Mr. Travers's First Hunt
Young Travers, engaged to Miss Paddock, faces a daunting challenge when he is invited to join a hunting party. Having never ridden before, he feels immense pressure to impress his fiancée's family, particularly her brother, who is a master of hounds. The father, Mr. Paddock, values riding ability highly, and Travers, eager to win their approval, falsely claims to be an experienced rider. On the day of the hunt, Travers is filled with dread as he prepares to ride Satan, a notoriously difficult horse. Despite his fears, he mounts the horse and is quickly swept into the excitement of the hunt. Satan bolts ahead, and Travers finds himself in a precarious situation, unable to control the horse as they leap over obstacles and navigate the terrain. He experiences a mix of terror and exhilaration, ultimately leading the pack in a reckless display of bravery. Travers's unexpected skill on the horse impresses the hunting party, particularly Mr. Paddock, who acknowledges his talent but warns that such recklessness could lead to disaster. After the hunt, young Paddock gifts Travers the horse, but Travers declines, revealing that Miss Paddock has asked him to give up riding for his safety. He expresses his willingness to sacrifice his passion for her sake, highlighting the theme of love and the lengths one will go to for those they care about. The story concludes with Travers reflecting on the sacrifices made in the name of love, setting the stage for his future with Miss Paddock.
By Richard Harding Davis · First published 1896 · Genre: Fiction, Romance, Adventure · 1,403 words
First lines
Young Travers, who had been engaged to a girl down on Long Island for the last three months, only met her father and brother a few weeks before the day set for the wedding. The brother is a master of hounds near Southampton, and shared the expense of importing a pack from England with Van Bibber. The father and son talked horse all day and until one in the morning; for they owned fast thoroughbreds, and entered them at the Sheepshead Bay and other race-tracks. Old Mr. Paddock, the father of the girl to whom Travers was engaged, had often said that when a young man asked him for his daughter's hand he would ask him in return, not if he had lived straight, but if he could ride straight. And on his answering this question in the affirmative depended his gaining her parent's consent. Travers had met Miss Paddock and her mother in Europe, while the men of the family were at home. He was invited to their place in the fall when the hunting season opened, and spent the evening most pleasantly and satisfactorily with his _fiancée_ in a corner of the drawing-room. But as soon as the women had gone, young Paddock joined him and said, "You ride, of course? " Travers had never ridden; but he had been prompted how to answer by Miss Paddock, and so said there was nothing he liked better. As he expressed it, he would rather ride than sleep.
What this Textopian page supports
Mr. Travers's First Hunt is listed on Textopian as a short story by Richard Harding Davis, dated 1896 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Richard Harding Davis
- Date: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Romance, Adventure, Humor, Sports
- Length: 1,403 words
- Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Mr. Travers's First Hunt by Richard Harding Davis
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Fiction — The narrative is a fictional story centered around the character Mr. Travers and his experiences during a hunting event.
- Romance — The plot involves a romantic relationship and the sacrifices made for love, particularly concerning Mr. Travers's engagement.
- Adventure — The story includes elements of adventure, particularly through the hunting experience and the challenges faced by Travers.
- Humor — The writing style incorporates humor, especially in the portrayal of Travers's fears and the absurdity of his situation.
Tags
Adventure · Hunting · Coming-of-age · Novel · Classic · American Literature · Young Adult Fiction · Outdoor Adventure · Wildlife · Nature · Rite of Passage · Self-discovery