38 PARTRIDGE DAY 



do I recollect arriving, on the evening of the 31st 

 of August, some years ago, at the old place in 

 Lincolnshire, and finding all three in a state of wild 

 exuberance of spirits in anticipation of the morrow's 

 sport ; Jack, the eldest, just then promoted to a gun 

 of his own, of which he was enormously proud, and 

 the other two contenting themselves with the ex- 

 citing prospect of plodding after us the whole day 

 in the hopes of being allowed to let off our charges 

 at its conclusion. Everybody was eager enough 

 then, and the Squire after an evening spent — much 

 to the disgust of the ladies — in discussing the all- 

 engrossing topic of " the birds," sends us off early 

 to bed, that we may all be up betimes in the 

 morning. 



We wake at seven, or rather are awoke, for the 

 boys have been up since five, " chumming " (I 

 know no word so appropriate) with the keepers ; 

 and even the Squire himself overhead I have heard 

 stamping across his room to look out at the weather 

 several times since four o'clock. We are awoke, 

 then, at seven, and ere we have had time to take 

 that fatal turn, the sure forerunner of a second 

 sleep, a knock, or rather a thunderclap, is heard on 

 the outer panels of the door, and Uncle Sam (they 

 always call me Uncle Sam, though I am not their 

 uncle, and my name is not Samuel) is summoned to 



