Years-cheu fugaces!-have passed, and yet how vivid is the 16th of October, 181-in my memory. The larger portion of my web of life is spun, and mine has been one of mingled yarns. Well, it matters little now. I can remember calmly the sunshine and the shadow, and the gloomiest retrospect has many a lightsome day and many a merry night associated with its recollection. Mine was indeed a careless career; fancy led all through, and prudence was double distanced. Like wiser men, many a wrong cast I made; was "stabbed with a white wench's black eye;" consorted with "Ephesians of the old church," and listened too often to "the chimes at midnight."But, like old Jack, I leave the blame upon villainous company," and say with him, "I was as virtuously given as a gentleman need be."

It was the first week in July, when having taken the honours of a graduate, after a five years' sojourn within the classic courts of old Alma Mater, I strolled into the Repository in Stephen's-green, to bid adieu to old H-, who for thirty years had horsed us of Trinity. It was sale-day, and a blank one too; the world was out of town. There were few to sell, and fewer yet to buy. A hack not worth a hay-band was knocked down to an aspiring linen draper, who wanted "something smart" whereon to dust himself occasionally. I saw him regularly jockeyed with infinite satisfaction, as he had

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dunued me, even unto payment, for " beggarly account" of gloves and pocket handkerchiefs. Although he did not venture to invite me to be of the multitude of his counsellors, as I had broken his windows upon the evening I paid his bill, that did not prevent me from pointing out certain beauties in the quadruped then beneath the hammer, which even had escaped the auctioneer himself. Indeed, according to my shewing, the cardinal virtues of horseflesh were concentrated in that matchless animal. Yet human judgment is

fallible, and the steed did not realize the qualifications ascribed to him by the puffer and myself; for, as the Evening Post soon after announced, Mr. Lawrence Lutestring was run away with upon the Rock Road, and the excited courser, not content with demolishing sundry ribs of the unfortu nate cavalier, had, from an infirmity of vision, come in contact with a loaded jaunting car, and the concussion was so awful, that the company were deposited in a wet ditch, and the vehicle rendered hors de combat.

I was about to leave the yard, when old Phil, prime minister to the Repository, jogged me on the elbow.

Stop a minute-its worth while, Sir. There's a queer one coming out—he's the devil, to be sure. Och, if he had but temper; and here he is." While he spoke, a rattling high-bred dark bay horse issued from the stables. He was in the lowest condition imaginable; but, notwithstanding his poverty, he was the ruin of a noble animal-he was far from being handsome-the head was coarse, the shoulder thick; but he embodied some good points, and, though cross made, to an experienced eye, his " ensample” was excellent-Archy, my best man—as honest a groom as ever won a livingwhispered if he had not the go in him, he was the biggest villain under the canopy"-and before the animal had made the third turn down the run, I had come to a similar conclusion.

The groom stopped when he gained the vantage ground. “There, gentlemen," said the auctioneer, “there's what I call youth and beauty. There's the making of a fortune, and no mistake. The lady who could refuse any thing to a man with such a daisy-cutter under him, would be hard to please indeed-run him down, Lanty-that's action and elegance-come sir,”—to a tall raw-boned young grocer—“ that horse was foaled for you—a gentleman of your figure should never cross any thing but blood-this here horse is

young Selim-he's own brother to Mousecatcher-cousin to Morgiana, and up to fourteen stone with any fox hounds in the kingdom"-but Selim appeared likely to profit little from his respectable relationship-he had a ree look, a blemished knee, was fired behind, and had killed a man into the bargain-for he had run off with a drunken helper, and broke the rider's neck against the frame work of the stable door-now, in a company of sober cits, requiring "steady roadsters," and "useful family horses," Selim found little favour; and the young grocer, even to become a lady-killer, would not bid a sixpence.

"Gentlemen, I put him up at fifty," said he of the hammer-"No reserve in this case-none, upon honor-owner gone to the Peninsula, and orders for sale absolute-Selim is a beautiful charger-steady with arms”—and here he addressed a corpulent personage, who, as it appeared, was in the yeomanry-" "He would carry you upon parade, delightfully-his courage is only equalled by his training-his late master would ride him to a battery"a battery-may heaven forgive him! Selim had never seen a corporal's guard relieved in his life-a cracker would rise him sky-high, and a squib, send him across the broadest part of Sackville-street-still, not a whisper from the company, and the auctioneer proceeded" gentlemen, we must sacrifice him-orders peremptory-say forty, for the beautiful and gentle animal""gentle," ejaculated the grocer, "and he after killing a groom”—this, was indeed a home hit-the auctioneer coughed "hem-hem-rather unfortunate, but mere accident after all-say thirty, gentlemen-twenty-ten-do, give me a bid"-" five, roared a jingle ownerten, said Archy-fifteen shouted the puffer-twenty cried I-the hammer fell- and the brother of Mousecatcher was mine.

