St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-12-16
Tom Sheridan'S Game.
From All the Year Round. I

One of Toms droll adventures is re-
tailed by Theodore Hook in his own
manner in Gilbert Gurney.
''He was staying at Lord Craven's at
Benham or, rather Hampstead, and one
day proceeded on a shooting excursion,
like Hawthorne, with only his dog
and his gum on foot, and unattended
by companion or keeper /; the sport was
bad, the birds few and shy, and he
walked and walked in search of game,
until uncOnsciOusly, he entered the do
main of some neighbOring squire. A
very short time after he perceived ad-
vancing toward him, at the top of his
speed, a jolly, comfortable gentleman,
followed by a servant, armed, as it ap
peared, for conflict. Tom took up a
position, and waited the approach of
the enemy. "HallO! you SIR" said the
squire, when within half earshOt !;
"what are you doing here, sir, ell ?"
'I'm shooting, SIR" said Tom. "DO
you know where you are, sir ?" said the
squire, "I'm here, sir" said Tom.
"Here, sir ?" said the squire, growing
angry ; "and do you know where here
is, sir?-these, sir, are my manOrs !;
what dye think of that, sir, ell ?"
''Why, sir, as to your manners" said
Tom, 81 can't say they seem over
agreeable" 81 don't want any jokes,
sir,' said the squire Il hate jokes.
Who are you, sir ?-what are you y
"Why, SIR" said Tom, "my name is
Sheridan am staying at Lord Cra-
ven's-I have come out for some sport
I have not had any, and | am not
aware that | am trespassing." "Sheri
dan !" said the squire, cooling a little !;
"Oh from Lord Craven's Ell? Well,
sir, could not know that, sir,-I-"
'No, sir" said Tom, "but you need
not have been in passion" ''Not in
passion, Mr.. Sheridan ~ said the
squire; "yOu don't know, sir, what
these preserves have cost me, and the
pains and trouble l have been at with
them it's all very well for you to talk,
but if you were in my place, l should
like to know what you would say on
such an occasion" "Why, sir" said
Tom, ''If were in your place under
the circumstances, l should say, Il am
convinced, Mr.. Sheridan, you did not
mean to annoy me, and as you look "A
good deal tired, perhaps you'll come up
to my house and take some refresh
ment.'n The squire was hit by this
nonchalance, and, it is needless to add,
acted upon Sheridan's suggestion. so
far" said poor Tom, the story tells for
me now you shall hear the sequel"
After having regaled himself at the
squire's house, and having said five
hundred more good things than he
swallowed, having delighted his host,
and having half won the hearts of his
wife and daughters, the sportsman pro-
ceeded on his return homeward. In
the course of his walk he passed
through a farmyard in the front OF
the farmhouse was green, in the cen
ter of which was pond. On the pond
were ducks innumerable swimming
and diving on its verdant banks a
motley group of gallant cocks and pert
partlets, picking and feeding-the far
mer was leaning over the hatch of the
barn, which stood near two cottages
on the side of the green. Tom hated
having failed in his attempts at higher
ridicule the exploits of the day himself
in order to prevent any one else from
doing it for him and he thought that
| W CdIIN ii VI Ilt
domestic inhabitants of the pond and
its vicinity, would serve the purpose
admirably. Accordingly up he goes tC
the farmer, and accosts him vely civily
'My good friend" says Tom, ~ make
you on offer" "Of what, sur 2" say,
the farmer. "Why," replied Tom
:.1've been out all day tagging aftel
birds, and haven't had shot. Now
both my barrels are loaded should
like to take home something; wha
shall give you to let me have a sho
with each barrel at those ducks anC
fowls-I standing here-and to hav,
whatever / kill 2" "What sort of ;
shot are you ?" said the farmer. "Fair
ishr' said Tom, ''fairish =" "And t.
have all You kill ?" said the farmer
"eh ?" Exactly sO," said Tom. "Half
a-guinea," said the farmer. "That'
too much,n said Tom. "I'll tell yol
what I'll do-Ill give you a seven
, shilling piece, which happens to be al
the money have in my pocket"
"Well, ;" said the man, "hand itOver.'
The payment was made. Tom, true t.
/ his bargain, took his post by the barr
door, and let fly with one barrel, ant
, then with the other, and such quack
ing and splashing, and screaming an,
f1uttering, had never been seen in tina
r place before. Away ran Tom, and, de
lighted at his success, picked up first
: hen, then a chicken, then fished out
dying duck or two, and so on, until Ii
numbered eight head of domestic game
with which his bag was nObly distend
ed. "ThOse were right good shot:
p , aaI1 the farmaP ANaE said Tom
l eight ducks and fowls were more tina
you bargained for, old fellow-wOrt
3 rather more, | suspect, than seven shil