A POEM. 101 



The chamber heated, quickly down the centre, 

 With careful hand the fresh supply must enter ; 

 And as those grains that to the moisten'd sides 

 Adhere, are worse than useless ; as besides 

 Diminishing the charge, the wadding clears 

 The same away, and to tk* effective bears ; 

 It stands to reason, that it is not right 

 To ram this filth upon the powder tight. 

 For should you do so, half its force is lost 

 By the contagion ; thus are often cross'd 

 The Sportsman's hopes, when afar off he tries 

 His game to kill untouch'd, away it flies. 

 Thus has been lessen'd many a good day's sport, 

 By the shot falling of its distance short. 

 Most youthful Sportsmen, I'm aware, are prone 

 To use the ramrod freely, and bang home 

 Both shot and powder ; but the hand will tell 

 When they're in place, and answers twice as well 

 By gentle pressure : always rather choose 

 To have your wadding large, the small refuse. 

 F 3 



