The Children of the New Forest

and then they should see it. After dinner was over, Jacob and Edward took their guns, and Humphrey put Billy in the cart and followed them. They found the b

ut there's nothing like making sure. Edward, put a bullet just

They went up to the carcass, which they

Edward; "I wonder we never t

ame, Edward,"

aim all the game, I shall claim the cattle as my portion of the for

ive you up all my ri

l mine," a

hrey. "Recollect, I am to sell the cattle for my own self-adv

phrey," replied Jacob; "a

l the bull and the skin, and returned home well satisfied with the profit he had made. He had procured, as Humphrey requested, some milk-pans, a small chu

-morrow morning, dep

nothing to eat, wil

ut I will make her thankful for her food before she g

receive any thing except from the hand of Alice, that the animal might know her well; and when the calf was a month old, Humphrey made the first attempt to milk her. This was resisted at first by kicking, but in the course of ten days she gave down her milk. Humphrey then let her loose for a few days to run about the yard, still keeping the calf in the cow-house, and putting the heifer in to her at night, milking her before the calf was allowed to suck. After this he adventured upon the last experiment, which was to turn her out of the yard to graze in the forest.

ey, "when do you go

nd the month of September, is not good for venison; and

, you would get something fo

s it that A

nts a k

find that. And what d

ogether; I want a dog for myself,

lthough Smoker is not old, yet one ought to h

"see if you can get two puppies, o

hom I have not seen for a long while, and I may get some of the right sort of puppies there, just

h you, Jacob?

ther not; they m

he would not, for he wi

s there to d

bushels for the pigs. We have to fatten three, and to feed the rest during the winter. I can not get

of nothing but your

but a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, in my opinion; an

o Edith and me, and Jacob shall take them to Lymington and sell them for us, and get

as soon as you please, and buy what you wish with the money," repl

belongs to me, if I

ot fair; I find cows, and get nothin

the cows and feed them. I made a pound of butter yesterday, just

so next time I will be with you. I suppose you did not

put any s

or the butter

ise of two puppies, and that he had chosen them; they were of the same breed as Smoker, but they were only a fortnight old, and could not be taken from the mother yet awhile, so that he had arranged to call again when they were three or four months old, and able to

Edward, how you go a

d; "as we can not hunt, it is no use;

will help you with the acorns, and the day afterward, if I

will help me to churn for then I

to buy the kitten,

sy making a bird-cage for Edith, having just finished one for

the milk and cream are, and we'll hang the cages so

useful," said Edward, "for she

so is yours, Edward. We must try if we can no

ll you want, and trust to you for p

id for them, I shall want some more tools, and some nails and screws, and two or three other things; but I will say no

with me sometimes and learn woodcraft, for Edward k

Jacob: I want to

o to Lymington to-morrow. Now I think it is time we were in bed

n the poultry-yard. They had cost little or nothing bringing up; for when quite young, they only had a little oatmeal cake, and afterw

e purchases. He also bought a new suit for Edward and Humphrey, and a gun, which was much approved of by Humphrey, as it had a larger bore and carried a heavier bullet than either Jacob's or Edward's; and there was a white kit

st: when one evening, Jacob, who had returned from hunting with Edward (the first time they had been out since the seas

so, J

I won't tell you till t

co

e, "and we will do what we can. I will try, now

for them, was a very grand dinner indeed. And it was very well dressed: for Jacob had taught her to cook, and by degrees she improved upon Jacob's instructio

asked you for a feast this day. It is because exactly on this

tainly, but I dare say

wa

ar passed very quickly and very happily-quite as quickly a

I did not know what to do to amuse myself, and since

h Humphrey,"

sy and always happy, and I'm never scolded about di

oes little

and I like to play wi

it

world-that is, we really want very few things, although we wish and sigh for many. You have health and spirits, which are the greatest blessings in life. Who would believe, to look at you all, that you were the same children that I brought away from Arnwood? You were

Certainly not; especially

our beds, have found health, and happiness, and security, in a forester's hut; and I ought to be, and am, most thankful to Heaven, that it has pleased it to spare my life, and enable me to teach you all to the present, how to gain your own livelihoods after I am called away. I have been able so far to fulfill my promise to your noble father;

eturned without having procured venison, for Edward knew his business well, and no longer needed the advice of Jacob. As the winter advanced, Jacob gave up going out altogether. He went to Lymington to sell the venison and procure what was necessary for the household, such as oatmeal and f

go to Lymington, for my pigs are ready for killing, and we must salt the greatest part of the pork. After the legs and shoulders have lain long enough in salt, I mean to try if I can not smoke them, and if I do, I'll then smoke some

e it, and I think so will yo

idn't you say the ash sticks wer

you how to manage. My poor mother used

ng his hazel stick spring up, after he had b

t for, Humphre

away his tools and his materials in a corner; "I've a great deal on my

tism did not allow him to assist, but Humphrey and Edward rubbed in the salt, and Alice took the pieces of pork away to the tub when they were finished. Humphrey had been out the day bef

the first fruits of it. Now I'll make some more, and

ith Humphrey's success, and h

find out ho

h him last summer, of people catching rabbits and hares in some way

been occasionally looked into by Humphrey and Edward, but only now and then, as they had too much to do to find much time for reading, although sometimes,