Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-07-11


the sheep and the moon. Peggy reads 'em Out
to me in the paper, and the stories, too, sir. Dc
you write stories? Yes2 Well, that's a gift
If had it, think | could make out one about
what has happened to me. Peggy says it could
be done.
Now il is all plain sailing, nothing ont of the
common; but / wasn't always a well-to-do-
farmer. Once was farmers boy-a hand
with nothing but stout heart, and. strong
limbs and good health.
Manys the night, when the stars were in the
sky, used to go out to the great pasture where
the sheep browsed all day, and sit and think
thoughts had no words for, and make beauti-
full pictures for myself in my mind-not fine
ones, sir This is what see the ottenest: lit
tic cottage and wide fireplace, such as they
had in my day, a dresser with row of deli
upon it, four chairs and a table of pine. When
| had these was to marry Peggy Grey. But
when should have them, and she her white
wedding gown and the house linen, neither of
MS knew.
She put her sixpences into a red earthen saw
ings bank, and | kept tnine in an old glove.
For two years we had been waiting and hoping,
and were not much nearer than at first. Some
times felt down-hearted. Sometimes her let
tiers were a bit sad. And just as sat in the
meadow, | knew she sat before the kitchen fire
in the house where she lived at service. Simple
folks we were, but we had hearts, and she
felt as deeply as greater folks might.
My master, the farmer, was Il close man. He
squeezed as much work out of his hands as
possible. But it was steady place, and he
paid all he promised; so | staid, never think
ing what trouble staying would bring TO me,
trouble that never would have come but for
Mark Hulker. A gOod-for-nothing fellow he
was, disgrace to the rest of us, and he cheat
ed the master and left his work undone. So
after hours master set me at his STINT and it
being indoors work kept at it all night. The
old man liked that and set me new task every
night. All the better for me; | thought he
would paw me extra, and what was WEAKNESS
Peggy So [ counted the hours worry as so
many shillings. But when Saturday night
came, he gave me only just my weeks work.
Master" said |, give worked over hours
every night you forget that"
E 81 hire you by the week." he said. "I'll give
you no more than one weeks wages. So
il you don't like it, there are plenty of strong
lads to be had; you are growing lazy"
Then he turned his back on me, and Mark
laughed. That angered me, and words fell
from my lips. We had a quarrel, master and |,
and | called him "niggardly oil rascal"
and with that he dismissed me from his service.
"At dawn you go" said he. you've worked
to-day, and have right to your bed at night,
but at dawn you 60"
l marched out of the room with words | never
should have used, and up TO my garnet and
threw myself on the bed. But did not mean
softly, made up bundle, and climbed out of
window. / cut my hands with the glass Of a
broken pane, and blood dropped down upon my
clothes. But | was too angry to feel the pain;
and bound up the wound with handkerchief.
Then trudged on, meaning to look for work
the next day. So did, but found none.
Then the thought struck me to make my way
to ---, and see Peggy. Ii would be a COM
fort to me, whatever came. So | turned my
steps in that direction, and kept on until night
fall. Then, faint and weary, lay down under
some bushes and fell asleep.
Out of that sleep was aroused by a shout
and clutch OF strong hands Men stood about
me. One shouted my name. They held me fast
and bound me.
struggled, but it was no use. Numbers were
against my single strength.
"What are you, robbers? I've nothing worth
the taking" l said, at last; and, when standing
STILL | saw faces ! knew about me-those of the
farm hands at my old masters.
"You know well, Jack Malone" said one. off
he did speak an i'll word at last, he was good
man in the main, and you'd worked for him
three years. You might have answered him as
you liked, but to try and murder him was too
horrible. We didn't think it O. you, Jack-we
didn't think it,"
'Murdered!' 1 cried, dis old master muir
dered? Why lay it to me. | swear never hurt
himI"
off he is not quite dead it is none of your
fault" cried another man. "Don't purjure your
self; look at the blood upon your clothes"
The blood from my hand was in botS and
Smears all over my vest. l feel my heart turn
sick when think of it.