Now I verily believe that the whole history of Selim was apocryphal, except the solitary fact of his having finished a stable-boy.-In one thing, however, Archy and I were unanimous-that to a herring-cadger he was worth the money, provided he would carry the baskets. We brought him to the country-bled, fed, blistered, and physicked him, 'secundem artem'

turned him out upon a fine salt-marsh, and left him "to fulfil his destinies."

At this memorable period of my life, the North of Ireland was celebrated for its sporting associations. The Boyne, the Dough, the Newtownbreda Hunts, were all in full force; and few of the larger towns wanted their own particular club. Many private gentlemen were also masters of hounds, and kept their establishments nobly. Then the glory of The Rangers' was in its zenith-their country and members were alike extensive; and no gentleman attached to field-sports, within thirty miles, whose rank and fortune would authorize his admission, but was enrolled in this celebrated club. The members met annually in the county town, attended by a pack of fox-hounds and "a gallant following." They lived like " Irish Kings," played high, drank deep, seldom went to bed, gave dashing balls, and set the country in a blaze for weeks before, and months afterwards.-Alas! all this is over; the club is no more; the pack is scattered ; the kennel a ruin ; "The Rangers" fill "the narrow house;" and where in Ireland could rank, and wealth, and influence be congregated now?

Into The Rangers' I had been recently admitted their meeting was fixed for the middle of October, and the Cup, with other valuable plates, were then to be contested. The Cup had excited unusual interest, and had been challenged by a dozen members, good men and true, and each having, or believing he had, an excellent chance of winning it. The race was three miles over Hibernice, a sporting, Anglice, a break-neck country: the weights thirteen stone. There were already eight candidates in full preparation. Six depended on their own horses, good, fast, honest, weight-carriers-but two had gone to considerable expense, and had secured, at “a large figure," celebrated racing-hunters "for the nonce."

"What will not young ambition ?" In spite of this mighty array, I boldly added my name to the list of challengers. I had a slashing four-year old mare, whose stride and action were extraordinary. As there was no allowance for age or sex, the weights were certainly against her; but I was not the one to despair, and even to

name her in the match was an honor more than worth the entrance-money.

August came; Miranda was in beautiful condition; and Archy exhausted upon her training all the arcana of the racing-stable, and the experience of a life; while I dreamed of nothing but cups and conquest. Alas! these youthful visions were rudely dispelled, for, one morning, Miranda was found halter-cast in the stable. She was dead lame, and lame she continued for many a month afterwards. To me and my master of the horse, this was a sad disappointment. I betook myself to grouse-shooting, and Archy to whiskey and religion. Poor Archy, in the hours of business, was an indifferent Catholic, as the Priest declared, that from the moment a horse was put in training, he never "darkened a chapeldoor."

August passed, and I would have willingly continued absent. To witness the downfal of my ambition was painful, as Miranda was incurably lame. Other feelings were paramount; I was deep in love, and at twenty-one that is a desperate concern.

Rosa lived near me; I would have forgotten her, but that was impossible. She was an heiress, gentle, and timid to a degree, and fearful of hearing she was beloved. Yet there were times, when, if my advances were not encouraged, at least my suit was listened to, and an ill-concealed satisfaction told, that she was not indifferent to my suit. Her coldness piqued me for the moment, and yet I left her, persuaded that of all her sex, she was best worthy of being wooed and won.

I arrived home for a late dinner, discussed some old port, listened to a long story, and was musing over the misfortunes of my mare, when Archy popped in his head, to ask "if I would look into the stables;" I followed him, and one glance told me that Miranda was not to figure in the field. My eyes passed rapidly over the stalls, and rested on a stranger in the corner, sheeted with my own covers. Archy, with a knowing look, stripped the new-comer, and the brother of Mousecatcher was before me; and could this be he? The rakish, tattered, rejected man-killer of the Repository, changed into as fine a horse as ever followed a fox-hound! The mystery was quickly solved :

Archy had visited the salt-marsh ;— found Selim so altered as scarcely to be recognised; took him up and got him through physic, and ready for training. For this, indeed, there was but little time; but Archy swore "slight training was best for a half-bred," and Archy was right.

