AbouttherestofallthatwinterIrememberverylittle，beingonlyayoungboythen，andmissingmyfathermostoutofdoors，aswhenitcametothebird-catching，orthetrackingofharesinthesnow，orthetrainingofasheep-dog。OftentimesIlookedathisgun，anancientpiecefoundinthesea，alittlebelowGlenthorne，andofwhichhewasmightyproud，althoughitwasonlyamatch-lock；andIthoughtofthetimesIhadheldthefuse，whilehegothisaimatarabbit，andonceevenatareddeerrubbingamongthehazels。Butnothingcameofmylookingatit，sofarasIremember，savefoolishtearsofmyownperhaps，tillJohnFrytookitdownonedayfromthehookswherefather’shandhadlaidit；andithurtmetoseehowJohnhandledit，asifhehadnomemory。
’BadjobforheasherhadnotgotthiccythenaightashercoomacrassthemDoones。RackonVarmerJan’ooda-zhownthemthewaitokingdomcome，’steadofgooin’
herzelzoaisy。Andamaighthavebeengooin’tomarketnow，’steadoflayingbankedupoveryanner。
MaisterJan，theecanzeethegraveiftheelookalangthisheregoon-barryel。Buynow，whuttbeblubberin’
at？WishIhadnevertoldthee。’
’JohnFry，Iamnotblubbering；youmakeagreatmistake，John。YouarethinkingoflittleAnnie。I
coughsometimesinthewinter-weather，andfathergivesmelickerish——Imean——Imean——heusedto。Nowletmehavethegun，John。’
’Theehavethegoon，Jan!Theeisn’tfittoputtuntothyzhoulder。Whataweightherbe，forsure!’
’Menotholdit，John!Thatshowshowmuchyouknowaboutit。Getoutoftheway，John；youareoppositethemouthofit，andlikelyitisloaded。’
JohnFryjumpedinaliveliermannerthanwhenhewasdoingday-work；andIrestedthemouthonacrossrack-piece，andfeltawarmsortofsuretythatIcouldhitthedooroveropposite，or，atleast，thecobwallalongsideofit，anddonoharmintheorchard。ButJohnwouldnotgivemelinkorfuse，and，onthewhole，Iwasgladofit，thoughcarryingonasboysdo，becauseIhadheardmyfathersaythattheSpanishgunkickedlikeahorse，andbecausetheloadinitcamefromhishand，andIdidnotliketoundoit。ButI
neverfounditkickveryhard，andfirmlysettotheshoulder，unlessitwasbadlyloaded。Intruth，thethicknessofthemetalwasenoughalmosttoastonishone；andwhatourpeoplesaidaboutitmayhavebeentrueenough，althoughmostofthemaresuchliars——atleast，Imean，theymakemistakes，asallmankindmustdo。PerchanceitwasnomistakeatalltosaythatthisancientgunhadbelongedtoanobleSpaniard，thecaptainofafinelargeshipinthe’InvincibleArmada，’whichweofEnglandmanagedtoconquer，withGodandtheweatherhelpingus，ahundredyearsagoormore——Ican’tsaytoamonthorso。
Afteralittlewhile，whenJohnhadfiredawayataratthechargeIheldsosacred，itcametomeasanaturalthingtopractiseshootingwiththatgreatgun，insteadofJohnFry’sblunderbuss，whichlookedlikeabellwithastalktoit。Perhapsforaboythereisnothingbetterthanagoodwindmilltoshootat，asIhaveseentheminflatcountries；butwehavenowindmillsuponthegreatmoorland，yethereandthereafewbarn-doors，whereshelteris，andawayupthehollows。
Andupthosehollowsyoucanshoot，withthehelpofthesidestoleadyouraim，andthereisafairchanceofhittingthedoor，ifyoulayyourcheektothebarrel，andtrynottobeafraidofit。
GraduallyIwonsuchskill，thatIsentnearlyalltheleadgutterfromthenorthporchofourlittlechurchthroughourbestbarn-door，athingwhichhasoftenrepentedmesince，especiallyaschurchwarden，andmademepardonmanybadboys；butfatherwasnotburiedonthatsideofthechurch。
