PARTRIDGE DAY AS IT WAS AND AS IT IS 37 



now as compared with its reception some years ago. 

 There are probably few, who, if lacking experience 

 of its pleasures, can duly appreciate the ardour with 

 which a sportsman looks forward to the " glorious 

 first." But let the appreciative observer note how 

 manifestly that ardour has of late years abated. 

 It has been my frequent custom ere autumn has 

 made her final curtsey, to take up my quarters at 

 the country house of a certain relative, and witness 

 the unprovoked assault on, and reckless massacre 

 of divers unoffending partridges in the ensuing 

 month. The relative referred to is an elderly 

 gentleman, and, in addition to the possession of 

 lands of his own, and liberties to shoot over those 

 of other people, is also the happy father of three 

 stalwart sons, not to mention the complementary 

 portion of the family with whom at present I have 

 nothing to do. These three stalwart sons, beknown 

 to me as mere brats, I have watched grow up with 

 some interest, and that not only as regards their 

 moral and intellectual training, but also as regards 

 the physical culture of their frames, and the sport- 

 ing bent of their mind. The youngsters were always 

 fond of me. I have always been their ficlus 

 Achates, in their adventures by land and water, 

 from teaching them to swim and row, down to 

 setting night lines for eels, or traps for rats. Well 



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