THE PARTRIDGE, 99 



Birds, provided the Dog hunts up wind, as all Dogs should be 

 taught to do. 



If, besides being windy, a drizzling, drenching rain should 

 set in, we would advise the Sportsman to withdraw at once 

 from the field, and wait patiently until the elements prove 

 more propitious; otherwise, he will not only run the risk of a 

 rheumatism, but also of an ill-humor, while his Dogs will soon 

 become jaded, and his game-bag continue empty. "It is no 

 use to kick against the pricks," St. Paul says; neither is it any 

 use to get out of temper and make fight with the elements, as 

 rain it will in spite of all our scolding and bad humor; and it 

 will be much better to hold ourselves perfectly resigned to the 

 will of the Fates, and endeavor to preserve our minds unruffled 

 by conning over, to some good and patient listener, the numer- 

 ous wonderful achievements of our Gun and Dog in former 

 days. If, however, you are of a taciturn disposition, and take 

 no delight in these interesting and often romantic recitals, 

 what shall we advise you to do to pass the time, when, perhaps, 

 quartered away in some dreary sequestered spot, without the 

 reach of books, newspapers, or anything else whereby to satisfy 

 an inquiring and active mind? Ah! we have it, as advised, 

 we believe, by another. Call for the family Bible; for where 

 can you find a family, in our favored country, that does not 

 possess one of these time-worn testimonials of bygone days! 

 Turn to the register of births, deaths, and marriages, and you 

 will soon find yourself lost in deciphering the hieroglyphics of 

 these important family records, and perhaps thus while away 

 an hour or two in studying some long genealogical table, 

 gravely proving that the ancient founder of the American 

 Smith family first landed at Plymouth with the Pilgrims from 

 the Old World, and afterwards emigrated to these parts, where 

 he built a log-cabin on the identical spot now covered by the 

 house you are in, and which still, even to this day, continues 

 in the possession of the lineal descendants of the said Smith 

 family. What a discovery! Before fully awakening from 

 your surprise, the rain, perhaps, will have ceased, the sun 

 broken forth, and you can again joyfully sally forth to the 

 fields. If this, perchance, will not engage your attention, draw 

 a chair up to the hickory fire that blazes and crackles at your 



