River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-05-09
..sura ves !, hsr, rsn,,.a u.nrr

''Sure. yes. II be-" replied Henry.
| Then there was another pause. which
Ben broke abruptly: my missis says
as how you be frettin', thiukin' as be
ge.tin' hold o. your work. Now, look
here, Henery Legge," he went on en-
| phatically. bringing his stick down on
the ground Il sticks to it u allus
has, and allus SHALL as you'd no bust
ness TO come here. where I'd been so
many year, affrontin' me by takin' my
trade. What you OF to hev done 'ud a
bin TO come to me and say: Mr. Creeth.
OWN TO me heven lost my arm. there
bain't a-many things an turn to; so,
/ il you've no objection, we'll goo into
partnership That's what you OF to
hev done; but then you didn't-'tis
/ true, you and mes haed words now
and agin; but if you thinks as I'd take
penny as OF 10 come to you, you be
mistook-that's all I've got to sayl
your work sim you've bin led by; but
I've put every ha'porth o. it by" Here
Ben began to dive in his pocket, and
with some difficulty brought out a lit
tie leather bag. out of which he turned
a small heap of coins on to the bed.
And here il be- he continued, tri-
umphantly; "and I'll be bothered il
I'd touched penny o. it if I'd bin
starvinI"
II wun't touch it, neyther," said
Henry, stubbornly, shaking with ex-
element.
Now, don't We be foolish and obsti-
nate-now, don't We, now" said Ben in
almost pleading accents "You take it
now, and twill be all fair and square,
as the sayin' be-"
mo, 'twun't; wun't touch it," re-
peated Henry.
There, | never know'd no one so
contrary as you be-" said Ben. ~ tel
lee"-getting angry-''as l wun't touch
it,"
And 1 tellee as 1 wun't!' said
Henry.
Ben turned red with wrath; then. as
he looked at Henrys changed face,
with its hollow eyes and thin, wan
cheeks, his anger left him.
"Wull, then, we wun't say no more
about it now" he said. patiently; but
think over what said about you and
me bein' partners. You sees how
handy 'twould be if one o. us be i'll,
t'other can do his work; or il ones got
more wurk at one time nor he knows
how to do, there be t'other to help
him; or il either on us wants to goo a
days pleasuren wis missis or friend,
why, there we be-"
ut hev acrossed my mind afore new"
allowed Henry.
There, now! If you've athot o il,
and I've atho't o. it, why, there tits
now. You and NELL strike bargain
that well let bygones be bygone $; and
well get my missis to write out paper
you OF TO allus have a third party to
write out such matters" The truth
was Ben could only sign his name.
"we'll put it like this yere: i, Benja-
min Creeth, and Henry Legge, two poor,
but honest men. both of this parish, be
gwine to goo into partnership and
then we'll say if any body has anything
to say agen it, they be to declare it. or
be for evermore to silent; and then
well sign our names TO un." Ben
hitched his chair nearer the bed in his
excitement. And I'll tell e what tits;
we'd better take a bwoy between u.s.
There be Joe Hills bwoy, or my niece
Emly's Tommy, | enclines to he, fur
you OF to stick by your own folks; and
we can get him sixpence a week
cheaper"
''Vurry WELL" said Henry. He had a
compiacent express IN on his face, as
though well pleased at the turn affairs
had taken.
But look here, though; stop bit"
said Ben. II wun't do more o. it, il
you wunt take that there money!"
"Vurry well, them" said Henry, con-
descendingly.
Then let's shake hands on it."
Thereupon the two old enemies shook
hands heartily. Mrs. Creeth, coming
in at this moment with a basin of
broth. stopped short, transfixed with
astonishment Ben turned round and
saw her; he rose from his chair, and.
extending his arm majestically over
Henry: "Missis," he said, solemnly,
what have passed afore betwixt that
old man and me, let it be!"-Chambers'