DOUBTFUL CHARACTERS 113 



lonely upland farms looked thin and starved ; 

 they had gone through a struggle for existence. 

 Now all these thinly foliaged trees suited the 

 birds to perfection, for they could see all around 

 and below them ; and, if one ash tree stood by 

 itself, a mere pole with a few branches towards 

 the top, you would in the course of the day be 

 sure to see a pair of magpies. 



A relative who lived at one of the farms, 

 when threshing was going on, always had his 

 flint-locked Joe Manton, loaded in both barrels, 

 in the barn close to his hand ; but all the times 

 I visited there, he never killed a single mag- 

 pie ; though it was not for want of trying. If 

 young chicks or ducklings were about, they 

 would interest themselves very much in all that 

 might be going forward, in their own round- 

 about fashion. A couple would be seen one 

 on the top of that slim ash, and the other on 

 one of the lowest branches chattering and 

 balancing their long tails as the breeze swayed 

 the boughs, just as if they were only out for 

 enjoyment. The topmost bird gives a low 

 chatter, and joins her mate below ; for some 

 tiny ducklings are making their way out of 

 the farmyard, close behind their mother. 



Down they drop, in between a couple of stacks 



H 



