Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-12-04

the robbers came from q distance, II
Eordsrto put the thieves of their guard
for their own opinion was the opposite +
| this.
No event, however serious, can kee,
hold of peoples minds beyond q certain
time; and these robberies were begin
ming to give place to some other subject
when the next act in the drama begar
to be played. 1t was ouSa Friday after
noon, about 4 month after the robberies
The day was wet and wild; and as my
work was the outdoor carving of stones
which had been placed in position in the
rough. l was unable to 60 on with it, and
50 had to return to my quarters. had
got my dinner, and had just called Tor q
pint of ale, with my pipe, when an elder.
~, addressed man came in, and sitting
down on q bench beside me, said in
broad Lancashire accent: cpl sup
with the lsd, if tina doesn't care;" on
which he lifted my mug to his lips and
drank freely. had not got over my
surprise when he, wiping his mouth with
his hand, gave me history of the past
day or two. The account was this: he
had been gentleman's gardener near
Lancaster, over twenty years; had cap
ital place, but had not had sense enough
to keep it, which was more than his mas.
ter would put up with; so he was dis
charged.
"This wor day afore yesterday" he
said AN I've drank for very vexation
ever sim, trampin' as I drank; an SO
here I am wi a dry math an wi'out a
'openny in my pocket. Doesta think, -
he concluded, Jaw con raise a penny or
tippence among the company"
I gave him tride; others did the
same; so having thus " raised the wind"
he at once called for bread, cheese and
ale, and made good meal.
During the time the gardener had
been talking to me, the landlord had
been within hearing. So, accosting the
old man while he was eating his dinner,
he said, "You are gardener, under
standT'
II am." was the reply.
"Well," said the landlord, "l've a
garden which needs fettlirg. I have
not time to attend to it myself; and as
it is time the seed was in, I'll employ
you if you if you are willing. I'll find
you plenty to eat and drink; you can
have a bed az we'll; and if you please
me, I'll not see you leave without few
shillings in your pocket. What say
you?"
~ say agreed" replied the gardener,
rising to his feet and grssping the land.
lords hand. "1'll not begin omorn,
howiver; but I'll look rand, an get
riddle for Monday morn"
This proposal was satisfactory, where
fore the gardener was made happy.
Shortly afterward we had an addition
to our company by the incoming Of the
old bird stufer, whom shall henceforth
call the naturalist-as this designation
was the one which pleased him-his son,
the butterfy-breeder, and two other
men whom had not yet seen. These
the strangers-first looked hard at the
company; but the naturalist, giving
them significant nod, which seemed to
say, calls right" they settled down
and called for glass of rum apiece.
By this time the gardener had finished
his dinner, when putting his arms on
table and his head on his arms, he fell or
seemed to fall asleep. The rain which
continued to come down compelled me
to still abide under cover; so, placing
my chair in q corner and putting my
head against the wall, I tried to get a
nap also. The naturalist and his com.
panions were now the only persons in
the room besides the gardener and me.
l cannot tell half nor quarter of what
was said by first one and then another of
the four parsons; nor did l understand
some of the phrases which they used.
"Bruce' and Wonder" "fax" and
" stuffing" were words often employed
by them. Irecollect that Bruce was
the name of the dog, and Wonder"
that of the lamb in the museum before
spoken of, and other terms, I judged,
referred to the materials with which
they were stuffed; but I could not see
why they should speak in so low tone
as they did when they spoke of them.
Once or twice they referred to bird by
some slang phrase, But after events
made this clear enough.
By and by the weather took up, when
the men, draining their glasses, got up
and went away. The moment they
were gone the gardener reused up, took
a memorandum book out of his pocket
and began to write therein. He then
asked me if I knew who the men were,
and what was their occupation, and if
had understood any Of the words utter
ed by them in the lower tone of voice.
[ gave him what information / could.
" But" l said both they and I believed
you were asleep"
1T is we'll to 60 into dreamland at
times" he said, and then added: "Did
you say that the old man keeps
museum? Have you seen it? Do you
think lcould get alook atit?" T..
The questions were put one after the
other in quick succession, az though be
were eager and anxious about some
thing, ! said Eyes" to each; but 1 was
surprised at the good English in
which he now spoke, and at the refine
ment which marked his manners. Still
I could make nothing of it.
l pass over the next few days, as they
brought forth no new incident. The
gardener had stuck to his contract with
the landlord, and had been enabled to
get on with my work. The four men
did not again visit US; but as I went on
with my carving 7 saw first one and then
another of them pass my place. And
once saw them in earnest conversation
in retired lane.
After supper, one night, I took the
gardener to the barn-like habitation of
the old naturalist. As We went along,
he asked me to take particular notice Of
the dog and the lamb; "for," said he,
!" was struck with the questions one Of
the men put as to whether Bruce and
Wonder could take in any more cotton
or fax. And it is just possible" he
continued that he has way of taking
out and putting in the stufing after the
skin has become set and hard-a thing
worth knowing, should think"
When he got to the mouse, the old man:
came to the door, closing it after him.
Being asked if he would allow the gar.
dener to see over his collection of pre-
served animals, he at first seemed per-
picked, and saying a" III ask my son,"
he went in, leaving 10 outside. Shortly