16 



JANUARY IN BROADLAND. 



fisherman for taking the life of a herring. And why blame me ? Many of my 

 parishioners are glad of a wholesome dinner, and these will fall to their share. 

 And it's no use hiding the fact, I love the l sport, 5 cruel as I know you esteem it. 

 And then a country parson's life is rather a monotonous affair; and anything 

 that one can conscientiously admit to alleviate or vary it is worth the letting in. 

 Visit my parishioners? Well ! I do my share at that but lie low!' 



A parcel of swans wheeling aloft has caught his keen, quick eye, and we ' lie 

 low ' to make ready a warm welcome for them. But their eyes are sharper than 

 our own, and they fly away to a safer neighbourhood. 



Space forbids our entering into all the details of our sport and confabulation. 

 Shortly, let us say, we have not another shot. After an hour's rest and warm 

 by the parsonage fireside, and a glance at his splendid collection of representative 

 local birds all fallen to his own gun, we bid him adieu, having as our share a 

 couple of wildfowl, affording another illustration of Cowper's lines, as we 



' Share in the plunder, but pity the birds.' 



