The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-04-29

gan to be placed. 1t was on Frida.
afternoon, about month after the rob
berries. The day was wet and wild and
as nv work was the outdoor carryin,
of stones which had been placed in posi-
tion in the rough i was enable to 60 OF
with it. and SO had to return to ny
quarters. had got my dinner, and haC
Just called for pint of ale with m,
pipe, when an elderly, addressed maj
came in, and, sitting down on b'nct
beside me, said, in broad Lancashire
accent. "Ill sup wi tina lad, if ths
doesn't care;" ol which he lifted my
mug to his lips and drank freely. hac
not got over my surprise when he, wip
ing his mouth with his hand, gave me
the history of the past day or two. The
account was this: He had been gen
tleman's gardener, near Lancashire
over twenty years, had capital place
but had not had sense enough to keeI
it, for he had gone on the loose for 9
fortnight, which was more than his mas
ter would put up. with, 50 he was dis.
charged. "-It wor day afore yesterday, =
he said, "ah' I've drank for vary vexa.
ton ever sim, trampin' as / drank, an
so here am, VII dry math an w1ou'
'oppeny i my pocket. Doesta think, .
he continued, ~ aw can raise penny OF
tippence amang the company
1 gave him a. trife; others did the
same; having thus "raised the wind p
he 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; 80. accosting the
old man while he was calling his dinner,
he said: "You are gardener, l under
standT
al am" was the reply.
"Well," said the landlord, have q
garden which needs tilling. l have not
time to attend to it myself, and as it is
time the seed was in PH employ you, if
you are willing. Pll find you plenty to
eat and drink; you can have bed as
well, and if you please me I'll not see
you leave without few shillings in
your pocket. What say your
al say agreed" replied the gardener,
rising to his feet and grasping the land
lords hand. "Pii not begin Tomorrow,
however; but Pll look round an get
riddy for Monday morn"
This proposal was satisfactory, where
fore the gardener was made happy.
| Shortly afterward we had an sd&tion
to our company by the incoming of the
old bird-stuffer, whom shall hereafter
call the naturalist (as this designation
was the one which pleased him), his
son, the butterfy y feeder, and two other
men whom / had not seen. These-the
strangers-frst looked hard at the COM
pany, but the naturalist giving them a
| significant nod, which seemed to say
call 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
the table, and his head on his arms, ne
fell, or seemed to fall, asleep, The rain,
which continued 20 come down, COM
PEELED me still to hide under cover; so,
placing my chair in corner and put
ting my head against the wall, tried
to get q nap also. The naturalist and
his companions were now the only per-
sons in the room besides the gardener
and me.
lean not tell half nor quarter of vi hat
was said by FIRST one and then another
of the four persons; nor did I under
stand some of the phrases which they
used, "Bruce" and "Wonder," "hax"
and "stuffing" were Iwords often en-
ployed by them. / recollect that
"Bruce" was the name of the dog, and
w. monuei Ina. % 1i .ne iamo, IN Ine mu-
scum scum ogiois sPoken oi anu tne otner
:1u ems, !uuseu, IeieIieo W tne matefiaI
could not see why they should speak in
so low a tone as they did when they
spoAe5 s5 VI .nGG. Tnoe vi Twice tney re-
Iel.eu pI. " onu py some siang phrase.
DIs ais L-1seats I US maue n LIS cleal enough.
whoy tba ~ Sn0 dra;a;ne m;;n .,,n;a oaeafeu ' up
wi. mnen 'ae nen, uralning 1neir glasses,
sUs & up anu We mens amay; Inc nomen'
.ney "ele eone sne gaIoener !oused up,
toox memoranaum out OF MS POCKET,
anu pesan " wIlte thereIn. ne then
asa ass1u uhat me IL - th nnsm VINO .ae men were,
anu andNrn.S mnas Was snetr occupat,oh, ana II 1
thn nu1.ou sano .n any VI 'ne morus uttereu IN
nh.t .Ie tomIt ;a.;o oaG VI VOICE; gave MN
VIVA mia' nhnth se,ou .se IoIiu. out, l
aalosn osla, oo'n 'ney ''nu l oeiieVeo you were
"',e1p'
1T Is well 10 go into dreamland at
times, ne SAID and then added: "Did
you say that the old man keeps mu-
scum! Have you seen it? Do you
tnanK could get look at ltY'
The questions were put one after the
other In quick succession, as though he
were eager and anxious about some
thing: ! said Eyes" to each, but ] was
surprised at the good English in which
he now spoke and the refinement which
marked his manners. Still I could make
nothing of it.
pass over the next few days, as they
brought forth ne remarkable incident.
The gardener had stuck to his contract
with the landlord, and l had been
enabled to get on with my work. The
four men did not again visit us; but as
wene ~. WIN ny carving saw first
ohe anu lnsn announcer OF them pass my
placs anu onco saw snem all In earn
est converse IN retired lane.