A Suspected "Bark- Stripper" 151 



of nuts, beech mast, and other specialities of its food, in 

 surprising quantity. A curious instance of this habit has 

 come under my notice, recalling the story of the " Maid 

 and Magpie," as also Barbara's " Jackdaw of Rheims." 

 A wood-bailiff who has charge of a shooting-box be- 

 longing to one of my friends, and situated on the wood's 

 edge, not far from my house had gathered about a half- 

 bushel of hazel-nuts, and deposited them in a shed, as 

 stock to be drawn upon when desirable. They were in a 

 canvas bag, left with the mouth open, the owner deeming 

 them safe, since the shed was inside an enclosed yard, 

 and no one had access to it save a bark-stripper em- 

 ployed on the estate, and believed to be an honest man. 



Some weeks elapsed before the bailiff went back after 

 his nuts, wanting some to crack and eat. But, lo ! the 

 bag was nearly empty, only a few nuts being found in 

 its bottom ! Of course, the bark- stripper came in for a 

 suspicion of pilfering, even to direct accusation of it; 

 which he denied, stoutly asseverating his innocence. To 

 be disbelieved, nevertheless; and for a time the man 

 lived under a cloud : his character gone, and his situation 

 endangered. He would, in fact, have been discharged 

 but for the discovery of the real thief, fortunately found 

 out in time ; this was neither more nor less than a wood- 

 mouse, or possibly a pair of them. It, or they, had 

 carried off the nuts and hoarded them ; the place of stor- 

 age they had selected being, for quaint curiosity, on a par 

 with all else relating to the incident. In a dark corner of 

 the shed were three vessels, that had been there lying 

 neglected for a length of time. One was a little wooden 

 keg, or " bottle " so called, of gallon measure, in which 

 labouring men carry to the field their drink for the day ; 

 the second was a tin can ; and the third an earthenware 



