WHAT I KNOW ABOUT GARDENING. Ill 



tender flesh, its domestic virtues, and its 

 pleasant piping. Besides, although I appre- 

 ciate toads and cows, and all that sort of 

 thing, I like to have a game-preserve more 

 in the English style. And we did. For in 

 July, while the game-law was on, and the 

 young quails were coming on, we were 

 awakened one morning by firing, mus- 

 ketry-firing, close at hand. My first thought 

 was that war was declared ; but, as I should 

 never pay much attention to war declared at 

 that time in the morning, I went to sleep 

 again. But the occurrence was repeated, 

 and not only early in the morning, but at 

 night. There was calling of dogs, breaking 

 down of brush, and firing of guns. It is 

 hardly pleasant to have guns fired in the 

 direction of the house, at your own quails. 

 The hunters could be sometimes seen, but 

 never caught. Their best tune was about 

 sunrise ; before one could dress and get to 

 the front, they would retire. 



One morning, about four o'clock, I heard 

 the battle renewed. I sprang up, but not in 



