I could but
once give you some little token of my gratitude. So I had trained a
pair of nice turtle doves for Madam Wilson, but they were stolen
from me, sir, and I do suspect black Giles stole them. Yesterday
morning, sir, as I was crawling out to my work, for I am still but
very weak, a fine hare ran across my path. I did not stay to
consider whether it was wrong to kill a hare, but I felt it was
right to show my gratitude; so, sir, without a moment's thought I
did knock down the hare, which I was going to carry to your worship,
because I knew madam was fond of hare. I am truly sorry for my
fault, and will submit to whatever punishment your worship may
please to inflict."

Mr. Wilson was much moved with this honest confession, and touched
with the poor fellow's gratitude. What added to the effect of the
story, was the weak condition, and pale sickly looks of the
offender. But this worthy magistrate never suffered his feelings to
bias his integrity; he knew that he did not sit on that bench to
indulge pity, but to administer justice; and while he was sorry for
the offender, he would never justify the offense. "John," said he,
"I am surprised that you could for a moment forget that I never
accept any gift which causes the giver to break a law. On Sunday I
teach you from the pulpit the laws of God, whose minister I am. At
present I fill the chair of a magistrate, to enforce and execute the
laws of the land. Between those and the other there is more
connection than you are aware. I thank you, John, for your affection
to me, and I admire your gratitude; but I must not allow either
affection or gratitude to be brought as a plea for a wrong action.
It is not your business nor mine, John, to settle whether the game
laws are good or bad. Till they are repealed we must obey them.
Many, I doubt not, break these laws through ignorance, and many, I
am certain, who would not dare to steal a goose or a turkey, make
no scruple of knocking down a hare or a partridge. You will
hereafter think yourself happy that this your first attempt has
proved unsuccessful, as I trust you are too honest a fellow ever to
intend to turn poacher. With poaching much moral evil is connected;
a habit of nightly depredation; a custom of prowling in the dark for
prey produces in time a disrelish for honest labor. He whose first
offense was committed without much thought or evil intention, if he
happens to succeed a few times in carrying off his booty
und