Nebraska advertiser., 1866-11-08
9&1eet gt0rg.
The Wild Duck Shooter.
By JEAN INGELow.

commended, but how beautiful is the
charity of The poor!
Call to mind the coldest day you ev-
er experienced. Think Of the bitter wind
and driving snow think how you shook
and shIvered- how the sharp, white par
ticles were driving against your face
how, within doors. the carpets were lifted
like pillows along the floors, the wind
howled and moaned in the chimneys,
windows cracked, doors ratified and every
now and then heavy Jumps of snow came
Numbering down with dull weight from
the roof.
Now hear my story.
In one of the broad, open plains of
Lincolnshire, there is a long. reedy sheet
of water, favorite resort of wild ducks
At the northern extremity stands two
mud cottages, old, and out of repair.
One bitter, bitter night, when the snow
lay three feet deep on the ground and a
cutting east wind was driving it about
and whisteling in the dry frozen reeds
at the water's edge, and swinging the
bare willow trees till their branches
swept in the ice, an old woman sat spin
ming in one of these cottages before
moderately cheerful fire. Her kettle was
singing on the Goals; she had reed can
die of home. made rushlight on her table,
but the full moon shoDe I'D, and was the
brighter light of the two.-These two.
cottages were far from the road or any
other habilation the old woman was
therefore surprised, as she sat drawing
out her thread, grooming an old north
country song, TO her a sudden knock al
the door.
1t was loud and impatient, not likeshe
knock of their neighbors from the othe
cottages; buI the door was bolted, ar
the old woman rose, looked out, and sa
shivering figure, apparently that of
youth.
"Trampers," said the old woman Sc
tentiOusly, "tramping folks be not wan!e
here"
So saying she went back TO the fir
without deigning to answer the door.
The youth, upon this, tried the do
and called TO her to beg admittance.
She heard him rap the snow from
shoes against her Intel. and again knod
ed, as if be thought she was deaf, and
should surely gain admittance if be COT
only make her hear.
The old woman, surprised at this
dacily, went to the easement, and wi
all her pride of passion, opened it, a
inquired his business.
"GOOd women" the stranger bega
81 only want seat at your fire.
Nay" said the old woman, giving
feet 10 her words by her uncou;h dale
"lhou'lI get no shelter here, I've naugnt
to give TO beggars-a dirty, wet critters.
she continued wralhfully, slamming 100
the door. "Il's wonder where be
found any water, too, seeing it fire szes 50
hard a-body can ge, none for the keilss.
saving what is broked UP with haicast.
On this the beggar turned hastily awa5
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 l''
She might have acted more kindly,
| replied. "But why do you ask 2"
Because" he said, II have heard her
conduct so much reflected on by those
who would have thought nothing of 1t If
il had not been for the consequence.
cShe might have turned him away less
roughly" observed.
THAT is true" be continued, "but 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, "and this
woman could not tell that the beggar was
honest"
NO." said he. "But must go on
with my narrative"
The stranger turned very hastily away
from the door. and waded through the
deep snow toward the other cottage.
The bitter wind helped TO drive him to-
wards it. It no less poor than the 6rsl;
and when he had tried the door, found it
bOlted, and knocked twice without attract
ing attention, his heart sank within him.
His hand was so numb with cold that he
made scarcely any nois he tried again.
A rush candle was burning within,
and matronly looking woman sat be-
side the fire. She held an infant in her
arms, and had dropped asleep; but this
third knock reused her, and wrapping her
apron around her child, she opened the