THE PARSON IN DIFFICULTY. 487 



ture of the kind is related of a certain parson who flourished 

 nearly a century ago. 



" The reverend gentleman," so goes the story, " was a 

 great sportsman, and like many others of the cloth, had a 

 Varg-grop for the capture of wolves and foxes. One Sunday 

 morning, after preparing his sermon, and putting on his 

 Kragar, or bands, he took it into his head to pay a visit to 

 the Varg-grop. On reaching the spot, he observed an aper- 

 ture in the straw covering the pit-fall ; and although he had 

 then no time to send for a rope and a ladder to draw up 

 the prisoner, he could not resist the temptation of seeing 

 what beast it was of which he had made prize. For this 

 purpose he peered down the pit ; but having advanced too 

 near to the brink, he over-balanced himself and fell head 

 over heels to the bottom !* 



" When he had somewhat recovered from the shock and 

 fright this break-neck tumble had given him, he looked 

 cautiously about his gloomy prison, and discovered in a 

 corner a fox that a few hours before had made the descent 

 in the same unexpected manner as himself. What was now 

 to be done ? The sermon was, it is true, in his pocket ; 

 everything was in order, and hearers alone were wanting; 

 for the only one present seemed to be fully occupied with 

 thoughts as to how he could best obtain his freedom. The 

 same cogitation began now to trouble the poor parson, when 



* To guard against similar accidents, which are not of unfrequent occur- 

 rence, the law very properly ordains, that prior to poison, pit-falls, steel-traps, 

 or other dangerous devices for the destruction of wild beasts, being left 

 exposed in the forest or elsewhere, due notice should be given from the pulpit. 

 The party transgressing is not only subjected to a pecuniary fine, but is held 

 answerable for all damages that the neglect of such public notification may 

 have occasioned. 



