Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-10-25
TURGENEFF'S LAST SKETCH.

Southern Russia Around US for dis
tsnce Of many yersts the steppe extended
in every direction. No forest, no stream
you'd bs found in the neigh boring
country only shallow ravines covered
by brushwood and looking like immense
green snakes, here and there made their
way through the otherwise unbroken
surface Of the plains. Tiny rivulets
flowed at the bottom of these ravines In
places TO which we'll beaten fooi-psths
generally led you could see, very near
the top OF the bank, small springs Of
limpid water, like tears, issue from the
ground aud on their edges in the damp
clay the tracks of numberless birds and
other small animals. Man and beasts
alike need fresh, pure water
My father WAS passionately fond OF
hunting. Every moment he could spare
from his work-provided the Gather
was fine--~ould see him take down his
rifle, strap his pouch about his waist,
whistle for his old dog Tresor, and start
to hunt quail or partridge. Hare he
thought little of fit only, he would say
with an air of contempt, to make hunter
run. These and snipes which came in
the autumn were all the game found
in the neighborhood.
But quails and partridges were quite
numerous; especially the latter. In follow
ing the banks of the rsvines you would
encounter at every step little hollows
in the dry ground where they love to
squat. Old Tresor would then come to
sudden stop, his tail wagging furiously,
and his forehead gathering in wrinkles,
while my father, pale with excitement,
nv,lI Ia h .af
his gun.
AT times, to my great joy, would be
permitted to accompany him. | used to
tuck the legs Of my trousers into the tops
of my boots, hang my little flask over
my shoulders, and, so equipped, would
imagine myself true sportsman. Though
Precipitation might cover me from head to
foot, and gravel and dust enter my shoes,
l never felt the least fatigued, and never
in single instance allowed myself to
drop behind. At each report of the gun,
and as soon as the bird fell, | bounced
forward with joyous shout felt so
happy The wounded quail might
struggle, flap it's wings, sometimes on the
ground, at other times in Tresor's mouth,
its blood fowl only became enthusi-
astic; / never felt the least sentiments OF
pityl
What wouldn't have given to be able
to fire a gun myself to kill quail and
psrtridges with my own hand But my
father had repeatedly explained to me
that WAS not to have gun until had
reached the age of IL, and that then
was to have a single barrelled gun, and
that would be allowed to shoot larks
only. Large numbers OF these were found
near our house; on sunny days you
could see them by the dozens in tine clear
sky mounting higher, ever higher, with
ohirps resembling the tinkling Of little
bells.
looked upon them as my future spoil,
and aimed at them with stick which
carried over my shoulder like gun. Il
is very easy to get close to them, wher
they hover with quiyering wings per
haps five or six feet above the ground
before suddenly plunging into the grass
Sometimes, in the distance, on stubbl'
fields or the green prairie, bustardi
could be seen. "Ah |" | would sigh
''to kill big bird like that and thel
die l''
l pointed them ont to my father witt
my finger, but he would invariabl,
answer that the bustard was yer,
shy bird, which would not permit any
body to get near it. Once, however, h
attempted to steal upon a solitary bus
tard, thinking that it had been Wounds
perhaps, and was tagging behind the res
Of the flock. He ordered Tresor to kee
behind him, and babe me not to stir
Charging his gun with buckshot h
turned to the dog and exclaimed in lo'
voice: "Baek, back" Then cowerin
as low as possible he advanced cat
tiously upon the bustard. Tresor woul
not couch down, but assumed ga
something like that OF bsndy-legge
person, wagging his tail, and holding OF
Of his lips between his teeth. l couldn
keep still any longer, and followed N
father and Tresor, crawling carefully a
the way. But the bustard wouldn
allow US to get within 800 yards
started on run first, then Tapping /
wings flew away. Tresor made bour
forward and stared az it. |, too, lookt
Couldn't it have stayed just lit
longer We should certainly have kill,
the bird.
One day l started with my father to
hunting. 1t YVES on the eve of St. Peter
Day. At that season of the year Il
young partridges are still very sma
and my father would not shoot any.
therefore entered patch OF oak tire
situated on the edge Of a rye field, whe
you were always sure to find quail.
1t WAS rather difficult to cut the gra
In this piece Of wood II had been allow
to grow freely and had attained gre
height. Myriads of flowers, vetoh, clov,
hRre.bell, mouse-ear and sweet VILLA
throve there in abundance. Wheney
l came to this spot with my sister or t
maid.serVant | carried home whole ar
fuls but when In the company OF I
father did not think of picking tlowe
considered that occupation unbecomi
sportsman.
Suddenly Tresor came to stop.
father made signal to me to be caution
Right in front OF Tresor hen quail n
and flew off. But she flew in strar
manner, turning and tumbling over a
over again in the air, and then falling
the ground as If she had been wound,
Tresor made for her as fast as possihl,
thing he never did when the bird fl
in its usual manner. .--
My father could not take aim for Il
of hitting the dog. Presently Ire
made sudden dash, and, before we KIN
It, he had seized the quail, and broul
her to my father. My father took
bird from him and laid it on its back
the palm of his hand. ran up to h
'What's the matter 7" cried
she wounded f''
''No," replied my father "she mt
however, have her nest with her Ii
ones close by. She acted as if she W
wounded 80 that the dog might think
could catch her easily"
"Why did she do 30 i''
sin order to divert the dogs attent
from her little ones after which, if
had succeeded, she would have fl
away. But this time she missed
little game, and Tresor has caught he
"Then she is not hit ~ 1 inqu
again.
'No-but she won't live-Trssor n
have injured her with his teeth"
stepped nearer TO have better
at the quail. She rested motionless
the palm OF my 4ather's hand her /
was dropping and her black eye loo
at me sideways. All at once a feelir
pity overcame me. II seemed to me
the poor little bird regarded me
thought "Why must die Why I
not done my duty tried to saws
little ones, TO draw the dogs atte1
away from them, and here | am capt
All, me Poor me This is not Just
no, 1t is not just ~
Papa, perhaps abe will not die
cried trying TO caress the little b
head,