Butallthistime，whileIwasrovingoverthehillsoraboutthefarm，andevenlisteningtoJohnFry，mymother，beingsomucholderandfeelingtroublelonger，wentaboutinsidethehouse，oramongthemaidsandfowls，notcaringtotalktothebestofthem，exceptwhenshebrokeoutsometimesaboutthegoodmastertheyhadlost，allandeveryoneofus。Butthefowlswouldtakenonoticeofit，excepttocluckforbarley；andthemaidens，thoughtheyhadlikedhimwell，werethinkingoftheirsweetheartsasthespringcameon。
Motherthoughtitwrongofthem，selfishandungrateful；andyetsometimesshewasproudthatnonehadsuchcallasherselftogrieveforhim。OnlyAnnieseemedtogosoftlyinandout，andcry，withnobodyalongofher，chieflyinthecornerwherethebeesareandthegrindstone。Butsomehowshewouldneverletanybodybeholdher；beingset，asyoumaysay，tothinkitoverbyherself，andseasonitwithweeping。ManytimesIcaughther，andmanytimessheturneduponme，andthenIcouldnotlookather，butaskedhowlongtodinner-time。
Nowinthedepthofthewintermonth，suchaswecallDecember，fatherbeingdeadandquietinhisgraveafortnight，ithappenedmetobeoutofpowderforpracticeagainsthisenemies。Ihadneverfiredashotwithoutthinking，’Thisforfather’smurderer’；andJohnFrysaidthatImadesuchfacesitwasawonderthegunwentoff。ButthoughIcouldhardlyholdthegun，unlesswithmybackagainstabar，itdidmegoodtohearitgooff，andhopetohavehittenhisenemies。
’Oh，mother，mother，’Isaidthatday，directlyafterdinner，whileshewassittinglookingatme，andalmostreadytosayasnowshedidseventimesinaweek，’Howlikeyourfatheryouaregrowing!Jack，comehereandkissme’——’oh，mother，ifyouonlyknewhowmuchI
wantashilling!’
’Jack，youshallneverwantashillingwhileIamalivetogivetheeone。Butwhatisitfor，dearheart，dearheart？’
’TobuysomethingoveratPorlock，mother。PerhapsI
willtellyouafterwards。IfItellnotitwillbeforyourgood，andforthesakeofthechildren。’
’Blesstheboy，onewouldthinkhewasthreescoreyearsofageatleast。Givemealittlekiss，youJack，andyoushallhavetheshilling。’
ForIhatedtokissorbekissedinthosedays：andsoallhonestboysmustdo，whenGodputsanystrengthinthem。ButnowIwantedthepowdersomuchthatIwentandkissedmotherveryshyly，lookingroundthecornerfirst，forBettynottoseeme。
Butmothergavemehalfadozen，andonlyoneshillingforallofthem；andIcouldnotfinditinmyhearttoaskherforanother，althoughIwouldhavetakenit。
InveryquicktimeIranawaywiththeshillinginmypocket，andgotPeggyoutonthePorlockroadwithoutmymotherknowingit。Formotherwasfrightenedofthatroadnow，asifallthetreesweremurderers，andwouldneverletmegoalonesomuchasahundredyardsonit。And，totellthetruth，Iwastouchedwithfearformanyyearsaboutit；andevennow，whenIrideatdarkthere，amanbyapeat-rickmakesmeshiver，untilIgoandcollarhim。ButthistimeIwasverybold，havingJohnFry’sblunderbuss，andkeepingasharplook-outwhereveranylurkingplacewas。However，I
sawonlysheepandsmallredcattle，andthecommondeeroftheforest，untilIwasnightoPorlocktown，andthenrodestraighttoMr。Pooke’s，atthesignoftheSpitandGridiron。
