The Empty Kennel. 221 



Till he heard my footsteps coming. 



Leaping sprang at me in play. 

 Shook his sides and barked so gladly, 



Said to me all he could say. 



And he told me that he loved me, 



Said he wanted to obey, 

 Said he knew just where a partridge 



Hidden 'neath the windfall lay. 

 There he pointed, staunch as granite, 



While the bold bird dared to stay : 

 Brought the shot bird back so proudly, 



Asked if that was not the way. 



Then I praised the dear old setter, 



Looked down at his earnest eyes, 

 'Til we felt like two good fellows, 



Bound by all the hunter's ties. 

 And I said to him : now Grousie, 



Many a year before us lies, 

 Many a day we '11 hunt together 



Ere the soul of either flies. 



So we ranged along together, 



Over meadow, ridge and swale ; 

 In the swamp the twittering woodcock 



In the brush the calling quail, 

 Found their hiding spots discovered, 



Found their tricks of no avail. 

 All in vain the running partridge 



Tried to throw us off his trail. 



