Page:Poems Sherwin.djvu/74

 It happened on an autumn night,
Just at the time of fading light,
Collin his homeward pathway traced,
And o'er the stubble lightly paced.
The lingering twilight just displayed
A something by a hedge-row laid.
He, closely looking, saw a hare
Entangled in a poacher's snare.
Still whistling as before, he thought,
"Since this wild animal is caught,
"I can commit no serious sin
"If I release it from the gin!"

 No farther reasoned he, but straight
Slipped back the wire, and took the bait.
The bait, I say, for in the field
Two gamekeepers lay close concealed,
And rushing forth with seeming joy,
They roughly seized the unthinking boy.
"Stay, youngster, stay: not quite so fast,
"The game is o'er,—you're caught at last
"'Tis you who lay these nightly snares,
"And rob our master of his hares.
"Now come with us, and we will see
"What sort of game your next will be."

 "Indeed I did not set the snare,"
Said he, "nor mean to take the hare:
"'Twas but this moment that I found
"The creature dead upon the ground."

 "That's mighty fine, my lad, indeed,
"And what you poachers always plead;