hich had the appearance of being
well stocked--he cleared the park palings, and threw in his line. He
had pulled up several fine fish, when he was accosted by the proprietor,
accompanied by a couple of keepers.

"May I request the pleasure of your name, young gentleman?" said the
proprietor to Jack.

Now Jack was always urbane and polite.

"Certainly, sir; my name is Easy, very much at your service."

"And you appear to me to be taking it very easy," replied the gentleman.
"Pray, sir, may I inquire whether you are aware that you are
trespassing?"

"The word trespass, my dear sir," replied Jack, "will admit of much
argument, and I will divide it into three heads. It implies, accordng
to the conventional meaning, coming without permission upon the land or
property of another. Now, sir, the question may all be resolved in the
following. Was not the world made for all? and has any one, or any
portion of its inhabitants an exclusive right to claim any part of it,
as his property? If you please, I have laid down the proposition, and
we will now argue the point."

The gentleman who accosted Jack had heard of Mr Easy and his arguments;
he was a humorist, and more inclined to laugh than to be angry; at the
same time he considered it necessary to show Jack that under existing
circumstances they were not tenable.

"But, Mr Easy, allowing the trespass on the property to be venial,
surely you do not mean to say that you are justified in taking my fish;
I bought the fish, and stocked the pond, and have fed them ever since.
You cannot deny but that they are private property, and that to take
them is a theft?"

"That will again admit of much ratiocination, my dear sir," replied
Jack; "but--I beg your pardon, I have a fish." Jack pulled up a large
carp, much to the indignation of the keepers and to the amusement of
their master, unhooked it, placed it in his basket, renewed his bait
with the greatest _sang froid_, and then throwing in his line, resumed
his discourse. "As I was observing, my dear sir," continued Jack, "that
will admit of much ratiocination. All the creatures of the earth were
given to man for his use--man means mankind--they were never intended to
be made a monopoly of. Water is also the gift of heaven, and meant for
the use of all. We now come to the question how far the fish are your
property. If the fish only bred on purpose to please you, and make you
a present of their stock, it might then requi