hardly wait to return. The pleasure of a child possessed me, I had decided to put my pet in the bird cage, and what a merry companion he would make, for I hoped he would be fluffy and yellow like the canary I had lost.

I entered, I listened at the closet door, no sound, I softly, quickly, opened the drawer-alas all was as I left it, perhaps it was not warm enough, I still had time. Well, as I said, Mademoiselle, the morning came-Frederick had scarcely smiled. for days, he had grown so sad and I'd almost forgotten his merry laugh. I felt a bit perplexed, we'd agreed to boil that egg-this I could not bring myself to do-and yet I should not disappoint my husband, it must be a happy day, I must see him smile and hear that merry laugh again.

I proceeded carefully to unwrap my treasure, it surely seemed a little dark, ah--then I knew there was a chicken in it with dark feathers, not a downy yellow one such as I had wished, but never mind.

I had set our little table with my daintiest belongings, and as this was our first anniversary together it must be a blessed day.

We sat down to our frugal meal, black coffee and hard bread, and then oh then, our egg! I had decided, rather brilliantly, I fancied, that we might eat it raw if it were an unhatchable egg, but if there were indeed a little dark chicken within, he would be glad enough to have his prison opened and Frederick would be overcome with my exceeding cleverness.

As I say, the decisive moment had arrived, I was fairly trembling-"Husband," I said, "husband,-I thinkI-have-a-charming - surprise

for-you," and with that I bravely held my precious egg in the hollow of my left hand, while I dealt it a gentle crack with the small silver knife in my right

That was all-that was enough, I could not see, I could not speak, something awful had happened, an explosion, a Prussian bomb-I was shot, shot in the eyes, the ears, the nose, and the mouth, and I was alone, Frederick had vanished!

"Frederick" I gasped, "Frederick, where art thou?" He came with first aid to the injured, but he was laughing laughing! my Frederick-, he was laughing—, and at me! This was my reward for three weeks' devotion to an anniversary for him! this was too much! I can not describe to you, Mademoiselle, the disappointment and mortification. "Aline, think dear-it were better than a Prussian bomb," my adorable Frederick managed to say- I did think but under the circumstances I hardly felt it were preferable. As a climax to all our miseries there was little choice, a Prussian bomb could hardly have been more obnoxious than this, though maybe somewhat more fatal.

In the end we had an almost merry day. When we took our few offerings, joining with friends who did the same, and sat down to a simple repast to assimulate a fête. Frederick's infectious laughter was caught by nearly all.

As for me, dear, though I've learned in those many years to laugh a little at my own humiliation, I can never laugh heartily thereat, no-memory is too keen, but Frederick can to this day, so my egg episode was not entirely in vain-n'est-ce pas ?

M

ORE than 240 new game laws were enacted during 1915 a larger number than in any previous year except 1911, according to Farmers' Bulletin 692, "Game Laws for 1915." Fortythree States held regular legislative sessions, and in all of these States except Arizona, Georgia, and Nebraska some changes were made in the statutes protecting game. The largest number of new game laws passed in any one State was 61, in North Carolina; but in California, Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin the number reached 10 or more. Several measures were vetoed, including a general game bill in Idaho, the first bill appropriating the hunting-license fund in Pennsylvania, a bill protecting bears in California, and three sections of the game bill in Washington. A number of bills were introduced for the purpose of harmonizing the State laws on migratory birds with the Federal regulations. In at least nine States changes were made which brought the seasons into substantial agreement, viz, California, Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, Tennessee and West Virginia. In Illinois the seasons for all migratory birds except coot and waterfowl, and in Washington for the smaller shore birds, were made to conform with the regulations under the Federal law. Uniformity was also secured by provisions in the laws of Connecticut, Maine, New Mexico, North Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin prohibiting hunting between sunset and sunrise.

On the other hand, Delaware adopted a resolution opposing the migratory bird law, and Ohio and Rhode Island, which had harmonized their seasons in 1914, changed the seasons on waterfowl this year.

As a result of the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States on January 19, 1914, sustaining the alien hunting law of Pennsylvania, legislation prohibiting aliens from hunting or owning shotguns, or rifles was enacted in at least four States-Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Dakota and West Virginia-but certain exceptions based on property qualifications were made in Massachusetts and New Jersey.

