The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-08-12

Now, said my mistress, as her last words,
Il trust it to you, Coney, to get the best
price you can, but if it's only five shil-
lings a head you must sell them Any
how, with Eve hundred pounds l can keep
Squire Sandon out of the place.
"Half way to Wanbury, who should
meet me but Squire Sandon himself trot-
ting along on his fine black mare, We'll,
Coney,' he said, with malicious kind of
laugh, so you're going to Wanbury fair
shall be there, said he, 'and if you don't
ask too much, perhaps | may buy A
few miles on and we came to Bulpits which
was beautiful place where the dukes had
lived once upon time but the big house
was pulled down long ago, and now Squire
Sandon lived in the dover house, as they
called it, but with all the lovely meadows
and the park lands. And meeting with
the Squire's stockman, he took me round
to see the place. And where everything
else was as dry as dead stick, there, if you'll
believe me, all was green and fresh, with
the heaviest crop of hay | ever saw just
cleared off the meadows, and the young
grass coming on enough to feed some
thousands Of sheep. For there was big
lake right above, and suices to flood the
meadows, and in the park there was that
depth of sward that the drought had hard
ly touched it. But how black it looked
against the Squire, who would make for
tune out of the drought while my lords
poor farmers were being ruined by it.
And then the stockman showed me his
little flock, which was all his master had
kept-a kind of fancy breed of the old
South Down sort, all black and curly like
the toys you see at the fair. Kerow
said crow, and a black shadow fell across,
and then felt, with kind of sinking of
the heart, that all this had been forseen.
There was the black lamb that was meant
to break the drought, and that night we
were bound to pasture our sheep on the
common all about Wanbury Top.
"tOh, if somebody else had been picked
out for the job said | to myself, for |
was frightened, l can tell you. But |
felt that 1 had got to go through with it.
And when we come to Wanbury Common
and well settled the sheep for the night,
with the dogs on the watch, and us taking
our rest in a shed, got up and stole away
back to Bulpits. | had noticed the lay of
the ground, and, knowing the ways of
sheep, made no disturbance among them,
but picked out my black eve lamb, and,
throwing her over my shoulder, made my
way, not across the Common, but by path
through a woods that led to Wanbury Top.
Yes, was sheep stealer, and might be
hanged or transported if anybody caught
me. But when l got to the wood felt
safe. Nobody had seen me nobody had
followed me. But it was awfully black
under the trees-they were old thorns and
yews; and now it was an owl that gave
shrek that made me jump almost out of
my skin, or some old crow would give
knowing croak that sent a shiver through
me- But | found the stone, as the wise
woman had said, right at the very top
where it was clear and bare, and where
you looked down on all the country round,
with here and there a light ike star from
some farm or mansion, and little faint
light that moved slowly along in the far
distance | took to be from a ship at sea.
But now the horn of the old moon was
rising over the woods, and heard the
church clocks all round that were Ginning
twelve, so still and quiet it was.
"Well, l performed everything as | had
been told and | said the terrible words, and
as | was drawing the carcase round for the
third time-would you believe it, mates
it was snatched away from me as if some
wild beast had got hold of it, and l ran
and ran till l rolled head over heels into a
sand-pit, and there l lay half buried in the
soft sand, too terrified to move. But |
heard thunder muttering overhead and
there seemed kind of freshness in the
air, and l even thought felt drop.or
two of rain as crept back to the shed as
soon as daylight showed me the way.
"But with the full shine of day every
thing looked as bright and droughty as
ever, and the only clouds were clouds Of
dust all round that showed where people
were driving their sheep along to the fair.
And l never saw such fair, where there
were so many sheep and so few buyers. l
stood there for four mortal hours, and not
soul came nigh me- Then dealer came
along and offered me shilling apiece for
the lot. Soon after this saw Squire San
don riding round. We'll, Coney, he said,
in his bitter-sweet voice, what are you
asking for the sheep now2 I'll take five
shillings head, as it's you, squire, said,
full Of trouble to see the stock thrown away
like that Five shillingsr laughed he
Come. for Mistress. Dulcie's sake I'll give
you half-a-crown But l shook my head
That was the price my mistress had set me,
and not penny less would | take. 'All
right, laughed the Squire, Il can get as
good for eighteen pence But | hadn't
another offer, and when night came on |
druv the whole flock back to the Common
But how was | to meet my mistress with
the sheep unsold that there was no feed
for on the farm, and with no money in my
pocket for her, and the bailiffs perhaps
waiting for the flock as drove them in
And after all the wickedness that I'd done
to break the drought to find it stronger
than ever Yes, it was enough to. break
my heart, as well as her's-my poor young
mistress
'sIt was terrible hot night, and took
my blanket out of the shed and laid it in
and lay there looking at the
stars that shone brighter, | think, than
ever | saw them before; and soon l forgot
my trouble in sleep-and yet not altogeth-
er, for in my dreams was racing round
Wanbury Top, with one like roaring lion
at my heels,
eIiut could hardly have slept an hour
when | awoke and found myself in pool.
Raining AYE, such beautiful rain as you
never saw, so thick and yet SO gentle and
SO steady, while the ground fairly steamed
with it. Drenched as | was, jumped
about like mad one. 'Coney, | said,
you've saved your mistress, you've saved
the flock, you've saved your country
Coney, you've broke the Drought
tAl - . ...x........ - ,,,oe ,.,;th H.