220 THE DAILY LIFE OF OUH FARM. 



trap again last night. This morning it was missing. In 

 amazement, with his assistant and the man-servant, he 

 tracked it through the bushes. "It's one of the long 

 tailed uns," says the servant. " Bound to be," echoes 

 Mr. Melon. " Here he be," shouts the assistant-gar- 

 dener in advance. "Stop, then, a moment;" shouts 

 Melon, panting Avith the exertion of struggling through 

 the bushes. " Kill him. Melon ;" shouts the man-ser- 

 vant, waiting outside with his gun cocked. " That I 

 will ; I'll hit un," eagerly threatens Mr. Melon. " Gosh, 

 it be ours ! " suddenly he exclaims, as he nears the spot, 

 in an altered tone. " Never mind, hit un ; " shouts the 

 man-servant, who is a wag ; mimicking his expression. 

 " Eh ! but what'll the auld ooman say ? give it now, 

 this chance ;" so saying, he slackens the trap, and out 

 darts away the affrighted animal. " But if him come 

 again, by jabbers, I'll kill un. Gosh, him did jump 

 though ; him knovved him'll never have another chance," 

 he said, relating the circumstance to me ! stooping his 

 fat form, and half covering his mouth, in an agony of 

 suppressed titter as he spoke, his sense of the fun of it 

 overcoming speech. I have not remembered since to 

 ask him whether the rescued valuable took home scars 

 or not, and whether he got better or worse oiF with his 

 life's partner himself. 



He was up and away before me, watering his plants 

 in the porch this morning ; and as for his day time, I 

 am afraid to approach ; he is so pleasant — so wondrous 

 pleasant — with liis " Please, can't we have some peat 

 hauled noways ! " or some gi-avel, or some salt, or some 

 pea- sticks, or some other aggravating article, consider- 

 ing that we farm and want the horses. 



Now, even the wisest will sometimes go wrong, as the 



