Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-31

called rs .Rolly ard the Pilgrim
fighting for the crown II riled me.
that did, and at the very next house at
which he pulled up. got down and
said I'd come for two of Scotch. Tha.
was the beginning. 1t took me years
to break myself of the habit.
''But there" he continued. sit has
always been the same hadn't been
a fortnight in my first situation before
my employer gave me goose weighing
eighteen pounds, as Christmas pres
emit"
well, that couldn't have done you
any harm,' l remarked. THAT was
lucky enough"
$50 the other clerks said at the time"
he replied; 1.-The old gentleman had
never been known to give anything
away before in his life. He's taken a
fancy to you,' they said; you are a
lucky beggarr"
He sighed heavily. felt there was
story attached.
What did you do with it?'' asked.
THAT was the trouble" he returncd;
oib Aot WHAT " 40 Will IL
was ten o'clock on Christmas eve. just
as was leaving, that he gave it to me.
'Tiddling Brothers have sent me a
goose, Biggles,' he said to me, as
helped him on with his great coat.
Very kind of 'em, but don't want it
myself: you can have it
''Of course thanked him, and was
very grateful. He wished me merry
Xmas and went out. tied the thing
up in brown paper, and took it under
my arm. 1t was fine bird, but heavy.
Under all the circumstances, and it
being Xmas time, thought | would
treat myself to glass of beer. went
into quiet little house at the corner
of the Lane and laid the goose on the
counter.
"'That's big un,' said the land
lord; you'll get good cut off him to-
morrow
His words set me thinking, and for
the first time it struck me that didn't
want the bird-that it was no use to
me at all. was going down to spend
the Xmas with my young lady's people
in Kent"
"Was this the canary young lady?"
interrupted.
mo" he replied; "this was before
that one. 1t was this goose I'm telling
you of that upset this one. Well, her
folks were big farmers; it would have
been absurd taking a goose down to
them, and knew no one in London to
give it to, so when the landlord came
round again l asked him if he would
care to buy it. / told him he could
have it cheap.
"Idon't want it myself he answered,
I've got three in the house already.
Perhaps one of these, gentlemen would
like to make an Offer
"He turned to n couple of chaps who
were sitting drinking gin. They didn't
look to me worth the price of chicken
between them. The seediest said he'd
like to look at it, however; and undid
the parcel. He mauled the thing
pretty considerably, and even exam
ined me as to how came by it, ending
by upsetting half a tumbler of gin and
water over it. Then he offered me
half a crown. II made me so angry
that took the brown paper and the
string in one hand and the goose in the
other and walked straight out without
saying word.
II carried it in this way for some dis
lance, because was excited and didn't
care how carried it; but as cooled, /
began to reflect how ridiculous l must
look. One or two boys evidently no.
ticcd the same thing. I stopped under
a lamp post and tried to tic it up again.
/ had bag and an umbrella with me
ut the same time. and the first thing
did was to drop the goose into the gut
ter, which is just what l might have
expected to do, attempting to handle
four separate articles and three yards
of string with one pair of hands. I
picked up about n quart of mud with
that goose, and got the greater part of
it over my hands and clothes and fair
quantity over the brown paper, and
then it began to rain.
II bundled everything up into my
arm and made for the nearest pub,
where thought I would ask for piece
more string, and make neat job
of it.
The bar was crowded. pushed my
way to the counter and flung the goose
down in front of me. The men nearest
stopped talking TO look at it; and a
Young fellow standing next to me said
"'Well, you've killed it dare say
did seem bit excited.
Il had intended making another
effort to sell it here. but they were
clearly not the right sort. had n
pint of ale--for l was feeling some
what tired and hot-scraped as much
of the mud off the bird as l could, !
made fresh parcel of it and came out. |
Crossing the road happy idea &C.
Cured to me. / thought would rattle |
Il. At once / set to work to find a |
house where there might seem to be a
likely lot. 1t cost me three or four /
l felt l didn't want any
more beer, which is thing which |
easily upsets me-but at length found I
Just the crowd / wanted-a quiet, do I
mestic looking set in a homely little (
place off the Goswell road.
Il explained my views to the land
11uJ H. III ,, 1al no aliaotip,. =, =