Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour

a time about as difficult to fix in a November day as the age of a lady of a 'certain age.' It takes even an expeditious dresser ten minutes or a quarter of an hour extra

stants might be seen going along with strings of saddled and side-saddled screws; flys began to roll at an earli

to play the stranger; and a desire to see the stranger, far more than a desire to see the tr

Mr. Sponge came in for his full share of stranger credit. They not only brought all the twenty horses Leather said he had scattered about to Laverick Wells, but made him out

him breakfasted, an

w. Rejecting the now generally worn cap, he adhered to the heavy, close-napped hat, described in our opening chapter, whose connexion with his head, or back, if it came off, was secured by a small black silk cord, hooked through the band by a fox's tooth, and anchored

ort a long cuff or a short cuff, or no cuff at all-just as the weather dictated. Though the coat was single-breasted, he had a hole made on the button side, to enable him to keep it together by means of a miniature snaffle, instead of a button. The snaffle passed across his chest, from whence the coatee, flowing easily back, displayed the broad ridge and furrow of a white cord waistcoat, with a low step collar, the vest reaching low down his figure, with large flap pockets and a nick out in front, like a coachman's. Instead of buttons, the waistcoat was secured with foxes' tusks and catgut loops, while a heavy curb chain, passing from on

s, though perhaps they would rather have had him a white or a cream colour, could not but admire his nut-brown muzzle, his glossy coat, his silky mane, and the elegant way in which he carried his flowing tail. His step was delightful to look at-so free, so accurate, and so easy. And that reminds us that we may as well be getting Mr. Sponge up-a feat of no easy accomplishment. Few h

e disagreeableness of being kicked off at the cover side, not being always compensated for by falling soft, Mr. Sponge thought, as the meet was not far off, and he did not sport a cover hack, it would l

aracter of the stud, by which means Leather felt that his own character and consequence would best be maintained. Accordingly, he refrained from calling in the aid of any of the stable assistants, preferring for once to do a little work himself, especially when the rider was up to the trick, and not 'a gent' to be cajoled into 'trying a horse.' Mr. Sponge, punctual to his time, appeared at the stable, and after much patting, whistling, so-so-ing, my man, and general ingratiation, the redoubtable nag was led out

arched neck, 'I'll give you a hint; they're a goin' to r

r. Sponge, in surprise, dr

ied Mr. Leathe

Sponge gave him his head, and passing through the side-gate was presently in the street. He didn't exactly understand it, but having

of his way to get them in, but that is neither here nor there, seeing he was a stranger who didn't know the way. What a sensation his appearance created as the

mping up from the breakfast-table, and nearly sweeping

-dozen voices, amid a gen

nto Miss Beauchamp's ear: 'I'm sure anybody may have him for me

ot without an inward qualm that he had set himself a more difficult task than he imagined, to 'cut h

' observed Captain Whitfield, as

ride over a fellow in such a pair,' observed hi

claimed Whitfield. 'No well-bred horse

elf!' observed Mr. Cox, as Sponge cast

eld; 'perhaps he'll have the conce

king down from his bedroom window, he espied Mr. Sponge passing up the street on hi

their watches should be wrong or some arrangement made that they are ignorant of. The hounds too, were on, as was seen as well by their footmarks, as by the bob, bob, bobbing of sundry black caps above

m keeps rising and falling with his whip, beating responsive to the horse's action with the butt-end against his thigh. His new scarlet coat imparts a healthy hue to his face, and good boots and breeches hide the imperfections of his bad legs. His hounds seem to partake of the old man's gaiety, and gather round his horse or frolic forward on the grassy sidings of the road, till, getting almost out of earshot, a single 'yooi doit!-Arrogant!'-or 'here again, Brusher!' bring

ds; the miller and he, too, greet; and forthwith a black bottle with a single glass make their appearance, and pass current with the company. Then the earth-stopper draws nigh, and, resting a hand on Tom's horse's shoulder, whispers

d to brush off the mud sparks, and rectify any little derangement the horses or their accoutrements may have contracted on the journey. Presently Mr. Sponge, and such other gentlemen as have ridden their own horses

s gay, men,

miling counte

g health and

iss Jumpheavy's ball-she was such a nice creature-such a charming ball, and so well managed, while others were anticipating the delights of Mrs. Tom Hoppey's, and some again were asking which was Mr. Sponge. Then up went the eye-glasses, while Mr. Sponge

y all had come to see

auspicious day he hove in sight, coming best pace along the road, about twenty minutes before twelve, with a more numerous retinue than usual. In dress, Mr. Waffles was the light, butterfly order of sportsman-once-round tie, French polish, paper boots, and so on. On this occasion he sported a shirt-collar with three or four blue lines, and then a white space followed by three or more blue lines, the whole terminating in blue spots about the size of fourpenny pieces at the points; a once-round blue silk tie, with white spots and

ay his respects in detail. At length, having exhausted his 'nothings,' and said the same thing over again in a dozen different ways to a dozen differen

IN GR

h such screamings from the ladies in the flys, and such hearty-sounding kicks against splash boards and fly bottoms, from sundry of the vicious ones in harness, as never was witnessed. One gentleman, in a bran-new scarlet, mounted on a flourishing piebald, late the property of Mr. Batty, stood pawing and fighting the air, as if in the saw-dust circle, his unfortunate rider clinging round his neck, expecting to have the beast back over upon him. Another little wiry chestnut, with abundance of rings, racing martingale, and tackle generally, just turned tai

went his ears, with a single lash out behind that meant mischief, but Mr. Sponge was on the alert, and just ga

ghter hold of their horses; the screaming fair ones sank languidly in their carriages; an

a long cover on a hill-side, from which parties, placing themselves in the green valley below, can see hounds 'draw,' that is to say, run through

appearing to direct. 'Eu leu, in!' repeats he, with a heartier cheer, as the pack charge the rotten fence with a crash that echoes through the wood. The whips scu

