NATURE AND SPORT IN BRITAIN 



understood, pursued that business in a small, easy- 

 going, desultory sort of way. But he had never much 

 head or inclination for affairs of any kind. By degrees 

 he let slip or abandoned what little business he had 

 ever possessed, retired to a cottage, and devoted him- 

 self to the only life that matched with his ideas the 

 life of the open air. He must have possessed some 

 small means of his own ; his wants were few and his 

 habits of the simplest kind. A mug of ale and a pipe 

 of tobacco were among the few luxuries in which he 

 indulged himself. 



Released from the cares of the maltstering business, 

 Master Jessey, in his own slow fashion, turned about 

 him for an occupation. In due time he settled himself 

 as unpaid retainer at a certain quiet country-house just 

 upon the outskirts of the village. That must have been 

 in the early forties. I first remember the old man in 

 the middle sixties, when he had been long settled in 

 his occupation. His plan of life was something of this 

 kind. He usually appeared at the house soon after 

 nine in the morning. If there were things to be done, 

 he stayed about most of the day, receiving by way of 

 fee a pint mug of good ale now and again, his midday 

 meal, and, if he were late, his supper. The care of the 

 bees ; all matters pertaining to rabbiting ; the capture 

 of fish ; the washing and cleaning of the muzzle-loading 

 guns used in those days ; the killing of pigeons, ducks, 

 geese, and poultry all these and many other minutiae 

 were looked upon as belonging to the department of 

 Master Jessey. He was great at ratting, but with 

 horses and gardening he meddled but little. In Sep- 

 tember he accompanied the partridge-shooters, helped 

 to carry the bag, and looked after the dogs. He 

 was never much of a man for the gun, although 

 he loved sport of every kind in his own way. I fancy 



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