The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-12-23


better than we can with EN-
The general opinion was that Dave did
not like to play second fiddle where he
usually played more important part; but,
with magnanimity born of compromise,
his neighbors called it public spirit to each
other, and thought their own thoughts
about it in secret.
All eyes were turned on Dave when
Siah Hudson asked about the song. Sew
eral old friends had responded to Siahs
suggestion that he would like their opinion
about the Marsh Mist ale, and they were
seated in the parlor of the Marsh Mist
Arms, drinking at Siah's expense and, for
the most part, taking their cue from him
in reference to the quality of the brew.
"a homely sort of tipple," said Siah,
holding up glass against the light, and
examining it critically with one eye closed
Brewing is a fine art in the big towns,
but this is homely, like blackberry dump |
ling and 'taiers boiled in their jackets,
Ayr 4
He breathed deeply, as if prosperity had
separated him from indulgenees which un-
sophisticated people might still enjoy with
impunity. He was in the hay and straw
business at Sheffield, and his friends could
understand that social distinctions had
their penalties. There was local equiv
alent for noblesse oblige, which said, "T
eanger mustn't sink, whoever else does.
Several men in the parlor would not have
thought life worth living if sinking had
been an impossibility. But, for the mo-
ment, they were happy. The social mar
tyr was paying for the ale, and they were
free to keep their boots unlaced, wear their
cans with peaks at the back, and take sur
reptitious maps whenever chance favored
them.
Dawes back was up. He was drinking
his ale from pewter pot, as he usually
did. though all the others had glasses,
This might have been expected TO molllty
him completely, but he felt that his self
respect demanded some further protest,
therefore he replied in surley tone;
"Fine-weather songs are right enough IN
fine-weather times; but when everything Is
soft and sloppy, and the rains coming down
worse and worse, and it seems wetter than
YOU ever knowed it before, what the good
of singing. Fair shines the moon tonight,
or, "A song and cheer for our bonny green
stack-whats the use :?
Dave looked round, not because he ex-
pected any answer, but because he wanted
to enjoy the sight of dumfounded COM
pany.
Siah Hudson was equal 10 the occasion.
wJokes oo free till Christmas he said,
"and why not songs 1ou know that
sone, Absalom Enderby, | am sure.
Absalom was an old man in smoc&-
frock. He had been looking despondent
because nobody had taken much notice OF
him, but this direct appeal cheered him
greatly. ;.
"Yes. [ remember the song" he replied
tremulously; ''and before lost my teeth
could sing it fairly; but teeth have dea
to do with both singing and whistling, not
to mention eating your meat:
"The chorus is what L mean, siah ~
terrupted. st runs in and out of my heae
like a mouse popping into trap and back
again without touching the bait or loosen
inc the string. How does it go?
teThe chorus is nothing by itself, sait
Absalom, becoming sad again; he was afrait
lest a coveted privilege was aboat to bc
wrested from him. ''Phe song says
1.-The Earl he was mighty man,
With courage great and high;
But the lady she was pale and wan,
With sorrow in her eye.
"Then the chorus goes
sOb. the ne. and the he, and the he, and the he
They all was rampant tribe.
But the she, and the she, and the she, ant
the she,
No language can describe.
"That's it = Siah exclaimed joyously
"All of us
'Oh! the he. and the he, and the he and tn
he
The chorus was sung several times, q
the company joining in except Dave Brand
who put his hands in his pockets an
looked up to the ceiling, as if his thought
We're far away.
There's deal of truth in old songs,
Siah said at length; "but they are onl
true so far. They are not like the Bib
or ready-reckoner; they are more like a
almanack, which hits the weather off somt
times, and then misses it altogether. Di
ANYBODY ever hear of the ladies in the olde
time giving their husbands the slip an
going nobody knows where
Every head vas shaken except DaE
Brands, and he emptied his pot with
long draught, as if that meant more to hi
than any scandal which can be mentioned
.sYou must have the last verse OF tn
song" Absalom insisted Then, withou
waiting for permission, he sang
The carls may roam the wide world throngl
And Guestwick Hall shall stand;
But if the ladies prove untrue.
1t sinks beneath the land
s.Things of that sough ought to be 70
gotten, said little man called Tippet, wi
had squeaking, fearful voice. at is iii
tempting misfortune to mention it. There
nothing near the Hall but marshland.
is on bit Of hill, that's true, but ha'
heard tell that it might as easily be swa
lowed up as not.
ga Mr. Fossbrook it was she disa
- peared with was it p Siah asked, igno
ing Tippet
at was replied Absalom. "He was
good-looking gentleman, bright and laug
inc in his ways. More so than the Squir
who was mellower by some twenty yeal
Ellen Winks, she speaks upfor the squil
naturally so, seeing that Ellen is of a co
Trajectory turn. Dave Brand, here, an
Ellen, have some big tussles over it; al
to Dave, he does lay it on heavy, having
it gift Of words which do as well as swearil
.be without being wicked"
mn The cloud began to lift from Dave
the forehead, but Tippet would drag the su
,et, ject back to the possibility of Guestwi'
,er. Hall being engulfed.
ave The Hall stood on slight elev
ton, but in nearly every direction "
it'll marshland, through which an indeini
vii kind of river, called the Sough, crept alon