“MY NEIGHBORS SON.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2603, 10 September 1909, Page 1 (Supplement)

“MY NEIGHBORS SON.”

Haying no sons of my own, I am perhaps, on thst,account rather intolerant of* iny neighbor’s methods; of training the on© and only- son with whom she is blessed. He is a fine boy, and a little gentleman in most ways, but he takes a great, and unholy joy in the slaughter of the little birds which come to. the creek to drink, and into the gardens looking for worms and grubs. It seems such a pity that he is, not taught to look upon these harmless little feathered creatures as friends whom he should,• protect, - instead of, regarding thorn as legitimate prey to his pernicious pea-rifle./ That pea-rifle is the bane of my existence. I am. constantly on the look-out for .it arid my mind is at rest only when Claude is at,school. When I know that.,Claude.is at home I keep a sharp look-out, and when tho. rifle appears I gather my little family inte tne comparatively safe shelter of the house. But -I ,am' haunted by a constant droad that some day that pearifle’ -will,steal a march on me. Yesterday two pee-wees were enjoying the bright sun.; on the -bank of the creek. My children were watching them from behind .the ; garden, palings, when J. heard my neighbor call out, “Now, you be careful/with the pearifle 1 , Claude.”" • “Right, mum,” cried, Clayide, as ho over, the. fence- which /divides, the 'twofplaces. brandishing the rifle to all points of the compass ui one hand, whilst', he helped himself oyer with th.e. otUex'vv Ho ran/ at. * top -• .speed idpWnthe’ steep; mount. with:;the < rifle; /poifited in any and every direction, And scrambled over the fence again within a, yard'or two of my little ones, who made for home at the sight of the rifle. / Hi® parents were very proud of his marksmanship; whOn lip returned soon aftpr,' triumphantly 7 showing the limp little/body .of/thO -bird, with 1 its ‘gleaming, black and white, plumage, all riiffled. and/bloddstamod.'i For years I'.hpye be.en reading in. the newspapers ' accounts. 1 of, ’horrifying/accidPntsi due tO 'the chrPlesP upe/of the , pea-fifte. The: papers ‘ are ‘ all agreed, aiid been so,for yearP,',that “somh-' thing .‘should lje. done. ’ ’ But we / get “ri’o fo;rfader.-”, So/IV have'.been wondering whether women* who have done so much igobd ‘lately, in the' way-of hreforms, big/aridilittle, could not/unite to sUpppess. tthp,-irresponsible .use of this weapon/ : 7 , 1 ; i? / Tp»rivo tit, ; is ' a very real; and,/bur ning question,, I v certainly. : : prevent, Claude, from. ; byingipg his; into iny garden; but'that .does : :npt .'really, minimise the/evil:,, It. : me feel •, uncomfortable, to say the; least of it, when I am (busy dn .my gai*d-eE:this side of the fence,, to see Claude scurrying, after birds/on;.the other .side/with ; a loaded pearriflpin-.hie.cateloss ypurjgfhands.,, It is no doubt a good thing to teach; a boy, and a girl, too, tbs.be expertin the use -of; fir.earms,'. I can boast of some, skill' iii ;that direction ,mypelf- v . I, was'iowe of;a f fajrly large ffariiily,of/boys; and girls, and,wo possessed.firearms of alU<wsbriPtiQiiA;;'/ I/t06k, l my 1 first '’leg* so^V.iri/ißKffl m,U2szlef loader iiyhlchfised -.tb/' ‘kick.” me uhinefciffflly.*' Bu'fi.'we were never allpwed/to carry’, 0r.., handle;, any. of'the .weapoha, whether.filiinder'bufis or Winchester, until/ we were, well /drilled, .in the safest methods. And-,to be permitted- to carry a gun without supervision was an honor' we.,prized too highly to. ever;, think, abusing/ by, disregarding ~; r ules.;' That (was 7 away* buck .in -the country, and I know, that all ,the children round 1 about were siniilafly. tauglit;.; And yet hero in, town, a ( -fairly, large (town, boys are. aliowed. to run about .iri ;a most por pulons part, iusti off,f the. main street, flourishing loaded firearms, to the imminent pbril of dozens of people, and all one can do in, self-defence is to run round-like a fussy old mother-hen and gatliOr-opp’s'broOd’into shelter. I affip-filnfortUnately/ not a practical . woman,'-/ I? bfie -or the many who 7 haVe -no idOU'-how; to 'dO-Ahytliing. But hnridreds'io'f /practiOal 1 womeri read this pagek -arid .perhaps 'iorhe ;of<them l mav kindly come to 7 my: kssi&tance-,? sO!itliat Claude may learn to use his rifle ‘moiro arid/kindly,/and with stkWfy to hifl fellows/ 7 ' . .. ! - y - . /-CONSTANCE. . WmmmmmHmmmmmmmmmmmmtmmmmmmammmmmmmmrn.