The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-17


I'll tell you a yarn of the vale we cross
When hounds were running a scent
breast high;
When the hunt was weeded. the skirters
And turf, like water. was neetng by.
There We're hardly ten Of our hardest men
Could hope TO live on the lire they took
And out OF the ten there We're nye left
We Jew, Trough the willows that fringe
the brook.
There was Hall. and the Master, and
Travers, and Rookie on a steel-blue roam;
Walter and Peal, and the huntsman
On a big brown youngster, all breed and
And rom st. Clair on Sweet Kildare.
Who the best of our myers had brought
And / on NJ; stoutest. the chestnut mare.
For. l knew Of the willows, and exc the
brook.
We had met that morning at Norton
With southwest wind and a soft gray
There was little Of wind. but the air was
Ana we were keoner TO DO or die.
We found ina the cover. below the farm.
Twas a stout dog fox, and By hook or
CROOK,
l meant TO be there, though the pace was
Nor thought Of the willows. nor yet the
brook.
Twas a furnishing pace for the bravest
Though never a one but was bred to go:
For the. great grass meadows, all brown
and bare.
Were sodden and soft with the last
weeks snow.
The fences were few. but the few were
stiff,
1t was leaping then, with no time to
And YOU had to charge it, and chance it,
You wanted TO stay to the swirling
brook.
Each exquisite moment twas ours 10 feel
A lifetime sense Of "a strength sublime,
While the shudderng thud or the thumb
cring steel
To the lying music In front kept time.
For the fever Of galioping thrilled my
And each thought of sorrow my soul
As I frightened my grasp Of the iathering
And headed away for the willowy brook.
Our pinks were spattered and splashed
Our boots and feathers sight to be
seen.
And he song we might have been singing
To Judge BY appearance, was Wearing
the Green
To the deep-mouthed melody on we sped.
Small wonder If some Of our steeds mis-
Till we Saw before us three fields ahead.
The tops Of the willows that fringe the
brock.
A crash Of timbers, a rattle Of rails.
And a splntered wreck where a gate
had SWING.
For three Of Us rode for it. heads and
And two Of Us tumbled the sods among
Six that were left struggled over the
plough.
But the blackthorn settled the fate. Of
and we FIVE set sail. with an inward
Lord. help us over the big brown
brook
The Master got over and Charlie Kerr.
For the banks were sound at the place
they jumped,
But Travers got in 1t and so did Barr.
For both OF their cattle were fairly
Where willows were widest 1 steered with
Sat back. though the snaale lightly
And the good old mare, with a yard to
spare,
Leapt clean and clever across the brook.
Not a minute too soon, for the fox was
done,
And the hounds ran into him then and
there;
So the race Of Reynard was lost and won,
Though stouter never stole game, l
swear,
Full forty minutes with never a check
Il looked at the time, when I'd time 10
lOok)
I could almost wish he had saved his
For the sport he showed us up to the
brook.
'1is past, but such memories stir a2Sce
Till our life-springs fafi anu We 20 70
While our british race keeps its pride OF
place 80 .,
With our nobiest heritage horse and
hound
To sport ard 70 Cd fellows of all degrees
a bottle wen drain from the choicest
mock.
With three times three to my favorite
trees.
che good green willows that fringe the
brock.
Godfrey de Holden-stcns. In Baily s
Magazine. ..