The Van Buren press., 1895-05-25


o. apple-bloom. Mra creeths oct
taec was half-smothcred in 4; sonr
III WAS flying about in It. pecking oae
the roller caterpillars. stopping every
now and then to give his quick note.
like the sharp ringing Of little bell.
which changed TO harsh note OF
warning as MrA Creeth came out to her
door and entered the next one She
went upstairs, and presently her cheer.
ful tones were heard alternating with
. husky. querulous voice Presently
she came downstairs again and moved
round tho room, which had an unusual
look OF tidiness, dusting table of
chair here and there with her apron
Her husband came by and stopped ss
the door. Don't II look nice, Benz
said she. looking up II allus did
think I'd like to hae hand In cleanin'
II, fur he've got nice furniture"
"How be he today" asked Ben.
"Oh. he be terrible low to-day, sayin'
rs how this yere Illness 'uil eat up all
his savin's: and when he do get better,
he'll hev no work TO do, and'l 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"
"Hol- interjected Ben. with very
cross expression.
'.lt do sim funny" continued MrA
Creeth. ITO think how you've bin
gwiDe on SO many year about that pore
old man comm and takin' your work,
rs you said; and to think now rs II 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, belike! 1t do
sim funny, for surel But, there; must
goo and make him some broth; he Sims
to fancy 1t, like"
Ben walked slowly away, looked
frowningly at the ground; then sud-
denly wheeled round and waiked do
terminedly of 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. =
"Wull, Harry, how be you today?s
asked Ben. awkwardly.
"Nicely, thank ye,n replied Henry,
too much amazed to remember how he
was. #H
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. "'Tes oncommon hot fur
this time O. year. he observed.
Sure. yes, it bel" replied Henry.
Then there was another pause. which
Hen broke abruptly: my missis says
as how you be frettin', thinkin' as be
gettin' hold O. your work. Now, look
here. Henery Legge,' he went on en-
phatically, bringing his stick down on
the ground. II sticks to 1t q allus
has, and allus shalll 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 q
bin to come to me and say: Mr.. Creeth.
OWN TO me heven lost my arm, there
bain't a-many things l can turn to; SO,
II you've no objection, we'll goo into
partnership That's what you OF to
hev done; but then you didn't-'tia
true, you and mes haed words now
and agin; but II you thinks as I'd take
a penny as OF to come. to You, you be
mistook-that's all I've got to say
You be mis- took. 'Tis true, I've took
your work sim you've bin led by; but
I've put every ha'porth o thy, Here
Ben began to dive in his p6cket, and
with some ydif8culty brought but lit
tie leather bag, out Of which he turned
a small hesp OF coins onto the bed.
"And here II be, = he cohtinued, tri-
umphantly; "and I'll be bothered Il
I'd touched q penny 0it u I'd bir
starvin'I'' NJ 4
II wun't touch IL, neyther," said
Henry, stubbornly, shaking with ex
citement.
"Now, don't We be foolish and obsti
nate-now, don't ye, now" said Ben In
almost pleading accents. "You take II
now, and twill be all fair and square
as the sayin' be-" /
mo, 'twun't; wun't touch It," 70
peated Henry. ss +
'srhere, never know'd NO one sc
contrary as you be" said Ben. Il tel.
lee"-getting angry-"as Iwun't toucf
it." 13e,ss 81
"And I tellee as I wun'tl" said
Henry.
Ben turned red With wrath; then, al
he looked vt Henry's changed face
with It's hollow eyes and thin, war
checks, his anger left him.
"Wull, then, we wun't say no more
about 1t now.r he said, patiently; "bu
think oyer what said about You and
me bein' partners. You sees how
handy 'twould be II one o. us be i'll
tother can do his work; or II ones go1
more wurk at one time nor he know,
how to do, there be t'other to helI
him; or II either on us wants to goo 9
days pleasuren wis missis or o friend
why, there we be-"
1T hev acrossed my mind aforc new,
allowed Henry.
There, now! II you've atho't O. it
and I've atho't O. II, why, there ii,
now. You and nell strike bargain
that we'll let bygones be bygones; and
we'll get my missis to write out paper
lyon OF to al1us have third party K
write out such matters" The truth
was Ben could only sign his name
"Well put 1t like this yere: i, Benja
min Crecth, and Henry ,Legge, two poor
but honest men, both OF this parish, b.
gwine to goo into partynership;' ane
then we'll say II anybody has anything