For my own part, I could scarce believe my eyes, and examined Selim carefully, to assure myself of his identity. Every scratch upon his legs had disappeared; the blemish on his knee was hardly visible; he was now a sporting-looking horse, and Archy swore, "better than he looked."

Time flew, and everything increased my confidence in the cousin of Morgiana. His speed was easily ascertained, but of his fencing qualities we knew nothing. Any thing we took him at he executed well, and intricate leaps were for obvious reasons avoided. I had secured a gentleman to ride for me, who in steeple-chasing had covered himself with glory, and with a reasonable hope of success, I awaited the result.

And yet I never caused my competitors a thought. With the lameness of Miranda, it had pleased them to conclude my racing history. They heard accidentally that I had purchased a horse in town, and all they knew of him was, that he had killed a man, and been bought for a song. With this information they rested satisfied, and decided that myself and man-killer were of "no consideration." I kept my own counsel, and when it was necessary to remove to the vicinity of the race-ground, I procured accommodation for my establishment at an obscure farm-house, and our incog nito was as perfect as if we had never left our stables.

But there was one to whom my proceedings were not indifferent, and that one was my gentle Rosa. With all a woman's tenderness she had sympathized in my disappointment: she knew my secret, for our's were young hearts, and what agitated one breast could not but interest the other.

The evening before the eventful day, I stole from the club-room to exchange the jargon of the field for a têtê a téte with my pretty mistress. Hot with the Tuscan grape" I urged my passion with more than common ardour, and

Rosa listened. Just then her maid disturbed us, and brought me a letter that had been forwarded by express. I broke the seal-death to my hopes! My rider had been thrown from a coach-box, and lay, with a broken arm, at a country inn, some ten miles distant.

Rosa remarked my agitation; "Is there any thing wrong, Arthur?" "Yes, dearest, I am indeed a luckless cavalier: K has met with an accident, and Selim is consequently without a rider."-" And will he not run then?" Half a minute determines, frequently, as well as the consideration of half a year, and in that brief space I had formed my resolution. “He will run, Rosa but with me upon his back, what chance can he have with the best riders in the kingdom opposed?” “But the danger, dear Arthur." "Is not greater than fox-hunters encounter thrice a-week." "And is there really no more?" I assured her there was not, and shortly afterwards bade her good-night. This trifling occurrence elicited more from Rosa, than all my studied efforts; and when I left her, for the first time I pressed her to my bosom, and heard her murmur a prayer for my safety.

Whether it was that unforeseen events call forth the latent energies of the mind; or the consciousness that I was beloved by her for whom I would sacrifice a world, that roused the ardour of my spirit, I know not, but I entered the crowded club-room with buoyant and excited feelings. The accident to my rider had transpired, and from some I received sincere from others, ironical condolence. "I hope, notwithstanding, that the homicide will run," said the President. "The homicide, as you are pleased to term him, will run; and for want of a better horseman his owner will ride and win-if he can." My tone and manner were not unmarked; and while some were recommending me to effect a life-insurance, I was coolly booking heavy odds, and so continued, till every gentleman inclined to bet them, had been heartily satisfied-the joking at my expense, subsided fast-people began to look suspiciously, and Jemmy Joyce whispered his next neighbour, that the sooner he hedged, the better, as the race was not quite so sure, I being according to his parlance, "very

like a lad who would make a spoon, or spoil a horn;" having balanced my book, I borrowed an old blue jacket from the huntsman; left the club;. visited the stable, and went quietly to rest, to be ready for the morrow.

Morning came and I felt rather queer; I began to discover that it is no joke for nervous gentlemen to ride steeple chases for the first time, under the critical examination of 30,000 spectators-But an incident restored my hardiesse at breakfast a sealed parcel was handed me by the waiter-it contained a beautiful pink and yellow jacket-no note accompanied it, but to the cap a scroll was attached, bearing in a female hand, the motto, “may this be foremost."-Whose might the fairy favour be? My heart whispered the name, and I was not mistaken.

The ground selected for the race was chosen with excellent judgment, as it afforded to the mighty multitude, an uninterrupted view of the race, from its commencement to its close; from a circular valley the surface undulated gently, and the course, nearly eliptical, stretched along the rising ground. In the same field the starting and winning posts were placed; this was the favourite stand; a long line of carriages of every description occupied it; ladies were there "thick as leaves in Vall'ombrosa," for every thing distingue and beautiful for counties round, was on the ground.

