Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-09-28
ME EIRST GEN-

In thc days of my youth-when Alsace still
| belonged to France Frank Savene was con-
| sidercd the best sportsman in our part of the
! country lie was lawyer and a man of 80,
but no yong gamekeeper or forester was
equal to him No one else was so good II
walker, no one else was so sure n shot no one
had his presence of mind, his accuracy of
sight, his GOODNESS and decision: and above
ALL no one had his prudence. Prudence is n
very great merit in II sportsman, and often all
important to his success. / need hardly add
that he was always true sportsman, never
selling his game; he was the kindest fellow in
the world, and the most agreeable. 1t was a
great privilege to MS boys to share n days
sport with him. He was always willing to let
us get the first shot ut the game and stood
ready to aim ut the bird or hare when we had
missed it,
But rs | said before, the most remarkable
thing about him was his prudence He seemed
| always to be thinking about the safety of cv-
crybody around him.
recOllect the day when he took me for my
first wild boar hunt up into the hills. l can
see him now, dressed in gray from his hat to
his heels. except that he had on bright era
vat fastened by Il silver brcast-pin.
He had his eyes everywhere and without
debating to anybody, managed to make every
one i'll the party careful Of his gun, even the
old gamekeeper, Jerome who was carrying
his rifle too carelessly.
There could be no accident in hunt where
Frank Saverne was, and when he halted for a
battue and he placed us each behind u tree.
never shall forget the firm but very polite ges-
ture that he made to each of us 1t meant
PLEASE to stay here! Don't move whatever
happens, till the sound of my whistle calls
you back TO the main body"
When the days sport was over he ceased to
give us any orders, but he always used to say
in his clear voice: Il think we had better all
of us empty our barrels" He set the exam-
pie, and every one either fired off his gun, or
drew his charge. He always unloaded his
own gun, unless he was about to fire it, and
the act became so much with him matter of
habit that he would do it almost 10y instinct
without stopping.
One day in particular | saw him Jump
twenty bitches in an hour, and every time he
had unloaded and reloaded his gun. Notwith-
standing which, he bagged during that hour
six partridges and two hares.
One day when | was sitting 10y him on the
grass eating some luncheon. | venturcd to
say:
Mr. Frank. know can never he so good
II shot rs you are, but | should like to be as
careful as you yet l do not find it easy at my
age to remember. | get excited and eager
about the game, and then | forget myself, and
risk my own life and that of other people.
How many years did it take you to learn pru-
dence ard care Z"
He gavea sudden start, and saw a changed
expression in his eyes. Then he said quietly
My dear boy, my education on those
points was made in less than n month. | went
TO II hard school. God grant you may never
pay so dearly for the same virtues
As he spoke he was lingering the little sill
Yer breast-pn he always worc when he was
dressed for days shooting.
was afraid had been rude. and was 60
ing to apologize, but he said suddenly:
Yet the lesson ought not to be lost. l can
not transmit it to my own children, for ! new
or had any, and it may be | owe ii to the chill
dren of others. No one i'll this neighborhood
is aware that Frank Savene. the sportsman
they are all so proud of-but who is noted for
his absurd precautions against accidents
when he was fourteen years old came very
near killing his own father. Yes,-you may
well look astonshcd. My first shot nearly
cost my dear father his life.
had Just finished my third years school
ing at Strlsbourg, and grandpapa Frank
bless his kind soul-promised me muzzle-
loading single barrel gun if l carried off n
prize. | won the prize for history, and got
the gun, and was as happy as a kid over it,
had been wild to so out shooting for n
long time. Like every other boy of Alsace,
had been accustomed since l was ten years
old to spend my holidays carrying game bags
| for real sportsmen, or setting snares for rab-
| bits or small birds. To be the owner of gun
now seemed TO make "A man of me.
! Unluckily the game laws of Alsace would
not permit boy of my age to take out II Ii
cense. | was only allowed to shoot in an en-
| closure, in our own garden, for example, on
the banks of the Zeru. where there was moth
ing to kill but poor little thrushes and wrens,
and the destruction of such birds my father
and mother held to be II sin. Beside which, |
might have Glanced to shoot my little brother
| or sisters.
The new gun seemed likely to be of no use
| till my father took compassion on me.
"Some day or other" he said, you must
| begin to learn to handle a gun, and you may
as well begin now ms later. | am going over
to Haegan, where have to get somebody to
| sign a law paper. | will take you with me-
and as we come back we will stop and shoot Il
rabbit in the Upper Warren NJ. de Saint
Far gave me permission to shoot there and n
key. Get the two terriers out of the ken
mel"
rushed off, delighted to obey him Oh
| how glad l was What long way it seemed
to the house we were going! How provoked
| felt with the old client, who insisted upon
| having his paper read over and explained to
| him At last he signed it, just as began to
fancy it was growing dusk and our shooting
would have to be put off till the next day.
The terriers at my feet We're no less eager
than their master.
After all, by o'clock we reached the gate
of the mbbit-warren. l tied the horse to n
tree, my father loaded cur guns very carefully
he was always particular about everything
and the dogs were let loose.
My father stationed me inside little wood,
and gave me the usual instructions. How /
was to watch both paths before me how /
was to aim at the rabbit as soon as | might see
one yet not to fire if the dogs were too close
to him. but, above all l was to stay still ON
the spot where he stationed me until l heard
his recall signal He felt sure l should follow
his instruction. and, relying on my usual obe-
dience, he took his gun and placed himself at
Il distance out of my range.
l had been waiting about three minutes
when the dogs reappeared upon the path be-
fore me, and moment after n rabbit, which
appeared of very unusual size, broke cover
about ten PAGES to my left. He sprang over
the little footpath with one bound and got
away with the dogs after him. while l never
once thought of taking aim at him What a
fool had been! felt so when 1 could no
longer see him.
But the voices of dogs again aroused me
with that bark which is music to sports
mans ears; the rabbit reappeared, but at
| ,o,.,o 1;44l, 1;.4ouoa on1 RON along fha natl