4 How I Became a Sportsman. 



I have said that my father hated the sight 

 of a eun, and I believe he dishked the sound 

 quite as much, as he never would go near 

 anybody who w^as out shooting; but that 

 did not spoil his taste for game, to w^hich he 

 was particularly partial. Well, he had a gun 

 all the same, but I feel sure he did not know it, 

 nor was he aw^are of its existence, until that fact 

 was brought to his know^ledge in a manner 

 hereafter to be told. I one fortunate or un- 

 fortunate day made the discovery — a fact which 

 I kept to myself and a chum for some con- 

 siderable time. As early as I can rememberj 

 any odds and ends appertaining to sport, such 

 as an old whip or spur, a dog-w^histle, an odd 

 stirrup, parts of fishing-rods, or any other un- 

 considered trifle which I found lying about, had 

 a particular and irresistible charm for me ; and 

 I carefully laid them by in a place of safety 

 until they could be brought into use ; and by 

 the time that I w^as about twelve years of age, I 

 had what I then considered a rare and valuable 

 collection. At all events, it w^as unique, and 

 w4ien the gun above alluded to was added to 

 it, was considered by myself and a sporting 

 chum Ben (the son of an old poacher also 



