The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-11
THE MASTER OF THE MINES !
BY ROBERT BUCHANAN.
tooSTISuED FRox OUR LAST IssUE.l
CHAPTER ".

{ E-f
CHAPTER ".
/ JOHN RUDD, POET AND CARRIER.
MINISTER'S was situated in the suburbs of
F Southampton. 1t was arranged therefore
that | should journey by small steamer as
far as Falmouth, and thence by road to St
T Gurlotts s-on-Sea. l was conducted To the
boat by Mr.. Munster. On arriving at Fal-
mouth, after an uneventful passage, was
met on board by rough-looking person, who
informed me that he had been deputed by
''Missus Pendragon,' 10 convey me and my
belongings to ST. Gur!ott's.
! What manner of man he was | could
scarcely tell, beyond realizing the fact that
( he was of tremendous height, that he wore
( white beaver hat, and that his figure was
wrapped in an enormous frieze coat which
reached his ankles. He gave glance at me,
/ and then said in peculiar pipy voice:
I Come, lad, gie's the tip about your boxes,
I and We'll move on; the mares got a journey
afore 'un, and we'm best nawt be later'
l moved aft, and pointed out to him my
Z little trunk He looked at it in much the
same way as a giant might look at pebble,
put il quietly under his ann, and moved off
again, inviting me to follow. We crossed
the gangway, and came on TO the quay. Here
we found large van, and fat sleepy-look-
ing roam horse. The wagon was rooted with
black tarpaulin. and on the side was painted,
in large white letters:
JOHN RUDD, CARRIER, ST. GURLoTT's."
On coming up TO the vehicle. my conductor
paused and disposed of my trunk, then, turn
ing to me with Come, young master, jump
in," he gave me lit which summarily placed
me inside and on the top of my box; then,
before had time to recover myself, l felt
that the wagon was jOlting along
What the day was like, and what sort of a
prospect we We're passing through, had not
the remotest idea; the tarpaulin and the
enormous figure of the driver completely
shutting me in from the world waited for
awhile, thinking perhaps, my companion
might turn communicative and make some
suggestion as to my better disposal; but none
came. He sat like log, and, beyond few
disjointed eXclamatiOns to the horse uttered
not a sound.
As he evidently had no intention whatever
of taking the slightest further notice of me,
/ thought it best to approach him. | accord
ingly shouted 'Hi!' several times and gave
him few vigorous pokeS in the back; but
neither of these attempts producing the
slightest etfect.I concluded he must be asleep.
/ accordingly swung OFF the van behind, and,
running beside the horse, hullo'd to him
from the road.
This trick told better Mr. Rudd. who
seemed, indeed. to have become oblivi0us of
the world, gradually turned his face toward
me and gazed at me for time with a vacu-
Gus stare. Then he pulled up the horse with
jerk
The Lord preserve 'eer' he said. whats
the lad doin thar'?'
explained that had swung out of the
wagon, because it was not pleasant inside
and added:
Have you got room up there for two, Mr.
Rudd?"
instead of replying to my question, he
gave chuckle and said
''You'm smart 'un; Mr.. Rudd, eh? Now,
haw did you come to knaw that thar, young
MASTER eh?''
/ explained that had concluded from his
appearance that he must be the master of the
van, upon which John Rudd'' was painted;
but he only chuckled again and piped:
''You'm little 'un to be such scholardW
AS saw he was about to become fossilized
again, fastened to repeat my former ques-
ton. Mr.. Rudd gazed abstractedly at the
seat and then at me.
''Maynt come up L said, Its so close
inside the van, and would rather ride be-
side you, Mr.. Rudd?' Then, without giving
him time for a refusal, leapt up and nestled
beside him.
Mr. Rudd made no protest-he simply said,
'Move on, mare" and the mare moved on
forthwith.
We had left Falmouth behind us, and were
moving cumbrously along the high road
Looking to the right and to the left could
see nothing but undulating sweeps of land,
bleak and barren, with the stony highway
stretching before US, and winding about, ser
pent fashion, until it was lost to view. We
were travelling westward, evidently, and, as
far as prospect went we might be going for
ward into the desert. There was not a cart
or horse or human being to be seen any
where; and the only sound was the rattle OF
the wagon, as it passed along over the rough
road.
1t was past midday, and the sun was as
hot as it had been any day that summer. AS
felt it scorching my face and head, look
ed at my companion, and marveled again.
His huge ulster-coat was buttoned up to his
chin, and his great round face was shaded by
his broad felt hat. de was by no means
bad-looking man, and he was still young
only fve-and-thirty, or thereabouIS- His
skin was tanned and weather-beaten, and his
eyes were fixed pom the mare with his ha-
/ bitual dreamy stare
Finding ii was useless to expect him to
talk, sat for time quietly by his side,
watching, with some amount of interest, the
rough and stony track we were following;
then, when we had covered mile or so, the
mare went along at walk, and | leapt light
ly into the road and kept pace beside her.
My change of position once more aroused
my companion from his trance; he turned
his eye slowly upon me, and said:
Il reckon you knaw deal?'
Ireplied, modestly, that knew thing or
| two.
81 wonder naw, he said, whether you
can lcriteS"
l answered with some decision that GER
tainly could, at which [ thought his face fell.
Poetry, naw?7 he inquired "Warse.
like?''
replied, that though was able to write
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 high shrill voice the following lines:
ITO Missus Pendragon, who's always SO pleas
ant.
John Rudd. of st. Gurlott's, brings this little
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?1 he asked,
anxiously
/ VERY good,'' / replied ''Where did you
/ read it? In book?'
Il didn't read 'un master, l0rote 'un,' he
replied. 'Leastways, should ha' wrote 'un
If | could write. Nav, you'm a smart chap,
pr'apS you could take them lines dawn?'
/ '-0f course / could" replied. Whereup-
on produced a 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 up the paper to Mr.. Rudd,
his face became positively gleeful-
You're a smart chap" he repeated, ''nawt
much doubt o. that
do you make much poetry?' asked.
He nodded his head slowly.
"a goodish bit he replied: 'sleastways, I
should if I'd allus smart 'un like you at
hand to take 'un dawn. But I'm nav hand
at setting dawn at it, and it dawn't alIus
keep in my head. 'Tis gift,r he continued.
1T all began when were lad, a-driying
up and dawn Falmouth way wi father.
Then used to hear the old wagon go tum
to tum alawng the road and the warses they
came and kept time. Lord! to think o. the
thousands OF bootifui PONIES / ha' made.
| they'd make wallum; and I've got 'em all
| here in my head, thick as bees in a beehive
all a-buzzing together, one atop a. fother."
do you live at ST. Guriott's, Mr.. Ruddg
ssIss, Young master; drives this here var
three times week to Falmouth and back. ?
"Then perhaps I'll be able to take down
some of your poems for you | am going Il
live there, too, you know r
This idea pleased the drowsy giant i'm
I II 49,