Where Rounding tried to cheer him up With many a merry laugh :

But Huggins thought of neighbour Fig, And called for half-and-half.

Yet, spite of drink, he could not blink
Remembrance of his loss;

To drown a care like his, required
Enough to drown a horse.

When thus forlorn, a merry horn
Struck up without the door-
The mounted mob were all returned;
The Epping Hunt was o'er!

And many a horse was taken out
Of saddle, and of shaft;

And men, by dint of drink, became
The only "beasts of draught."

For now begun a harder run
On wine, and gin, and beer;

And overtaken men discussed

The overtaken deer.

How far he ran, and eke how fast,

And how at bay he stood, Deerlike, resolved to sell his life

As dearly as he could:

And how the hunters stood aloof,

Regardful of their lives,

And shunned a beast, whose very horns They knew could handle knives!

How Huggins stood when he was rubbed By help and ostler kind,

And when they cleaned the clay before,

How worse "remained behind."

And one, how he had found a horse
Adrift-a goodly gray!

And kindly rode the nag, for fear
The nag should go astray;

Now Huggins, when he heard the tale,
Jumped up with sudden glee;
"A goodly gray! why, then, I say,
That gray belongs to me!

"Let me endorse again my horse,
Delivered safe and sound;
And gladly I will give the man
A bottle and a pound!"

The wine was drunk-the money paid,
Though not without remorse,

To pay another man so much
For riding on his horse ;—

And let the chase again take place
For many a long, long year-
John Huggins will not ride again
To hunt the Epping Deer!

MORAL.

Thus Pleasure oft eludes our grasp

Just when we think to grip her;

And hunting after Happiness,

We only hunt a slipper.

ADVERTISEMENT TO THE SECOND EDITION.

THE publisher begs leave to say, that he has had the following letter from the author of this little book :—

"DEAR SIR,

"I am much gratified to learn from you, that the 'Epping Hunt' has had such a run that it is quite exhausted, and that you intend therefore to give the work what may be called 'second wind,' by a new impression.

"I attended the last Anniversary of the Festival, and am concerned to say that the sport does not improve, but appears an ebbing as well as an Epping custom. The run was miserable indeed; but what was to be expected? The chase was a Doe, and, consequently, the Hunt set off with the Hind part before. It was, therefore, quite in character for so many Nimrods to start, as they did, before the hounds, which, as you know, is quite contrary to the Lex Tallyho-nis, or Laws of Hunting.

"I dined with the Master of the Revel, who is as hale as ever, and promises to reside some time in the Wells ere he kicks the bucket. He is an honest, hearty, worthy man, and when he dies there will be 'a cry of dogs' in his kennel. "I am, dear Sir,

"WINCHMORE HILL, June, 1830.

"Yours, &c.,

"T. HOOD.