The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1883-09-26
failing a Fox In Rockingham.

Sheriff Johnston and Dick Stokes
broke daylight with their fox horns and
with fifteen hounds started out. When
they struck Jim Glenn's plantation
they heard another party and soon met
Jim Bethel. Ruiz Gwyn. and eight hand
some young ladies'. Major Peter Hair
ston's and Col. Sharp's daughters and
a Miss Dowell who was on a visit from
Alabama-there was also other gentle
men whose name We not remember.
The Young ladies were rugged out IN
regular hunting STYLE with hunting boots.
aud pants and riding habits at struck
about the ankle of The boots. They
were all s~plendidly mounted. The
Sheriff tod them just TO wait there
awhile aud let him 20 to the front with
his old dogs while he beat back the few
puppies i'll the gang that vas yelping
here and there alter rabbits, and he
would guarantee to lift a fox III twenty
minutes time. u enough soon his
hounds were in full cry and he whooped
up the party. 1t vas the prettiest run
of the season, the first dash right down
the road for a halt a mile, first one dog
ahead and then another. and the young
ladies in full sweep down the road. nor
did they mind the bushes when they
dashed into the woods, there was "A iog
about three feet high. and Miss Hair
ston's horse leapedit at full run. she sat
as steady as Il die. and the fox would
turn this way and then that. but the
pack of thirty dogs riGhtat his heels and
scoring him every time. it was IN hour
and a half hard u and steady cry, and
finally as he dashed across a creek in
the nighborhood of Tom Hagood's that
was SO bluffy and bushy it vas impcssi-
BILE to Get a horse across it. Dick stokes
who was ahead. leaped from his horse
and plunged the creek. and Miss Hair
ston who was right behind did the same
wading right through the creek her
handsome face red with excitement and
fairly sparkling with the fever of the
race. and as Dick helped her up the bluff
on the other side she said to him
You must get the brush for me, Mr..
Stokes"
Il WILL" said Dick.
The fox had run up the tree as the
party came dashing and one of Jim
Bethels dogs ran up the tree after him
and came near getting killed by a limbs
breaking and letting him to the
HIOuIli- llu1 pNNh tliIllDCu lilt bICt
and as he punched the fox out. it lit into
woods. the dogs bouncing on it and quick
as thought Dick Stokes had seized it by
the tail and cut it OFT and put the brush
in his pocket and no one had seen him.
Where is the brush ~ cried one hunter
as he dashed at the fox.
by George. somebody has taken it."
said Dick.
Each one of the party thought the
other had it until after the excitement
had somewhat subsidized. Dick sauntered
up % Miss Hairston and taking it from
his pocket, handed it to her saying:
The brush is yours Her eyes fairly
danced as she accepted it went gallop-
ing home with her party with the brush
tied to her bride rein. Finer horse
manship than those young ladies dis
PLAYED was never seen outside of a show
ring. The hunt was owe by two hours
by sun-the young ladies were in the
saddle long before day. They started
from j. ID. Glenn's. Head old Rock
ingham on her women, will you.-Reids-
vile Times.