Master will clear me- [ said.
"He says it was YOu," said one of the men.
AT least he nodded yes when we asked him if
you did it,"
"Then old master was not right in his mind,
| said. "He'd never be against me-"
After that heard the whole. Master had
paid the men and dismissed Mark. He had only
said "all right, am tired of work" and had
eaten breakfast there, and left in sight of all.
But was gone; and when they found that mas
ter, who was always up at cock crow, did not
rise at nine, they opened his door, and found
him on the floor senseless-they thought him
dead at first. He had been robbed of his pocket
book, watch, and an old-faShoned pin he al
ways wore in his handkercbief-the painted
head of lady set around with what he used to
tell us were pearls-an ornament older than his
grandfather.
They found nothing around me, of course, but
the quarrel and my cut hand made the case hard
against me. The master, dying as they thought
him, had been able to speak at odd times; and
said that, to the best of his knowledge and be-
lief, was the assaiant. 1t was dark to be sure,
but in the struggle he felt that the man wore
cap, and was the only hand who had anything
but straw hat. Besides he came from the in
lleT pdSSdHG ana uOWn the StdlTS ana Ql0 not
break in through door or window, as a burglar
would have done. Aud l was the only missing
member of the household. So lay in prison
with this awful charge upon me, until they
knew whether master would live or die; and my
greatest grief was Peggy.
"Keep it from her." | begged them, "until
she must know i"
And they were kind and did it; and her let
tiers were sent to me in prison. 1t was a weary
time, and the one drop of comfort in it came
from those letters. had had five from her
when, at the end of one came this:
DEAR JACK: l never hide anything from
you, and do not want to boast of my conduests
a thing never do; but just to let you know l
kept no secrets to myself, must tell You what
has happened. Our master has hired man, a
lazy fellow, that disliked at first sight Mark
Hulker by name and what should he do but
take notion 10 me, or pretend to do so, trying
his best to sit up with me after his work hours,
following me about whenever | got a holiday.
Then he tries to make me like him by telling
me how rich he is. -Four hundred dollars he has
laid by, he says, and gold watch like gentle
man. The other Sunday l was dressed for
church and up he walks. "Why, Peggy" says
he, "you have no pin to your collar" Said l.,
81 can't afford money for finery." Then said
he, "now how lucky it is that Pve one to give
you" and pulls pin from his pocket Jack,
couldn't help looking at it. 1t was lady's por-
trait, with hair all white, though she was young,
like an old woman'S. He said it was powdered, as
they done it in old times; and pink dress, and
no bigger than silver quarter altogether.
How he came by such thing goodness knows !
But of course l wouldn't have it. Says he,
"Now do take it, Peggy. / want to keep COM
pany with you, and now you know the truth."
Says l, Il want neither your company nor your
presents, and please remember that hereafter.
1t was rough, / know, but hate him so. And
was none too rude, for he bothers me yet as
much as ever. Though you know if he were
ever SO good and handsome, l am your own
Peggy, and think of no one else.
When | read that you might have knocked
me down with a feather. The pin was the one
the old farmer had lost and l knew it, and
Mark was the thief who had tried to murder
him.
l sent for the lawyer who was to take my
side, and who had all along believed me limo
cent. ] gave him the letter.
"Its old masters pin," said l. "What shall
do, sirT
And he said-"You can do nothing, my poor
fellow, but wait and hope. have clue"
Then he went away, and afterwards heard
what he did. He went down to the place where
Peggy lived and took her out of danger of the
eaves-droppers, and told her all that had hap
pened. The brave girl trembled and wept but
she spoke out:
"He's innocent" she said. '1'd not believe
him guilty if an angel told me he was"
And the lawyer SAID out of his heart, though
she was but serving lass:
He's worthy of you, Peggy Grey [ do be-