Close seasons extending for several years were provided for certain kinds of big game and also for game birds. Hunting mountain sheep was suspended in Idaho, Montana, and Washington, and goats were protected until 1918 in Montana. Moose were protected for four years in Maine, the first absolute close season on this species for 35 years since the suspension of hunting from 1878 to 1880. Antelope were given indefinite protection. in New Mexico and Montana. In Michigan, New Mexico and Oklahoma prairie chickens were protected for several years. Michigan extended complete protection also to quail, imported pheasants, grouse, and wood ducks, for five years. Minnesota protected doves, woodcock, plover and wood ducks until 1918. New Mexico gave protection to pheasants, bobwhites, pigeons and swans. Oklahoma protected doves, grouse, wood ducks and curlew. Several birds were removed from the game list and protected through the year. Oklahoma gave such protection to pelicans, gulls and herons. Tennessee declared ring-neck pheasants, bullbats, robins and meadowlarks to be nongame birds. In a few cases protection was removed from certain speciesnotably the turkey buzzard in Delaware, Florida and North Carolina, owis and starlings in New Hampshire,

and cormorants in Illinois and North Dakota.

For the first time in 12 years moose hunting is permitted in Wyoming, and for the first time since 1907 prairiechicken shooting is permitted in Indiana.

NOVEL FEATURES OF STATE LAWS

Among the novel features in the laws this year may be mentioned the declaration in the Florida law that ownership of game is vested in the respective counties; the provision in the California law protecting spike bucks, or deer with unbranched horns, instead of deer with horns of a certain length; and the Wyoming experiment of allowing the killing of 50 bull moose under $100 licenses instead of an indefinite number during a limited season. Methods of hunting were restricted in Michigan by prohibiting the use of automobiles in hunting partridges, and in Indiana by prohibiting the use of searchlights or other artificial lights attached to autos for hunting game on or near a highway. Several new restrictions on shipments appeared for the first time: Illinois prohibited importation from points outside the State of any game except deer legally killed. Pennsylvania prohibited shipment of game by parcel post, and Wisconsin, shipment under an alias. Connecticut authorized the commissioners of fisheries and game to grant permits to bring in game lawfully killed outside the State, provided such game is not offered for sale.

QUAIL

Notwithstanding the agitation in favor of protecting quail for several years in some sections, no bills of this kind were passed this year, and 39 States still provide quail shooting. The seasons were shortened six weeks in Oklahoma and two weeks in Nevada. Limits were established for the first time in Arkansas and New Hampshire, reduced in Iowa from 25 to 15 per day, in Oklahoma from 25 to 10, in Minnesota from 15 to 10, and in

creased in Nevada from 15 to 20. All but 14 of the States which permit quail hunting now have a limit of 20 birds or less per day.

WATERFOWL

All the States now allow waterfowl hunting, but the wood duck is protected for several years throughout the northern zone and in the southern zone in the States of California, Kansas, and West Virginia. Daily bag limits were established for the first time in Arkansas and Connecticut, reduced in Oklahoma from 25 to 10, and increased in Missouri from 10 to 15. Most of the States now have a limit of 25 or less per day.

OPEN SEASONS

Open seasons were lengthened in Montana on elk and deer two weeks; in Florida on deer and birds three weeks; in Minnesota on quail 20 days; and in Nevada on sage hens four and a half months, on grouse one month, and on quail two weeks. New Jersey reverted to the former plan of hunting deer on four consecutive Wednesdays instead of five consecutive days.

Seasons were shortened in a number of States. In the case of big game the deer season was curtailed in Arkansas three months, in Oregon and Washington two weeks. In New Mexico the seasons were generally shortened and arranged in two districts divided at latitude 35 degrees. In California the dove season was made later and in Minnesota shortened 20 days; in Oklahoma the quail season was curtailed six weeks, and in Michigan, Nevada (ducks), Tennessee, and Wyoming, spring shooting of waterfowl was abolished.

