The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-12-19
HOW THE wEATHERCOCK WAS
OILED.

Pm game to do it," SAYS Bill
johnson, ''any time you like"
Not you," says Joey Rance. ut
ain't in you"
Amt it ?" says Bill.
And as be spoke be took a pull at
bis strap, and Parson says
my good man, l couldn't think of
allowing IT,"
You see, this is how it was. We'd
got a weatherc1ck atop of our
church spire at High Beechy; and 1t
was q cock in real earnest, just Ike
lie great DOrking in Farmer Gran
gers yard; only the one on the splre
was gilt, and shone in the sun quite
beautifully.
There was another difference,
though. Farmer Grauger's Dorkin
used to crow in the morn, and some
times on moonlight; but the gilt
Que atop of the steeple after going
on swinging round and round, to
show quietly which way the wind
blew, took il into lis head to stick
last in calm weather. while in the
rough aind-oh lor' mercy the
way it would screech and grosn was
enough to alarm the whole neigbor'
hood, and alarm the neighborhood II
did.
| would not believe as it was the
weal hercock at first, but quite took to
old Mother Bonnett's notion as II
was signs Of the times, and kind Of
warning to High Beechy of some
thing terrible TO come 10 pass.
But then, when you stood and
saw it turning slowly around in the
broad daylight and heard it squeal
why, you couldn't help yourself, ba'
u ere bound to believe
Just about that time q chap as
called himself Steeple Jack-not the
real Steeple Jack, you know, bat at
imposter sort of fellow, who, We
heard sflerward, had been going
around getting sovereigns to clint
the spires, and oilthe westhercoeks
and do bit of repairs, and then go
ing off without doing anything al al
we'll, this fellow came to Higt
Beeehy, and saw Psrson. and offered
to go up, clean and scrspe the weath
ereock, oil it aod all, without scaf
folding, for FIVE pound note.
Parson said it was too much. ant
consulted churchwarden Round. wh'
said ditto and so Steepie Jack dit
not get the jot even when be cam'
down TO three pounds and then TO ;
sovereign; for bless you, we were too
sharp for bim at High Beechy, AM
suspected that all be wanted was th'
money, when, you know, We coul'
not have made him go up, it wa
such risky job.
The weaIbercock went on squeak
ing then awfully, till one afternoon
when we were out on The green wit
the cricketing tackle for practice
Psrson being with Us, for We wer
going to play Ramboro' Town mex
week, and Parson was our best bow
ler
He was a thorough gentleman wa
Parson, and be used to say that b
loved game Of cricket as much q
ever, and as to making one of ou
eleven, be used do thar, be said, b.
cause then be was sure that no on
would swear, or take more than wa
good for him.
Speaking for our lot, I'm sure
always made US respect Parson IN
more; and | tell you one thing it di
besides, it seemed to make him OF
friend to go to in ali kind of troubl
and what's more it fetched all Ii
lot in our cricket club to churC
when I'm afraid if it hadn't been o'
of respect TO Parson we would has
stayed away.
Why I've known him on b
evening at practice between the owe
suddenly cry, Hold hard !" with II
ball in bis hand, and say
Tell you what, my lads, | think
= glass of Tompkin's bome-brew'
d wouldn't be amiss just now. Smit
II nv man, will you step across al
tell them to send us gallon J
Then when il was brought all co
aud foamiDg from out Of the cells
and be took :be first glass as matt
of course, he'd got the mack OF So
Jog something sensible to man in
way as did more good than u
preaching in month of: Sundays.
That" he would say, with
$ smsck Of his lips, when be bad f
ished the cool draugbt, "That's goo
refreshing, invigorsting and heart
What a pity some men are SO fooli
as to take more han is good
|. them. Come, ny lads, anoth
glass around, and then TO work"
Why, you may laugh at me. b
we all of Us loved our Parson, and
could turn us all this way or th
way with his little finger.
Well, we were out on the green,
G said, and the talk turned abe
= oiling the wea,hercock and how
. heard as Steeple Jack. as be call
himself. had undertaken TO do Upp'
thrope steeple, as is thirty feet lo~
than ours, aud had got the mon
and gone of.
Il thought be was rogue" 81
Billy johnson. "He looked like
drinking sort of q fellow. Tell y
. that, I'm game to do it any til
you like"
"Not you," said joey Rance
amt in you"
"Ain't it?" said Bill, tighteni
his belt, and then
my good man." says Psrson,
couldn't think OF allowing H."
nl Ysu see, ours was 9 splent
spire, standing altogether, one h'
dred and seventy feet six inches hiI