1 20 The Amateur Poacher. 



They farmers as have got their shooting be sharper 

 than the keepers, and you can't do much there ; but 

 they as haven't got the shooting don't take no notice. 

 They sees my wires in the grass, and just looks the 

 other way. If they sees I with a gun I puts un in the 

 ditch till they be gone by, and they don't look among 

 the nettles. 



' Some of them as got land by the wood would like 

 I to be there all day and night. You see, their clover 

 and corn feeds the hares and pheasants ; and then 

 some day when they goes into the market and passes 

 the poultry-shop there be four or five score pheasants 

 a-hanging up with their long tails a- sweeping in the 

 faces of them as fed 'em. The same with the hares 

 and the rabbits ; and so they'd just as soon as I had 

 'em and a dalled deal sooner out of spite. Lord 

 bless you ! if I was to walk through their courtyards 

 at night with a sack over my shoulders full of you 

 knows what, and met one of 'em, he'd tell his dog ta 

 stop that yowling, and go in doors rather than see me. 

 As for the rabbits, they hates they worse than poison. 

 They knocks a hare over now and then themselves on 

 the quiet bless you ! I could tell tales on a main 

 few, but I bean't such a fellow as that. 



' But you see I don't run no risk except from the 

 keeper hisself, the men as helps un, and two or three 



