CHAPTER X 



THE FORESTER AND HIS WORK 



TN the Europe of our forefathers, and in the 

 days of old, a forest was a hunting ground. In 

 England, Germany, and France, there were num- 

 bers of Royal Forests, where the King rode 

 a-hunting; and there were also many private for- 

 ests, homes for tall deer, which were kept there 

 to be chased by the rich and great. No one cared 

 for the trees — they were just a shelter or covert 

 for the game. 



No one cared for the poor cultivators of the 

 land, who had to put up with many privations in 

 order that princes and noble lords might enjoy the 

 pleasures of the chase. 



The " meene man " had much ado to get a 

 living, because his crops were apt to be eaten, as 

 soon as they were out of the ground, by straying 

 deer. There were cruel punishments, even to 

 death itself, for any man who killed or wounded 

 a deer out of the forest. A poor man dared not 

 call his dog to help chase the robber out of his 

 little vegetable patch. He dared not even snare 

 a rabbit in the forest of king or noble, though 



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