San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-06-19

"OnutI ndN' He Sdlu' Nletntf you
can WriteF''
Fanswered with some decision that GER
tainly could, at which | thought his face fell.
Poetry, naw"' he inquired. ''Warses
like?'
replied, that though was able to write a
capital hand, had only once or twice aspired
TO original composition; at which he chuck
led delightedly, then, fixing his eyes with a
fascinated glare upon my face, he repeated
in a high shrilI voice the following lines:
''To Mssus Pendragon, who's always so pleas
ant,
John Rudd, Of st. Gurlotts, brings this little
present.
May her life be as sweet as best sugar can be-
And the only hot water be mixed wi her tear
What do you think O. that?' he asked,
anXOuSly
VERY good" replied Where did you
read II? In bOOk?'
Il didn't read 'un master, ,Crot 'un," he
replied. "Leastways | should ha' wrote 'un
II could write. Nav, you'm smart chap,
praps you could take them lines dawn"
OF course | could" replied Whereup-
on produced pencil from my waistcOat
pocket, and. asking Mr. Rudd TO repeat the
verse again, transcribed it on the back OF
an old letter
When handed mp the paper to Mr.. Rudd,
his face became positively geeful.
You're a smart chap" he repeated, "nawt
much doubt O that
do You make much pOetry?" | asked.
He nodded his head slowly
"A goldfish bit" he replied; 'leaStways, /
should if I'd alIus smart 'un like you AT
hand to take 'Wn dawn. But I'm nav hand
at setting dawn at il. and it dawn't allus
keep in my head. Ills a gift, he continued.
at all hogan when / were q lad, a-drivng
up and dawn Falmouth way VII father.
Then used to hear the old wagon 90 'tum
to tum' alawng the road and the waTses they
came and kept time Lord! to think O the
thousands of bOOtiful PONIES | ha' made;
they'd make a wallum; and I've got 'em all
here in my head, thick as bees in a beehive,
all a-buzzing together, one atop a tother."
do you live at ST. GurlOtts, Mr., Rudd?"
Ass, young master; drives this here van
three times week to Falmouth and back"
"Then perhaps I'll be able to take down
some of your poems for you. | am going to
live there, too, you knOww
This idea pleased the drOwsy giant inn
mensely. He was about to expatiate upon
it, when a heavy rain-dTOp falling on his
hand brought him back from the clouds.
"Lawd love the ladr' he exclaimed, 'hOw
we be a-loitering. Here jump up, young
master, VEIN got good twelve mile afOre
us yet, and black night prawmising to
come"
took the hand which he extended to me-
and which looked like giants paw, and
sprung up to my seat beside him.
Hurry up, Martha" he said, get on, old
gar,' and the mares slow walk broke into a
trOt, which caused the wagon to rattle and
shake, and my teeth to Clatter in my head.
The prospect still continued bleak, but it
was now not quite 50 desOlate. To the right
and left of us still stretched the bleak moor
land, but now it was broken up by green hill
locks and belts of woodland. Here and there
on the meadows were cattle grazing while at
intervals were whitewashed cottages with
little gardens running down to the roadside.
From time to time we rounded some quiet
bay, and caught glimpse of the sea. Pres
emily far ahead of us, | saw clustering
houses, from the midst of which arose a
church Spire
What is thatr' | asked.
lie seemed to know by instinct what |
meant for he replied without taking his eyes
Off the horse
That, young master, be CraigruddOck.
Wen stawp there for a bit OF summat to eat
and drink, and to gle the mare a rest"
When we entered the village of Craigrud-
dock our appearance caused no little stir.
John Rudd was evidently well knOwn-fUT
as the numbering wagon went rafting down
the little street shOck-headed children came
peeping out of the dOOrways, and here and
there peasant woman made her appearance,
and nodded cheerfuIly to us as we went by.
For each and all John Rudd had gOOd-hu-
mored grin, which thought broadened
little as the wagon was pulled up with jerk
before the door of the inn. Here, after some
little trouble, we got something to eat, a few
boiled eggs, and some home baked bread.
When the horse had been rested, we started
again on our journey.
The warm day was succeeded by cold
evening, and with the darkness had come
rain. l was glad to follow John Rudd's ex-
ample, to wrap myself well up in my over
coat, before again took my seat behind the
mare. We jOlted on again, covering what
seemed to me an interminable space. The
darkness rapidly increased, the rain cOntin-
ued to fall, and, worn out with fatigue, fell
into fitful dOze.
was dimly conscious Of the wagon rolling
on, of John Rudd making occasional dis
jointed remarks, rhythmical IN character, to
which he evidently expected no reply, and
of certain stOppages, when John mysterious
ly disappeared, and returned refreshed and
strengthened for his work.
At length, however, John Rudd's voice
aroused me indeed.
"Wawk up, young MASTER" said he; "we'm
gettin' pratty nigh your place"
reused myself and looked about me, but
there was nothing to be seen. Darkness en-
comprised us on every hand; the wind was
signing softly, making sound like the dis
tant murmur of the sea. Presently the wag-
on stopped. The carrier jumped down, and
waited for me to do the same; then he gave
a peculiar whistle as he went round to the
back of the wagon to haul out my trunk.
The whistle had its effect The darkness
was suddenly penetrated by light, which
seemed quite close to u.s. and a mans voice
called out in broad country dialect:
"Be that you, John RuddF'
"Iss, mate" returned Rudd. "YOu catch
hold O. the young gentleman. ha' gawtthe
bawx."
"Be this the lad?" asked the voice, as /
felt heavy hand laid upon my shoulder.
.Iss."
"Waal, my lad, you be welcome to St Cur
lOtt'sp
The hand kept hold of my shoulder and
led me along The next thing l became
conscious of was standing upon the thresh-
old of an open door, and Of the voice of my
guide saying, heartily:
"Yar be he, MarthaP'
Then another voice, that of woman, an.
swered:
"Lawd love the lad; let's look at 'unP and
then there WAS Gilanpa