The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-03-05
HOW THE
= HOW THE
Weathercock Was Oiled.

I'm game to do it," says Billy johnson,
Mot you" says joey Rance. at amt in
you"
And as he spoke he took 4 pull at his strap,
aud Parson says
MY good man, 1 couldn't think of allow
ing it"
You see, this is how it was. We'd got a
weathercock atop Of our church spireat High
Beechy and it was n cock in real earnest,
Just like the great Dorking in Farmer Gran
gers yard only the one On the spire was
gilt, and shone in the sun quite beautiful.
There was another difference, though.
Farmer Changers Dorking used to crow in
the morn, and sometimes on a moonlight
night but the gilt one atop of the steeple,
after going on swinging round and round, to
show quietly which way the wind blew, took
it into its head to stick fast in calm weather,
while in a rough wind-oh, lor' a mercy! the
way IL would screech and groan was enough
to alarm the neighborhood, aud alarm the
neighborhood il did.
/ wouldn't believe as it WINS the weather.
,ock at first, but quite took to old Mother
Bounett's notion as it was signs of the times,
aud a kind of warning TO High Beechy of
something terrible to come to pass,
But there, when you stood and saw il turn.
ing slowly round in the broad daylight, and
heard it squeal, why, you couldn't help your
self, but were bound to believe.
Just about that time a chap as called him.
self Steeple Jack-not the real Steeple Jack,
you know, but an impostor sort OF fellow,
who, we heard afterwards, had been going
about and getting sovereigns to climb tho
spires, and oil the weathercocks, and do n bit
Of repairs, and then going of without doing
anything at al-well, this fellow came to
High Beechy, and saw Parson, and offered to
30 up. clean and scrape the weathercock, oil
II and all, without scaffolding, for a five
Iound note.
Parson said it was too much, and con-
suited churchwarden Rourd, who said dit
to" and so Steeple Jack did not get the job
wen when he came Town to three pound.
and thon to n sovereign; for, bless you, we
wire too sharp for him at High Beechy, and
inspected that all he wanted was the money.
When, you know, We couldn't have made him
10 up, II being n risky job.
The Nca.hercock went on squeakiug lien
swiully, till one afternoon, when We We're ort
IN the green with the cr.cketing tackle for
practice, Parson being with us, for 90 ~sr
going to play Ramboro' Town next vesh
aud Parson WAS our best bowler.
He was n thorough gentleman was Parsor
aud he used TO say he loveda game OF cricke
a. much as ever, and as to making one of on!
eleven, he used to do thht, he said, because
he was then sure that 10 one would swear
or take more than was good for him.
Speaking for orr lot Pm sure II made us al
respect Parsop the more; and | tell you on,
lining it did besides, it seemed TO make hin
our friend TO 20 to in all kind of trouble aut
what's more, it fetched all our lot in the
cricket club TO church when I'm afraid if il
hadn't haan mt ~ taen.c. g. D.. -
should have stopped away.
Why I've known him on n hot evening NJ
practice between the overs suddenly CRY
Hold hard" with tho ball in his hands. anc
.ay-
Tell you what, my lads, / think a glass OF
Tompkin's home-brewed wouldn't be amis,
Just now. Smith, my man, will you step
across and tell them to send me q gallon -
Then when it was brought all cool and
canning from out of the cellar, and he took
the inst glass as a matter of course, he'd got
. knack OF saying something sensible TO n
nan in a way as he did more good than the
preaching in a month of Sundays.
That J he'd say, with Il smack of his lips
Ehen he'd finished the cool dnught. That's
good, refreshing, invigorating, and hearty.
What a pity 1t is some men will be such fools
- TO take more than is good for them. Come,
my lads, another glass around, and then to
VOTE.
Why, you lnay laugh NJ me, but We all
o1 us loved our Pnrson, and be could turn uG
:" w sniS way or una way with his little finger.
and ill., ,siL ,m.,o oHt ~ 'he green asl sad,
" "tL 'ue IAN lurnea about oiiing the weather.
- "I nooIt no" "Gu heard as Steeple
vi Us he called himself, had undertaken TO
.Pp.a'norpe sle.ll,s' us rs thirty feet
gu ouiS' anu had got the money and
1 thought he was a rogue" said Billy
'1hhs'oh; 'de looked like it; drinking
90 u ahy time you like"
''u' sHia joey hanee. ut amt in
"a,
! IT. Gays bhly, Tightening his belt,
A MI, tine III
-. u EoHa man, S"ys fHrson' Il couldn't
= = VI ui'owIns