42 THE GAMEKEEPER AT HOME. 



of trees. His wife has perhaps survived till recently 

 strong and hale almost to the last ; the most voluble 

 gossip of the hamlet, full of traditions relating to the great 

 house and its owners ; a virago if crossed. It is recorded 

 that upon one occasion in her prime she confronted a 

 couple of poachers, and, by dint of tongue and threats of 

 assistance close at hand, forced them to retire. It was at 

 night that, her husband being from home and hearing shots 

 in the wood, she sallied forth armed with a gun, faced the 

 poachers, and actually drove them away, doubtless as much 

 from fear of recognition as of bodily injury, though even 

 that she was capable of inflicting, being totally fearless. 



Nothing can be more natural than that when a man 

 has shown an earnest desire to give satisfaction and proved 

 himself honest and industrious, his employer should exhibit 

 an interest in the welfare of his family. Now and then a 

 small farm may be found in the hands of a man descended 

 from or connected with a keeper. To successfully work a 

 tenancy of such narrow limits it is necessary that the 

 occupier should himself labour in the field from morn till 

 dewy eve the capacity to work being even more essential 

 than capital ; and so it happens that the smaller farms are 

 occasionally held by men who have risen from the lower 

 classes. The sons of keepers also become gentlemen's 

 servants, as grooms, etc., in or out of the house. 



A proposal was not long since made that gentlemen 

 who had met with misfortune or were unable to obtain 