At twelve o'clock a warning bugle was heard and from their respective cantonments the horses slowly approached the same point; each as he entered the field was scrutinized by a crowd of horsemen, who were assembled for that purpose at the gate; with short intervals, a grey, a brown, and two bays passed review; they had their respective admirers, but caused no great sensation, and expectation "was still on tip toe;" presently a buz was heard, a horse approached, and Firebrand, a noted racing hunter from Roscommon appeared; he looked to be in capital condition, and from having won four cups already, his character was deservedly first rate.

But louder yet the clamour grew," as the pet of the day, the far famed English horse Comet, appeared; He was a splendid thorough-bred chesnut, full sixteen hands high, and "looking every inch" a racer; I felt my cheek

blanche as I examined him; he was indeed a formidable opponent; and as his late owner, Captain M- reputed justly to be the best field horseman in the kingdom, was to ride him, no wonder that I began to dread the contest. He was led off, and my forlorn charger was impatiently expected. In the few minutes which elapsed before his entreé, I and my man-killer, were subjected to many a sporting jest ; at length the brother of Mousecatcher appeared, and on he came with a careless toss of the head, as if he had never finished a stable-boy; closely sheeted as he was, his appearance was very different from what had been anticipated; the knowing ones looked more knowing; and Jemmy Joyce swore with a grin, that he seemed "mighty like a Tartar!" While the horses were leading to the starting post, I galloped up the rise to the place my pretty mistress occupied in an open carriage; "tell me, pray you," said her cousin, "what spell is over Rosa; know you the secret that robs her of her roses ?'"shall I restore them ?" I replied; and unclosing my top coat, I displayed my handsome jacket. When it met her eyes, her cheeks were dyed with blushes, and left me at no loss to conjecture whence my fancy favour came.

Again the bugle sounded; Comet, and Firebrand occupied the attention of the crowd, while Selim was stripped and saddled behind a large marquee; to assume my gay cap, and doff my coat was the business of a minute; my competitors were already mounted, and I was impatiently called for, when from behind the tent, a dashing horse, and gallant rider issued; our appearance elicited a murmur of applause the owners of Comet, and Firebrand, looked blank enough; and faith they had good

reason.

As we drew up in line, I thought the English racer appeared not to be in full force; but the determined countenance of his inimitable jockey, dressed in his black and buff stripes, looked alarming; nor was Firebrand without his friends; and the green cap was offered fully against every thing but Comet ; as to me, people seemed afraid to back, or bet against me; and those who had laid the odds last night pretty heavily were hedging now, as Post as they could meet with customers.

Twe went in a bunch; the bays,

brown, and grey, making the running; I saw at once that the pace though severe for them, was nothing to Comet, Firebrand, and my friend the Mankiller; after a mile we tailed them off, and had the race to ourselves.

One moiety of the ground was broken into tillage fields and enclosures; the other was open meadow, affording excellent galloping, and interspersed with stiff fences. Here having cleared the paddocks, we increased the speed, and came out at a killing pace.

On entering the grass lands, I found my rivals could not conveniently go faster, and that I was up to it well; the race was indeed beautiful; for the next mile a sheet would cover us; the fences were taken in line; and none could tell, whether black, yellow, or green was foremost.

Half a mile from home, there was a fence of tremendous size; it was a ditch with a drain at either side, and the face that we approached, stoccaded with stumped thorns. It was in truth, "a regular rasper," and was distinguished by the country people "par excellence," as the big leap; as we neared it, my companions, gathered the energies of their horses for the trial, and Selim looked as if he were half inclined to decline it; for the first time, he felt the steel; and with a glorious effort, cleared this formidable barrier, in a style, that drew down from the multitude, a thunder of applause; not so my rivals; Firebrand fell, and staked himself, while Comet, by his rider's horsemanship, was indifferently brought across, but staggering, he came down on landing, and in the mistake, lost ground he could never recover; during the run home, he did make a wonderful struggle to pull up; it was in vain, for after we crossed the break-neck fence, I had the race hollow.

Amid deafening cheers, I was carried from the scales in triumph; I was declared even by Jemmy Joyce, a youth of promise, and my Mankiller, the best weight-carrier in the kingdom.

Every tale has its moral, and so has mine; never condemn a horse untried; for many a good one has thus been sacrificed; I saved Selim from slavery, and a jingle; and he won me four cups, and carried me four seasons, as I was never carried afterwards; nay more, I owe my connubial happiness mainly to my bonny bay :" Rosa was