1 8 AN ENGLISH GAMEKEEPER. 



weather. After the storm, father came and 

 took me home with him, and then he and mother 

 talked very seriously about it ; they said the 

 thunder and lightning was simply awful. 



"Where you not afraid, John? " asked my 

 father. 



"No," said I, shortly. I was only eleven 

 years old then, but I can seem to see my father 

 and mother, now, as they looked at me in 

 astonishment, amazed at my answer, and its 

 evident sincerity. 



"And why were you not afraid?" they 

 asked. 



"I thought that the Lord was trying to 

 frighten me, and I determined that I would not 

 be frightened," said I, simply. I could not say 

 such a thing, now, but, although my answer 

 appears irreverent, it was more the outcome of 

 childish heedlessness than any spirit of bravado, 

 for I have always acknowledged the Almighty 

 power and will of our Heavenly Father. I do 

 not wish to boast, or draw the long bow, in 

 describing the events of my life ; and, indeed, 

 there are many gentlemen still living who can 



