The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-04-04
THE WILD DUCK SHOOTER,
BY JEAN INGELOW.

The charity of the rich is much to be COM
mended but how beautiful is the charity of the
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--hsw within DOORS the carpets were
lifted like pillows along the floors, the wind
howled and mo lned in the chimueys, windows
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 a long rsedy sheet of water, a
favorte resort of wild duck At the northern
extremi.ies stand two mud cottages old and out
Of repair.
One bitter night, when the snow lay 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 branches swept
the ice, an old woman sat spinning in one Of
these cottages before moderately cheerful fire.
Her kettle was singing on the Goals she had
reed candle or homemade rushlight on her table,
but the full moon shone in, and was the mighter
light of the twa. These two cottages were far
from the road or any other habitation; the old
woman was thereto "rprsed as she sat draw
Ing GU '.. ing an old north coun-
try SOY, : n knock at the door.
1t WI ,noa inpatient aot like the
knocks OF .r = from the other cottages !;
but the do 9 and the old woman rose
and shuiii.- indow. looked out, and
saw a shiverin. ,ct, apparently that of a
youth,
"Trampers," said the old woman, sententious-
ly; "trampins folks be not wanted here" so
saying she went back to the fire. without dcign-
ing 10 al sw,r the door.
The youth upon this triod the door, and called
to her to heg atmittanoc She heard him rap
the SNOW from his Shoes against her Intel, and
again knock ~ j! he thought she WAS deaf, and
he should surely gain admittancs If he could
only make her hear.
Tho old woman, surprised at his audac,ty
went to tie cssemcnt, and with all her pride Of
possession, o euod it, and inquired his business
Good woman" the stranger began, II only
want seat ut your FIRE"
"Nay," said the old woman, Swing effect to
her words by her unc1uth Gil ,ogue, "thou'll yet
no shelter here I've nought y give TO beygars
"A dirty tcritter," sho Ct inuod wrathiully,
slan nj, so he window. ats Sonder whers
he found Al wal !, DO At ingit seaes 40 hard
body ear ct oue or the KEITH, ssyip. what
is broken NJ witt hatchet."
On th,- the b., " turned hastily awav
And AT This poi't of the narrative, the person
who told it to mo topped and said:
"Do Won Thin tn old woman wa. yry much
TO blame Z"
"she mish. have acted more w" re.
piled, bat why Go You ask"
because" he said, "a have heard her conduct
30 much reflected Oh by those who would have
Thought nothing OF it il it had not been for the
consequences"
"ehe might have turned him away less rough.
w." observed
"Ihat is true,' he continued, "but in any case
think, though we might give them food OF
money, we should hardly invite beggars in to 81,
by TIE Grs" ...-L