H2 WITH THE WOODLANDERS. 



better. They are beginning to see that leaving 

 things as they have always been from their begin- 

 ning is not the best way by any means. Useless 

 and dangerous places have been converted into 

 valuable property, which gives employment to large 

 numbers, requiring a great amount of labour in 

 spade-husbandry. I have watched these changes 

 with great interest : we have had our day, others 

 must now have theirs. Still, I confess I regret the 

 vanished wild life ; arid I am not alone in this, for 

 the old companion with whom I used to explore the 

 swamps deplores the loss, every time we come across 

 each other to talk of the days when our blood ran 

 hotly in our veins, and no silver tinged our hair. 

 When I walk over those hunting-grounds again, it 

 may not be through alders and feathered reeds. 



