"The second year come, and my hardor vos agin inflamed. 'Cotch me a-shootin' at crows,' says I.--Vell, avay I goes a-vhistling to myself, ven presently I see a solentary bird on the wing; 'a pariwidge, by jingo!' says I--I cocks--presents, and hits it! Hooray! down it tumbles, and afore I could load and prime agin, a whole lot o' 'em comes out from among the trees. 'Here's luck' says I; and jist shouldered my piece, ven I gets sich a vop behind as sent me at full length. "'Vot's that for?' says I. "'Vot are you a shootin' at my pigeons for?' says a great hulking, farmering-looking fellow. "A hexplanation follered; and in course I paid the damage, vich stood me a matter of a suv'rin, for he said he'd take his davy as how it vos a waluable tumbler!--I never sees a 'go' o' rum and vater but vot I thinks on it. This vos a sickener. "The third year I vos hout agin as fresh as a daisy, ven I made a haim at a sparrer, or a lark, or summit o' that kind--hit it, in course, and vos on the p'int o' going for'ard, ven lo! on turning my wision atop o' the bank afore me, I seed a norrid thing!--a serpent, or a rattle-snake, or somethink a-curling itself up and a hissing like fun! "I trembled like a haspen-leaf, and-didn't I bolt as fast as my werry legs would carry me, that's all? "Since that time I may say, with the chap in the stage-play, that my parent has kept myself, his only son, at home, for I see no sport in sich rigs, and perfer a little peace at home to the best gun in the field!"--