River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-08-23
MYFIRST GUN.

and a man of fiftv, cut no young game
keeper or forester was equal to him. No
one else was so good walker, no one else
was so sure a shot, no one had his pres
ence of mind, his accuracy of sight, his
GOODNESS and decision; above all no
one had his prudence. Prudence is q
very great merit in sportsman. never
selling his game; he was the kindest fell
low in the world, and the most agreeable.
1t was great privilege to Us boys TO
share days sport with him. He was
always willing to let US get the first shot
At the game and stood ready TO aim at
the bird or hare when we had missed it.
But, as | said before the most remark
able thing about him was his prudence.
he seemed always TO be thinking about
the safety Of everybody around him.
TecOllect the day when he took me
for my first wild boar hunt up into the
hills. / can see him now, dressed in gray
from his hat TO his heels. except that he
had on white cravat fastened by sill
yer breast in.
He had Is eyes everywhere; and with
cut dictau to anybody, managed 10
make ever one in the party careful Of
his gun, eN n the old gamekeeper, Ter
ONE, who was carrying his rifle too care
lessIy.
There could he no accident in hunt
where Frank Saverne was, and when he
halted for a battue and he placed us each
behind tree, never shall forget the
firm but very polite gesture that he made
10 each of u II meant. please to stay
here! Don't move, whatever happens,
fiji tho anrfnH IF rr-bsuAEo
back 70 the main body
When the days sport was over he
ceased 10 give US any orders, but he
ways used to say in his clear voice: L
think we bad better all of us empty our
barrels Heset the example, and every
one either fired off his gun, or drew his
charge. He always unlOadcd his own
gun, unless he was about TO fire il, and
the act became so much with him a mat
ter of habit that he would do II almost by
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, notwithstanding which. he bagged
during that hour six partridges and two
hares.
One day when was sitting by him on
the grass, eating some luncheon, l ven
tured to say:
Mr.. Frank, know / can never he so
good a shot as You are, but / should like
TO be as careful AS you; yet do not find
il easy at my age to remember. l get
excited and eager about the game, and
then forget myself, and risk my own
life and the lives of other people. How
many years did it take you TO learn pru-
dence and curef'
He gave sudden start, and l saw a
changed expression in his eyes. Then he
said quietly:
Ny dear boy, my education on those
points was made in less than month.
went to hard school God grant that
you may never pay so dearly for those
virtuesir
As he spoke he was lingering the little
silver breast-pin he always wore when
ne was dressed for days shooting.
/ was afraid had been rude. and was
going to ap ologize, but he said sudden
ly:
Yet the lesson ought not TO be lost
| cannot transmit it 10 my own children
for | never had any, and it may be thai
/ owe it TO the children of Others. NJ
one in this neighbOrhOod is aware thai
Frank Saverne, the sportsman they are
all so proud Of-but who is noted for hi
absurd precautions against accidents
when he was fourteen years old came
near killing his own father. Yes-yOT
may well look astOnished. Ny first shO
nearly cost my dear father his life.
| had Just finished my third YEAR
shooting at StrasbOurg, and GTandpapi
Frank-bless his kind soul promised
me a muzzle-lo loading single-barrel gun, i
I carried off prize. won the prize TO
history, and got the gun; and was a
happy as a king over it.
had been wild TO 60 out shooting 70
a long time. Like every other boy o
Alsace, / had been accustomed since
was ten years old to spend my holidays
carving game bags for real SpOrtsmen
helping the heaters to drive up the game
or setting snarcs for rabbits or small
birds. To be the owner of a gun nov
seemed TO make a man of me.
Unluckily. the game laws Of Alsac,
would not permit boy Of my age to tak'
out a license. | was only allowed {,
shoot in an enclosure, in our own garden
for example. on tho banks of the ZOrn
where there was nothing - kill but poo
little thrushes and wrens. and the de
struction Of such birds my father anC
mothtr held 10 be a sin. Besides which
might have CHANGED 10 shoot my little
brothers and sisters.
The new gun seemed likely to be o.
no Use, till father took compassion on me
"SOme dav or other" he said, 'yOJ
must begin to learn how to handle a gun
and YOU may as we'll begin now as later
l am going over TO Hagen, where | have
TO get somebody 10 sign paper. | vii
take YOU with me, and n we come bach
We will stop and shoot rabbit in tbs
Upper Warren. VI. dc Saint Far CAV,
me permission TO shoot there, and key
Get the two terriers out Of the kennel
I rushed off. delighted to obey him
Oh. how glad | wasi What a long wa!
it was TO the house we were going, How
provoked felt with the old client VIII
insisted upon having his paper read owe
and explained TO him, At last he signe'
il. Just as began TO fancy it was GROWN!
dusk, aH5 our shooting would have TO b
put of till the next day.
The terriers at my feet were less cage
than their MASTER
After ali, by five o'clock we reaches
the gate by the rabbit-warren. ! tied tn
horse TO a tree, my father loaded our gun
very carefully-he was always particu
lar about everything-and the dogs wer
let loose.
Nv father stationed me inside a littl
wood, and gave me al the usual instruc
tons. How l was to watch both path
before me; how was to aim at the rat
bit as soon as I might see one; yet not
fire if the dogs were too close to him; bu
above all was to stay still on the spC
where he had stationed me until hear
his recall signal. he felt sure | shout
follow his instructions, and relying 0
nv usual obedience, he took his gu
and placed himself at distance out {
nv range.