LIFE IN THE WOODS 



last year was a nut year for bitter acorns, the 

 squirrels would have become plentiful if it 

 had not been for the gunners. 



Ward Eight has been cursed by a State 

 law. Rockport and the seven wards of 

 Gloucester, on the east side of Annisquam 

 River, and the town of Essex on the west, 

 were given a close time on all kinds of land 

 game for five years. Ward Eight was the 

 only outlet for the gunners in a population 

 of forty-five thousand. Every living thing 

 wearing fur or feathers was shot at, song and 

 insectivorous birds as well as lawful game. 

 Almost total extermination has been the re- 

 sult of this unwise legislation. 



One of my first ventures was a flower gar- 

 den. I had trailed a few vines over the cabin, 

 and had planted a small bed of favorite 

 garden flowers. The summer visitors offered 

 to buy the flowers, and I saw an opening for 

 another year. I cleared away a small spot 

 for a garden, and made me a hotbed, so the 

 next year, and for the seven following years, 

 I drove a thriving trade in cut flowers. This 

 157 



