IN "THE GOOD OLD TIMES." 123 



now I reckons 'tis reg'lar slaughter, nothin' done 

 moderate. Folks and creeturs could both live then, 

 now 'tis reg'lar harrien', all trie lot on it. They 

 wants me to do too much at once nowadays, all 

 on it in a hurry. Now, to tell by yer face an' the 

 colour of yer hair ye've sin somethin' of the world ; 

 what do you think about these 'ere things ? " 



I tell him that much as I deplore the loss of wild 

 creatures, and the breaking up of their haunts and 

 homes, I do honestly believe that, taking all things 

 into consideration, we have improved greatly, and 

 the present generation are reaping the benefit of the 

 changes. The laws are more strictly enforced, pro- 

 perty is more secure, and human life too. Know- 

 ledge is more accessible to all who wish to gain it ; 

 and in every way men and women are more free to 

 act and think than they were years ago. So that on 

 the whole we are in a state of improvement, and 

 things are working for the best all round. 



"Ay, 'tis as you say, some of the changes is for 

 the better. When mother here was a gal, and I 

 was a young shaver, there was a desprit gang in 

 the forest. Banded together they was fur all that 

 was bad real desprit they was. Old Tom and me 



