The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-05-01
THE WILD DUCK SHOOTER.
BY JEAN INGELow.

the poorl
Call to mind the coolest day you ever ex-
perieneed. Think of the bitter wind and
driving snow think how you shook and
shiyered-how the sharp white particles
were driven against your face-how. within
doors, the carpets were lifted like billows
along the floors, the wind howled and
moaned In the chimneys, windows creaked,
doors ratified, and every now and then heavy
Jumps of snow came laundering down with
a dull weight from the roof.
Now, hear my story.
In one of the broad, open plains of Lin
colnshire there is long, reedy sheet of wa
ter, favorlte resort of wild ducks. At its
northern extremity stand two mud cottages,
old and out of repair.
One bitter bitter night, when the snow
lay three feet deep on the ground, and cut
ting east wind was driving it about, and
whistling in the dry frozen reeds by the
waters edge, and swinging the bare willow
trees till their branches swept the ice. an
old woman sat spinning In one of these cot
tages before moderately cheerful fire. Her
kettle was singing on the GOALS she had
reed-candle, or homemade rushllght OH her
table, but the full moon shone in, and was
the brighter light of the two. These two
cottages were far from the road, or any
other habitation; the old woman was, there
fore, surprised, as she sat drawing out her
thread, grooming an old north-country song,
to hear a sudden knock at the door.
1t was loud and impatient not like the
knock of her neighbors in the other Gotta
ges but the door was bolted, and the old wo-
man rose, and shutliing to the window,
looked out and saw shivering figure, ap-
parently that of a youth. ln 81
'Trampers ~ said the old woman, senten-
tiously, "tramping folk be not wanted
here;' so saying she went back to the fire
without deigning to answer the door.
The youth upon this tried the door, and
called to her to beg admittance. She heard
him rap the snow from his shoes against
her Intel, and again knock as if he thought
she was deaf and he should surely gain adj
mittance, If he could only make her hear.
The old woman, surprised at his audaei-
ity, went to the easement and with all pride
of possession, opened it and inquired his
business.
! Good woman" the stranger began, u
only want seat at your fire."
"Nay," said the old woman giving effect
to her words by her uncouth dialogue,
''thou'lt get no shelter here; I've naught to
give to beggars-a dirty wet critter," she
She continued, wrathfully slamming to the
window, ''it's wonder where he found any
water, too, seeing it freezes so hard, a body
can get none for the kettle, saving what's
broken up with hatchet,"
On this the beggar turned hastily away.
And at this point in his narrative, the
person who told it to me stopped and said,
"Do you think the old woman was very
much to blame ?"
'She might have acted more kindly" /
replied; but why do you ask ?"
Because" said he, II have heard her
conduct so much reflected on by some who
would have thought nothing of it if it had
not been for the consequences"
''She might have turned him away less
roughly" observed.
''That Is true" he continued, shut In any
case, think, though we might give them
food or money, we should hardly invite
beggars IN to sit by the fire."
'Certainly not | replied; land this wo-
man could not tell that the beggar was
honest"
No, said he, but must go on with my
narrative. The stranger turned very has
tily from the door, and waded through the
deep snow toward the other cottage, The
bitter wind helped to drive him toward It,.
1t looked no less poor than the first; and
when he had tried the door, foundit bolted,
and knocked twice without attracting at
tention, his heart sank within him; his
hand was so numb with cold, he had made
scarcely any noise; he tried again.
A rush candle was burning within, and
a matronly-lo0king woman sat before the
fire. She held an infant in her arms, and
ndu drOppcd hSlccp, DuJ MS JulTu KNOCK
reused her, and wrapping her apron round
her child, she opened the door very little,
and demanded what he wanted.
Good woman the youth began, II have
had the misfortune to fall in the water this
bitter night, and l am so numbed that
can scarcely walk"
; The woman gave him a sudden, earnest
look, and then sighed.
4 Come in," she said, 'thou art so nigh the
size of my Jem, thought at first 1t was him
come home from sea-"
The youth stepped across the threshold,
trembling with cold and wet; and no Won
der, for his clothes were completely incased
In wet mud and the water dripped from
them with every step he took on the sanded
floor. 1859 s, tt
Thou art In a sorry plight" said the wo-
man, "and it be two miles TO the highest
house come and kneel down before the fire
thy teeth chatter SO pitifully, can scarce
bear to hear them.r
She looked at him more attentively, and
saw that he was a mere boy, not more than
sixteen years of age. Her motherly heart
was touched for hin. "Art hungry ~ she
asked, turning to the table; thou art wet
10 the skin. What hast been doingY"
''ShO0tiUg wild ducks" said the boy.
''Ow said the hostess, "thou art one of the
keepers boys then. reckonr'
He followed the direction other eyes, and
saw two portions OF bread set upon the ta-
BILE, with a small piece Of bacon on each.
II my master be very late" she observed
for charity did not make her use elegant
language, and by her master she meant hus.
band 'but thou art welcome 70 my bit and
sup, for was waiting for him; may be II
win put a little warmth in thee 10 eat and
drink !" so saying she took up mug of beel
from the hearth, and pushed &c toward him
with her share OF the supper. sea g. la a9as
THANK you," said the boy 'but am sc