To Mountain Tarn 



whose charm was the greater because of the 

 exquisite sympathy. The reaction is marked ; 

 the eye of the eagle became keener. Even the 

 byplay is of infinite interest. The protective 

 shades of grouse give the nose of the pointer ; 

 less cunningly hidden, and a coarser sense were 

 enough. An interesting three are grouse, sports- 

 man, and dog. The hawk established their 

 delicate relations. 



Time was when people minded these things. 

 If they did not think of them quite in this way, 

 the result was the same. They let Nature alone, 

 as old enough to manage her own affairs. The 

 love of mammon and all unrighteousness was not 

 yet awake. With the instinct of fair play, which 

 is the vital spark of sport, they gave each a 

 chance. Their little differences they let the wild- 

 lings settle among themselves, and found it greatly 

 to the health, and altogether to the joy of the 

 moor. More clearly does this come out now that 

 there is little health and less joy. It gave the 

 detachment from butchery needful to make it a 

 recreation for gentlemen. 



Old servants stayed with their olden masters, 

 and it was found to be good for both. The 

 lesson applies to the moor. That the old servants 

 there may be turned off without loss is not the case. 

 Looseness will slip in, and want of sympathy ; 

 with attendant risk and ultimate decay. The loss 

 may well be by littles, but so was the gain. The 



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