BY MEADOW AND STREAM. 



CHAPTER I. 



BOYHOOD. 



An old farmhouse Birds and eggs Fighting shells Fight- 

 ing nuts Nutting Shooting Rat-catching Sparrow pie 

 My pony A sad tragedy An awful accident Trouble 

 Dangerous use of firearms Fearful gun accident Harvest 

 home A lovely little river Christmasing My first journey to 

 London My jubilee year. 



" Fair scenes for childhood's opening bloom, 



For sportive youth to stray in ; 

 For manhood to enjoy his strength, 



And age to wear away in ! " 



WORDSWORTH. 



WAS born in the country. My boyhood 

 was spent in an old farmhouse, and few 

 boys ever led a happier life than was mine 

 for the first fifteen years. I was at ease 

 with my surroundings, in sympathy and harmony 

 with all things about me. I had a personal ac- 

 quaintance with all the bipeds, feathered and un- 



