SPRING SHOOTING 



ills that nature inflicts in her unkindest 

 moods. 



Year after year men go on making 

 laws and crying for more, to protect 

 these fowl in summer, but in spring, 

 when as much as ever they need pro- 

 tection, the hand of man is ruthlessly 

 against them. 



When you made that splendid shot 

 last night in the latest gloaming that 

 would 'show you the sight of your gun, 

 and cut down that ancient goose, tougher 

 than the leather of your gun-case, and 

 almost as edible, of how many well-grown 

 young geese of next November did you 

 cheat yourself, or some one else of the 

 brotherhood ? 



When from the puddle, where they 

 were bathing their tired wings, sipping 

 the nectar of muddy water, and nibbling 

 the budding leaves of water weeds, you 

 started that pair of ducks yesterday, and 

 were so proud of tumbling them down 

 right and left, you killed many more 

 than you saw then ; many that you 

 might have seen next fall. 



When the sun was shining down so 

 warm upon the steaming earth that the 

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