holar, but possessed of a most exquisite taste in every species of
literature'; and, even if we allow for some filial exaggeration, there
can be no doubt that it was a home where good teaching--in every sense
of the word--good taste, and a general love of reading prevailed. To
balance this characteristic the Austen nature possessed yet
another--spread over many members of the family--namely, an enthusiastic
love of sport. The boys hunted from an early age, in a scrambling sort
of way, upon any pony or donkey that they could procure, or, in default
of such luxuries, on foot; perhaps beginning the day with an early
breakfast in the kitchen. A wonderful story is told, on good authority,
of a piece of amateur horse-dealing accomplished by the youngest son but
one, Francis, at the mature age of seven: how he bought on his own
account (it must be supposed with his father's permission) a pony for L1
11_s._ 6_d._; hunted it, jumping everything that the pony could get its
nose over; and at the end of two years sold it again for L2 12_s._ 6_d._
It was a bright chestnut, and he called it 'Squirrel'; though his elder
brothers, to plague him, called it 'Scug.' This was the boy for whose
benefit his mother converted into a jacket and trousers the scarlet
riding-habit which played so important a part in her early married life.
If he mounted 'Squirrel' in this costume, the future Admiral of the
Fleet was hunting 'in pink' with a vengeance, and must have contributed
not a little to the gaiety of the field.

It is evident that part of the good training at Steventon consisted in
making the boys, while quite young, manly, active, and self-reliant.
When the time came for their leaving home they would not be found
unprepared.

Mr. Austen found it a pleasant task to educate his own sons with his
other pupils, and thereby to dispense with the cost of public schools.
We get a glimpse of him as a teacher in a letter of his son Henry,
written many years later to Warren Hastings. Henry, by the way, made use
of a style that one is thankful Jane did not adopt.

Suffer me to say that among the earliest lessons
of my infancy I was taught by precept and example
to love and venerate your name. I cannot remember
the time when I did not associate with your
character the idea of everything great, amiable,
and good. Your benevolence was a theme on which my
young attention hung with tru