26 MARCH IN BROADLAND. 



rest to the mind, a cheerer of his spirits, a diversion of sadness, a calmer of unquiet 

 thoughts, a moderator of passions, a procurer of contentedness, and that it begot 

 habits of peace and patience in those that practised it.' But contemplation may 

 do for warmer days when sport is uncertain; action and brisk sport are necessary 

 to proper enjoyment in the chillier days of March. There is pleasure in prepara- 

 tion and in the very anticipation of it. We are in a very short time whirled from 

 the busy town into the heart of Broadland. We noted little difference in the fields 

 and market-gardens through which we were hurried ; certainly the farm labourers 

 seemed somewhat busier than in February, for the sowing of oats and barley is 

 claiming the attention of the farmer. The strange antics of a lad in one field did 

 attract our notice, but we were beyond him ere we could make much out of him. 

 It was evident the proceedings of a crowd of great birds that blackened the field 

 were not to his satisfaction, and to frighten these away was undoubtedly his intent, 



As we wend our way through a lane we witness the selfsame thing repeated, 

 and upon the light wind is borne a noisy clapping sound, and the words of a strange 



weird ditty: 



' Gadders and crows, take care o' yer toes, 

 For here cum the clappers 

 To knock yer down back'ards, 

 So hallo ! Carwhoo: 



It maybe that the sable birds are laying claim to a few of the seeds that * fell 

 by the wayside, 5 as their ancestors did in the days when the (rod-man taught the 

 people in parables. Christ was a keen observer of bird-life, and who can say that 

 He did not teach many a lesson from their ways and doings that are not recorded 

 in the Book ? 



Seeing us lagging by the gateway the crow-boy sidles up and wishes us the 

 1 seal of the day,' accompanying a rough clumsy bow with a good-humoured grin. . 

 With an eye open to a ' largess,' the Norfolk equivalent to the Eastern ' back- 

 sheesh,' he allows us to examine the grotesque implement which is supposed to 

 put terror into the hearts of the so-called crows, which are in reality nothing more 

 than harmless grub-eating rooks. We find it constructed of three pieces of thin 

 wood, oblong in shape, the centre one being lengthened into a handle. The two 

 outer pieces are loosely tied by strings at their lower ends, which go through a 

 couple of holes in each. When shaken a loud rattling sound is produced. 



6 And so you scare crows, my lad?' we query. 



4 Wai, 'bor,' he replies, 'I'm tryin' tu; a little scarin' oan't hart 'em! Why 

 doan't I shute some on 'em, and hang 'em up to scare t'others ? Yow can't per- 