Mr。Pookewasasleep，asithappened，nothavingmuchtodothatday；andsoIfastenedPeggybythehandleofawarming-pan，atwhichshehadnobettermannersthantosnortandblowherbreath；andinIwalkedwithamanfulstyle，bearingJohnFry’sblunderbuss。NowTimothyPookewasapeacefulman，gladtolivewithoutanyenjoymentofmindatdanger，andIwastallandlargealreadyasmostladsofariperage。Mr。Pooke，assoonasheopenedhiseyes，droppedsuddenlyunderthecounting-board，anddrewagreatfrying-panoverhishead，asiftheDooneswerecometorobhim，astheircustomwas，mostlyafterthefair-time。Itmademefeelratherhotandqueertobetakenforarobber；
andyetmethinksIwasproudofit。
’Gadzooks，MasterPooke，’saidI，havinglearnedfinewordsatTiverton；’doyousupposethatIknownotthenthewaytocarryfirearms？AnitweretheoldSpanishmatch-lockinthelieuofthisgoodflint-engine，whichmaybebornetenmilesormoreandneveroncegooff，scarcelycouldstthouseemmorescared。Imightpointattheemuzzleon——justsoasIdonow——evenforanhourormore，andlikeenoughitwouldnevershootthee，unlessIpulledthetriggerhard，withacrockuponmyfinger；soyousee；justso，MasterPooke，onlyatrifleharder。’
’Godsake，JohnRidd，Godsake，dearboy，’criedPooke，knowingmebythistime；’don’t’e，forgoodlovenow，don’t’eshowittome，boy，asifIwastosuckit。
Put’undown，forgood，now；andtheeshallhavetheverybestofallisintheshop。’
’Ho!’Irepliedwithmuchcontempt，andswingingroundthegunsothatitfetchedhishoopofcandlesdown，allunkindledastheywere：’Ho!asifIhadnotattainedtothehandlingofagunyet!Myhandsarecoldcomingoverthemoors，elsewouldIgobailtopointthemouthatyouforanhour，sir，andnocauseforuneasiness。’
Butinspiteofallassurances，heshowedhimselfdesirousonlytoseethelastofmygunandme。Idaresay’villainoussaltpetre，’asthegreatplaywrightcallsit，wasneversocheapbeforenorsince。FormyshillingMasterPookeaffordedmetwogreatpackagesover-largetogointomypockets，aswellasamightychunkoflead，whichIbounduponPeggy’swithers。Andasifallthishadnotbeenenough，hepresentedmewitharollofcomfitsformysisterAnnie，whosegentlefaceandprettymannerswontheloveofeverybody。
TherewasstillsomedaylighthereandthereasIrosethehillabovePorlock，wonderingwhethermymotherwouldbeinafright，orwouldnotknowit。Thetwogreatpackagesofpowder，slungbehindmyback，knockedsohardagainstoneanotherthatIfearedtheymusteitherspillorblowup，andhurrymeoverPeggy’searsfromthewoollenclothIrodeupon。Forfatheralwayslikedahorsetohavesomewooluponhisloinswheneverhewentfarfromhome，andhadtostandabout，whereonepleased，hot，andwet，andpanting。Andfatheralwayssaidthatsaddlesweremeantformenfull-grownandheavy，andlosingtheiractivity；andnoboyoryoungmanonourfarmdurstevergetintoasaddle，becausetheyallknewthatthemasterwouldchuckthemoutprettyquickly。Asforme，Ihadtrieditonce，fromakindofcuriosity；andIcouldnotwalkfortwoorthreedays，theleathergalledmykneesso。Butnow，asPeggyboremebravely，snortingeverynowandthenintoacloudofair，forthenightwasgrowingfrosty，presentlythemoonaroseovertheshoulderofahill，andtheponyandIwerehalfgladtoseeher，andhalfafraidoftheshadowsshethrew，andtheimagesallaroundus。Iwasreadyatanymomenttoshootatanybody，havinggreatfaithinmyblunderbuss，buthopingnottoproveit。AndasIpassedthenarrowplacewheretheDooneshadkilledmyfather，suchafearbrokeoutuponmethatIleanedupontheneckofPeggy，andshutmyeyes，andwascoldallover。