LAWS PROTECTING BIG GAME

The more important changes affecting big game included the closing of the season for four years on moose in Maine; authorization for the killing of 50 bull moose in Wyoming; lengthening the season on elk in Montana

for jus' now Ah'll see more as forty hunnered dawk on de lak', so close apart dat de wataire be cover of it so you'll can see it?' Wal, Ah'll a'nt gat for be tol' dat more as five or seex tam 'fore Ah'll gat ready for go, so Ah'll jump up squeek an' gat mah gawn. Now mah gawn she'll be one of dose kin' w'at you'll call muzzem sloader an' Ah'll gat it feex up, all prepare, for some tam. Ah'll have 'bout two han'full of powder in it an' about de same of shot for Ah'll want to gat lot of dawk to once w'en Ah'll shot. We'll go out on one point dere be dere, an' pooty soon Jacques say, 'Lay down an' creep to de haidge.' So Ah'll creep along an' see dat de dawk be dere all right. W'en Ah'll see dem Ah'll 'most scare to breath for Ah'll 'fraid Ah'll scare it, but Ah'll take good aim wid ma gawn an' pulled de triggin." At this point he stopped abruptly and one could almost have heard a pin drop, so intent were the members of his audience.

Sam Aldrich was the one to break the silence and he merely uttered a tense, "Wal?" So Jules continued, "Wal, Ah'll bet you'll a'nt know w'at happen. You'll see, dat gawn Ah'll drag on de groun', and de wad she'll come loose so w'en Ah'll shot she'll drag on de groun', and de wad she'll come loose so w'en Ah'll shot she'll a'nt go bang? but jus poufffff! Now Ah'll brace it mahself for de keek an' w'en it a'nt keek Ah'll go over de haidge into de lak' kerflop! Mad? Ah'll guess so an' wet too! Dose dawk a'nt wait for me for shot again. but jus' flewed away an' Ah'll a'nt gat one."

At this there was a general laugh and then he continued: "Ah'll gat some nodder tam 'fore we'll go home but Jacques tol' de folkses 'bout how Ah'll gat fool an' dey call to me 'squack, squack' all de tam an' Ah'll a'nt like it pooty well." He stopped again and lighted his pipe, an example which was followed by the others and after getting it well started he took up his story again.

"Now de mans who was make de

mos' squack-squack to me was 'nol' feller call' Jean Bissette an' Ah'll try for long tam to gat some way to laugh to him. Wal, Mah times was come one fall w'en Ah'll go for hunt some bee. Now Ah'll a'nt jus' dawk huntaire but Ah'll be one good bee man too, an' Ah'll t'ink to mahself, 'How good some honey she'll tase' on dose griddle cake Marie she'll make in de mornin', so Ah'll have to get it some me.' So Ah'll gat it mah bee box an' start out. Wal, Ah'll find a tree pooty soon an' she'll be right by de road in a pople. Jus' w'en Ah'll gat it de tree cut, 'long come dat Jean Bissette wid hees ol' gray mare. Now Ah'll mad to him for call it me dat 'squack-squack' so Ah'll a'nt said not'in to hee m 'bout dose bee but w'en he'll gat close Ah'll say do he want some nice honey. He'll say yes, an' Ah'll tole him Ah'll gat tire for carry some for long ways an' dat Ah'll put it down by de fence w'ile Ah'll took a res'. Wal seh, he'll go for help it himself to dat honey an' w'en he'll gat by de fence de fun was begin! First t'ing he'll know one of dose bee was bit it on de ear, an' den all de bee was try for bit heem. W'en he'll see all dose bee gat after heem, he'll turn 'roun' an' start for got in hees woggon for run away. Wal, dose bee was pretty goor for flew an' dey don't care for mans all de tam, so dey'll go for de ol' gray mare. Oh by gar! how dat horse she'll keek. De splatter board he'll be smash de firs' t'ing bing! an' den run! Say, dat horse be more as twenty year ol' but you'll t'ink she'll be a colt to see it! Why, she'll look like one streak of lightnin' she'll go so fas'. All de tam Jean he'll bat at de bee, firs' dis way an' den dat way. an dey'll bit heem on de face an' dodge jus' de same as dey be play tag.

"W'en Ah'll see Jean de nex' day hees face be all swell up an' he'll a'nt say no 'squack-squack' to me but Ah'll go buzzzzzz! an' den laff. He'll a'nt say not'in' but jus' look mad but Ah'll a'nt care for Ah'll gat even to heem for make it fun to me."