2i8 WITH THE WOODLANDERS. 



institutions were in great force, and they entailed on 

 every farm a sparrow-shooter, a good-sized lad as a 

 rule, who knew a lot when his father was not near 

 him. Now no matter where you might see that lad, 

 you would be sure to see one of the farm sheep- 

 dogs. It was not on duty with him, but both boy 

 and dog understood each other well. One of these 

 sparrow-shooters, about my own age, on a farm 

 where I visited, was a lad that had gone to the same 

 school as myself, so that we became confidential at 

 once. " I say, there's a lot o' partridges in the 

 swedes," said the boy. 



" I know there is ; but we don't dare meddle with 

 them they are game-birds. Besides, we couldn't 

 hit them flying if we tried." 



"Well, we don't want to hit 'em flyin', do we? 

 Do you think as every bird as is shot is killed flyin' ? 

 I knows they ain't. You look here old Mike the 

 keeper was always braggin' about his shootin', an' 

 about bein' able to git birds quick when they was 

 wanted. Well, he was carryin' on one day down at 

 the ' Prince George,' and master was in the best 

 room, an' he heard him hollerin' about. Next mor- 

 nin', when he come for orders, the master told him 



