44 
JOE SWILLER DONE. 
when he was stooping down to examine a spot, where Joe 
told him Partridges were accustomed to nestle, and hearing 
something fall, which he has no doubt was the watch, he 
feels sure he can put his hand on the very place, and must 
go at once to seek the lost treasure. His companions laugh 
at, and try to dissuade him, but all to no purpose — go he 
must : so the horse is put into the trap, a lantern borrowed 
of the ostler, and off they go, never more to return. The 
next day Joe receives by coach a brace of partridges, witli 
a note expressive of thanks for his hospitality and successful 
endeavours to make his guests acquainted with the best 
poaching points of Ferny Manor, to the owner of which he 
is requested to present the birds, as he may perhaps find 
that they are rather scarce this summer, especially in the cover 
by the warrens, from which and the surroimding fields 
about fifty brace had been taken in the night by the gentle- 
men, who herewith subscribed themselves his obliged and 
obedient servants. ^ Ah ! ' said Jenkins, the keeper, to J oe, as 
he related how neatly he had been done, ^ that accounts for 
the twinkling kind of light, like a Will-'o-the-wisp, which 
I saw moving about among the grass and clover last night. 
It was your lantern tied to the dog's head : it scared me 
not a little, I can tell you, for I thought there .were ghosts 
abroad.' Jenkins lost his place; but nobody thought he 
cared much about that, for very soon after he married Joe 
Swiller's eldest daughter, and opened a poultry and game 
shop in the neighbouring town : of the latter he always 
had a plentiful supply, and people did say that much of it 
came from Ferny Manor. Certain it is, that ' Lord Harry ' 
and ^ Sir James ' occasionally visited him, in their dog-cart, 
late at night, or quite early in the morning, and it was more 
especially after such visits that he had the best stock of 
hares, partridges, and pheasants. But who shall say 
that he did not obtain them honestly ? Certain it is that 
in him Lord lost a good keeper : game was never so 
plentiful on the manor after he left as it had been before — 
a plain proof that it was not so well preserved. 
Do you hear the partridge calling 
In the grass and clover patches? 
Stars are twinkling, dews are falling, 
And the lonely keeper watches. 
