The City Nimrod.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2881, 24 April 1888, Page 3

The City Nimrod.

Occasionally, a mighty Fimrod from ; the city comes out to hunt game in ' my neighborhood," said a Gippsland fanner recently. "A few days ago, I saw ut swell of a chap edging up through my paddock towards the wheal crop. He had on long-legged ; boots, and w;t:> togged and belted and strapped out in a regular hunter i fashion, Ho looked just too pretty I for anything. Ho carried a darling ot j a gun, and he went dodging around as if he expected to start up a bengal tiger from behind every stump. I took a short cut to tho burn, and turned the old peacock loose, lbc old bird understood what was wanted of him. He pulled down his eyo at me and started for the hack paddoclc. I followed down along the fence, and pretty soon I saw that swell hunter break cover from the woods. He was hunting a kangaroo, but was not particular, and stood to kill anything which came iirst. He soon sighted the peacock. The bird had its tail fanned out and his head up, and could be seen half a mile

away. Nimrod got his gun off his shoulder and began to creep up, and by and by he blazed away. I saw the whole cliargo of shot tearing into the ground ya.uls away from the old bird, but he knew his business, Down he fell, wings mul lcg3 Hopping, and pretty soon he expired. The young man with a darling of a gun- reached him about the same time I did, " Beautiful shot," says ho. " Perhaps," says I, " but what are you hunting 1" 11 Lyre-birds," says he, " and this is the finest one 1 ever saw," •'Lyre-bird, you numbskull, but vou have killed ray peacock !"

' Well, tho usual results followed. His chin began to quiver, the cold sweat started out, and he wanted to know how much I woujd talcs to let him off. I sent him to the house to see the old woman. She has got a way of* wiping her eyes and chocking her voice over the death of that peacock which always brings in half a sov, extra. She tat this young swell oil for thirty shillings, which is the usual price, and as he started down towards the nearest railway township the old bird got up and marched back to the barn with a clniekle that set every lion to laughing. That's live times we ve played it on the swell Jiimrods within six months, and I expect more fun this siimmer than a horse can draw,"