1 8 THE SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE; 



it did, at first, seem very strange that gentlemen would 

 travel so far to shoot a few little birds ; and he had thought 

 it much more probable that we were in the employ of the 

 United States government for the purpose of hunting up 

 moonshiners, who at the time were making much trouble 

 in the Southern States. 



It may now assist some of my readers if I offer a slight 

 explanation in regard to the cause of the excitement which 

 we had so unintentionally produced. It should be first 

 stated, in this connection, that neither the quail nor any 

 other small birds are often hunted by gentlemen in that 

 vicinity, but it does occasionally happen that some citizen is 

 seen carrying a double-barrelled shot-gun for the purpose 

 of takingf the life of a fellow-man, or with the intention of 

 defending himself against those enemies who are supposed 

 to be seeking his blood. An interesting instance of the 

 latter was related to us while sojourning in Shelbyville. 

 Our old classmate and friend not only righted matters for 

 us at the hotel but joined in our field sports, introduced us 

 to his friends, who vied with him in entertaining us, gave 

 us grand dinners, and paid us many other attentions, which 

 seems to be only a part of the true hospitality which per- 

 vades the South. 



Like thfe other pleasant parts of our lives, our stay in 

 Shelbyville had its end ; and having spent nearly two 

 weeks with our new-made friends, we returned to our 

 homes much improved in health, my legal friend being 

 now able to sleep, while my own diabetic trouble had been 

 much improved. 



The question may be properly asked, if we spent our 



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