 Apples, were converted to the Use of the Game-keeper and his
Family. Tho' as Jones alone was discovered, the poor Lad bore not only the whole
Smart, but the whole Blame; both which fell again to his Lot, on the following
Occasion. Contiguous to Mr. Allworthy's Estate, was the Manor of one of those
Gentlemen, who are called Preservers of the Game. This Species of Men, from the
great Severity with which they revenge the Death of a Hare or a Partridge, might
be thought to cultivate the same Superstition with the Bannians in India; many
of whom, we are told, dedicate their whole Lives to the Preservation and
Protection of certain Animals; was it not that our English Bannians, while they
preserve them from other Enemies, will most unmercifully slaughter whole
Horse-loads themselves, so that they stand clearly acquitted of any such
heathenish Superstition.
    I have, indeed, a much better Opinion of this Kind of Men than is
entertained by some, as I take them to answer the Order of Nature, and the good
Purposes for which they were ordained in a more ample Manner than many others.
Now, as Horace tells us, that there are a Set of human Beings,
 
                             Fruges consumere nati.
 
Born to consume the Fruits of the Earth. So, I make no manner of Doubt but that
there are others
 
                             Feras consumere nati.
 
Born to consume the Beasts of the Field, or, as it is commonly called, the Game;
and none, I believe, will deny, but that those Squires fulfil this End of their
Creation.
    Little Jones went one Day a shooting with the Game-keeper; when, happening
to spring a Covey of Partridges, near the Border of that Manor, over which
Fortune, to fulfil the wise Purposes of Nature, had planted one of the
Game-Consumers, the Birds flew into it, and were marked (as it is called) by the
two Sportsmen, in some Furze Bushes, about two or three hundred Paces beyond Mr.
Allworthy's Dominions.
    Mr. Allworthy had given the Fellow strict Orders, on Pain of forfeiting his
Place, never to trespass on any of his Neighbours, no more on those who were
less rigid in this Matter, than on the Lord of this Manor. With regard to
others, indeed, these Orders had not been always very scrupulously kept; but as
the Disposition of the Gentleman with whom the Partridges had taken sanctuary,
was well known, the Game-keeper had never yet attempted to invade his
Territories. Nor had he done it now,
