150 WITHIN AN HOUR OF LONDON TOWN. 



gets all the big uns out and puts 'em in the big 

 trout -pond. Every big varmint about the place, 

 what there is left of 'em, knows when the trout 

 run up. Foxes gets hold of the big trout easy 

 in some places where they run ; the water don't 

 cover 'em. They like fish when it comes handy 

 to 'em. 



"Them herons are the worst of the lot. One of 

 the gents told me they was thought a lot of in 

 times gone by, and belonged to a ancient family, 

 and they ought to be protected. That is the way 

 he said it. And if herons was destroyed as they 

 had been the race would die out, and a connectin'- 

 link in nature would be lost. I only wish it was 

 lost, or that he had to keep that ancient family, as 

 he called 'em when the trout run up, anyway. It 

 reads nice in print when their friends reads what 

 they write ; but they don't do keeperin for a livin', 

 or they'd drop talk like that ! 



"Joe told me you was goin' away from these parts 

 soon. Well, he'll miss you certain, for he's reg'lar 

 took to ye, if he did take ye for a looneytic first off. 

 So shall I, for the matter o' that. You draw in that 

 book of yours and put things down only to amuse 



