The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-17
WHAT THE OLD LADY SAW AND
DID THERE.
BY ARTHUR LEY,
AUTHOR OF THE BROWN PAPERS"
PART V.
[C0nclusiOn.l


Il. as is their foolish ways of talkin' for it's
spelt Saint Cloud as is downright plain Eng
Nah: if they'd only speak plain, and not mess
ali their words up that fast, there's no doubt
as a-many would understand 'em quite well,
for the words isn't so out Of the way if they
was spoke proper, tho must say as it's very
absurd on 'em to call that ere church the
Muddy Lane, for tho arter 'eavy shower the
streets is filthy, yet certingly no one could say
as it's lane; but then it amt more Tidicu-
lous than our calm the big theayter in Lon
don Dreary Lane tho the time as l see it
dreary were the word, but then it's all along
of the French bein' one time so much about
the place. as pve 'eard say as some of our
kings was more French than English. But as
to they're a-callin' the long street with
the arches the river Lee, it's downright fool
ishness, unless perhaps there was a river run
thro' it once, as I've 'eard say did used to be
in London just close by where Fleet street
stands now, and must ave been a big river,
tOO for to let the feet come up it. But what
were a-goin' to say about San Cloo was the
way as one of them parties went on a-goin' in
the Charybang, as 'olds good many, and we
was all a-staTtin' and there was three very
nice young ladies as wanted to go partikler,
but when it come up to the door where they
was a-waitin' for to be took up there wasn't no
room. ] was a-settin' atween two very stout
gentlemen, and was a-chattin' pleasant, when
the table at breakfast, as was a-settin' behind
back to back with me, all black satin and cri-
Moline, with ringlets as greasy as they looked
quite drippin'. When | see them young
people that disappointed at not goin', l says,
''What pity as we can't make room for 'em, ~
and / hear that party behind my back
a-sayin',
.5t1. Its !; a pity as some on us amt little
So says, "If some on us didn't spread
themselves out as far as they can there'd be
more room"
So she says, "Some on us is pretty well
spread out by nature
Sol says, 'Ifisome.on us wasn'tito wear cri-
nolnes, as is out of fashion, there'd be place
for little one or two." We was Just off and |
'eard that creeter call me old 'og in armour
so says, 81 don't know about bein' 'Og, as
isn't company as Pm used to, but should say
as you was quite at 'ome among"
She says 'You vulgar old woman, don't
talk to your betters.'
] says, 81 won't when meets with them as
won't be the like of you as is what calls cat:
meat"
She says, 81 won't go along with that ole
woman"
/ says, ''That you won't, for Pm a-goin' tc
get out, and wouldn't be seen with you,'' fol
didn't feel over WELL and there was to be a
party for San Cloo in a day or two as I'd
rather go with, so out gets, and some'ow OIL
other my parysol 'ad ketched in that fieldmale
bonnet, and in me a-gettin' up quick tore il
all back off 'er 'ead, and if them ringlet
wasn't false. She give a squall and shoveC
at me that violent as pitched me nearly on
of the chary-bang, so turned round and Civ
FER good topper and then bundles out.
/ do believe if several of the gentleme
'adn't stood atween us, we should ave com
to blows regular, not as l should ave let my
calf fOr ~ fol hut
aggrawate me- so she 'ad to go in to set e
bonnet to rights, and / felt my spavins a-comir
on that dreadful, that 'urried into the 'ouse
and 'ad good cry with little somethink 'O
and then felt better, tho far from well all day
and was glad as them young ladies went, a
come 'Ome in the hevenin', and made theil
selves that pleasant a-singin' and playin' an
thro' the weather bein' that warm, we set ou
in the garding a-listenin'; and as to tha
party in the black satin, she over'ea
herself or somethink, for she was obligated
60 to bed as soon as ever she got 'ome, as a
been i'll all the way in the chary- bang; but
wouldn't ave no disagreeables, so the ne1
time as see 'er, goes up to 'er and say
81 asks your pardon, mum, for anythink as
said rude yesterday and as to your bonne
do assure you it was a accident, as l wouldn
ave done it for the world, a-knowin' what
is thrO' 'avin' took to front myself" "Oh,
she says, ''never mind, tho did feel 'urt
the time, Mr.. Johnson bein' present, and onl
lost my air three months ago thro' biliou
fever" as was all rubbish, for she was fv'
and-forty if 'our; and as to Mr.. Johnson,
was a great big hulkin' lOokin' chap notthirt
as 'ad a nasty 'abit of larin without a-empti
of is mouth fust; Pm sure he'd never think
FER, tho she's a-settin of er cap dead at i'm,
the sayin' is, but arter that, we got on bette
me and that party for that bit of breeze
tween us seemed like thunder storm for
clear the hair. l was a-goin' to bed afo
Brown that very night, and thought VIII
i was a-undressin', as 'eard a sObbin' liB
so listens, and sure enough it was some o
a-sobbin' in Mrs. Wilby's room, so puts 4
shawl round my shoulders, and goes to t
door and knocks and says, "Mrs. Will
mum, are you not WELL"
''Oh," she says, 'Mrs. Brown, is that yo
I'm so thankful you've come"
see FER lookin' like ghost for whitene
so says, Whatever is the matter p
"oh, she says, 'pm 'art-broken wretch
/ says, ''What is it?'
So she says "It's all my own fault"
says, "Can help you %
"No," she says, ''you can't, nor no one ell
Pm rightly punished"
! says, "What for P'
"Oh, she says, 81 married that old m
for lis money, thro' ben' in dreadful distre
and now he leads me such a life, and ill-u
me thro' jealousy"
says, "The toothless old brute,''
She says "He's 'orridly mean. a
do assure you he'd 'ardly let
,aua a naal axcent what - L -