“You know the squirrel wasn’t stealing, my boy.  The nuts grew for him as truly as for you youngsters.  At the same time I suppose he will form part of a pot-pie before long.”

“I hate to think that such pretty little creatures should be killed,” said Mousie.

“I feel much the same,” I admitted; “and yet Merton will say we cannot indulge in too much sentiment.  You know that we read that red squirrels are mischievous in the main.  They tumble little birds out of their nests, carry off corn, and I have seen them gnawing apples for the sake of the seeds.  It wouldn’t do for them to become too plentiful.  Moreover, game should have its proper place as food, and as a means of recreation.  We raise chickens and kill them.  Under wise laws, well enforced, nature would fill the woods, fields, and mountains with partridges, quail, rabbits, and other wholesome food.  Remember what an old and thickly settled land England is, yet the country is alive with game.  There it is protected on great estates, but here the people must agree to protect it for themselves.”

“Junior says,” Merton explained, “that the partridges and rabbits in the mountains are killed off by foxes and wild-cats and wood-choppers who catch them in traps and snares.”

“I fancy the wood-choppers do the most harm.  If I had my way, there would be a big bounty for the destruction of foxes, and a heavy fine for all trappers of game.  The country would be tenfold more interesting if it were full of wild, harmless, useful creatures.  I hope the time will come when our streams will be again thoroughly stocked with fish, and our wild lands with game.  If hawks, foxes, trappers, and other nuisances could be abolished, there would be space on yonder mountains for partridges to flourish by the million.  I hope, as the country grows older, that the people will intelligently co-work with nature in preserving and increasing all useful wild life.  Every stream, lake, and pond could be crowded with fish, and every grove and forest afford a shelter and feeding-ground for game.  There should be a wise guardianship of wild life, such as we maintain over our poultry-yards, and skill exercised in increasing it.  Then nature would supplement our labors, and furnish a large amount of delicious food at little cost.”

“Well, papa, I fear I shall be gray before your fine ideas are carried out.  From what Junior says, I guess that Bagley and his children, and others like them, will get more game this winter than we will, and without firing a shot.  They are almost as wild as the game itself, and know just where to set their snares for it.  I can’t afford to wait until it’s all killed off, or till that good time comes of which you speak, either.  I hope to shoot enough for a pot-pie at least to-morrow, and to have very good sport while about it.”

“I have good news about the Bagley children,” said my wife.  “I was down there to-day, and all the children begin school next Monday.  Between clothes which our children have outgrown, and what Mrs. Bagley has been able to buy and make, all three of the young Bagleys make a very respectable appearance.  I took it upon myself to tell the children that if they went to school regularly we would make them nice Christmas presents.”