12 A GAMEKEEPER'S NOTE-BOOK 



his roses mean so much to him that he will make some 

 such excuse as, " The missus, she thinks a mortal 

 sight of they." 



In February a few lucky gamekeepers may take a 

 voluntary holiday, many must take an involuntary 



one restful, perhaps, but not beneficial 

 Keepers^ to p OC ^ et> health, and spirits. Keepers 



come and keepers go in these days when 

 so many shoots are let for short terms. Rest- 

 ing between berths has one advantage there can 

 be no haunting worry as to the welfare of game. 

 It would be interesting to collect cases of keepers 

 and other country workers who have held the same 

 berth for long periods, and have never been for a 

 holiday right away from the scenes of their labours. 

 Many and many old keepers would be found to have 

 lived their whole lives on the estates where they were 

 born. The best holiday for keepers would be a 

 change to a bustling town ; or they should be sent 

 to a country where game is different to the game at 

 home, the partridge man going to the home of grouse, 

 the moorland keeper to the South. 



Most keepers would be the first to say it is im- 

 possible that they should take holiday. Their work 

 is peculiarly personal ; and even when it is essential 

 to arrange for somebody else to " give an eye to 

 things," they can never feel happy and confident 

 that all is going on in the accustomed way. The 



