The Van Buren press., 1895-05-25

0U>1k es1y 4Auoss y ~AS ssess 1850. - ~s-S
Good Words
OLD BEN'6 BARGAIN.
now Two Unfortunate Oattle Drtv-
ers Settled Their Dinerencea
The sun had Just sct, leaving bright,
1uminous yellow behind 1t; opposite, In
the pela. frosty blue, hung the clcar
silver moon, nearly ct the full. Tho
light Of the dying sunset and rising
moon blended, and the whole landscape
was steeped In faint mellow light.
There was not . shadow anywhere;
the pure soft glow was. over every
thing alilke-purple OF wet plow lands,
brownish yellow Of stubble fields, pale
green Of young wheat, faint purple
and gray Of distant downs. The thick
branches Of the hawthorn in the hedge
Werc outlined clear and sharp against
the yellow glow In the west The
wind had gone down, and not twig
was stirring. A little bird wss rustling
IN the hedge; and in the distance .
thrush was singing clear and soft
Two or three rocks hoated slowly over
head.
The long. dusty, white road seemed
deserted for the time being, but after
awhile there was q shutting sound In
the distance, and q man appeared driv-
49, 49, ..<..s,. Ia ,.m. = asxx~~k Hhtu
wiry man. With q wooaeh5leR. Every
ching about him expressed determine
tion. from his stecl-gray eyes which
{10okcd out steadily from under his
heavy. 9rixzled eyebrows TO his square
chin that stuck out aggressively with
an sir ol contradicting his thick.
strong bridged. rather oyerhanging
moss. Even hiswQoden leg ssemsd to
emphasise his resolution = 1t went
d0wn With such firm rap. Suddenly,
down from cross-road came half .
dozen young cattle at q quick trot fol-
lowed BY 4 man They settled into =
Quieter pace; and the two men walked
along side by side, keeping, however.
tbs width Of the road between them.
], They neither Of them took any notice
Of the other, and; they marched along
silently for some way, snve for IN oc-
casional tempestuous sniff or snort
The newcomer was man about ten
years younger than the first; he was
], tailor, and of milder expression. He
was stout and red-faced, and carried
himself With = faint linessipg Of , SOL
diez}I b4sEihe Qae sleeve va pinned
These two men were the cattle-drtyen
Of Shornstone parish, and were 'consid.
erod, by Its inhabitants TO be peculiarly
3 Atted for their Office, owing 70 their
respective misfortunes Nervous old
ladies and gentlemen, however, were
mot so sure Of this sometimes whom
they met them driving fierce bulls in
narrow lanes. Each regarded the
other rs dofrauding him Of his rightful
dues, and they hated one another with
deadly hate In consequence. -.
\ ssHow set up some folks be. for sure,
II they gcts o few lnis' able young calves
70 drivcl" said the little man, suddenly,
apparently addressing the hedge.
'sAhi And there's others rs thinks
they be gwine 70 make their fortunes
AZ they gets couple O old cows only
dittcn 70 60 70 kennel said the other,
% his side Of the hedge.
They walked ON In silence again for
. space, though both seemed 70 bristle
with wrath.
''SoIne folks may hev only one arm,
but they've fingers enough ON II TO put
into other peoples pockets and pick
,eIn q their honest rights," said the
little man, rcsuming his conversation
with the hedge.
"And II others only hev one leg, their
''ooden uns can carry 'em along fast
enough II they thinks they can get any
thing by it, replied the other TO his
side. 1t was noticeable that his re-
nlarIxs were always weak echo Of the
other.
~ may hev only one leg, but lost II
honest, as you med say. Now. II I'd
lost 1t fur gwine fur shillen day
and cutten OF other peoples, I'd say it
served me jolly well right! Fur shil-
len dayl"
Henry LegRe, rs the stout man was
called. could think OF no re tort to this;
he took off his hat, and pushed up his
stiff, gray hair angrily; whereupon the
little man changed his tactics.
II have a-hceftl as there be some
ms brugs as they've s,st their arms in
a battle. when twas only they fell un-
der cart when they was tight! Hce,
hee, hcel'
This was too much for Henry; he
turned round, dropping all pretense.
'sThat be a lie. benjamin Creeth, and
you know it bc!'
Benjamin Crceth gave an affected
start, and looked innocently at him.
s'Lor! ! didn't isnow as anyone was
there. did hear a noise like, but
tho't twas COW blaren."
Henry's large, red face turned pur-
pie. lyon one-legged old rascal!'' he
exclaimed, furiously.
''sure, yes! hev only one leg, but
for all that, there be . Legge TOO many