At the magic sound, fear comes over some, joy over others, intense anxiety over all.

n at the top of the wood, whither he seem

fields and pastures new,' discloses divers other sections struggling up in long drawn files, following other leaders, all puffing, and wheezing and holding on by the manes, many feeling as if they had had enough already-'Quick!

g riders in scarlet and colours, some anxious, some easy, some wanting to be at it, some

ket and dropping like a bird; still 'F-o-o-r-

that commands a view. Fifteen or twenty horsemen enter for the race, and dash forward, though the hounds rather gain on old Tom, and the further they go the smaller the point of the telescope becomes. The pa

o is still 'F-o-o-r-rarding' to his hounds, either rather falls back to the field or the field draws upon him. At all events they get together somehow. A belt of Scotch fir plantation, with a stiffish fence on each side, tri

. He might have saved his breath, for the hounds were beating him as it was. Mr. Sponge bores through the same pla

e gentleman, but they have not been able to get our friend Sponge into grief. On the contrary, his horse, though lathered goes as strong as ever, and Mr. Sponge, seeing their design, is as careful of him as possible, so as not to lose ground. His fine, strong, steady s

ounds go faster, and fence after fence is thrown be

tongues in their cheeks, Tom still screechin

for which they are rewarded by a gallop up Stretchfurrow pasture, from the summit of which they see the ho

ld hardly see through it, is shirked by consent, for a gate which a countryman opens, and another fence or two being passed, the splashin

spurs, and flourishes his cutting whip high in air, with a 'g-u-u-ur along! do you think I'-the 'stole

endine in his Leicestershire run, and someone more huma

'll be

onder,' excl

mrod added, 'was t

ngly, he availed himself of a heavy, newly-ploughed fallow, upon which he landed as he cleared the brook, for pulling up, and returned just as Mr. Spareneck, assisted by one of the whips, succeeded in landing Caingey on the taking-off side. Caingey was not a pretty boy at the best of times-none but the most partial parents could think him one-and his clumsy-featured, short, c

pulling up where the unfortunate youth was spluttering and getting emptied like a jug. 'Confound i

, drowned-rat figure he must then be cutting, he thought it best to laugh, and take his change out of Mr. Waffles another time. Accordingly, he

NTON DOESN'T 'PU

t on steam en

rook, and having allowed a sufficient time to elapse for the proper completion of the farce, was now seen rounding the opposite hill, with his hounds clustered a

he just trotted up with well-assumed gaiety as Caingey Thornton splutte

Mr. Waffles, 'what ha

ht touch of his cap, as though 'killing' wa

aimed Mr. Waffles, adopt

t failed on the fallow, which gave him a chance; but I held them on to the hedgerow beyond, where they hit it off like wildfire, and they never stopped again till they tumble

,' continued he, as his eye caught Mr. Sponge, who was still on foot beside his vanqui

in an undertone, giving

ed Mr. Waffles, advancing with it towards him; adding, 'I am sor

lt twice as strong as it did-indeed, if it had dropped to pieces in his hand, or the moths had flown

e, advancing to take it-'very much obliged, i

ugh it were nothing in their way; 'seven miles in t

posed Tom, with a lauda

d enough,' added he, 'may as well go home and have some luncheon, and then a game at billiards, or rackets, or somethi

races-an ingratiation that had been pretty serviceable to him, both in the way of meat, drink, mounting, and money. Had Mr. Sponge been, like himself, a needy, penniless adventurer, Caingey would have tried to have kept him out by some of those plausible, admonitory hints, that poverty makes men so obnoxious to; but in the case of a r

nge also, without hindrance from the resolute brown horse, the first whip put himself a little in advance, while old Tom followed with the hounds, and the second whip mingled with the now increasing field, it being generally understood (by the uninitiated, at least) that hounds have no business to go home so long as any gentleman is inclined for a scurrey, no matter whether he has joined early or late. Mr

ttered field of the morning, his talent for invention,

ajor Bouncer, eagerly bringing his sturdy c

ith the slightest possible touch

ion that most people express about things that can't concern them in

own to Somerby, round by Temple Bell Wood, cross Goosegreen Common, then away for Stubbington Brooms, skirtin' Sanderwick Plantations, but scarce goin' i

tion, though he scarcely knew the country; 'God bless me!' r

es,' replied Tom, tacking on a l

!' exclaime

Woolleyburn. Jackey being then in a somewhat precarious state of health, and tolerably advanced in life, without any very self-evident heir, was obnoxious to the attentions of three distinct litters of cousins, some one or other of whom was constantly 'baying him.' Lotion, though a sapient man, and somewhat grinding in his practice, did not profess to grind

ow he had slept, looking at his tongue, and reporting on the weather, when the old posing question, 'What's the ne

ing, in an off-hand sort of way, 'you'v

it was a matter of the most vital importance

r then re

rington Ford; Jackey Thompson, of Houndesley; Jackey Thompson, of the Mill; and all the Bobs, Bills, Sams, Harrys, and Peters, composing the respective litters;-forgetting where he got it from, he nearly told it ba

l it reached the ears of the great Mr. Seedeyman, the mighty WE of the country, as he sat in his den penning his 'stunners' for his market-day Mercury. It had then distan

going, we