SONNET 
343 
even by n crack shot, the slow pointer is no where, and of 
no use, while the racing setters will fill the bag to a 
certainty. 
Kor my own part, I can say to a certainty, that I have 
hail more sport, anil killed more birds, by many, many 
times, when birds have been widely scattered, and diffi¬ 
cult to find, and when I have walked half or a quarter of 
a mile between every shot fired, than I ever have when 
birds have lain close, and jumped up at every pace under 
my feet; and for a simple reason, that the places in which 
birds so rise and lie, are rare and of small extent, and the 
days on which they do so few and far apart. 
Therefore I say , friend —for all true sportsmen I hold 
friends—choose well thy day, when the air is soft and 
genial, the wind south-westerly, the meadows green with 
succulent and tender grasses, and moist with the deposit 
of subsiding waters—select thy grounds carefully j in such 
a time as I have named, the wide and open marsh 
meadows; but if the wind be from the eastward, cold, 
squally and snow laden, then try the bushy, briary brakes, 
where cattle poach the soil, and the marsh waters creep, 
or the verge of the meadows, under the lea of the maple 
swamp, or at the worst the very grounds where you would 
beat fur woodcock in July—begin from the farthest wind¬ 
ward point of thy beat, casting thy brace of setters off 
from thy heel, to the right and left, and so often as they 
have diverged one hundred yards, turning them with a 
whistle and a wave of the hand, so that they shall cross 
continually before thy face, down wind of thee, at some 
thirty paces distant; and so persevere—if birds be plenty 
and lie well, walking not to exceed two miles the hour; 
if they be rare and wild, four miles, or by ’r lady! five, if 
thou mayest compass it. If one dog stand, while the 
other’s back is turned, whistle, that he shall turn his head, 
then hold thy hand aloft, with one quiet “ (o/to” but no 
shouting; if he be broke, he shall stand like a carved 
stone. Then walk up to the point leisurely, be sure that 
thou go down wind , making a circuit if needs be, with thy 
gun at half-cock, the ball of thy thumb on the hammer, 
and the nail of thy fore-finger inside the guard, but not 
upon the trigger. When the bird rises, cock your gun, 
and down him! If thy dogs do their devoir, they 
shall drop to the charge unbidden; if they do not, raise 
thy hand with an imperious gesture, and cry coolly and 
calmly “down charge;” but however ill they behave,' 
nay ! even if they run in and eat thy bird, move not till 
thy gun is loaded; then calmly walk up to them, drag 
them, pitilessly scourging them all the way, to the place 
where they should have charged, and rate them in the 
best of thy dog*language. I say “scourging them piti¬ 
lessly” because that is, in truth, the merciful course; for 
so one or two whippings will suffice, instead of constant 
small chastisement and irritation, which spoil a dog’s 
temper and break his spirit, without conquering his obsti¬ 
nacy, or gaining the ascendancy over him. 
If, on the contrary, they charge as decent dogs should 
and do charge, so soon as thy gun be loaded, lift them, 
with a “ Hold up, good lads !” and cast them gently on¬ 
ward, checking them with a “Steady, dogs!” if they 
show disposition to be rash, until they point the dead 
bird, if killed, or draw on him, if running. Then, with a 
“Toho! Steady!” walk to their point; pick up the bird 
under their noses, praising them the while, or bid them 
“Fetch!” according to the circumstances of the case; 
but if they retrieve the bird without pointing him, or even 
after pointing him, until told to “ fetch,” let chastisement 
not hide her head. 
This, rest assured, friend is the way to do it. 
For the rest, whether thou wear fen-boots, or shoes and 
trowsers, or, as I use, by deliberate preference, arch-boots, 
corduroy shorts, and leggins, suit thine own fancy; but 
let thy shooting-jacket be roomy on the chest and shoul¬ 
ders, and well supplied with ample pockets. Let thy gun 
be—for my choice—of 31 inches, 12 or 14 guage, 7| to 8 
pounds. Let thy powder be Brough’s diamond grain, or 
John Hall’s glass—on no account any other—thou mayest 
get it of Henry T. Cooper, in Broadway, New York— 
thy shot No. 8—thy caps Starkey’s central fire, or Moore 
& Gray’s, or Westley Richards’—by no means French , or 
Walker’s, the first of which fly , while the latter are, I 
think, corrosive. Forget not to have in thy pocket a dog- 
whip, a stout knife, a yard or two of strong cord, a pocket- 
flask, replenished, as thou wilt, with old Otard, or as I 
recommend thee, Ferintosh or Glenlivat whisky—stick in 
the seam of thy waistcoat a strong darning-needle, headed 
with sealing-wax, it is the only true and responsible gun- 
picker ; and so, good sport to thee, and health and temper 
to enjoy it!—as good sport, gentle reader, as I trust my¬ 
self to enjoy this coming week of April, the rain-gods and 
the river-gods permitting, and the nymphs remembering 
us, as their long-time adorer, in their kind orisons. 
The Cedars , March 25, 1850. 
ITALIA 
What is it to the fields i 
Light hath given, 
Radiance glowing, unexpected, 
And from soft imbosomed bowers, 
And od’rous flowers, 
Hath sweet Spring to us directed? 
See ! by gentle May upholden, 
Beech-tree olden 
Joyful welcomes springing leaf] 
Spring the flowers of glorious tinting, 
Fair imprinting^ 
Meadows kissed by smiling wavelet. 
t is Lilia, ever charming, 
ml-disarming, 
athers flowers, her hair adorning ! 
Dearest Lilia, dost discover 
Wit}} 
Spring find Summer now returning? 
lows for thee the tiny river, 
Cheerful giver, 
^ Early green and freshness bringing; 
Springs for thee the joyous morning, 
Hehven adorning, 
All the air Willi praises ringing. 
Shepherds, shepherds, to the chorus ! 
Sec, before us, 
Binds with flowers her hair dark tlQwing- 
While our hearts all homage will her- 
Dearest Lilia, 
Sing her name with praises glowing ! 
