San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-06-10

that was a good many year ago now.
lows | wouldn't come down so light
now!
They say as you should take the
bull by the horns"
"Ah! and they must be pretty near
simpletons to say it, too" replied Hen.
ry, contemptuously. IF anybody
wants a lark's journey, free O. cost,
they'd better just try it, that's all I've
got to say"
"Wull, then, that's what they says.
don't answer for the sense on it, " said
the shepherd, departing.
A high east wind was blowing in
great clouds of dust from the road
across the garden, and showering the
apple petals away to the blue sky like
flights of white butterfiies-one morn
ing about two months later there was
snow round the cottages again-snow
of apple-bloom. Mrs. Creeth's cot
tage was half-smothered in it; tom
tit was flying about in it, pecking out
the roller caterpillars, stopping every
now and then to give his quick note,
like the sharp ringing of a little bell,
which changed to a harsh note of
warning as Mrs. Creeth came out to her
door and entered the next one. She
went upstairs, and presently her cheer
full tones were heard alternating with
a husky, querulous voice. Presently
she came downstairs again and moved
round the room, which had an unusual
look of tidiness, busting a table or
chair here and there with her apron.
Her husband came by and stopped at
the door, Don't it look nice, Ben?"
said she, looking up. 81 allus did
think I'd like to haze a hand in cleanin'
it, fur he've got nice furniture"
''How be he to-day?" asked Ben.
"Oh! he be terrible low to-day, sayin'
as how this yere illness 'ull eat up all
his savin's; and when he do get better,
he'll hev no work to do, and'H have to
goo to house"
why's that?" asked Ben, grumpily.
"Why, he means fur sure as you'll
hev got all his custom by then"
"Ho!" INTERCEPTED Ben, with a very
cross expression.
ut do sim funny" continued Mrs.
Creeth, "to think how you've a bin
gwiDe on so many year about that pore
old man comm and takin' your work,
as you said; and to think now as if he'd
never come, you'd hev to hev drove
that bull yourself, and got knocked
down and injured yourself, stead o
pore Harry, and killed, belize! 1t do
sim funny, for sure! But, there; must
goo and make him some broth; he sims
to fancy it, like"
Ben walked slowly away, looked
frowningly at the ground; then sud-
denly wheeled round and walked de-
terminedly off to Henry Legge's door.
He went straight up the stairs, and
raped firmly at the door at the top.
Come in," called Henry. He was
sitting up in bed with an astonished
air, for he had heard the tap of Ben's
leg on the stair.
''Wul, Harry, how be you today?"
asked Ben, awkwardly.
Nicely, thank ye," replied Henry,
too much amazed to remember how he
was.
An uncomfortable pause ensued; then
Henry asked: "Wull We take chair?"
remembering his manners, as he after
wards said-''fur seeing him come in
like that, was all struck O. heap"
Thank ye," replied Ben, sitting
down and turning his stick about in
his hand. Ties uncommon hot fur
this time O. year." he observed.
Sure, yes, it be- replied Henry.
Then there was another pause, which
Ben broke abruptly: my missis says
as how you be frettin', thiukin' as be
gettin' hold O your work. Now, look
here, Henert Legge," he went on en-
phatically, bringing his stick down on
the ground. II sticks to it q allus
has, and allus shalD as you'd no bust
ness to come here, where I'd been so
many year, affrontin' me by takin' my
trade. What you ct 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 can turn to; so,
if 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 to come to you, you be
mistook-thats all I've got to say!
You be mis- took. 'Tis true, I've took
your work sin 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 it be-" he continued, tri-
umphantly; land I'll be bothered if
I'd touched penny O it if I'd bin
starvinW
u Wnn't touch it, neyther," said
Harry StubbOrnlv shaking with eX-