20 The Gamekeeper at Home. 



in the spring from the great house, with their rook- 

 rifles and sometimes crossbows, have had the pick of 

 the young birds, some few of the tenants are admitted 

 to shoot the remainder — a task that spreads perhaps 

 over two or even three days, and there is a good deal 

 of liquor and silver going about. Then gentlemen 

 come to fish in the mere, having got the necessary 

 permission, and they want bait and some attention, 

 which the keeper's lad, being an adept himself, can 

 render better than any one else ; and so he too gets 

 his share. Besides which, being swift of foot, and 

 with a shrewd idea which way the fox will run when 

 the hunt is up, he is to the fore when a lady or some 

 t imid gentleman wants a gate opened — a service not 

 performed in vain. For breaking-in dogs also the 

 keeper is often paid well ; and, in short, he is one of 

 those fortunate individuals whom all the world tips. 



