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Bright rose the sun upon the "White Hart" tavern that stands within

Eltha its lattices,

lending its ancient timbers a mellower hue

This inn of the "White Hart" is an ancient structure and very

unpretentious (as great age often is), and being so very old, it has

known full th

of days, had it experienced quite such a e huh

the hour, Elthae ake and full of an unusual bustle and

excitement And the air still hummed, but louder now, a confused

sound made up of the tramp of horse-hoofs, the rumble of wheels, the

tread of feet and the murreat co of

rich and poor, old and young: they cah road and by-road, by

lane and footpath, froe and noisy town,--but, one and

all, with their faces set towards the ancient village of Elthareat

Steeplechase is to be run--seven good miles across country from point

to point; to-day the very vexed and all-important question as to

which horse out of twenty-three can juallop the fastest over

divers aard obstacles is to be settled once and for all