
don't come out of a Sunday? Uncle Billy
told me yesterday that the king of the rab.
bits lived just round here, and do believe
l have seen him twice. He is Just as big
as two ordinary rabbits, and his tail is
longer than his ears
"'What a likely bush,' said Katie.
pointing TO thick bunch of bramble.'
Now, whether she meant for black berries
or rabbits l did not know. Elegant, said
|, and just black with the berries on it
a regular rabbit bush, too Then l
peered cautiously, and, sure enough, squat.
ting right in tue shade was the biggest
rabbit | ever saw. Now, l came from a
hunting family, and though little girl
then, the instinct of the race was strong in
me. 1 held my breath, so did Katie.
CSC We have got to catch that rabbit,
said Katie in a whisper.
''Of course me must, replied de.
cidedly.
Won't you-that's dear, dear sister
go for fathers hunting horn !? asked
Katie am so big that some one would
be sure to see me, and you are little. Then
father and mother would forgive you, and
they wouldn't me, because you are spoiled,
you know. | don't care who gets the
whipping, though. l will stand by you.
Now that's dear so back across the
hill, skirt the peach orchard, and get to the
stable door. 1t won't take six minutes,
The horn hangs on the nail; lust rattle it,
and you can get all the dogs you want.
Run, Annie, run, and | will stay here and
fsscinate> that rabbit, like the snake does
in the story book, and he will stay right
here until kingdom come. Don't you foot
the horn-only just breathe in it. Keep
the dogs quiet, and come on to me here
just as gently as you can-and then the
lots of fun we are going to have
at was too much for me to resist such
an appeal. | skirted the peach orchard,
climbed fence Indifferent to ribbons and
tucks, went past the negro quarters, and
reached the stable door. There along side
of that door hung the tin hunting horn.
Horns to call the dogs had been suspended
there for over hundred years. Beauty.
fathers pet hound, was apparently asleep
by the kennel, but she opened one eve and
wagged her tail as l approached her. She
looked astonished as | reached up my hand
to take the horn. just breathed through
it and Beute gave a little whimper-a
sweet ripple OF sound--iuss as much as to
say, It's Sunday, my little mistress, but
if you really mean hunt for earnest l will
take run with you, and Beute rose and
shook herself, and opened her mouth
just little louder. Then Cowslip, her
brindled sister, and Daisy, her aunt,
and Pamela, and Towser, and the Doctor.
came bouncing in and wanted to sing too.
but | looked cross at them, and thew
were quiated. Then | hid the horn m.
der my shirt, but beckoned them on.
The news seemed to spread at once in
the dog world, for in plunged Rrutus.
Major, Nap, Lively, Soult, Dimple, Short.
Yellow Legs, Venus and her two puppies.
held nay finger up, and they seemed to
understand it was still hunt, for thew
all held their peace. OFF we went. had
Beute by her long, pliable ear, and she led
like lamb, the rest of them following
close. Presently, with my heart in
my mouth, afraid as death that the
puppies would begin singing, we all
got through the fence along The orchard,
and presently | saw Katie's blue.and-
white skirt. She as mosionless as a
statue, pointing with an outstretched
finger. Bunny had not moved an inch
no more had sister Katie. Then Baute got
the scent. She knew it was rabbit, and
she kind of looked at me with her lovely
eyes, as much as to say, See here, Annie,
ycur father wouldn't like it ; but Just then
Nepus's puppies, that were young and
foolish saw Bunny and jumped for him.
Then Beute couldn't stand it any longer.
for she just scattered the puppies and
sprang for the lead, Bunny having good
fair start. Oh! it was lovely dozen fox
hounds, puppies and all, and the whole
band playing. Off started the rabbit on
the full run, Katie abreast of me, and we
following the dogs. Run l think could
in those days, and could keep up with any
of my brothers. 1t was all working lovely.
Bunny took to the hollow away from the
house, and as we had a good clear path
along the ridge, dogs and rabbit were in
sight all the time. Oh, such fun, but
pretty bad for ribbons, for they were
pulled off by the limbs of the trees. NV
hair was streaming out behind me, and one
shoe had gone IN the first 20 yards of the
run, and [ had kicked off the other, but
that made no matter, for was accustomed
to run barefoot.
I" 1t locked as if the kill was sure, and
that we would have had all the fun to our
selves, and that nobody in the house would
know anything about il, and the torn
dresses could be accounted for. But lust
where little creek had a fall OF about
three feet, who should come up but a
wretched cur belonging to a neighbor, and
that brute always fought our pack. What
did that beast do but make right for Beute
Bunny saw her chance and doubled right
there. Katie was equal to the emergency,
for she took rock and hammered that cur
and pounded him until he let go his hold.
Then poor Beute, though her ear was all
in ribbons, like our skirts, was game, took
up the scent again, dashed right up the
bank, got On the track, and away with
big burst of speed they went, every dog on
the full yell. did not take the least 10.
tice of where we we've going, but before I
knew of it Bunny was on the broad carriage
road, lined with paradise trees, that led
right up to the house., 1t must have been
pretty sight to see the dogs ell in clus.
ter, Beute just nose ahead, the puppies
trailing, and Bunny not twenty feet in the
lead, doing his very best. How we shot
past that house.
" Father heard the dogs at once, and had
come on the veranda, and SO had the whole
dinner party. All the servants were there,
and they waved their napkins, kind Of
cheering us on. We were Of a x.huntisG
family, slaves and all, and remembs
tinctly that old Anthony, the mosS
fed of colored buffers, Joined n
silver soup-ladle in his hand
splendid burst OF speed, an
fancy father and mother Gale
could no more have stogu
avalanche. Just then l h
and it was fathers big
Bryan, who, hearing IT,
the noise of the hound