THE BRENT GOOSE. 153 



watches his time, and counts his slaughter by flocks, at 

 shots. Like the owner of the goose with the golden 

 eggs, he will find too late that he has killed his people as 

 ]S"ero wished to do, at a single blow. Legislation has 

 been tried, against all these three cowardly iniquities, 

 and of course tried in vain. It rests to see what incul- 

 cating a spirit of sportsman ship, may do ; but I am little 

 sanguine, seeing that true sportsmanship, like the game 

 it fain would, but cannot, protect, decreases year by 

 y ear many of those who boast themselves sportsmen, 

 and here an I would I could name names, doing deeds 

 the foullest pot-hunter would shrink from, and holding 

 themselves as high as ever in their own esteem, though 

 lower than the lowest in the judgment of the judicious. 



Be this, however, as it may be, the only hope is in the 

 efforts of the honorable sportsman, and so let him hope- 

 ful ever of the best, hold the helm steady, steer on 

 through squall or hurricane, and never whatever be- 

 tide never give up the ship ! 



