The Ottawa free trader., 1868-04-04
TIE WILD DUCK SHOOTER
BY JEAN INGELOW.

IS a sasHg e. ~ ~s-r
sTheacharity of the rich ia much to 10 Com
mended, but how beautiful is the charity of tn,
poor!
Call to mind the coolest day you ever expe
rienced. Think OF the bitter wind driving
snow; think how you shook and shivered-how
the sharp, white particles were driven against
your face-how within doors, the carpets were
lifted like pillows along the floors, the wind
howled and moaned in the chimnevs, windows
creaked, doors ratified, and every now and then
heavy Jumps of snow came laundering down
with dull weight from the roof.
Now, hear my story.
In one of the broad, open plains of Lincoln.
shire, there is Q long rsedy sheet Of water a
favorite resort Of wild duck. At the northern
c1tremisies stand two mud cottages, old and out
Of repair.
One bitter night, when the snow Law three
feet deep on the ground and cutting east wind
was driving it about, and whistling in the dry
frozen reeds at the waters edge, and swinging
the bare willow trees till their breaches swept
the ice, an old woman sat spinning in one of
these cottages before moderately cheerful fire.
Her kettle WAS singing on the Goals; ishe had, a
reed candle or homemade rushlight on her table,
but the full moon shone in, and was the might tier
light ot the two. These two cottages were fur
from the road or any other habitation; the old
woman was therefore surprised, as she sat draw.
ing out her thread, grooming an old north ooun.
try song, to hear sudden knock at the door
1t was loud and inpatient not like the
knocks of her neighbors from the other cottages
but the door was boltsd, and the old woman rose
and shutting to the window, looked out and
saw shivering figure apparently that of a
youth.
"TfamptfAH said the old woman, sententious.
ly; "trai~sing folks be not wanted here" SO
saying she went back TO the fire, without dcign.
ing u answer the door.
The youth upon this tried tho door, ana called
to her to beg admittanoe. She heard him rap
the snow from his slloes against her Intel, aud
again knock as il he thought she was deaf, and
he should surely gain aamittsncs if he could
only make her hear.
The old woman, surprised at his audaeity
went to the easement, and with all her pride Of
possession, opened 1t, and inquired his business.
"Good woman" the stranger began, II only
want seat ut your fire."
"Nay." said the old woman, giving effect to
her words by her uncouth dialogue. "thoull get
no shelter here; I've naught to give to beggars
IA dirty wet critter," she continued, wrathfully
slxmIning to the window, 'it's wonder where
he found any water, too, seeing it freezes NO hard
body can get none fer the kettle, saving what
Is broken up with hatchet" ...5-.l,
On tins the oeggar turned hastily sway. f,,,
And at this point OF the narrative, the person
who told it to me stopped and said: 4'...,
"Do you think the old woman was very much
to blame y
"She might have acted more kindly" re-
piled "but why DO you ask Z"
Because he said, II have heard her conduct
10 much reflected on by those who would hav,
thought nothing Of it If it had not been for tn
consequences" r""o,.o :, nt
.she might have turned him away less rough
ly," observed. Vs. lGE9lt 81 9
"That i. true" he continued, "but in any case
think, though we might give them food O
money, we should hardly ihNte'tsg6 6Afssia 10 ii
By the fire" -tAi ,iTfgTo frItsf