However，therewasnotasoultobeseen，untilwecamehometotheoldfarmyard，andtherewasmymothercryingsadly，andBettyMuxworthyscolding。
’Comealong，now，’IwhisperedtoAnnie，themomentsupperwasover；’andifyoucanholdyourtongue，Annie，Iwillshowyousomething。’
Sheliftedherselfonthebenchsoquickly，andflushedsorichwithpleasure，thatIwasobligedtostarehardaway，andmakeBettylookbeyondus。BettythoughtI
hadsomethinghidintheclosetbeyondtheclock-case，andshewasthemoreconvincedofitbyreasonofmydenial。NotthatBettyMuxworthy，oranyoneelse，forthatmatter，everfoundmeinafalsehood，becauseI
nevertoldone，noteventomymother——or，whichisstillastrongerthing，noteventomysweetheartwhenIgrewuptohaveone——butthatBettybeingwrongedinthematterofmarriage，agenerationortwoagone，byamanwhocamehedgingandditching，hadnownomercy，excepttobelievethatmenfromcradletograveareliars，andwomenfoolstolookatthem。
WhenBettycouldfindnocrimeofmine，sheknockedmeoutofthewayinaminute，asifIhadbeennobody；
andthenshebegantocoax’MistressAnnie，’asshealwayscalledher，anddrawthesofthairdownherhands，andwhisperintothelittleears。Meanwhile，dearmotherwasfallingasleep，havingbeentroubledsomuchaboutme；andWatch，myfather’spetdog，wasnoddingcloserandcloserupintoherlap。
’Now，Annie，willyoucome？’Isaid，forIwantedhertoholdtheladleformeltingofthelead；’willyoucomeatonce，Annie？ormustIgoforLizzie，andletherseethewholeofit？’
’Indeed，then，youwon’tdothat，’saidAnnie；’Lizzietocomebeforeme，John；andshecan’tstirapotofbrewis，andscarceknowsatonguefromaham，John，andsaysitmakesnodifference，becausebotharegoodtoeat!Oh，Betty，whatdoyouthinkofthattocomeofallherbook-learning？’
’ThankGodhecan’tsaythatofme，’Bettyansweredshortly，forshenevercaredaboutargument，exceptonherownside；’thankhe，Isays，everymarninga’most，nevertoleadmeastrayso。Menisdesavingandsoisgalanies；butthemostdesavingofallisbooks，withtheirheadsandtails，andthespeckotsin’em，likapegashavetakenthemaisles。Somefolkpurtendstolaughandcryoverthem。Godforgivethemforliars!’
ItwaspartofBetty’sobstinacythatsheneverwouldbelieveinreadingorthepossibilityofit，butstoutlymaintainedtotheverylastthatpeoplefirstlearnedthingsbyheart，andthenpretendedtomakethemoutfrompatternsdoneuponpaper，forthesakeofastonishinghonestfolkjustasdotheconjurers。Andeventoseetheparsonandclerkwasnotenoughtoconvinceher；allshesaidwas，’Itmadenoodds，theywereallthesameastherestofus。’Andnowthatshehadbeenonthefarmnighuponfortyyears，andhadnursedmyfather，andmadehisclothes，andallthathehadtoeat，andthenputhiminhiscoffin，shewascometosuchauthority，thatitwasnotworththewagesofthebestmanontheplacetosayawordinanswertoBetty，evenifhewouldfacetherisktohavetenforone，ortwenty。
Anniewasherloveandjoy。ForAnnieshewoulddoanything，evensofarastotrytosmile，whenthelittlemaidlaughedanddancedtoher。AndintruthI
knownothowitwas，buteveryonewastakenwithAnnieattheveryfirsttimeofseeingher。Shehadsuchprettywaysandmanners，andsuchalookofkindness，andasweetsoftlightinherlongblueeyesfulloftrustfulgladness。Everybodywholookedatherseemedtogrowthebetterforit，becausesheknewnoevil。